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.

P is for...

Persistent, perfectionist, and perplexed.

I've had a lot of time to think about my knitting and about life over the last couple of weeks. It hasn't been the easiest of times, but I am holding on. My life has been a bit like the making of this short-row heel. It was something new for me, something that wasn't going the way I thought it should and something that I just kept trying to get right. And after ripping it out the heel (not just on one sock but both on both, clever me!) five times, F.I.V.E. times, I finally got it right. At least the short-row heel part. Which, of course, gives me strength to keep on going with everything else. Just keep on trying to get it right. And eventually I will.

And doesn't that heel look gorgeous?

All that's left is the leg, and that should move pretty fast now.

And despite the fact that I really want to get back to my pile-o-WIPs, I finally cast on for a pair of Monkey socks.

Love!

Monkey truly is the anti-pool pattern. Cookie A is a genius. I knew that from looking, but now I know that from knitting. I just need to stock pile some solid sock yarn and get going...

They Have Really Loud Birds in New Jersey

It's spring. My favorite time of the year. The sky is blue, the air is warm, the house is sparkling clean and the birds are singing. But I have to say, they sing really loud around here. Even my mom picked up on it during one of our phone calls.

This will be my last missive until Pesach is over, I'm afraid. Pesach is really a no writing, no knitting kind of time so we'll ease back into this on Monday the 28th. My goals for spring: I hope to get past this sock fever (people are starting to question my sanity on this one), finish those poor scarves that have been waiting patiently for my, finish up the wedding presents and FINALLY get back to Arietta and Jeanie!

For now I'll leave you with an FO, a WIP and some yummy stash shots.

FO: Quant-i-fiable
Pattern: Quant by Athena Star, Kitty Winter 2007
Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm KP Harmony DPNs
Yarn: Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk Aran
Colorway: 0013 Black and 0060 Sky Blue
Mods: Base Triangle = 15 sts
Solid black with splashes of sky blue

WIP: Marigold socks
My first short row heel. Not bad, but could stand some improvement. Perhaps I'll try the same thing in my toe-up version of Esther.

Pattern: Marigold by Pamela Wynne from Flint Knits (Ravelry download)
Yarn: Hand Maiden Casbah (100g, 325 yds)
Colorway: Dandelion
Needles: 2.5 mm KnitPicks Nickel Plated 47" Circulars
Size: large (co 72 sts)
Mods: Cast on with Judy's magic cast on

Stash: Closeup on Fleece Artist
Yarn: Sea Wool
Colorway: Paris
Fiber Content: 70% merino, 30% seacell
Yardage: 382
Recommended needle size: 2.5 mm -3.25 mm

Yarn: Somoko
Colorway: Rain Forest
Fiber Content: 65% merino, 20% kid mohair, 10% nylon, 5% silk
Yardage: 355
Recommended needle size: 2.25 mm -2.5 mm

Sockdown 2008

I'm antsy. I'm bored. I'm antsy and bored at the same time. Is it startitis? Is it pre-Pesach nerves; split between wanting to knit every waking moment because I won't be able to for 8 days and knowing I should not be knitting because I have cleaning to do? Perhaps it is that I want all my WIPs finished up but I want something new and exciting even more?

Well, I have a plan. Sockdown 2008.

I plan on knitting up 7 pairs of socks. Each pair from a different yarn company. Each pair with a different, unique colorway. Each pair with a pattern I hope will do the yarn justice. Some I have decided on a pattern for and for some I am still pouring over pattern books and stitch dictionaries.

The Contenders:
Hand Maiden Casbah
Right now this is the favorite. You may remember that I used it for my Oriel socks and that I am using it again for my Marigold socks. And that I am in love with it.

Here are the newest progress shots, taken this afternoon.

Sundara Yarn's Sock Yarn.

I'm using it for my Esther socks.

