Toning Down Bright Colors

Here's the second pair of socks I made using the slip stitch pattern from the Judy at the knitter. I was so happy with the first pair that I immediately cast on for another pair, but I thought I'd try using just one yarn for each color. They are both variegated. The pink yarn came from Elann and was much brighter than I expected. I used a blue/black Opal yarn as the contrast color and successfully (I think) toned down the hot pink yarn. I also used the slip stitch design on the foot of the sock. This helps with wear and gauge, as well as fitting and looking better, even off the foot. I used a two color eye of partridge stitch on the heel. The toes are plain hot pink. I'm still working on ways to account for the changing number of stitches in the gusset area in the slip stitch design. The most recent pair of socks I finished are the most successful to date at handling this problem.

Sunday Seven/Eighths

Seven things I'm grateful for this week.
1. Stick shift cars
2. Trader Joe's
3. The Sunday paper
4. Spring Weather
5. The Yellow Pages
6. Rotary cutters for quilting
7. Kleenex

I took a class yesterday with Judy Sisneros on making a quilt pattern called Winding Paths. The quilt pieces are still pinned to the design board in my car, since I went to visit my mother instead of going home. Today we're going to Trader Joe's. I finished one of my Madtini socks last night and cast on for the other one. I forgot the pattern and the extra ball of yarn, so I didn't get very far. Luckily I had another sock project along with me. I hope to finish these boring socks really soon so I can work on more exciting projects.

Slip Stitch O Rama

I watched a great movie from Netflix last night and knit on my new sock. The movie is called "Her Majesty". I thought I was ordering the Helen Mirren movie, and was kind of surprised when she never showed up in this one. After a while I figured it out. It's about a little girl in rural New Zealand in 1952 who idolizes the new queen. She writes her several letters and is thrilled to hear she will be visiting her town on the Dominions Tour. No more spoilers, but I highly recommend you watch it. If you liked "The Squid and the Whale" "Whale Rider!" you will like this one. I cried at the end. Edited to add: What's the matter with me? I HATED "The Squid and The Whale" and it wasn't about New Zealand.

I made great progress on the sock, too. I knit the heel flap on Monday night while watching "What about Brian". I used a two color variation that I might have unvented of the eye of partridge heel stitch. You knit one row that is usually purled. Very distinctive! I'll post more about this later. After finishing the heel turn I picked up stitches in alternating colors to get both strands of yarn to the beginning of the pattern round at the instep, making a checkerboard design. I knit in the slip stitch pattern on the instep, then K1, SL1 around to continue the checkerboard design. Slip stitch designs are hard to use in the gusset decrease area, because the count gets thrown off. I've resorted to stripes or solid areas in the past. One idea I had while knitting this sock was to use a band heel on my next pair. There are no gusset decreases to throw off the pattern then, but there are decreases in the heel flap, so it would have to be a solid color, thus eliminating my intriguing new heel pattern. I could also use a short row heel but, as I've said before, I HATE SHORT ROW HEELS. I did do something different with this sock. I continued the slip stitch pattern on the instep and used a different one on the sole during the decrease rounds. I think this has worked out the best so far. The pattern on the gusset seems to continue the heel pattern, and the pattern on the instep continues uninterrupted.

After I got through the gusset decreases, which took exactly half of the pattern's row repeat, I continued in the instep pattern around the whole sock. When knitting another sock design, I tried to use a slip stitch design on the gusset and a striped pattern on the sole of the sock, but the row gauges were too far off and the sock looked like a boat. It fit okay, but the next pair I tried, with the slip stitch design on instep and sole, fit better and looked nice.

I won't want to stop knitting this sock to start my sock madness design on Thursday.

Sock Madness Round 2

I got my instructions for the next round of Sock Madness. We'll get the pattern on Thursday afternoon and the first to finish in each group of 2 goes on to the next round. The pattern calls for sport weight yarn this time. I have a free needle in the right size and lots of yarn in my stash. I do have a knitting group on Thursday night where I don't usually get much personal knitting done, and a quilting class on Saturday, so I might be knocked out of this round early.

