Ok. Not really. The only place I’m going today is upstate NY to visit the folks for the weekend (and to meet the new doggy!). But you could say I’ll be Knitting on the Road (well… ok… technically *rail*) with Nancy Bush. Previously I told you how I had started this pattern but it was a bit small.

I’m not familiar with the yarn the pattern calls for, but since it is supposed to be knit on size 3 needles and I’m using size 1s, this result wasn’t entirely surprising. The pattern does have a good deal of stretch though, so I thought I might be able to get away with it. No such luck.

The ribbing area seemed ok though so I pulled everything back to the row after the nupps. In this case the nupp stitches are actually little wraps around two stitches that make an interesting beginning to the cabled parts.

Since there are three cabled areas on each side of the sock separated by a couple of purl stitches, it was very simple to purl one of those stitches in the front and back on the next row to increase my stitch count. I ended up doing that in each area of purl stitches. Doing the increase as a purl in the front and back makes the increase nearly invisible when surrounded by the purls of the stitch pattern.

This was a perfect solution for me and the resulting stitch count fits just fine. If you ever need to modify a pattern like this, look at the sequence of stitches and see if you can add or subtract stitches in areas between pattern repeats. If you choose the right type of increase, it may not even be all that visible. It’s an easy solution to a fit problem so you can continue with a great pattern.

At this point the first sock is done and just waiting for a mate. But I’ve got a few more things on the needles at the moment which I’ll be showing you soon.

If you are in the US have a great holiday weekend! And if you aren’t, have a great weekend anyway!

Apparently I needed a brief respite from sock knitting (you can stop laughing now). Does this make me a bad host? I sure hope not!

Retro Redux

Pattern: Retro Redux Shrug from the book Lace Style

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease (about 2 balls, I’m not entirely sure for reasons stated below)

Needles: Size 8, 9, 10 and 10.5 addis

Knit: 8/19-8/25/2007

Mods: I used the stitch count from the largest size but used the length measurements for the medium size.

I’ve got a bunch of cotton ease in my stash still and I’ve been trying to find ways to use it. This was a good project for getting a couple of already used balls turned into something with more of a purpose than taking up room on the yarn wall. I actually had used this very yarn for Tempting way back when, but I was still in my “I am tall and therefore large and therefore must knit something 3 sizes too big in order for it to fit” stage, and finally ripped it out when I realized I would not be wearing it again. When I saw Karen’s Retro Redux on Ravelry, I decided to go for it.
This is a really simple and enjoyable pattern that yields a good result. I think this might make a nice first lace project for someone with very little lace experience. The pattern only involves alternating knitting or purling with yarn overs and is easily memorized. There’s no increasing at all because you just change needle sizes. And finishing is really minimal (two short seams and a couple of ends to tuck in). I finished knitting the majority of this the day I cast on and only needed a few more sessions to finish it off.

I like shrugs and this will make a good transition garment as we start heading into fall. Now if the weather will just cooperate…

HWJF and I have continued our efforts to have a little fun this summer despite the craziness that life tends to throw at us from time to time. Friday was a good day for such a thing since he had off and was willing to make the trip into NYC. We decided after a great dinner and some fun in the arcade at Dave and Buster’s in Times Square that we should see one of New York’s more unique attractions:

Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum!

So yeah, it’s a touristy silly thing to do. But we’d never been there before. And besides, you can’t say we don’t know how to show a sock a good time!

How many socks can say they’ve been held by Oprah?

Or Bono?!

Woody Allen seemed less than impressed with our haul from D&B’s.

Bullseye was a little more interested. Probably because of the leftovers.

I got to knit on the moon.

Lenny gave me a conducting lesson.

Jody Foster didn’t believe I was a Yalie too until I showed her my class ring.

The Great One was a little too focused on the goal.

Just call me “Knitty Spice”. Ok. Don’t. Really.

Louie didn’t even mind someone else blowing his horn.

But we were probably all happiest to pose together with this NY icon.

