Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Sock update


Sock update
Originally uploaded by january spin
I wish I had smaller feet! Never thought about it before now but sock knitting has made small feet desireable.

I am enjoying the process and glad that I selected a plain sock for my first attempt. I enjoy working with 2 circulars and the yarn that I am using has such a tight twist that it ought to wear well. The toe up method is great because it lets you reward yourself by trying on the sock at various stages and thus you are encouraged to continue the knitting marathon.

I do think I am going to start another project with larger needles to give the hands a rest for a bit. The size 1 needles mean I only knit for short stretches at a time. Does anyone else have this problem?

Saturday, October 10, 2009

The sock begins


Turkish cast on
Originally uploaded by january spin
Ok, I am actually starting a sock. I spent yesterday looking at various cast on methods. I watched a video on the Magic Cast On and looked at pictures in Wendy's Johnson's book "Socks From the Toe Up".

No one was available to sit next to me and walk me through the process yesterday so I quit trying that method and settled on the Turkish Cast on. For me this one was very easy to do and I didn't experience near the frustration I was having with the Magic Cast On. I don't know about you, but when I want to start a project, I want to start it NOW.

I am a hands on type of learner so watching something or hearing directions just doesn't do the job. I need to get my hands involved in the process and this cast on worked for me on this day. Tomorrow, who knows. I'll certainly go back and try the Magic Cast On at a later date but for now, I am knitting a sock!!!!!!

Note to self: I should have tried this years, and years ago before glasses were necessary. Knitting with size one needles is going to cause me to squint which means more wrinkles, of which I have plenty. Oh, how we suffer for our art.

I am using Silky Sock Watermelon Wanda from The Great Adirondack Yarn Company, Inc. which is 70% superwash wool, 20% silk and 10% nylon so hopefully it will wear well.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Allie and Conner


Allie and Conner
Originally uploaded by january spin
This is my first video ever. Allie and Conner were just flying around the yard in the cool weather and of course stopped when I produced the camera.

Anyway, it tickled me to watch Allie trying to teach Conner that she was boss. I'm not sure he got the message at all.

The Great Needle Eater

I know lurking in my house somewhere is The Great Needle Eater hearafter known as TGNE. TGNE is selective and only eats the needles needed for the next project. At one point TGNE had a craving for size 8 needles. The length didn't make any difference but it had to be a size 8.

Consequently, I purchased several size 8 needles over a period of months. You know when you want to start a project, you want to start it NOW. Anyway, TGNE subsequently regurgitated the size 8s and now I could open a yarn shop specializing in size 8 needles. Well, it could also have size 10 1/2 and 13s as well.

Now TGNE has started on size 7s. Naturally, I need size 7s for a project I want to start right away so I am off to the yarn shop to buy size 7s so the old size 7s can be regurgitated and reappear once again.