On the Home Stretch

I've been working on these socks for my DH for a while now. They've been my travel socks, the mindless pattern that I carry around with me to knit in my spare moments. I finally turned the heel on sock two last week and am almost finished with the foot. I'm using the Alternating 2 X 2 Rib basketweave stitch from the SKS book (page 38). I've had this Socka striping tweed yarn in my stash for quite a long time, waiting for the right pattern. It's kind of boring yarn, but everyone who's seen them loves the socks. I want to get this second sock finished so I will have a free needle for the next round of sock madness.

I also started a new sock project with Knit Picks Essentials in navy and a brightly colored Regia. I cast on 76 stitches, ribbed for 1.5 inches, then increased to 84 stitches while I knitted the first round of the pattern stitch. The pattern repeat is 14 stitches and the chart has 44 rounds. I'm using the Double Spiral mosaic (slip stitch) design from Sensational Knitted Socks. The Regia yarn has been ageing in my stash for several years. I got the Knitpicks Essential in a few solid colors last year to use with leftover multicolored yarn in slip stitch patterns like this one.

Slip stitch patterns have very little stretch, so it' s important to swatch, or try on the sock before knitting too much. This pattern repeat will also work if you cast on 64 stitches, then increase to 70 stitches before starting the mosaic pattern.

The Luck O' The Irish

I must have been kissed by a leprachaun this week.I'm only Irish by marriage, but it's a pretty Irish household.

On Tuesday I was the last contestant in my division of Sock Madness to make it through to the next round, and I did it by the skin of my flying fingers. My socks even had green in them.

On Wednesday I filled out two door prize drawing forms, one for my boss (who wasn't even there yet) and one for me, at a food show. Right after she arrived at the show her name was called and she won a $100 Visa gift card. She split it fifty/fifty with me. Only fair. If I'd cheated and filled out two slips with my name they probably wouldn't have drawn either one of them.

Then, today, I get a message that I've won the "guess how many stitches I've knit so far" contest on Susan's blog. I happened on her blog last night and I guess I was feeling lucky. I once guessed how many buttons were in a jar within 10 of the actual number (800+), and it was a totally random guess. My guess for Susan's contest was somewhat more scientific. I estimated that she had cast on about 400 stitches and multiplied that by a wild guess of 80 rounds knit. I hadn't even seen the picture of the sweater yet. I don't know what I've won yet, but I'm sure it's wonderful. Thanks again, Susan!

I forgot to mention in my first post that I also won two sets of Lantern Moon needles at Stitches West. It was my prize at the student banquet. I got a set of 5" rosewood double point needles in size 4, perfect for gloves or heavy socks, and a set of ebony straight needles in size 10, great for scarves. I also got a rubber vase and a note pad cover with special Lantern Moon sticky notes. Pictures of the loot will be available soon. It's been a lucky month. It's a wonder that my special green wasn't Kerry.

Today I get to eat my third corned beef and cabbage meal of the week. I'm making my famous Irish soda bread to bring to the party. Guinness may also be involved. I will honor the Saint by beginning a new green sock project for DD. The first pair of St. Patrick's Day socks I made him, from Bonkers Hand Dyed sock yarn, were well received but met a sad fate. He said he knew how to wash them and they shrank. Luckily (there it is again!) they fit my cousin, a WWII reenactor with small feet, and they were conservative enough in color to look like they could have been worn during the war.

The Dreaded Kitchener Stitch

I tried it once, on my first practice sock. Not a pretty sight. Then I discovered the three needle bind off and that's how I finish all of my sock toes. I can't feel the seam at all, so I don't bother with Kitchener. If someone else who I am l knitting socks for is bothered by the seam, I will do a star toe instead. Anything to avoid the dreaded Kitchener.