You can see more of our fun and silliness on Flickr.

So if you’re ever in Times Square and want to rub elbows with some of the greats, definitely make a stop here!

Knitting stuff next time. Promise!

I seem to still be catching up on things that I just haven’t gotten around to and cruddy commuting conditions haven’t helped much as of late. So please allow me to indulge in some very belated thank yous.

First, both Sasha and Stacey have named me a Rockin’ Girl Blogger!

I’m very flattered! I think we all rock in some way, so if you’re reading this, considering yourself nominated!

Next, remember back when I told you all about how lucky I’d been in some blog contests? Well Jessalu’s package arrived while I was away and I was totally blown away when I opened it. Check this out:

Not only did she sew the bag herself (which still blows my mind. It even has a zipper!) but look at that gorgeous handspun yarn!

I absolutely love everything. She included some chocolate as well which I just about had to beat HWJF away from or he would have eaten it all himself! Thanks for the great package Jess!

So are you wondering what’s on the needles now? Well, when the books that I ordered from the Interweave Hurt Book sale arrived last week they brought me a great solution. I really had wanted to make CableNet with the Wollmeise yarn that Kristy gave me, but it just didn’t work out. The colors were too dark to really see the cables and there was no way I was going to do all that work and not be able to see them! Nancy Bush’s Knitting on the Road to the rescue!

Sorry for the crappy Treo pic.

This is Denmark. Or I suppose I should say this is my first attempt at Denmark. I found out at this point that it was a bit snug, (like cut off my circulation and barely get over my heel “snug”) so out it came. The second time around I added some purl stitches to increase the stitch count without distorting the pattern too much. More about that next time.

Have a great weekend!

While I was in Maine I did manage to get in some sock knitting. I even finished two pairs!

Gift Socks #1 – Summer of Socks Pair #4

Pattern: Plain stockinette toe up sock.

Yarn: Austerman Step (No idea on the colorway)

Needles: Size 1 addis

Knit: 6/17-8/10/2007

Yes indeed, I am already thinking about Christmas gifts and that is exactly what these will probably end up being. As you can see, these are definitely not my colors, but I think the recipient will find them to their liking. This is pretty much my usual pattern, which has gotten a few tweaks as of late.

Incidentally, I really loved working with the yarn. Maybe the whole deal of it being infused with Jojoba oil is a crock, maybe it’s not, but it is soft and strong and really lovely to work with. As you saw in the last post, I bought three more skeins, so it definitely grew on me! Now if only I had paid more attention to the stripes, maybe they would have matched. Ah well… I think they will still be appreciated.

If you really want to know who these are for, you can check my page for the project on Ravelry.

Purple Herring – Summer of Socks Pair #5

Pattern: Red Herring from Knitty.

Yarn: Tess supersocks and baby. 1 ball purple and 1 ball of black

Needles: Size 2 addis for the colorwork, size 1 for the foot and heel.

Knit: 8/1-8/13/2007

My first top down socks of the summer. I really enjoyed doing this pattern. It was interesting enough that I had to pay attention, but intuitive enough that I was able to memorize it for the second sock.

I modified the pattern slightly by using a size smaller needle to knit the foot. I prefer a sturdy fabric for my socks and it was just going to be too loose if I stayed with the size 2 needle. I switched needle sizes just a few rows after I put in the waste yarn for the afterthought heel.

I’m still not crazy about this type of heel, but it’s about the only way to get the heel to be a different color in the manner that the pattern calls for and I do like the use of the different color for the toes and heels. I think the toe came out quite nicely as written.

And I must say again that I absolutely loved working with this yarn. It has a good bit of stretch and is soft and oh so nice to work with. The dyeing is quite nicely done as well. You can see some slight variations in the purple in the picture of the cuff and while some might call that a flaw, I actually like it. I’m also a big fan of the yardage. After knitting this pair, I may almost have enough to do a second pair just like them if I reverse the colors. Not sure I’ll do that any time soon, but I always like to have plenty of yarn. I’m disappointed that I couldn’t secure some more while I was in Maine. I could get some at Stitches East, but I’m seriously thinking that I probably shouldn’t go to that considering it is the weekend before Rhinebeck (anyone want to bring back some sock yarn for me? ). Then again, can you really have too much of a good thing? Like socks?!?!

