Molly Ringwald Socks

Aren’t they pretty in pink? Okay, I know it’s a little cheesy and lame, but you’ll have to forgive me. These socks were done in record time, a mere 5.5 days! Gotta love sportweight. You see my fears about not having enough yarn were totally unfounded. (Don’t look too close or you’ll also see my “design element”)

Yarn: Chewy Spaghetti Sportweight in Pink

Pattern: Quill Lace from Knitty

Needles: Knit Picks size 1s

Mods: I knit the first round, rather than start the first round in pattern. I also went down quite a few needle sizes. I think my gauge is about 7.5 stitches per inch. I only checked it after I had done the foot of the first sock. They fit great, so I’m happy. My leg also is probably a little shorter than the 4.5 inches the pattern called for. My worries about not having enough yarn were part of shortening it, plus this pattern doesn’t have any ribbing, so I didn’t want to make the leg too long because it might not stay up well.

Great pattern, great yarn!

Next up….Vesper in Venus in Fur

It’ll be a big departure; the yarn feels so thin! I think I’ll do a basic rib for the cuff (maybe twisted) and then plain stockinette for the rest of the sock. I know I’ll complain about how boring it is, but I really am interested in seeing how the yarn stripes. The picture shows the color pretty well, though it’s a littler richer in person.

If anyone can tell my why this colorway is called Venus in Fur, I’ll appreciate it.

Quill Lace

I’ve been working hard on finishing the Retro Ribbed Socks so that I could start on a new pair.  I don’t have a problem starting the second sock, but usually I can’t wait to finish it so that I can start on a new pair.

I’m using the sportweight from the Blue Plate Special Club that I’ve gotten from Chewy Spaghetti. It’s such a pretty pink that I wanted something feminine. I’ve never used sportweight before, and I thought that could be a challenge.

I settled on the Quill Lace pattern from Knitty. It’s really pretty and I love how it looks with the pink yarn.

I didn’t swatch, but started out using size 2 needles.  That was way too big, so I’ve settle on 1s.  The yarn doesn’t feel that much thicker than fingering weight, and I almost think I could have gone with my trusty 0s.  I’ll see how it comes out.  It may be a little big on the calf, and I may have to decrease an extra bit for the foot.  The yarn is great to work with. It’s very soft and not splity.  I’m a little concerned about the yardage.  The skein is 250 yards, though  the pattern, as written, calls for 285 yards.  I’ll probably need to make the leg a little shorter, which isn’t a problem.

By the way, I’ve updated my “Books I’ve Read” list.  I had been going through a book slump.  I had started 2-3 books, but just couldn’t get into any of them.  Right now I’m reading The Doctor’s Wife, which is pretty good.  I’m glad the slump is over!

Vintage Knitting

I had a yard sale this weekend with some friends from work. One of the friends is a huge pack rat and she sometimes wants to give me things that I have no need for. But, I lucked out this time. She had some vintage knitting pattern books that she gave me. How cool is that?

I have no idea when these were published. I couldn’t find a copyright date. My guess is in the forties or fifties. On the first page of the adult booklet, it says, “Needed! Your leisure hours and helping hands. Every hour of every day many women are busy helping to produce yarn for the Services. That is why the production of hand knitting yarn for civilian use has been considerably curtailed. Today your leisure hours and helping hands can be turned to good purpose in making serviceable hand-knits for your own and your family’s use…”

The patterns are really nice and very classic and tailored. I’d love to make any of them, except for one thing.

The gauge for 95% of them are 8 stitches per inch.

That’s my gauge for socks. There is no way I could manage an entire sweater at that small of a gauge.

This pattern is called, “Inviting.”  I think it fits perfectly.

Nominated!

Liz was kind enough to nominate me. It’s very sweet and I will try to live up to the nomination.

So, it’s my duty to nominate five blogs:

1. Dame Wendy- I love reading about her thoughts and life. She has great insight into things. Not to mention she’s pretty hilarious!

2. The Keyboard Biologist- She has a newborn, knits, and blogs. Need I say more?

3. Momma-Monkey- She makes great bags and takes great pictures of them.

4. Life in LaLaLumay Land- Very funny and insightful. I love her comments on the projects that she is less than pleased about.

5. Work in Progress- She quilt and knits. I’ve seriously thought about buying a sewing machine because of her blog.

It was hard to pick just five, and really, any of the blog writers in my blogroll would be considered a Rockin’ Girl Blogger. I wouldn’t read anything but the best and most rockin’, would I?

ETA: Roberta Ferguson gets credit for coming up with the idea. If I’ve nominated you, go ahead and nominate five more and give Ms. Ferguson credit.

(I also reworded something that sounded weird to me.  No change in ideas, just a little smoother.)

The Dilemma

This is completely non-knitting until the very end.  Feel free to skip over the first part.

I’ve just finished reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan.  I was introduced to the book at a Cook with the Chef night, sponsored by the CSA (community supported agriculture) that we belong to.  It was given as the door prize.  I didn’t win it, but I was intrigued.  So, the next time I was at a bookstore, I bought it.

It’s a really interesting look at what we eat.  The entire “dilemma” is that of what to eat.  We live in an age and country where we have so many choices.

The author begins with the idea of a completely processed meal.  In this section, he focuses on the surplus of corn and how, because of this surplus, processed corn has been put into our food supply.  It was very interesting and an eye opener for me.  He also goes into how the meat in the grocery store gets there, which is sad and pretty disgusting, though it’s not overly graphic.