Sock Madness Round 1 Completed

I MADE IT TO THE NEXT ROUND!

After a hectic weekend when I got no laundry done, I finally finished both sock madness socks. I ran out of navy blue yarn at the heel of sock two. I knew that was a possibility when I started and I had a backup yarn planned. Turns out it was a slightly lighter weight than the original. I used some yarn I hand dyed for the variegated yarn. I also ran out of that yarn just at the foot, or the toe would have been variegated on sock two to match the heel. I knitted most of Saturday, all of Sunday night, turned the heel on sock two yesterday after work, and was trying to finish the toe at midnight last night. Gave up, went to sleep, went to work in the morning and just got home. I finished the toe and put the sock on the scanner, yarn ends not woven in. Here they are, hot off the needles. I uploaded the pictures to the blog and sent an email to the organizers just in time. PHEW!! The pattern is now available on the blog.

My DD's camera is full (and I don't know how to unload the pictures), so I had to scan the actual socks to get an image to post. I'll replace these awful pictures as soon as I can. Now off to do laundry so I have some clean clothes to wear tomorrow. Luckily the weather changed so I could wear summery clothes the past two days, but now it's getting cold again.

Sunday Seven, Part VI

Seven things I am grateful for this week:

1. Spring flowers
This picture was taken last spring in my garden. This year the freesias and madeira lilies are already in bloom, but the bearded iris usually bloom in April and May. I've taken the iris rhizomes that produce this flower with me wherever I've moved for the last 26 years. The very first time the iris bloomed in my garden was the day my DD was (almost 26 years ago.)

2. Knitty On Line Magazine
The new Spring issue of Knitty is out! More sock patterns to try, OH NO. Fingerless gloves, a great lace scarf, kids clothes, a wonderful briefcase bag, an interesting shrug, great cardigan sweaters, and more. I even have some of the yarns in my stash.

3. Caring, generous knitters everywhere
4. Good friends (who knit)
5. Creative Yarn Producers like SWTC, K1C2 and Habu Textiles.
I got the newsletter from SWTC with a new Tofutsies sock pattern today.
6. Sunsets
Last night the sunset was just incredible over the ocean. I'm very lucky to live where I do.
7. Daylight Savings Time (except for the lost hour of sleep today)

Fiber Weekends

I had a fibery weekend with a knitting friend whose family was out of town. Saturday afternoon and evening we knitted and watched her new Lucy Neatby sock knitting DVD. Then we got bored and watched an old Masterpiece Theater with a very young Jeremy Irons: Love for Lydia (look for it at your local library.) We kept knitting the whole time. My friend started a new ripple pattern jacket in Silk Garden and knit 5 inches on the back.

I got quite a bit done on my Sock Madness sock, which I started in the morning. I'm almost to the toe on the first sock. I'm using some yarn I dyed myself along with a solid navy. I scanned this picture because I STILL don't have a digital camera. UPDATE: It's done! I've started sock #2.


Today we went to the Contemporary Crafts Market in San Francisco at Fort Mason (right on the bay, just beautiful today.) I bought some lampwork glass pendants and some blown glass animals: A papa penguin and baby, and a mama quail and her babies on a log for my mother. There were lots of craftswomen knitting while tending their booths. Lots of knitted scarves, brooches, knitted and felted hats, jackets, scarves, and vests.

Rockin Sock Club Inside Out Sock

I'm working on the new SOTM design from Socks that Rock, Inside Out. I ripped out the garter stitch short row heel I did last night and redid it on a smaller needle. This is my second ever short row heel and I didn't quite get the directions. The heel I ripped out had some holes, and the replacement looks great. I'm ready to start the cable pattern. The pattern is still striping regularly, and the colors were only slightly interrupted by the heel. I think I like it. We'll see how it feels on the foot, but at first glance it looks promising.

UPDATE: After doing one round of the cable pattern, I tried on the sock tonight. I knit the sock onto two long circulars so I could get it over my ankle without losing stitches. It fits!

