#66 of 365 - Knitting yet Again...

Busy, busy weekend. Knit with the girls at the Lamb Shoppe yesterday afternoon, saw The Rising also known as Mohr Phun which was a concert presented by Angus Mohr and Gobs O'Phun, thus the name, last night.

Also met the Judds' new family edition, currently sort of nameless... I fell for her and she for me. she tried to hide under my skirt and go with when I left the house this morning. Then to church at my church home away from church home, Saint Thomas. Then it was Kiltmaking 202 with Judy this afternoon.

Now watching the Oscars and hand stitching pleats in. Ryan Blair WILL wear this kilt at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Denver on the 13th (next Saturday, don't ya know)!

Basically, I hung out all the weekend with various iterations of my Denver,Aurora and Broomfield friends.

Moleskine Happiness

Today after a eight month sojourn, my 3.5 x 5.5 inch Moleskine returned. I am overjoyed and overwhelmed at the talent, humour and thought that came home with it.


Here below is my very first impression...

Oh my, everyone! My Chicklet Moley is perfectly perfect in every way. I type this with tears running down my face.

I love the funny bits, the serious bits, the open heart bits, the art bits, my turnips with tatties, Grenoiulle, the knowing more about each of you, the pirate bag made by Kimi in my favorite shade of green that my Moleys will live in, I’m thinking. The wee blue bear (who from, BTW?), the wee quilt sketch from our Gina, the Celtic stickers from Heather, the drawings, yes, even yours, Frewen and someday we’ll share a glass of yer hand crafted wine together. The bit of music from Anna, Lini was feeling Japanese, somebody actually found and use E.A. Poe stamps and passed them along to me. The menus and wee watercolours from Deborah, and no, Hope it isn’t too cute.

Cotton Fern Clog Socks

I am nearly finished with my cotton Fern Clog Socks. Here's a preview. They are knit from Sockina, a self-patterning cotton and nylon blend yarn. These were also the second effort at knitting with two circular needles. I must say, I love my DPNs, but I can't lose nor break 2 circs as easily whilst traveling and knitting.



I wear a lot of clogs and slides, so these socks are a perfect fit in more ways than one.



The lace pattern only goes up the heel and calf, for show and the rest of the sock is in stocking stitch.




Of course, the pattern is available from Ravelry.

Fawkes Socks - Learned Something New

I KNOW I CAN DO THIS...

My readers know I have been struggling with a lace stole name Voyager aka the Shawl from Hell. I have put it down for the time being. It will rise again, maybe it'll be called the Zombie Shawl in the future! It will be resurrected, no, really, it will be...

I haven't talked about it before, but I am also having issues with a new to new knitting stitch called Knit One Below, sigh.

I have cognitive disorders related to chemo and West Nile Virus. I easily get frustrated by not being able to get something the first or second attempt. I mean, I get really, really, really frustrated! Anyway, enough about that.

I decided I was going to learn something new, hell or high water. I decided to cast on a new pair of socks. Socks, you say, but you knit them all the time, what's new about that. Absolutely true, I knit at least pair a month. Now, here's the twist. The directions for this pattern has you cast on on 2 circular needles instead of on DPNs. This is new to me. I haven't used 2 circs to knit in the round before and I don't know anyone who does knit this way. Most of my friends are Magic Loop (see earlier post wherein I learned this trick) or DPN knitters.

Once again, I have Erin's new sock book, How to Knit Socks, Three Methods Made Easy by Edie Eckman to thank for great instructions on getting started in this new, to me, knitting style.

Here's a photo of the yarn I am using for this project. I can't tell you anything about it, as I can't find the ball band at this moment, other than it's superwash sock yarn and merino.



Here's the cuff and one repeat of pattern done.

It's LACE! It's coming out right on the stitch count! I have learned a new knitting style! This all happened in one project! SEE, see, I can do this! I can learn something new and not drive myself (or anyone else, for that matter) mad in the process. It's LACE!, as you can see from the photo above. Knitting lace means yarn overs and K2togs and K3togs and all manner of devilment in the stitch department and count, count, count and use a life line. That said, I am DOING IT and seeing the pattern come right and the whole thing is flying merrily along and... Sigh (this one of relief)! No frogging, no tinking, just knit, knit, knit. What joy, caloo, calay!

Now, the jury's still out as to whether or not I like knitting with 2 circs. I do have a new trick in my knitting arsenal, though. Woot! I also have a "Jeez, maybe it's NOT time for the Ga-Ga Home" sense of profound relief.