11.16.06
Posted in dogs, knitting, socks, spinning at 8:34 pm by wendy
I mean, I must be, since it seems like forever since I’ve posted. I must have a ton of cool things to post, and no dog pictures at all, yeah?
These eyes say, “yeah, right.”
I have been knitting:
Does this look delicious to you? Because apparently Snuggle thinks so. I found him chomping up the stitch marker end of one of the Denise cords on this after taking it onto his favorite sofa. His chewing broke off the connector and rendered the cord useless, which is a bummer, but I am glad it wasn’t the needle tips he chose to chew on.This is Snuggle’s favorite sofa, in case you’re curious:
He matches it well, if you can spot him in the back. After I took this picture, he rolled and wedged himsef in between the bottom cushions and the back of the sofa and started to freak out a little. I held him still and moved the cushions away so I could roll him gently over onto his side and he could get off the couch.He did and gave the couch quite an aggrieved look.And he’s one of the smarter ones.
The stains on the sofa are from the day he bit his tongue and ended up getting blood everywhere, in the oddest places. I didn’t knit anything or wear favorite clothes for two days because there’s really nothing you can do with those little cuts than soak the food and wait for the cut to heal, and he still such a puppy he says “hi” constantly with his face into everything.
And I’ve been spinning:
This is some of the
50/50 80s merino/tencel fiber, handpainted and spun to a fingering weight single, destined to be plied with its other half.And last Thursday evening I started the first sock I’ve ever designed myself (whee!).
I tried a couple different versions of a short row toe, first the one from
Jessica’s Falling Leaves sock, then the short row toe from
Lucy’s Wendy’s tutorial on Knitty. I ripped, reknit and ripped and reknit and… but by Friday evening, before leaving
Mary-Kay’s goodbye San Diego knitters gathering, I finished a version I felt I could live with, and once I got past overthinking the short row toe, the rest of the sock zoomed along. It’s been done all week and I’d like to show you the back but it’s hard to get a good pic of the back of your own foot and leg, and Nick and I don’t seem to have much shared conscious daylight time lately for taking pictures of knitwear.
I wanted to make a fairly simple, fairly pretty sock to test my handpainted sportweight sock yarn. I waffle about put up amounts–I think people like big skeins, but at the same time, I know I don’t like paying for yarn I won’t use, I like to buy in smaller put ups if that’s the amount I need. But I wanted to make sure it was actually possible to knit a sock from 125 yards of sportweight.I knit loosely, so I used US3 Inox dpns (which I really, really like: kind of cold when you first pick them up, but they warm quickly and the tips, friction, and lack of flex really worked for me) and that produced a fabric I liked.My feet are around size 6 US, although of course it depends on the shoe manufacturer because apparently when it comes to making garments for women, the watchword is “inconsistent sizing.” I started with 57 grams and ended with 20 grams left over, so I feel confident that 125 yards is a good put up amount, enough for a pair of gloves or a good size sock. Please let me know if folks out there feel strongly otherwise.
I’ll be testing the pattern for accuracy with the second sock and including it as a free pattern, either on the site or with purchase of the yarn. Whee!
On another note, is anybody else just blown away by how fast this year has gone by?
I cannot believe it’s nearly over. I went through my various “my goal for this year” posts and I am frankly embarrassed. I suck. I have a month and a half to spin and knit a cabled sweater for Nick and comb out the Karakul lamb fleece I bought from Robin Snyder (Flying Colors Ranch, no website but you can contact her at sheeples[at]worldatt[dot]net), dye it with natural dyes and build a loom and weave a little bag using Working With the Wool as my guide.
And I had other goals, really good goals, goals it should have been no big deal to maintain/meet, goals that would have…well, it doesn’t bear thinkin’ on. In fine family tradition, I am going to pretend my failings don’t exist. I am perfect. I never make mistakes. I love me. Yes indeedy. Sigh.
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Vera said,
November 16, 2006 at 10:13 pm
Your sock looks great. I have yet to try a toe up sock. What are you making with the Noro? I love that color.
Janice in GA said,
November 17, 2006 at 6:38 am
My Jasper really likes to eat my wood or bamboo needles. Rotten little dog. (said with affection, mostly.)
Hilari said,
November 17, 2006 at 8:26 am
Heidi said,
November 17, 2006 at 9:13 am
I could write the same ‘what did I do this year’ post. But now I’ll feel like a copycat.
I love those socks and the puppy pictures! But is that NORO up there, or are my eyes deceiving me?
Nancy said,
November 17, 2006 at 9:30 am
I love the socks too! You’d think the lace pattern wouldnt look as nice with varigated yarn but I like how you’re came out with that stripey effect.
MJ said,
November 17, 2006 at 11:55 am
Beautiful sock pattern, and it looks great with the stripe too. 125 yards per sock seems fine for a laceweight sock. If you know someone with a longer/wider foot, perhaps they can test-knit one for you just to confirm.
Ang said,
November 17, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Snuggles is sooo cute!
Michelle said,
November 17, 2006 at 3:56 pm
I really like the design on that sock. I think it would be cool if you made it even higher–like a stocking.
Cassie said,
November 18, 2006 at 4:41 am
Wow, the sock is gorgeous. Colors, pattern, everything.
LoriO said,
November 18, 2006 at 5:40 pm
I feel like I’ve spent the entire year trying to get my legs back under me. It has gone by SO fast, and SO much has happened it’s unreal.
I love how snuggle looks just like Snuggle the bear from the fabric softener commercial? Is that how he got his name? You are so patient with your dogs. You’re my role model. Rena has been very bad lately. We got the crate down from the attic this weekend. Luckily so far she thinks it’s a really neat cave.
Pretty pretty sock!
Ande said,
November 19, 2006 at 9:05 pm
You make me want to knit a sock! Lord knows I’ve only ever completed one pair!
I see Snuggle made it back safe and sound. He must have gotten lost in the East End when he got off the bus. Lots of distractions over there like dive bars, strip joints and hookers. Looks like he had a good time! Anyway, thanks for the loaner.
Marsha said,
November 20, 2006 at 6:43 am
I like the pattern and the yarn. I haven’t tried a lace sock yet. I have big Fred Flinstone feet (9.5-10) so would that take twice the yarn? For me there’s no such thing as too much yarn!! I think I will eventually use my leftovers and combine them with a solid or something for a striped version. Most of the indie yarns I buy are anywhere from 325 to over 500 yards with most of them in the 400 yard range.
Mary-Kay said,
November 20, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Awesome socks. Love the spinning. Of course LOVE the dog photos. Miss you! And Missy says HI!
Monica said,
November 24, 2006 at 7:47 am
I’ve got some similarly colored merino/tencel I have yet to spin up, I’ll be curious to see how yours looks plied. Does Snuggles think he is camouflaged on that sofa?
dharma said,
November 24, 2006 at 6:31 pm
Goals? I don’t need no stinking goals.
Great socks. Very impressive.