AARGH! I just saw a place where I purled when I should have knit halfway down the toe! Probably no one but me will ever notice it, but still. With the short row heel there's no way I can ladder down and correct those two stitches.

Problem averted. The wayward purls were on the top of the sock and. luckily, on the top of the cable turn. I frogged one stitch down through the cable and half way down the foot, hooked up the stitches again and it's perfect. Huge sigh of relief!

I still don't have a camera so I scanned my in progress sock. I'm using two circular needles, size 2.75 mm, for the leg. I have thick ankles so I am using a larger gauge. The cable repeat doesn't allow me to easily add stitches to make the leg bigger. EDITED to add: I switched to a 3mm needle, a 12" ADDI, further up the leg. STILL tight!

I got a BIG Squishy

I got a package from Astrid in The Netherlands! Enough yarn for 17 pairs of socks at an average price of $11.00 (shipping costs are astronomical from Europe to California, but cheaper than flying there to pick up the yarn.) I got a skein of the Opal Hundertwasser (and a free sideways knit sock pattern to use with it) in the Silver Spiral colorway. I think it's the best of the Hundertwasser colors, which I saw in person at Stitches West. I also got two socks worth of Regia Bamboo, some Opal Smoke in masculine colors, great Regia Mosaic in browns & another in blues & greens, lots of Regia cotton that was on sale, some Meilenweit Stretch cotton in blues, Strapaz 6 ply cotton in black and a striping color, Regia cotton in solid Denim, and two balls of Schachenmayr Chamonix (under $2.00 a ball) to add to a felted bag or slipper cuff. Enough yarn for 17 pairs of socks, eek!

I've never ordered from Astrid before, but it went fine. The squishy mailing bag had two small slashes in it where (I guess) the customs agents had checked it out, but the yarn was in good shape. The site is sort of hard to navigate through, but the prices are great. I ordered on 2/18 and the package got here on 3/5, about 2 weeks. Unfortunately I ordered before she got in the Opal Bamboo and Uni cotton. I feel a group order coming on to get the best shipping price.

Remember, sock yarn doesn't count as stash!

New Socks that Rock Project

I finished my Swirly Girl socks last night, so I had a free needle to transfer the toe from my new Rockin Socks that Rock Monsoon socks onto. I prefer to use a 12" long ADDI turbo to knit my socks. I tried using the Magic Loop and double points, neither of which worked well. I don't yet have two size 2.5 mm circulars, so I had to finish the SG socks before I could start knitting up the foot of the new pair. I knit the toe on double points but they are not my preferred method of knitting socks.

The short row toe went really well. I love garter stitch! I'm not so fond of ribbing, though, and that's what the rest of the foot is in this pattern. Two different kinds of ribbing, no less. I'm going to try and stick to the pattern on this pair, though. After all, that's what I'm paying the big bucks for, isn't it? I didn't follow the pattern completely on any of last year's socks from the club, so I procrastinated on signing up again this year. Eventually I gave in and bit the bullet, though. I'm not good at following patterns. I want to do my own thing.

I watched Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters and knit away on the socks. I finished the 2nd Swirly Girl sock just as DH was ending. Actually I didn't finish it, but I knit off onto double points halfway through the toe decreases. They'll be done tonight, I promise. I want to wear them tomorrow.

Update: I'm almost ready to start the heel now. I've never successfully done a short row heel (or toe) so hopefully this one will work. Of course, I only tried the heel once before. Flap and gusset heels fit me well, so I didn't see a reason to change. The toe went perfectly, although where I started the ribbing pooches out a little before the ribbing compresses in again. My stripes are working out very nicely, with just a little spiraling. I am using a size 2.5 mm needle. Knitting the ribbing isn't too bad, either. The yarn is so smooth it knits like buttah.

Lost your Socks?

The Bizarro cartoon today made me laugh. Thanks to my sock knitting friend Elizabeth in Norway for this link.

