Posted on

Put A Spork In It

…’Cause it’s done, yo.

Malvina's Embossed Leaves

Yes, I have finished another pair of socks! In about a month, which isn’t too bad lately. These are Malvina’s birthday socks.

Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks by Mona Schmidt from Interweave’s Favorite Socks
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill in an uber TANGERINE
Mods: various. I hate how the star toe feels (though aesthetically it works better on this pattern) and I love grafting, so I put in a regular French toe, and a regular stockinette heel, and a regular long-tail cast-on.
Oh, and I started the second sock a half-repeat down so the pattern would mirror-image itself. *is a matchy-matchy nerd*

I would up liking the yarn after all.  It works up nicely and let’s face it, the color is great. I am not sure how it is going to wear, and I am not sure how Malvina is going to feel when I tell her to handwash these socks, but whatevs. I still need to give ’em a soak, but I broke the sink plug the other day so it will have to wait. Uncle Evan is coming over tomorrow morning to fix it.

P.S. Malvina your socks are done.

Posted on

Occasionally I finish things

Spey Valley

Pattern: Spey Valley from Nancy Bush’s Knitting on the Road
Yarn: Plymouth Happy Feet, I don’t recall the color
Mods: I did my own heel, shortened the leg and used a standard French (?) toe.
Time to knit: FOR-FREAKIN’-EVER.

Turned out nice, they’re pretty comfy. It was the wrong yarn to use for this pattern, a plain color would have shown the very nice pattern on the leg, which is lost in this variegated yarn. Still, I’m pleased with them.

Meanwhile, I’m working on the following:

WIPS

On the left are Malvina’s birthday socks, the eponymous Embossed Leaves socks in a sassy orange from Cherry Tree Hill. Then, in Tofutsies, is the Undulating Rib. Both these socks are in the Interweave Favorite Socks book.

I don’t know if I like working with the Cherry Tree Hill, it has a weird texture. But, the color is great, and let’s face it, I’m happy enough to be working with Red Heart, so whatever. I quite like the Tofutsies; I’m glad I have another sock (and another skein, courtesy of the Momma) to work on – the fabric is nice. I forget what chitin is (ground up sea slugs or something) but I like it.

From here on out, it’s pretty much going to be Christmas related projects, which I am totally going to blog about because that’s how I roll. I just won’t say who they’re for, hah. I think I’ll be trying out some fingerless mitt patterns, and hat time for sure. I owe Sam a hat for his birthday (since he lost another one I made him) and there will be some weaving projects for Christmas as well. The project I am currently working on is going well – I really got better tension this time around, so practice really does make perfect.

Posted on

This, That, the Other Thing

I’ve been pretty busy the last week. I had a Board Meeting, I went into San Francisco to visit a coworker who had a heart attack, etc. But I finally managed to take a picture of the scarf I crocheted the week before last:

Crochet Scarf #3

It’s like the other ones – Noro Kureyon, single crochet into the front loop over about 150-200 stitches. I really like the colors on this one.

And I’ve been working on Spey Valley too:

Spey Valley Progress

Last weekend we went and saw Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day, which was cute, impeccably designed, if a smidge long. I also watched Stardust (absolutely wonderful), 28 Weeks Later (laaaame), and The Hogfather (not half bad, if long).

My latest Netflix was Fido, which is a silly zombie movie that takes place in an alternate 50’s-era reality. I liked it quite a lot! Don’t watch if you are offended by kid zombies. But if you’re a fan of zombie movies, it’s a must-see.

Knitpicks has new colors of their Felici yarn. Never mind that I haven’t used the Felici I already own… I fully ordered some of the new stuff. Heh.

I’m going to the Yarn Boutique today and later I’m meeting Malvina for dinner. Should be a good day!