The Rainbow Connection

Through the mists of the summer rains, the sun fruitlessly attempts to make its way through the hazy clouds. But closer to earth a different type of rainbow can be found in the overgrown grasses that make up my front lawn. Inspired by socks of identical name my toe up version uses the same stranded pattern, Double Woven Stitch, the same rolled cuff and the same bright, bold, beautiful colors of the rainbow.

Knit toe-up using Judy's Magic Cast On

Eye of Partridge Heel

And the same flap and gusset I used for Oriel Socks (Charlene Schurch, Sensational Knitted Socks)


Inspired by: Crusoe socks by Marilyn A Roberts, Knitty Spring 03
Yarn: ShiBui Knit Sock
Colorway: Spectrum
Fiber: 100% Superwash Merino
Needles: 2.5 mm KP fixed circs (Magic Loop)
Gauge: 15 sts = 2" in stockinette

These socks are pure sunshine on a cloudy day.

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!

Dude! Where'd She Go?

My time with Mommy was short and endless, all at the same time. When I mentioned to a friend that I was sad that Mommy had left, my friend was a bit surprised. I had seemed to be stressed whilst Mommy was here. And that is our relationship in a nutshell. We drive each other a bit nuts when we're together but miss each other terribly when we are apart. Perhaps this is due to strong personalities and me growing up with no testosterone in the house. Or perhaps that we both have strong personalities and have spent the last 10 years separated by 10,000 miles (now that gap is down to 3,000. Closer, but not close at all.) Did I mention that we both have strong personalities? Or that our experiences with the Doom Mobile added to the stress? Anyway, when we aren't at each other's throats we can get up to some pretty wacky/silly stuff. Take, for instance, our last day together. As Mommy was packing away her things, she offered to leave me this not-so-cheap spray in hair treatment for younger looking hair. No it doesn't take away the gray (I only have a bit at the temple,) it is supposed to "transform dull, coarse, brittle, aged hair into youthful, healthy looking, silky smooth, beautiful hair"


So Mommy agreed to a little experiment.

Before	Spritzing it on	After

Do you see a difference? Maybe not, but we were doubled over in laughter as we staged the shots.

Anyway, with Mommy gone the knitting ban has been lifted. Actually, I finished Marigold before she left, and she quite liked them.

Click pictures to enlarge
Pattern: Marigold by Pamela Wynne from Flint Knits
Yarn: Hand Maiden Casbah (100g, 325 yds) from Knitty Noddy (see link on side bar)
Colorway: Dandelion
Fiber Content: 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon
Needles: 2.5 mm KnitPicks Nickel Plated 47" Circulars
Cast on with Judy's magic cast on

I've finished Sock One of my Embossed Leaves

Click pictures to enlarge
Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt
Favorite Socks (25 Timeless Designs) from Interweave Knits
Yarn: Sundara Sock
Colorway: Sky
Fiber Content: 100% Superwash Merino
Needles: 2.75 mm KP fixed circs (Magic Loop)
Gauge: 15 sts = 2" in stockinette

I've worked most of the leg on Sock One of Marie Antoinette. Someone said that if there could be such a thing as a sexy sock, this would be it. I must agree!

Click pictures to enlarge
pattern: Marie Antoinette by Anne Hanson (Knitspot)
yarn: Fleece Artist Sea Wool
colorway: Paris
fiber content: 70% merino, 30% seacell
needles: 2.5mm KP fixed circs

And I am making good progress on my Crusoe inspired socks. I say inspired because I am knitting these toe-up and much bigger. I don't know who could slip on the originals with a CO of 44 sts and 2.5mm needles for a size 9-10 foot. I think I'll use the heel and flap from my Oriel socks. I started the second sock because I needed something to travel with and hadn't decided what to do with the heel. And don't be fooled by those DPN's, there just holding the stitches in place!

Based on the stitch pattern in Crusoe socks by Marilyn A Roberts in
Knitty Spring 03
Yarn: ShiBui Knit Sock
Colorway: Spectrum
Fiber: 100% Superwash Merino
Needles: 2.5 mm KP fixed circs (Magic Loop)
Gauge: 15 sts = 2" in stockinette

Was it worth the wait? Tomorrow I'll back with a little Stash Flashing and then, I'm warning you now, I won't be back until next Wednesday. Shavuos is Monday and Tuesday so I'll be out of commission.

Weekend Trifecta

I packed more into this three day weekend than in the eight months I lived here. From the Friday night Fiesta to Sunday's BBQ to today's visit it to Ringwood Manor and the Botanical Gardens and dinner in Teaneck in a different restaurant than Sushi Mitsuyan, it's been non-stop excitement.

What precipitated all this carefree behavior? A combination of wanting to stay in and cook for friends, to take advantage of the three day weekend and return of the Mother.

Naturally pictures were forgotten in the run to finish line (otherwise know as sunset) Friday evening but I can tell you the meal included the traditional (home baked challah and frozen gefilte fish log) with the less traditional Friday night fare (7 bean soup, seven six layer dip with parve sour cream, Mexican rice and fajitas) a bottle of wine that has finally converted me to becoming a wine drinker, and some fabulous friends (including New New Roommate - henceforth NNR.) Yep, the same ones who took me out to dinner for my birthday, where they first introduced me to the wine.

Sunday started out a bit late but was thoroughly enjoyable. NNR and I went for a great walk in an iffy park and then a relaxing sit down in a lovely park about 15 minutes further on. At the second locale I got in a good 30 minutes of work on my version of Crusoe socks. And what better way to end the day? Why go to NNR's parents house for a BBQ! Again we were joined by two more friends and lively conversation ensued as we discussed our day and I once again put forth my Math Geeks and Cheerleaders analogy After a fabulously fun time, we made our way to visit my cousins and arrived back home after 1 am.

Today I slept in even later. Then it was off to Ringwood. It was just lovely. I'd happily turn it in to my own little Pemberley (yah, I didn't actually take pictures of the manor, you'll have to trust me.) Alas, I am still desperately searching for Darcy.


Even the first completed Marigold enjoyed it there.

And though I may not have found Darcy, Marigold's mate is quite near by. Only a few more repeats in the leg section to go.

Next it was on to the Botanical Gardens. We almost managed to be a pair of wedding crashers but alas our manners are too good. And I don't think we could have passed as guests. Still the grounds were lovely, if not quite as flowerful as expected.

I don't know if they were going for a purple theme, but I was not the only person who commented on a dearth of any other colors.

Irises

Lilacs
Pale lavender Bluebells

Unidentified little blueish flower.

There were a few other delicate looking flowers in pinks and fuchsias

and yellows and burgundies

and multi-color rainbow colors.