Two Circs, Two Socks

So, finally, some non-baby related blogging and knitting, eh? This arrived today, courtesy of UPS. I can't wait. I think I'm going to dump my current sock - or maybe frog it, since I don't think it will fit the intended recipient - and jump right in here. There are even a couple of patterns with Fixation, which I happen to have on hand! There are nine wonderful patterns, lots of clear instructions with pictures and detailed explanations, and I don't think I can wait to get started. There are three sizes (women's small, medium and large) for each pattern, but the handy-dandy chart every sock book should have with shoe sizes, measurements and more is in the front in case you want to get really personal. I've only flipped through it, but I can't wait. (You're lucky I'm finishing this post.)

Here's the sock in progress, which I briefly considered frogging. Maybe I'll give it to one of the teeny-footed gals on my Christmas list. Okay. That's the plan now, because you know frogging gives me heartburn. Thanks for helping me work through that little bit of indecision. Just because it isn't right for the person I had in mind, doesn't mean it isn't a great sock. There. That's a pretty fair representation of the colorway, which is some Sockotta. I'm not crazy about the yarn. It's just there. There are other blends that feel better slipping through my hands, but it knits up well, and I do like the colors. (See my Sockza bag in use?) The pattern was quick and fun, and I'm about 1/4" from turning the heel, so why frog? Heck, *I* am a rather small-footed gal myself...

The colorway isn't that blue, but evidently, you can't have accurate color AND a decent shot of the pattern. Go figure. It's from Learn to Knit Socks, Little Pinky. Fun, easy to memorize pattern, in an ankle length. I think it would look great on one of my skinny-legged friends. So, no frogging. Can't do it, but I am moving on so I can knit two socks at the same time. I also want to do the toe-up thing, especially since Surviving sent me the cool You Tube link to the Magic Cast On and more. So many socks, so little time!

PS - My Pay it Forward list is full, but I hope you'll find someone whose isn't!

Red and Read

It's really a true red, but that's indoor photography for you. The boys - Mugsy, Fred and the Knitter's Knight - are all sound asleep, so it doesn't seem right to go out to snap a picture for my blog. (Mugsy would pop up and follow me, which would cause Fred to cry, which would wake KK, which would make us all grumpy!) Sorry. ;) I can tell you that I've found a cotton albeit blend to be gushy about, and Cascade Cotton Rich is it. It's about triple the price of a similar quantity of whatever and cream brands, but it's also triple the pleasure to knit with. All those patterns I've seen for clothing made of "dishcloth cotton"? I'd make 'em with this stuff. My pal will have to let us know how it washes and holds up, but it's pure knitter's joy on the needles.

Obviously, it's for my KVVS pal. I'm happy to announce that my pal's package, along with my Dog Days package, which should still make its way on time, will ship out on Monday. I have to give a shout-out to Willis (the owner) and the gals at the Charlottesville branch of The Virginia Store for the big assist in shopping for my VVS pal and more. (I've purchase my first Christmas gift!) You know I love good service, and that store never fails me. I hope my pal likes her virtual vacation too. (Hint - note that I did NOT venture to Monticello's gift shop for museum type gifts.) The lady waiting on me was very curious about knitting and swaps, so maybe next time I go in, she'll be knitting!

The same sales lady recommended the Debbie Macomber books. Sadly, my lame-0 Barnes and Noble doesn't carry them in stock, so that helped me just spend my gift card and NOT renew my membership thingee there, which I never really earn back, because of Amazon and Borders. So, I'll be leaving here and going to trusty Amazon and my prime shipping, and I'll have the book for less, probably before I'm ready to read it anyway. Now, please scoot on over to Debbie's site. There's a free pattern, which will change on August 18th, and Mary, this one is for crocheters! She has a blog too, which lacks photos, but does mention a new knitter in the family.

I'm more of a non-fiction type of girl, but I do enjoy a good what my family calls a "beach" read, so if you've read the Knitting Series, let me know what you think, but no spoilers, okay? There's also content on the site I linked above for Debbie's new inspirational book, which I did buy at B&N, along with another sock book, Vogue Knitting Socks Two. I love those little books, although I've yet to actually knit anything from one. Sigh. So many books, yarns and patterns, and so little time!

I also hit It's a Stitch for some personal and swap stuff. Sigh. The lady I like best wasn't working. I want to love that store and say great things about it, but instead, I'll tell you that I very nearly paid for two Addi circs. I already own, because the sales lady wasn't listening. She sold me 2 - US #1/2.5mm circs., when I very clearly explained that I have those and NEED the 2.25mm size for my socks. BIG SIGH. She says Addi doesn't make them, but I bet they do. However, since I'm having trouble finding them, good ol' Knitpicks (books in stock, 40% off through August 17th) will get my order, because I *KNOW* they have the 2.25 mm size, and their website always seems to "listen."

