Monday, August 06, 2007

Fabulousness

(Please forgive me in advance for the abusive overuse of superlatives in this post. Really, I'm sorry. Disgusting, sticky-sweet perkiness is not normally my style but there seemed to be no way around it.)

I have found an excellent way to delay making the decision about the heel for the toe-up socks - spend all of my knitting time doing a photoshoot with my yarn and handknit gifts and then blather on about it on this here blog.

Secret Pal Love

I have been ridiculously and shamefully neglectful in posting pictures of the super stellar gifts that Joanie sent to me at the close of the Secret Pal exchange. Neglect no more!!
First up we have two skeins of Dancing from Knit Picks.
Have any of you ever used this yarn? It is a cotton/wool/nylon/elastic blend. It is beautiful and I have tucked it away in the yarn drawers until I can find the right pattern for it.

Joanie also did a most wonderful thing...just wonderfully kind and marvelous - she knit something for me. For me!! Look at the beautiful fingerless mitts she made for me. Though we have never met and she has no idea what my hands look like, they fit perfectly. They are soft and just perfectly....lovely. Thank you so much, Joanie! I have once again been happily paired in a knitting exchange.

Yarn Shopping Settles My Nerves

Dogs have their favorite bones, winos have their favorite wines, gamblers have their favorite casinos....I have my favorite handpainted sock yarn supplier. That ever-talented darling Susie. Last week was a bit of a stressful week for me and I just happened to stumble over to Susie's place and order some yarn....600 delicious yards of 100% Superwash Merino. Ahhh, Passionate Kisses.
I have never been much of a shopper but somehow, the sock yarn, it soothes me. Some people have a soft spot for other goodies but I have come to terms with the fact that I am a sucker for Susie and her magnificent sock yarn.
I have plans for this yarn. Big plans. (Overly ambitious plans.) I have a pattern that has been on my to-do list for a while now and I've looked high and low for the perfect yarn for it. I think Passionate Kisses might just be this patterns long-lost love.
If you have a few spare moments, stop by Susie's blog and send her some virtual love. She's resting up at home after a medical procedure last Friday.

One of the Cool Kids

You'll never guess what showed up in my email inbox today. Actually, ya'll probably would guess so I'll just tell you - my invitation to Ravelry! It is amazing what a person can do with Ravelry. I am in awe. And I am so SO very excited to get started populating my little corner of the community. The pictures, the patterns, the yarn, the knitterly friends....It really, really must wait, though, until the socks are finished.


As for the Socks...

I think I've decided to follow RC's lead on the heels and go with the Sherman Short Row Heel. That is, if I can decipher the tutorial. I'm a bit intimidated but I like the look of this finished heel. I'm still contemplating this tutorial Charity recommended. Does anyone have two cents to spare on this topic?
You may recall that I originally intended to knit my first toe-up socks for me. Well, when I ripped the first go, I decided I needed some making-something-for-someone-else mojo to help me get through this. That means, of course, that these socks aren't for me. These socks are for my niece Tegan. Her parents and twin sister delivered her to college this weekend (she had to report early, for cheerleading camp.) I talked to her tonight and she is already a little homesick. This is a big, big move for her and I'm planning to send her these socks in her first care package, thus the delay in diving in to Ravelry.

Today's Quote:

"Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for ‘tis better to be alone than in bad company.” -George Washington

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you like it!! As for the fit, I "cheated." In one of your blog pics, I noted that your hands look about the size of mine! I'm glad they fit.

As for the yarn, it's sold as sock yarn. I have a couple balls in my stash, but I haven't tried using it. I'm not sure how its gauge will work up with the elastic, but I think it might do well with socks, given the stretchiness. I tend to have serious gauge problems anyway (haha), so I've been hesitant to try it out. I hope it turns out to be a good yarn to knit with.

Charity said...

Yay! What a great package, I'm so glad you were so spoiled! :0) I used Dancing for Katie's ankle socks... it's a little different to get used to, because of the elastic, but once you're comfortable, it knits up really nicely, and the socks are wearing really well.

Dr. B. said...

Yeah, there's something about sock yarn... it'll kill ya.

You know what else will kill ya? That Ravelry. I look forward to hearing your experience with it. I got so overwhelmed so fast, I retreated back into my little corner of the earth. Once you are in, though, I will want to know what you're up to over there.

Rose Red said...

Lovely goodies - you are very lucky - that red sock yarn - delicious!

It's a good idea to finish your socks before getting into Ravelry - I got my invitation on Saturday and did no knitting at all until Tuesday night - and only because I didn't have a computer!!

Dorothy said...

Ravelry is awesome! I'm Ilikesoup. Old joke.

The sock yarn is beautiful and with 600yds you'll probably have enough for some knee socks.

Anonymous said...

Kristy, there's a short row tutorial here

I love how you've photographed the red yarn!