In the wings

WEBS had these yarns on sale. I'd had these projects in the back of my subconcious. Berroco Zen was too expensive to pay retail so I waited. For the cardigan, Devon Julia was hard to find. I had to substitute colors, but it will work.

Stuff in the works

In my quest to challenge myself and master new aspects of the craft, I bought Knitting Out of Africa. The author is a Dane (I believe - or Norwegian) and her designs are inspired by various African motifs.

She uses her own yarn and I've never been able to find it anywhere except one Norwegian yarn site. I substituted to the best of my ability. using Knitpicks Palette. While I always check gauge, and did so this time, the knitted garment is not gauging correctly. But, the pattern is a huge size and I can block to fit.

The trick to this one is that it is modular knitting. The small needle size and the constant changing of direction makes it slow going, but it will be pretty cool when it's done.

The other one is a rather nondescript man's sweater. It's from Knit N Style, one of the few to which I do not subscribe. Sometimes it has useful stuff, but often the designs are just tacky. Lots of eyelash, sparkles, and some just butt-ugly designs. I don't subscribe because I don't want to pay for the ones that are going right in the trash. The yarn I'd ordered in error, and just kept. The color will not work on me at all. It would work on someone, say, blond and blue-eyed. Or someone with dark hair. Not someone like me, who tends to favor reds, yellows, browns and greens.

Why, then?

It's in the technique. This one will require a steek. Steeks are shaping techniques that require the knitter to cut the knitting. This seems counterintuitive and I'm leery of it, but this is a simple one and I'm at least willing to try. If I screw it up, well, no matter.

Knew In Knitting

So I finally learned to knit socks.

I took the week between Christmas and New Year off, and one of my projects was to sit for an uninterrupted period of time trying to figure this out. I'd tried before, using double-point needles. I dislike using them. And by "dislike," I mean "loathe." So I quit.

I had the Cat Bordhi Socks Soar book for a while, and tried to learn it before. But I was a bit too new and the book does not, IMHO, explain sock anatomy. This, I discovered, is one of the keys to seeing what you are doing. So, I got a few more sock books, including Sensational Knitted Socks and the new Vogue Ultimate Sock book, as they both illustrate sock construction. Sensational also contains instructions for 4 or 5 needles, or two circulars, along with various patterns, sizes, and gauges, for mix and match.

I got it.

The needles I had were not ideal for the task. I'd bought them with the idea that I didn't want to spend much on needles if I didn't like doing it.

After I finished the first set of socks, I invested in some decent needles (I needed small needles in various sizes anyway for other projects). Knitpicks sells very nice nickel plates for the best prices I've seen. With the new needles, I started the next pair.

Yeah, so sue me

I know I haven't been on in a while. I'm guessing only three people read this anyway, so nyeh.

I'd give that trite excuse about being busy. It's true, but that isn't all. I've been spending my time on the spectator sport that is presidential politics, reading articles and blogs. I do have an undergrad degre in this, so I find it of interest.

I've been reading more, and working on some essays and short stories.

I've also been conflicted about my electoral choices, and have been reasoning through them.

And, of course, knitting.