Finally Did It

I ripped ILG Sock #2 to before the first mistake. Took me 6 weeks to work up the nerve to rip 12 rounds. But, today I finally did it! Now I'm going to carefully note the modifications on the paper copy of the instructions that I carry about with me so Sock #2 will match Sock #1. It's such a relief to have finally done this; it's been nagging at me since I discovered the mistake. I hate having unpleasant tasks hanging over me; you'd think I'd quit procrastinating just so I didn't have to think about it any more, but somehow it doesn't work that way.

Now, I've heard it said that a glass of wine is a good way to recover from an experience like this. Unfortunately, I don't care for wine. But I do have something to make me feel better:

A big pan of homemade rolls. Tonight's dinner will be leftover turkey sandwiches on these tasty-looking rolls. With stuffing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Then maybe another roll for dessert. Ah, carbs--is there anything better?

Celebrating Caturday with an FO

I finished up the last three rounds of the socks for Cheyenne River:


They didn't turn out baby-sized after all; they're big enough to fit a toddler, which is what I was aiming for. Sure did look tiny when I started them! The next pair will be baby-sized, though:


I bought Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters and I'm making the Little Sky learning sock. This book is wild; talk about turning sock knitting on its ear! I love the look of having the gussets on top of the foot; looking forward to trying it out in a sock sized for me so I can see what it feels like. I foresee lots of little socks in my future as I try out all the new ways of shaping woolly foot coverings.

In other news, the b/f found a Caturday video online and wanted me to post it, so here it is for your viewing pleasure:

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Happy Caturday!

Groan

I'm as stuffed as our turkey was.

The b/f & I had his father over for Thanksgiving. We had a very nice feast for the three of us--the cutest little turkey I ever saw, and all the trimmings that we like. The b/f's father made the pumpkin pie; he has a wonderful light touch with pie crust. I ate too much, but wish I could have eaten more, it was so delicious! I console myself with thoughts of leftovers waiting to be enjoyed tomorrow.

Then I called my brother and talked with him and my nephew, who is home from Army training. He joined up a few months ago, finished basic and is now going through specialized training. He is doing very well, and I am so relieved. I was worried when he decided to enlist, not because I didn't think he could do it, but because the military life doesn't agree with everyone. But it seems to agree with him, and I'm so proud!

My father was injured in a fall recently (that sort of thing happens when you are 88 years old), and has been in a nursing home recovering for a couple of weeks. But mom was able to "spring him" for the day, so they could join my brother's family for Thanksgiving. Dad is doing well, and should be able to leave the nursing home soon.

So, I have much to be thankful for. Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was as fine as mine!

So close

So, I finished up the hat:



There isn't enough for another hat like I hoped (only about 60 yards left), so I'm trying to think of something to make with 60 yards of worsted.


I got within 3 rounds of finishing the sock before I ran out of yarn:



This isn't a crisis or anything, because I have another skein, but doesn't it just seem silly to run out of yarn with just 3 rounds to go? Like, if the yarn really wanted to, it could be long enough to complete the sock. If it just had a little ambition. *sigh*


I've been amusing myself dyeing up little bitty skeins in bright colors for the blanket.



Way back when, I was gifted with a huge pile of tapestry wool by a generous knitter. Some of the skeins are white or cream-colored, so I've been dyeing them up into little hanks of gaudiness.

Dyeing yarn is so much fun! You mix up some dye, then you add your yarn, and you wait. Eventually, you find out if the colors turned out anything like what you had in mind. Sometimes, I don't really have a goal in mind, I just try out ideas to see what they look like. I am often surprised; usually pleasantly. Yarn can give joy in so many ways, can't it?

Growing on me

When I first started this hat, I didn't like how the yarn looked with my favorite hat pattern. However, after working a bit more, it started to grow on me. Now, I'm about 1.5 sections from completion, and most of the time I like it. I may have enough yarn left when I'm done for a second hat; if so, I plan to make a simple roll-brim hat so I can see how it looks when worked in a more conventional direction.