This puts me one pair away from my goal of 6 for the along. Not bad considering it feels like I’ve been very busy and distracted this summer. These will also qualify as my August submission to Sock a Month 4 (which I joined a while back and have yet to mention, much less get the button on the blog). If you haven’t had a look at that group, please do! Many beautiful socks being shown over there! I do of course have another pair (or two!) on the go again already. But you’ll have to wait for another day to see them.

Oh yeah! Maine! I had almost forgotten. We really did have a nice trip. The traffic wasn’t kind on Friday and it took about 7 hours from the time HWJF left work until we arrived in West Hartford, CT. We stopped to have dinner with one of HWJF’s college friends and his new fiance, and then headed north. When it became obvious that it was going to be *very* late before we arrived, we looked for hotels with no luck and ended up stopping at the L.L. Bean parking lot for a nap before finishing off the trip and getting in at 2am. Not to worry though because the next day HWJF’s Mom needed some help shopping for a new computer and didn’t mind making a couple of stops, so we headed off to Portland.

We tried to visit the new Tess Yarns shop there, but they were closed. I have a feeling that may have had something to do with Stitches Midwest being the same weekend. So off to a great lunch we went and then did our computer shopping. HWJF’s Mom ended up with a beautiful new laptop (which really makes me want to turn in my giant 17″ one, but that just isn’t going to happen right now) and we made a stop at L.L.Bean on the way back north, because, well, you just can’t be in Maine and not get to shop at L.L.Bean!

HWJF found a backpack big enough to hold a thing or two.

I ended up with this pair of shoes and we got some Ben and Jerry’s before we went home.

Sunday was all about HWJF reconnecting with old friends while we went to the final concert at NEMC. When we first started dating, he was working there for the summer and I went to visit a couple of times. It’s a beautiful place and it really amazes me what they are able to get out of these kids musically, in the midst of also having all sorts of more “summer camp” type activities besides rehearsals and practicing. We definitely enjoyed the concert and also got to see one of HWJF’s current students play, which made for a great afternoon. The evening wound up with blueberry picking (we came home with about 14 pounds, yes pounds, this year) and HWJF’s parents were nice enough to make me a lobster dinner! Yum!!!

Monday we decided to strike out on our own and hit some favorite local places. The new yarn store in town was closed, but one in another area that we had been to previously was open and I managed some damage:

Details on my Ravelry account if you want them.

I really didn’t need more variegated sock yarn, but I just couldn’t resist the colors on some of these. The Aussie Sock yarn is actually for gift socks and there are two skeins.

After yarn shopping it was off to another good lunch and then we went to the fair!

I hadn’t been to one in ages and it was fun to look at the animals and play some games. Little did I know, HWJF is a bingo WIZ and won himself some new travel mugs and won me a fluffy cow:

I won the puppy in a water shooting game. Look like anyone you remember?

On the way home, we saw an awesome rainbow.

A beautiful end to a beautiful day.

We left for home on Tuesday and made a couple of stops along the way. Another stop in Freeport had me going home with this:

The new Kaffe Fasset sock yarn. Two balls and totally for me. I just love the colors. I also picked up the new IK (can you say drool?!).

We had to make a quick run into this place:

Because I remember hearing my Dad talk about it. It’s like L.L.Bean south. Wish we’d had more time to look around. We had lunch with some other college friends of HWJF’s in Boston and had plans to meet up with Stacey, but unfortunately they didn’t work out. Hopefully next time! In the end, it was probably just as well, since, well, you know what happened that day.

