Sunday, February 11, 2007

A Jaywalker, Two Realizations, & Bamboo...Oh Yeah, And Assorted Other Stuff


...But first, an update from Redd---- His new favorite spot is a very small Adidas shoe box. He can be found curled up, sleeping in it, eating his breakfast in it, or playing with his favorite toy in it. Sorry, the picture's a little dark, but he doesn't allow flashes in his quiet area.


Next up, we have a finished Jaywalker. I don't think I need to link Magknits, because everyone knows where this pattern is from.

As you may recall, I was perfectly happy just knitting the leg, so it ended up fairly long. I'm happy with this though, because I usually like a longer sock.



I began the heel flap on Thursday night, then finished the heel flap and turned the heel on Friday night.

Saturday morning (yesterday) I woke up and contemplated putting this one aside and starting on the second one, but then I figured I might as well keep working on this one for a bit longer.




I worked on it through the morning, and by 11am I was already ready to start the toe decreases. Stu had to go into work for a bit, so I went with him and finished the toe decreases, grafted the toe, and wove in the ends. All in all, I was finished before 1pm.

I am still in disbelief that it took me so little time to finish the entire foot.

And this sock fits me like a glove (or sock, or whatever you prefer).




Here are the specs again---

Pattern: Jaywalker from Magknits.
Yarn: Trekking XXL in color #
Needles: 2.75mm Crystal Palace DPNS

I'll be casting on for the second one today.

I'd been dying to try out the Regia Bamboo that I picked up in Steveston a few weekends ago, and yesterday afternoon the urge was too strong, so I've decided to make some ankle socks. Actually, there slightly taller than ankle socks, but you get the idea.



Since it seems like an eternity since I've magic looped anything, that's what I'm doing for these socks.

This yarn is fairly thick, at least it's thicker than most sock yarn, so I'm using 3mm 32" Addi Turbos. I've cast on 54 stitches.




Wow, has the progress on this sock gone quickly! I'm almost ready to turn the heel.

This has got to be one of the softest yarns I've ever knit with. It's also nice and cushy.




You may have noticed that I'm using fairly large needles when I've been knitting sock lately. Let me tell you about my rationale --- When I'm at work, I don't normally wear regular socks, because I've got these awesome leather almost knee high boots, and there isn't enough room for socks in them, so I wear trouser socks. They're cute trouser socks too, they've got an argyle pattern to them.

So, I usually only wear my handknit socks at home or in my super comfy slide on backless Ecco runners. Needles to say, this is not very hard on socks. Also, I like the softer material that can only be achieved by knitting on bigger needles. I mean, the socks look the same, but they just feel super super nice.

So there, that's why. Just in case you were curious.

On to the realizations---

You know that pink sweater I'm making out of the Blue Sky Alpacas Melange? Well, the front and back are both finished, and I've done the ribbing for one sleeve. Everything is looking good, and I can't wait to wear it, but for some reason, I am totally unable to knit it.


I think I've figured out why. I don't think I'm going to have enough yarn for the second sleeve. Actually, I know I won't. I only have two skeins left, and I think that will only finish one sleeve. So that's it, I don't want to start, because I know I won't be able to finish.

Now that I know that that's my mental problem, I'm hoping I'll be able to start it again. I may have to use a different dye lot for the second sleeve, or I may luck out and be able to find more yarn of the same dye lot, but either way, I will not rip this sweater out. I'm prepared to finish.

It's funny, I'd never really tried to figure out exactly why a UFO stays as such, but this is a good idea. I think I'll have fewer UFOs because of it.


My second realization is that Firefly tagged my with the "Five Weird Things About You Meme" several weeks ago, and I totally forgot. I think I've done this meme before, but I'll give it another go.

1. I don't shave my legs in the winter. And in the summer, I only shave them as far as absolutely necessary. Eg. With capris, I'll shave to just below my knees, etc.

2. Stu and I eat his parents' leftovers probably 4 nights a week.

3. I am a horrible gardener. Horrible. Stu takes care of the plants. Actually, he takes care of the cats and the fish too. I just can't keep anything alive. In fact, without him, I think I'd starve to death too.

4. I could eat Indian food for every meal everyday. Seriously. Mmmm... Takeout.

5. Most night I'm asleep by 8:30pm. And I wake up oddly early on the weekends, even though I beg for 5 more minutes during the week.

I don't know if these things are really that weird. I suspect they're not.

What else was there? I can't remember, although I'm sure there was something. Oh yeah, I've put up a few wedding pictures on flickr. (My flickr is linked in the sidebar near the bottom). Just in case you're curious.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the color of the Regia Bamboo yarn!

Karen said...

Love your Jaywalkers. I'm think I'm the only knitter around who hasn't done that pattern yet. Soon . . . soon. Popping over to see you wedding pictures now!! :)

Brena said...

That yarn really was begging to be made into jaywalkers. They look great!