THEN, the same lady insisted she'd never heard of a sock pattern calling for two different sized needles. Now, I know I'm no expert, but I'm positive I've seen other patterns that do indeed call for different sized needles for the same sock! Hello? Am I wrong? Then, she told me to just knit the whole thing on the #2s called for in the bulk of the pattern... And what does one do when the said professional tries to tell her she's wrong? I can tell you what I do. I decide that if I can't make a mini road trip to Carodan or Limerick Fibers (no website yet, but oh, I hope it will be up in time for Christmas!), I'll just order online. I hate that, I really do, because as part of a local small business, I *WANT* to shop locally and support small businesses, but geeze folks, can you meet me half way and provide a modicum of customer service?!

Whew. I think some tea and stick therapy is in order. Why is it so hard to run a decent yarn shop?

Downward Facing Wick

So, there it is. The yoga sock done in Wick. (That's color #9 on the site.) You can find the pattern here. I can't say enough about the yarn. It's a bit like chenille, but it stretches, so while I might never knit with chenille again, I love this stuff and will be ordering some to make Christmas presents. No, I don't know how practical the socks are, as my toes are generally what gets cold first, but check back with me after the temperature drops, because I've slipped into my sad version of Lotus more than once, just to get my feet off of the cold even through the mat floor!

Hey, look! They aren't green. How 'bout that!? Pink and brown, and although you can't really see it, there is some sage-ish green in there too, along with the cream and some - get this, Sharon! - purple. If you're looking for non-wool fibers, give Wick a try. Yet another soy love affair happening here.

This is also a good time for a little book review. Devon sent me a copy of this for my birthday last month. Sue told me early in our swap-born friendship that Interweave published the best books, and this certainly makes a good case for that argument. Have a problem? (Like needing to cast on 22 stitches in mid-yoga sock?) Just flip to the index in the back, and viola! There it is, with pictures and gooblette-proof text. Even at 10pm, I was able to make it work, rather successfully, if I may say so myself! Now that I have a nice, roomy tote (thanks, Stacey!), this book will go wherever my knitting and I go, unless I am 100% positive there's no way I'll need it.

Of course, there are many more books to review, but Mugsy says it's time to sit together on the sofa and talk about our day, which for him, included escaping into the great room to hang out with Fred. He'd been baby-gated in our room, which is adjacent to the great room, so that they could see each other, but Mugsy couldn't bother Fred the sore grump and provoke a fight. Evidently, Mugsy knew Dr. Nancy would insist that Fred isn't as bad off as we thought... Thanks for all the kind wishes. He's mending, slowly but surely. He's still a rather old basset with a very bad back, but it seems he's going to be around a while longer.

Short Rows

Well, I'm not really going to write about short rows. I'm going to review a couple of books, as I promised Devon I would review them before her return. As she gets back tomorrow, I'm out of time! I never used Cliff Notes in school, but a cousin did, and "short rows" seemed like a nice, knitting-related fit.

First, there's Charmed Knits. There's something for everyone in here, whether it is by your skill level or your degree of addiction to things Harry Potter-ish. There are somewhat nonsensical, fun items like the wand cover (my names, not the pattern names), Weasley Jumpers, bookmarks, socks... I don't know how applicable they are to those not so Potterverse obsessed, but as I am also a member of a Harry Potter discussion forum, I can see myself knitting up a few of the patterns for my similarly obsessed friends. If you are into costumes, or have little ones into Harry Potter, there are some great knitting projects inside. There are other items applicable to everyone, like the bookmarks and hats, which could be striped in any two colors you like, a messenger bag that would serve any Muggle well, and much more than could easily be adapted to a non-Potter-ish function in your life.

The other book is Not Your Mama's Felting. You might recall that I selected it as my prize for a contest. It certainly broadened my felting horizons. I'm looking forward to sharing it with Anne while she's visiting, but it is NOT a book for someone looking for page after page of felting patterns to knit up. There's a cute idea for felting an old boyfriend sweater into a little, laced-up the back, fitted number. Then there are the felted soap balls, which appeal to me, because I love those little "vanity" soaps, but they are slippery, and they aren't so pretty after my hubby washes his hands with them after servicing the lawn mower or something of the sort... There are a few patterns to knit and then "full", but the first section of the book is just for generalized information about felting, needle felting, fulling, and more. Honestly, I'm not at all sure I would have purchased the book on my own, but it did challenge my rather narrow view of felting.