Impressed

I finished Vest #1 with the Briggs & Little yarn. This is the first time I've used their yarn, and I must say I'm pleased. While knitting, I wasn't terribly impressed; the yarn seemed a little coarse. Not scratchy, exactly, just rough. But then I finished the vest, and wove in all the ends, and gave it a nice bath. Wow! The yarn transformed into something soft and touchable. What a difference! I'm eagerly working on Vest #2 so I can witness the transformation again.

On the CIC sock challenge, we've already exceeded our goal of 500 pairs of socks, and the final tally won't be available until tonight. Way to go!

Olympic update: Is the mail here yet?

WIP 4 CIC

I'm still avoiding Sock #2, so I have been working on a vest for CIC. Basically, I'm making Countrywool's What's In My Pocket vest, but I'm going to make it with a square neck rather than a boatneck. I could never stand having a sweater up against my neck, so I can't bring myself to knit something that reminds me of that strangling feeling.

The yarn is Briggs & Little 2 ply, generously given to me by another member of the CIC-knit group. The pink yarn was white when it arrived, so I dyed it with Koolaid (natch). I think I'll have enough yarn left for another vest when I'm done with this one. I'm thinking of adapting a vest pattern I found in an old WWII "knit for the troops" book. If I like it, I may further adapt it for my Olympic knitting entry.

Speaking of my Olympic knitting, is the mail here yet?

Couldn't help myself

I have thrown caution (sanity?) to the winds, and signed up for the 2006 Knitting Olympics. I have a picture of a summery pullover in my head that I plan to create. I figure by mid-February I'm really going to be ready for warm weather, which I hope will be a goad to complete the project within the time constraints. Yarn not decided on yet; I ordered one skein each of half a dozen possibilities a couple of days ago. Gotta swatch, decide, and order in time to receive supplies before the starting gun fires on Feb. 10. Is the mail here yet?

What's that noise?

That would be the sound of me quietly banging my head against the wall. Coupled with some soft sobbing.

My dpn's were flying as I sped though reknitting sock #2, this time with the same size needles as used for sock #1. Zip! Cuff's done! Zip-zip! Leg's done! Zippity-zip! Heel flap's done--time to turn the heel! Grab the instructions...wait a minute...I thought...*&^%$#@! Sock #1 was made with 36 stitches; for sock #2, I cast on 40. Arrrgggghhhhhhhhhhh!

At a gauge of 5 stitches per inch, 4 stitches is a significant difference. If I had enough yarn, I'd just make two pair, as Donna suggested. But I only have enough yarn for one pair. Looks like I'll be ripping this sock yet again. I can't handle it just yet, however. I've cast it aside in disgust and am swatching for a CIC vest that I've been planning for months.

So, for the January sock challenge, I'm sending off 5 pair, plus a hat. Pair #6 will just have to wait. In fact, like a jinxed ship that gets a name change, I am renaming this as Pair #1 for the next challenge. Maybe that will dispel the bad luck. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a pic of the package I will be sending off today:

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Just as I finished the second sock in this pair for CIC, I thought, "this one seems bigger than the other." I fished out sock #1; &*^%$#@! Took a close look at the needles I used for sock #2; double &^%$#@! I grabbed the size 6 dpn's instead of the size 5 set. I can't believe I didn't notice until I finished the second sock. What a doofus. So, tonight while I spend some quality time with Jack O'Neill, I'll be starting over. *sigh*