So a trip framed by not so good things, but a great trip nonetheless. I did manage to knit in between all that shopping and have two finished objects to show you next time.

Just checking in to let you all know that I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. Our trip to Maine was wonderful in so many ways and you can be sure that I’ll be recounting them here. Unfortunately, our trip ended with the news that my mother had been admitted to the hospital after what was supposed to be outpatient surgery on her gall bladder. When I called her “she-who-does-badly-with-anesthesia” a couple of posts back, I wasn’t kidding. To make a long story short, thanks to a combination of anesthesia and other prescription drugs that were administered despite continued warnings that it might not be a good idea, she wasn’t well enough to go home and had to stay overnight. Luckily, she was fine the following day and was able to go home in the afternoon. I am rather fiercely overprotective of my parents (wonder where I learned that from?!) and doing it long distance didn’t make re-entry into reality any better on Wednesday morning. And the staff at the hospital didn’t help mattters on little bit (She was admitted 2 hours ago and paid for television and phone service. Why isn’t her phone turned on yet?! — What do you mean you don’t know if she’s been released or not?!).

All of this to say, the suitcase is still in the car which is at work with HWJF, the camera is MIA, and blogging much more than this little note to you all just isn’t going to happen until after the weekend. I want to thank those of you who left comments of good healing vibes for my mother. Things could have been much worse and I’m very thankful that they weren’t. Once again, I always appreciate knowing that you are all out there and that you care.

So next week there will be pictures of our adventures, tales of closed yarn stores, finished objects and much more. Until then, I think I need to go knit! Have a wonderful weekend and hug someone you love!

Nothing like…

Originally uploaded by summerofsocks2006

.. a *real* vacation drink! Umbrella and all!

With all the excitement going on around here this week (things were back to normal yesterday, but today we are supposed to get heavy rain again during the day) I haven’t been able to get my post about spinning together, so it’s just going to have to wait for another day. Instead, I have socks! Purple and black herring socks!

I’m nearly finished with the first sock. The directions have the afterthought heel knit last, but I really felt as though I wouldn’t get the foot length right if I didn’t put it in before I finished off the foot. I’ve done one afterthought heel before, but I was knitting toe up and the placement of the heel made more sense to me in that direction. I placed the waste yarn where I would have started a heel flap and all worked out well. I suppose I could have trusted that same logic from the top down, but I decided to be chicken and do it before I got too far on the foot.

I’ve also strayed from the pattern a bit in that I went down a needle size shortly after putting in the waste yarn for the heel. The cuff is knit on size 2s with 72 stitches and when the colorwork is done you reduce down to 64. Even so, 64 stitches on a size 2 needle was going to be too loose for my foot, so going down to a 1 was an easy adjustment. I also knit the heel on a 1 and will do the toe with it also.

I’d be interested to hear from other magic loop knitters what length needle you use for single socks. I usually go with a 40, but the new addis only come in 32 and 47. I’ve mostly been using the 47 with these needles but I bought a couple of 32s to try. They seem a bit short to me, but it is a bit faster than dealing with all that cord with the 47. Any opinions out there?

This afternoon we are off to Maine for four glorious days and it couldn’t come at a better time. I am in definite need of a change of scenery and some time away from the computer, so you probably won’t see another update here until late next week. Next Tuesday is a big day for us as it is HWJF’s birthday (yay!) but it’s also the day my mother goes in for her second surgery of the year (gall bladder this time). Depending on how things go, there may be a third in the future (she also has a hernia in need of repair). I almost hesitate to mention any of this here, but I also know the power of this community, so if you could send some good thoughts to she-who-does-badly-with-anesthesia on Tuesday, I’d really appreciate it.

Have a great weekend and I’ll see you back here late next week!

Why I didn’t get to work on time today…

Originally uploaded by summerofsocks2006

As you can see, there was a *bit* of water around this morning. This was taken out the window of the train, somewhere near Newark, NJ. Also, try to imagine NYC with no subways at rush hour. Yeah. Not fun.