Now, this I've liked since I started it:


The plan is to eventually put together a 9-patch blanket like this one. I love the riot of color, and the fact that I've found a use for all those leftover bits of yarn, as well as some of the tapestry yarn I was gifted with some time back. Whenever I need some cheering up, I spread this out and pet it a little bit.

Tomorrow, I have to work. Since I have about five minutes' worth of work to do and an 8-hour day to fill, guess how I'll be spending my time? Got it in one--knitting! If I have to give up my Sunday, at least I'll have some FOs to show for it.

Hilfy, queen of the quizzical expression

Lazy Day

Hilfy lounging on her favorite spot on the sofa.

Wool, glorious wool

The dorm boots are done, ready for their bath and then to be added to the Warm Up Box for Cheyenne River Reservation. These were made with Peace Fleece Rugged Yarn in Bedouin Blue--took less than 1 skein. I expected this yarn to be rough, since they recommend it as a rug yarn. My only experience with rug yarn has been Aunt Lydia's rug yarn, which is just slightly less scratchy than fiberglass. But this yarn wasn't scratchy at all; not as soft as merino, of course, but I wouldn't hesitate to pop them on my feet. In fact, if I could wear them, I would be sorely tempted not to send them off! I'm really looking forward to seeing how they feel after a nice washing.

I've started a pair of socks for The Box, using my standard 32-stitch sock pattern. I plan on doing the Sherman heel, though, instead of the usual flap-n-gusset heel. This yarn is a light worsted, thinner than the Fisherman's Wool I usually use, so they'll probably be baby-sized. I wish I could remember where I got this yarn; it's so soft! It's superwash wool, and I'd love some socks made with this yarn for my own self. I thought I got it from Herrschner's, but if I did, they don't have it any more. Bummer.

I've been playing around a little with the dyepot (actually, the dye-Crock-Pot), and made this:

I mistakenly set the Crock-Pot on high and it started to boil (eek!). I was sure this would be a felted mass, but it turned out fine. It was just regular wool, not superwash or anything-whew!

Here it is wound into a ball. It came out a little darker than I intended, but I'm sure someone will like the colors. I plan to make another hat to go into The Box. Looking forward to seeing how this knits up.

Our weather has turned cold, and I am loving my wool socks, and thinking how much I need to make more (and in colors that I can actually wear with my work clothes). Pretty soon, I'm sure I'll get up the nerve to fix the error in my ILG socks so I can get back to work on them. After all, I could have ripped out the whole thing & reknit it by now! Just have to screw my courage to the sticking point.

Pretty soon.

Aren't these cute?

I made these dorm boots using this pattern, except I worked the garter stitch sole on two needles, then switched to DPNs and worked in the round for the remainder. I also used thicker yarn, so even though I made the X-Small size, the sole is 8 inches long, and they are almost big enough for me! These will go into the warm-up box headed for the Cheyenne River Reservation.

I enjoyed this pattern so much that I wanted to try some mods that I have in mind. But first, I wanted to make the "classic" version, so I could better evaluate the advantages of any mods. I used this pattern, modified for my thicker yarn (Peace Fleece MidEast/Maine Island yarn at about 4 st/inch). Today at work, I bound off the first one:



I didn't quite get the modification right for my yarn, because this one measures about 8" long also! I was using US size 8 needles, which really was a little too tight; my wrists and arms were sore after knitting for a while. After making the mate for this one, I'll try it on size 9 needles and see what I get.

One thing I noticed about the two-needle version, is that the decreases don't look as nice. Here is a close up of the left side of the boot:



And here is the right side:



Those ugly stitches that break the decrease line are the ssp decreases. OK, probably no one but a knitter would notice the difference between the smooth decrease line on the left and the jagged one on the right, but I still don't like it.

I do like the looks of the garter stitch cuff better than the ribbed one. I know I could do garter stitch in the round also, but it just seems wrong, somehow. After all, worked flat, garter stitch is the easiest stitch in the world. It offends my tender sensibilities to complicate it so it can be worked in the round. I may have to steel myself to overcome my reluctance; the more I look at that cuff, the cuter it looks to me. Right now, however, I am going to cast on for the mate to the slipper above, and get a little more knitting done on the clock.

Hilfy guarding my coat