He then looks at the idea of organic food and what that really means.  I try and eat as much organic food as I can afford and get, which isn’t that much.  This section made me rethink my ideas of organic.  For example, an organic chicken’s quality of life is really no different than that of a non-organic chicken.  I had a very romanticized notion of what it meant when a package said “organic.”  But, in this section, Pollan also explores what farming can be like if a farmer utilizes the land and animals in a certain way, much like small farmers did fifty years ago.

The last section focuses on the author’s search for a meal that he can make using only those things he has hunted or gathered or grown.  This was interesting, though less so for me than the other sections.  Maybe it was because it isn’t something that I would do in my own life.  The author fully admits it isn’t realistic for most people.

This book has made me reexamine what I can do to buy my food from local farmers and how I can change my way of eating so that it’s more healthy and natural.  Our local CSA is thinking about offering a fall/winter subscription, which would be something I would be interested in.  It’s fairly easy now to eat fruits and vegetables that are local, but would be more difficult to do in the colder months.  We’re also going to get a small freezer so that I can freeze things like peaches, plums, and tomatoes when they’re in season.  I’m not ready to try canning, but maybe next year.

I highly recommend this book if you’re a little bit interested in the idea of “slow foods.”  The idea of slow food cooking is that you use natural, non-processed food and use what is in season.

Okay, now for a little bit about knitting:

I just got my first issue of Interweave Knits.  I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed with any of the issues I’ve gotten and this one is no exception.

My favorite patterns:

Tangled  Yoke Cardigan- I love this for it’s simplicity and details.  It’s so feminine.

Cobblestone Pullover-  If I ever am brave enough to knit Josh a sweater, it would probably be this one.

Mirepoix Bodice- So pretty!  But, steeks! Eek!

Minimalist Cardigan- I love the details and the fact that it’s something that could be worn with a variety of things.

I tend to like clothing that is close fitting and feminine, rather than looser and knit with bulky yarns.  There are other patterns in the magazine that I like, but I wouldn’t personally wear them.

I finished the first Retro Ribbed Sock the other day and I’ve got a good start on the second.  I’m really pushing myself to knit more socks.  With all of the yarn I have, I need to use it.  It’s a good thing I really love knitting socks.

The Newest Socks

The pattern is the Retro Ribbed Socks from Favorite Socks, done in Dream in Color Smooshy Sock Yarn on my usual size 0 needles, magic loop style.

I really like this yarn and will probably get more of it in the future.  It still hasn’t beat out my current all-time favorite, Cherry Tree Hill, but I like it lots better than Lorna’s Laces.  It’s not as tightly spun as CTH, but is softer and has more smooshy-ness to it than LL.

I had good intentions.  I really was going to do my first toe-up.  I started using the new self-striping yarn from Knit Picks, with the Magic Cast On.  It was easy and great.  But, then I couldn’t find a good toe-up, magic loop pattern.  There is one in the Magic Loop booklet, but it’s for a child’s sock.  Since we were going to be gone, I wanted something that wouldn’t require too much thought from me.  I’ll search for a toe-up, magic loop adult pattern and I will complete it.  But, just not now.

Wanna know something amazing?  I didn’t buy any yarn on my trip.  Nothing.  It’s not because I couldn’t, but I just didn’t see any sense in getting more sock yarn.  I have so much of it right now, and it’s all yarn that I really want to use.  If I keep buying more sock yarn, I’ll never get around to knitting with all the lovely goodness that I already have.  My next big project will be a long-sleeved sweater for myself and I already have the yarn for that.  I’m also thinking of making mittens for Christmas gifts and I have plenty of odds and ends for that, too.

Sometimes I amaze myself.

Traveling Hangover

I’ve had a headache for the past three days. My guess is that I have a hangover from traveling. I haven’t been hungover for many years, but it’s not a feeling that I forgot. Generally my hangovers didn’t last three days, though.

The trip was great and I’m so glad we went. I found some Children’s Dramamine for LouLa, which worked on the way there. But, I forgot to give it to her on the way back and we had to pull over on a *very* busy interstate to clean her up (I’ll leave the details to your imagination- She had yogurt and blueberries for breakfast ). I searched through the suitcases and found it and she was fine after that.

I was lucky enough to have something waiting for me when I got home:

I signed up for the Blue Plate Special from Khris at Chewy Spaghetti and got my first shipment. I’m looking forward to two more and I hope that she continues offering them. She is offering a three month special with holiday themed yarn. I think there are still some openings available.

I requested a solid-ish color and I’m really happy with what she sent. It’s a really pretty pink and it’s very soft. It’s sportweight, which I’ve never used for socks, but I have lots of patterns and she was kind enough to include some suggestions. She also sent along some goodies. On the top picture you can see the cute bumpersticker, which I’ll tape to the back window of my car. You can see on the bottom picture the cute bag that matches nicely with the yarn. You might not be able to see it, but the button on the bag says, “Make socks not war,” which fits perfectly with my personal sentiments.

I have done some knitting, but I’ll leave those pictures for another day. I need to go take some more Advil and fry up some bacon. Isn’t that supposed to be good for a hangover?

Got Gauge!

Here’s my gauge swatch for the Cream Baby Cardi:

The Daisy Pattern calls for a gauge of 20 sts/28 rows for 4inches in stockinette. My stitches are at 4 inches, but my row gauge is a little off. I’m not worried about that, because I can easily adjust that. I did a gauge swatch for the Green Baby Cardi and was able to get gauge, so I probably didn’t need to do another one, since I am using the same yarn. But, given my gauge issues with Wicked, I decided to do one anyway, just in case the gauge gods were against me. Besides, what else am I going to do while waiting for my yarn? It should come today, along with my sock yarn for the toe-ups. Cozy has been my backup knitting, but I’m looking forward to starting other things.

This will probably be my last post for over a week. I’ll have access to the internet, but I can’t imagine having time to post here.