The feats and foibles of a fiber fanatic.
6/15/2005
The pattern for Heatwave socks is now available. The pattern includes seven cast-on stitch numbers with instructions on determining the proper number to choose based on ankle measurements and gauge. This makes the pattern flexible for nearly any sock, sport or worsted weight yarn you wish to make these fun socks from. Once again, an on-line purchase bonus is a neat coordinating wrapper for gifting your Heatwave socks!
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6/10/2005
To make up for yesterday, I have pictures!
Here is picture proof that am now indeed dressing to match my socks. In fact, Amanda wanted to ask me where my purple headband was when she came to SnB on Monday and I was wearing the get up. Someone, please tell me that I do not need a second pair of Crocs in purple just to go with this obnoxiously loud outfit?!?!?!?!?
Then, on Wednesday, I had this lovely little box awaiting my pick up at my PO Box. I wasn’t expecting anything so I had no idea what it was the name and address didn’t look too familiar to me. However, when I opened it up, I squealled with delight…
Inside was this lovely little coffee-themed coin purse made by Sonja of Georgia. She sent it to me filled with one of my all time favorite candies - Andies Mints along with a lovely thank you letter thanking me for posting the instructions on how to carry a stitch pattern down the heel flap for clog or sandal socks. Thank you so much Sonja! I’m in awe of the lovely dainty zipper as putting zippers in anything has always scared me, let alone to put in such a small zipper in such a small item - wow!
On Tuesday I had a hair cut appointment down in Loveland in the morning (don’t ask - let’s just say I spend another $35 this morning) and DH’s car went back into the shop (after being there last Tuesday) and was there until last night I might add and goes back for yet more testing next Wednesday *sigh* But I try to make lemonade from lemons whenever I can. So, I stopped into one of my favorite LYSs, Woolen Treasures. I bought more sock appropriate needles - US 2 and US 3 short Bryspuns and 2 16″ US0 Addi Turbo’s to try the two circ method that Snow is always raving about. But, upon the success of Heatwave, I picked up some more Fixation. The multi-color one is subdued enough and more manly colors that I’m hoping to talk DH into occassion wearing socks other than his dress socks when he wears shorts :-) The sage green will be mine (of course) and perhaps the toes of DH’s if need be.
I’ve also been playing around with a few things this week since I finished Heatwave. Though I’ve only been doing so rather late at night while trying to watch the last few episodes of X Files season 1 so it hasn’t been entirely successful. Can you guess what it is going to be when it grows up? Those at SnB on Monday are not eligible. But, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while you’ll likely have a good idea of what it is. Anyone who guesses correctly will be put into a drawing next Friday morning and will recieve a goodie from me.
6/7/2005
I finished these socks on Sunday and washed them. The cotton content and that fact that I handwashed them and didn’t get to put them through a spin cycle before they went in the dryer allowed them to go throuh two dryer cycles and still not dry fully, LOL! But, I set them out in our strong CO sun on my coat hanger blockers and they were dry in short order.
In honor of Margene’s new acquisition here are Heatwave socks lounging on our own two week old resin Adirondack style chairs that also had an adventure coming home in a VW Jetta :-)
As you can see, I had some issues with the second ball of Fixation not striping like the first one :-/ I would probably suggest knitting the cuff and heels of both socks with one ball and the instep and toe of both with the other ball. Though, once you have sandals or shoes on it doesn’t show too bad. But, I must remember my own advice when knitting with varigated or handpainted yarns next time :-)
And lastly, here is our Japanese Maple in the front yard displaying these great summer socks…
2 Balls Cascade Fixation (9442)
US 2.5 Bryspun Needles, CO 64
Original Design
Completed Sunday, June 5th 2005 (my dad’s 51st birthday)!
I wore the socks to SnB last night. However, I chose my clothes to match my socks. Is that a sign of a problem??? ;-)
The pattern is currently being test knit by CeCe (the Spearfish sock contest winner) and should be released on the 15th, hopefully.
6/6/2005
I was hoping to have some great modeled photos of an FO for you all, but it is taking *forever* to dry! So, hopefully a picture-filled post tomorrow or Wednesday.
I’m thinking it’s about time to take Skyway out of her timeout beneath the bed. I think it has become very evident that I’m not a “finisher.” Not that I won’t finish Skyway, but more that I don’t enjoy the process of finishing a garment, which causes me to procrastinate for an unacceptable amount of time. By the time I finish it, it will be too big (down 15 pounds and three inches on the hips) and too hot to wear (even though it is sleeveless, it is fairly heavy with the cotton content).
In spinning news, I *think* I’ve made a decision on the spinning wheel. I visited the library this weekend and am reading a few books.
My decision is mostly driven by economics, as there are other wheels I think I might rather have. I don’t doubt DH would spend an additional $200-$400 over what he was originally thinking it was going to cost when he told me a wheel would be my birthday present. However, this last month has been one of lots of expenses. We did a ton of home improvement/cosmetic things to the house to prepare for his parents’ visit before Memorial and we finally purchased a gas grill. Then, we have some sprinkler repair and house painting coming up and would like to also get our patio put in. There is also the issue that our inner spring futon mattress is really not working for either of us anymore and we think we will be graduating to a real mattress. Well, if I spend an additional $300 on a spinning wheel that could mean we need to wait until late fall to get a new mattress, which might actually cause the end of our marriage as we both are getting increasingly crabby from a lack of quality sleep…
I need to do a little more “research” before I make the official announcement on what my decision is and I won’t get to that until at least Wednesday, if not Thursday, so stay tuned! In the meantime, please share with me your favorite spinning blogs to read or let me know if you also blog about spinning on your knitting blog.
Last, but definitely not least - Stitch ‘n Bitch tonight at Catalyst Coffee for those in the area. 6-8pm!
5/31/2005
Well, here is sock #1 *again* LOL!
That’s all I’ve got time for today. I’ve gotta get caught up on work stuff after having company here for the last week. But, I’ll be back tomorrow with a tech post on how to continue patterns onto heel flaps as I’ve been getting an amazing number of e-mail questions on how to do such a simple thing and don’t have time to answer everyone individually.
