The Toothpicks Have Gone on Strike

I am exhausted. Pooped. Plain tuckered out. Today was a run around kind of day. A bumpy bus ride kind of day. And a wait in the parking lot for ages kind of day. The kind of day that you walk in the door, snort down some supper and pass out. And the only reason you know you passed out is because somebody calls to see how your day went. It went well, thank you very much.

The bumpy bus ride precluded much travel knitting and the exhaustion precluded any more. So all I have to show you are a cool little headband I whipped up yesterday...

Saving Grace Headband by Dawn Pietzsch
Needle: US 7 / 4.5 mm KP Harmony DPNs (2)
Yarn: Cascade Fixation Solid
Colorway: 2608 (deep periwinkle)
Purchased at: Stix and Stitches, Montclair, NJ
Mods: provisional cast on and skipped row 1. Grafted ends together for a seamless finish


...and one finished sock. But one finished sock is better than two unfinished socks. Right?

I can actually see the flame waving around!

I Can See for Miles and Miles

At some point this afternoon, I sensed that the sun had actually appeared. It was a feeling more than anything else since the shade was down, but somehow I knew. On the spot I decided I must get outside to capture this moment of pure sunshine and clear blue sky. (The clouds are a intended design feature!) Chances of taking progress photos in natural lighting are fleeting these days. You have grab them with both hands.

The sky was so blue, with the clouds a pure white, that I had to snap a picture to prove it. Not only to you but to myself. For the next time I complain about grayness and heat this picture will stand as testimony that sun did indeed shine in the New Jersey summer sky, if only for brief periods of time.

And in this gloriously breezy and clear summer afternoon I also captured the majesty of Marie Antoinette. With the cuff grafted together and the section of Honey Bee complete, Sock 2 finally starts to take shape.

That's still a lot of yarn there. What will I do with the leftovers?

And a blast from the, not so distant, past. I've gotten back on track with my Flame Wave socks.

I've done a bit more since I captured my progress. Only six more rows until I get to the toe section. I should be able to finish up sock 1 before I go to sleep. In the meantime look at that heel. Its so smooth, such clean lines, with tips of the wave dipping into the flap.

But look at that tiny nugget of yarn! I think I'll make to the end, but only just.

While I like the give that the Fixation supplies, it is a bit odd to work with. Always making sure that I don't pull it too snug. The fit is great. These really reminds me of store bought cotton sports socks. But much, much prettier.

Rude Awakening

A couple of days ago I got a PM from my sock sensei, Laura, letting me know that Cookie A's Ornette Sock pattern was finally on sale. "When," she wanted to know "was I casting on?" Somewhere between Cookie A's website and a glance at my bank balance I had the cruel realization that it was time to finish up what I had started before starting something new. How adult of me! But it's true. I currently have 16 WIPs and a snoozer to contend with.

The (seven) sock WIPs in alphabetical particular order:

Toe-Up Crusoe (Ravelry Link)

Dublin Bay (Ravelry Link)


Esther (Ravelry Link)

Flame Wave (Ravelry Link)

Marie Antoinette (Ravelry Link)

And lest we forget, the second sock of Monkey (Ravelry Link)

and Embossed Leaves (Ravelry Link)


Lucky for me, it appears Laura was mistaken. The pattern hasn't actually been released yet (though there are lots of test knitters.) There's still time!

I'll Take Mine To Go

Another day, another trip into the city. Bus journeys are a great time for knitting. By regular coach, that is. The local, Manhattan bound hoppers, however, may run every 5 minutes but can prove to be a bumpy ride. I have learned from experience that the more complicated the pattern I choose, the more frogging I will do when I get home. No, for these little adventures I need a straight forward, non fiddly project that won't take up much room.

I present my two current on-the-go projects in their own little project bags: One 50g ball of yarn of choice, one KP circ and one mini cheat sheet (worked up in Excel,) containing only the stitch pattern so I don't mess up.


Today I brought the Flame Wave Sock by Ann Budd (Ravelry Link.) It's a sports weight sock made with super stretchy Cascade Fixation. Made of 98.3% cotton / 1.7% elastic, I hope these socks will prove to be cool and comfortable.
Yesterday I worked on Dublin Bay by Ryan Morrisey (Ravelry Link)(Pattern Link.)

Mods so far include a 4x2 rib for cuff and expansion of lace section to 10 sts. I hope to carry part of the lace down the gusset. We'll see how that goes.

I have been drooling over my Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi for months, ogling and petting but fearful to use lest it I be left with an ugly, pooling blob. However, I am pleased to report my buyer's remorse is waning. There is much less pooling than anticipated! Perhaps I'll put those other colorways to work.