Knit & Nosh

sheesh

This afternoon I was in Joann's, buying buttons for the baby sweater, when I spied the Interweave Knits Holiday issue.  Now I had seen the preview for this magazine and knew I planned to buy one, so I grabbed it and proceeded to the check-out.  Once there, I was surprised to see that one of my items was given a $7.19 discount.  This surprised me, because I was purchasing $4.00 worth of buttons and the magazine.  I asked the cashier and we were both amazed to see that the magazine was priced at $14.99. !!  What?  A magazine?  Really?  Without the discount I would not have purchased a copy.  $15.00 for a magazine?  Get real.  I would rather spend $15.00 purchasing patterns directly from the designers.  I hope this pricing is not a sign of things to come.

who cast on all these projects?

Yesterday, as I wound a ball of yarn, it hit me that I have more WIP’s than I have ever had before.  You know me, a pair of socks and something else and that is it.  Anything more is just silly. How did this happen?

First up, the Sock Yarn Blanket.

 

Now, this hardly counts as a WIP, as it will probably be many years before it is finished.  But it has grown quite a bit since the last photo.  A two thumbs up knit.

Then there is a sock.

A man sock.  A simple k3, p1, only the purl is really seed stitch.  I LOVE the look, and the simplicity can not be beat.  This is the kind of sock that can be knit while having a three martini lunch.  I mean, er, I suppose, if you were the sort of person to have three martini lunches.  This has been my, drag around to the waiting places sock.  I love how the variegated yarn is not stripey or pooly, just nicely variegated.  That hardly ever happens.

There is a second sock.

This project bag sits on the couch in my office.  Youngest Son uses my computer to do his math lessons and I work on this sock while standing by to help him.  It is an 8 row repeat and I can finish a repeat in about the time it takes him to finish a lesson.  Slow and steady.

There is a baby sweater.

Husband’s Officemate is almost due, and this sweater, along with a matching hat will soon be finished.  The sex is not known.  Well, at least the sex of the baby is not known, I am fairly certain the original sex is accounted for.  The sweater is sitting on my desk until I can pick up buttons.  I do not know how to big to make the button holes until I actually have the buttons. 

Yes, there is more.

Winter Birches.  This is the October sock kit from Woolgirl.  I have a special place in my heart for Birch trees and this project could not wait.  It is making the trip to Canada with me this weekend.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Birnham Woods.

This little lovely is the current Shakespeare in Lace club kit.  I altered the edging, because I am anti-pointy edging at the moment.  Two pattern repeats have been completed.  The yarn is so yummy.  The pattern is simple lace, but I am too distracted to spend much time working on it.

Good thing I did not commit to any holiday knitting this year.  What’s on your needles?

really?

Clearwire is going to double my internet speed without raising my monthly fee?  I am excited, but  anxious at the same time.  We will see...

surprise, surprise, surprise

This will be the first year in a very long time that I am not knitting in preparation for the holidays.  Many of the people on my holiday gift list love and appreciate a handknit item or two.  In years past I began knitting and spinning in August to get gifts cranked out and wrapped up in time.  I have NEVER gifted a partially finished garment.  This year I am feeling  ‘EH (insert hand movement).  When this lack of holiday knitting enthusiasm began I assumed it meant that I would not be knitting for others, but would still knit for my family.  I mean really, what is Hanukkah without  new scarves/socks/mittens...Today I realized that the kids will probably not be getting a little piece of handknit love from me for Hanukkah.  I did not know this day would ever arrive.

It is actually pretty liberating, this non list of things to knit.  I do not expect it to become a habit, but for now, it is OK.  I will give them theater tickets instead and all will be good.

bummer

Husband is sick.  Not sure what is going on other than I doubt he will be going to work tomorrow.  His level of sickness will determine my level of productive work for the day.

This evening I hustled people off to bed in order to take care of some writing tasks.  It was my intention to clean up a few pages and then send them off to Writer's Group in anticipation of our Saturday meeting.  Whoops, (watch me not swear) it appears I have neglected a key bit of research.  I began the work this evening and hope to finish in the morning, Husband willing.

Oh right, this is suppose to be a knitting and noshing blog.  Tons of knitting has been done.  I do not have a clue where I left off, but here are some photos just in case:

Paul Atwell Socks

Turn a Square Hat, using leftovers.

Nancy Bush Mystery Socks.

Lacy Baktus, modified big time.


There has also been noshing that includes jars, here is some photographic evidence.

Its totally dark here, give me a break.

Happening this week is another pair of socks for Husband and a fabulous shawl for me.  Also, expect Cherry Preserves and Maple-Strawberry Smooch.  Can a girl ever have too many 1/2 pint jars?  Oh, right, I am suppose to be painting.  That too.

  

fish bones

I just ordered the Cat Mittens pattern from this site.  It was the fish bone on the thumb that pushed me over the edge.  As a rule I make faces at fair-isle, but this is a MUST knit.

october 27th

This is a good one.

early morning stretching

Toby asked about the stretchiness of the Paul Atwell Socks.  Because of the slip stitch patterning I too was concerned about elasticity.  Husband’s sock are usually knit at 72 stitches and size 1 needles.  For the Paul Atwell Socks I decided to err on the side of caution and moved up a size to 80 stitches.  I worked a few inches of the leg and then had him try it on.  Too big.  I ripped it out and began again at his normal size.

The socks still look wide, but that is because the fabric is not pulling in at all.  You can see how the ribbed cuff is much more narrow than the patterned leg.

 

Let’s get scientific.

Leg measures  4 ½ inches  at rest.

Stretches to  6ish.  How's that for a scientific number?

Here is a well worn sock out of Husband’s drawer

 

Leg measure 3 inches at rest stretches to 5 1/2.

So there is a bit of a difference.  What will happen with the heel?  Should know in a couple of days.

 

 

let's hear it for the boys

Last Saturday I went shoe shopping.  Well not really shopping, I headed straight for the Birkenstock store.  The only shopping involved was the choosing of a color. Before I left home I opened the sock drawer and realized that I had four pair of knitted socks that I had never even worn.  At this point it may help you to know that I only wear handknit socks.  Having four unworn pair means that I really do not need any more socks right now.  Husband also has a drawer of handknit socks, but his pile is not as large as mine.  That means that the next few months will be all about him.  Man Socks and more Man Socks on the needles.

First up, Paul Atwell Socks

Knit using Three Irish Girls, Adorn Sock, Kieran.  This is a really great pattern, I highly recommend it.

I will have many hours in an airport/airplane this weekend so I will be packing along the next socks, just in case.  Diamonds in his Shoes, using more Three Irish Girls.

mystery over

The middle finger of my right hand is sporting a big, fat band aid.  Typing is difficult, but I have a pretty picture to put up.

These are the Nancy Bush Mystery Socks from the SKA September Challenge.  It is a pattern that I will probably knit again.  Of course I will make some mods, I can't help myself.

Because I do not use the middle finger of my right hand to knit, I will spend the weekend working on this

and holding my breath for the water to be running in the kitchen.