But I think it also deserves a second pair. Since I decided to try and convert this to toe-up (I say try because I am just on the foot section so far and haven't yet tackled the heel and gusset,) I wanted to keep to the pattern repeats as written. Which means I used bigger needles. And though Sundara recommends up to 2.75 mm needles, I don't I am creating a dense enough fabric. Since I won't really be wearing these out of the house I am not too concerned but I'd like to give the yarn a fair chance and see what I can do when knit to a tighter gauge, using smaller needles, like 2.5 mm. I have 4 other skeins of this wondrous stuff, but the two that are speaking to me right now are these:

Grape over Grey Violet, which I think would make a nice pair of Gentleman's Sock with Lozenge Pattern (Nancy Bush, Knitting Vintage Socks) or Sky (pattern still to be determined.)

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
I have several colorways in my stash and have yet to use them, with the exception of small amounts for baby and wee tiny socks. I'm planning on using the Georgetown colorway for Pomatomus someday. But for Sockdown 2008, it's all about the Devon.

This is the thinnest yarn I have and calls for a 2.0 mm needle. But I did a bit of swatching on 2.25 mm needles and was happy with the fabric it created. And with my big feet, wider that I realized feet, it's a cast on of a whopping 100 stitches for the pattern I have decided on, Ribbed Lace (eight-stitch pattern) from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks.)

Blue Moon Fibers: Socks that Rock, Lightweight
STR may not be a new comer to Tante J, but I like the way it knits up and I have a couple of ideas kicking around. Like Bartholomew's Tantalizing Socks for the multi-color Lucy (Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters, from which I have poured over many times but have yet to knit something from.)

Shibui Knits Sock Yarn
I love the way this feels in my hands as I work on New Roommate's Icosa Ball (ya, gotta get back to that!) And I want that on my feet. This exciting colorway is Spectrum, and it's been in my stash about six months. I love it but want to do it justice. And now I know what it wants to be. A pair of Cookie A's Monkey Socks.

Definitely. Monkeys.

And finally.

Zen Yarn Gardens Squooshy Yarn in Velvet Rose.
I loved this when I first bought it and then I sort of forgot about it. Poor, poor, pretty yarn. What does it want to be? Suggestions?

Of course I will be working on these socks simultaneously. What fun would it be otherwise. And as I progress, I'll keep you up to date on the pros and cons of the yarns and their chosen patterns.

What a Difference the Sun Makes

So I didn't make it to the either the pond or the library today, but I did go for a bit of a walk. The weather didn't really deliver, but tomorrow promises to be a lovely 69° so I hope it works out. I did get some nice progress shots though.

You may have noticed that my picture quality has gone down since the big move. I've yet to find a room with really good lighting like I had at the old place. That in itself is quite amusing since with the exception of the front room where I kept my stash and took my photos, that place was quite dark and dreary. My bedroom should be letting in lots of sunshine but there is an issue with blinds at present: they'll go up but getting them back down again is close to impossible. DId I mention my room faces the street? Yes, I'll be keeping them down for now. So wasn't I pleased with today's weather and the opportunity to finally get in some good shots in natural light.

Here's Esther. I'm using 2.75mm needles which may be a tad big for this yarn (although Sundara recommends 2-2.75mm.) I could have gone down to 2.5 but converting this to toe-up may prove to be a bit daunting so working out the placement of stitches with the extra repeat just seemed too much. I have heard that the yarn just gets better and better with washing and it is lovely to work with. It's just this seems to be my most uneven stitch work. Ever.

As usual I am doing two at a time but because of the toe up doubts I wanted to do some of the pattern work on one sock before I started the other. So now I am playing a bit of catch up but as soon as they are both at the same point, its ML 2 at a time.

And Marigold. I'm loving it. The cashmerey softness of the Casbah is just intoxicating. And look, no pooling! Oh, Casbah, how do I love thee?

And again, second toe catch up then back to 2 at a time.

Tomorrow there will something new, though you've seen it before ;), and no, it isn't socks! But for now I'll leave you with some sock love.