As The Yarn Turns

Road Knitting

Usually when we have to drive any distance I'll take some sock knitting along to knit while Rick drives. We had a couple of trips to Huntsville this past week so I had a dilemma. What knitting to take on the drive over? I haven't started any new socks since I finished the Bearfoot socks. So I rummaged through my projects. Spindle spinning just doesn't work. Our cars are too small for that. The Rambling Rows afghan is way too big. Then I found my languishing mohair scarf. Actually it's looking more like a wrap. It turned out to be perfect for road knitting.

It has that unblocked lace scrunchy look but I like it so far. As for my next set of socks, they are still in the planning stages. I have picked out some yarn from my stash but everything else is still up in the air. There will be more on that later.

by Sydney  |

First FO of the New Year

Yes, I actually have a finished object. The Mountain Colors Bearfoot socks are finished and I'm thrilled with them. The colors are nice and they feel so cozy on my feet. I haven't washed and blocked them yet. I just might wear them anyway they feel so nice.

The colorway is Silverbow and the pattern is a generic top down, stockinette sock pattern adjusted to my foot measurements. If I hadn't already decided to make Rick a pair of socks, I would have started on another pair of Mountain Colors Bearfoot socks. Someone asked me either in email or in the comments whether there was enough yarn in a single skein for a pair of socks. Each skein is 100 gm, 350 yards and I had a lot of yarn left over. I actually had more yarn left over than I expected. I wear size 7 US shoe and I made the cuffs 6.5 inches long. I could have easily made the cuffs another inch longer, or the foot another inch longer if I thought they would grow longer. I usually make my cuffs between 5 and 7 inches long, though, usually around 6 inches. These socks were started towards the end of Socktoberfest and I've finally finished them. I could have easily finished them earlier but what can I say. I got distracted by other knitting.

Tomorrow it's back to work after a week and a half off. In a way, I am feeling king of cheated because I had a cold during part of my time off. On the other hand, it will be good to get back into the world again. I'm starting to get that isolated feeling. So I'm off to prepare for the week ahead.

by Sydney  |

Happy New Year!

Well it's time to take the Holiday decorations down, although I might put it off for another day or two or three. I enjoy the decorations and having a Christmas tree in the house, so it's always hard to take the decorations down. Unfortunately we get a real tree for our Christmas tree so I guess I can't procrastinate too long. I guess it's also time to take the reindeer antlers off of the bear, even though he has enjoyed his festive look this year.

The past year has gone by so fast. A lot has happened this year, good and bad, but the good has outweighed the bad by far. I usually set goals for the new year instead of resolutions. (Okay, I know there's not that much difference between the two, but humor me.) This past year I realized that my own handspun wasn't really that bad for knitting. I put off knitting with my handspun for a long time because I felt it wasn't good enough. This year I discovered that I actually like knitting with my handspun. It has a different quality from commercial yarns, not necessarily better or worse, just different. So I plan to use more of my own handspun in my knitting this year. I also hope to spend more time designing my own garments. Even a not-so-successful design experiment can be fun. Another thing I want to try this year is weaving. I am amazed at what Sara Lamb does with looms and color. And lastly, I'm also going to continue to try to get my yarn and fiber more organized. That should be plenty to keep me busy this year.

So to get the new year started off right, it's time for me to start our yearly New Year tradition - Hoppin' John and Greens.

Traditionally the greens are collard greens. This year the grocery store just had a bin marked "Greens" with several different types of unlabeled greens. So we're having mystery greens for New Year's Day this year.

Best wishes for everyone in the new year!

by Sydney  |