I finished knitting a pair of socks and wanted to wear them before I wove in the ends. Well, then I couldn't wash them until I wove in the ends. They were on top of my dryer waiting for me to weave in the ends and one disappeared. I looked in back of the dryer and all over the garage but I couldn't find it anywhere.

About 6 months later I was cleaning in back of the dryer and noticed a piece of familiar colored string peeking out under the bottom of the drywall. (The walls in the garage aren't finished completely). I tugged on the string and out popped the lost sock. A mouse had dragged it into the wall, but it was too big (or heavy) to keep pulling on and it had been abandoned. The entire sock was in the wall cavity, only the non darned in yarn end was hanging out. It was a bit dusty but none the worse for wear. I shook it out, darned in the ends, and washed it. Now I have a nice new pair of socks.

The moral of the story? ALWAYS WEAVE IN YOUR ENDS! (Unless you plan to leave it where a mouse might abscond with it.)

Sunday Seven Part V

The title sounds like a Shakespeare play, doesn't it? Henry VI, Part II

Seven Things I am grateful for this week.
1. I missed last week due to Stitches West, so we'll start with that. I had a great time and learned a lot
2. My mom is home from the hospital less than two weeks after hip replacement surgery.
3. My Rockin Sock Club shipment arrived, and I completed my first short row toe successfully. I love the little keychain with emergency sock yarn attached. Last year I had to use the yarn to complete the toe of my second sock, so it's good to have.
4. Books on Tape
5. Joyce Williams, who unvented knitting small circumferences on two circular needles
6. Cat Bordhi, who made it fun
7. Knitting at KNoon's great videos and free patterns

What I would rather be doing instead of watching a movie.

Sitting on the beach in Hawai'i.
(or Half Moon Bay, Costa Rica, Cozumel, you pick)
Watching the sunset.
or knitting.......................socks

Rockin Sock Club

It's here! The first shipment of the new year. I was just reading about the trials and tribulations of Kaci and crew and I heard a thud at my door. The mailman had dropped off my package of sock yarn. Hurrah Hurray Kalooh Kaleigh!

It's a beautiful spring day here but I am suffering from acacia allergies so I'm home from work. I also got a new DVD from Netflix, based on Rosamund Pilcher's book Coming Home. I've been a little dissatisfied with the first two parts of the mini series. This disc is called Nancherrow and may redeem my disaffection. Something to watch while winding my new yarn!

UPDATE: Nancherrow was pretty good. Invented out of whole cloth, except for one bit, unless she wrote another book called Nancherrow, which I doubt. I have to finish another sock (I'm halfway down the foot!) before I can switch needles to start knitting the STR sock. I tried Magic Loop but the points on my long needle are too long, and I just can't get behind double points for too long. I did the short row toe on the double points, but now I want to fly!

Basic Sock Pattern on 12" Circular Needle

Sized to fit Women's Medium (size 8 feet) Men's Medium or Women's Large in ( )

Gauge: 8.5 sts and 9 rows to the inch in stockinette.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Size 2.5 MM Addi Turbo(r) Circular needle (U.S. size 1.5)

Size 2.5 mm or 2.25 mm (1 U.S.) double point needles, which you will need for the heel and the toes, set of 5.

I prefer using a 12" ADDI turbo circular to knit my sock, so that's how this pattern is written. It can certainly be knit using any method you prefer. See my post about using markers instead of needles to avoid ladders and convert any pattern to your preferred method of knitting.

100 grams of Regia Ringel or Mini Ringel or other fingering weight (sock) yarn such as Opal, Meilenweit, Lang Jawoll or Austermann Step.

Add one 50 gram skein for larger size or a longer length. This can be a contrast solid color, used for heels and toes. The stripe pattern will get wider on the heel and some people prefer the solid color heel and toe for this reason.

NOTE: I've recently rediscovered a great band heel which eliminates the long stripes at this great site. I knit my last two pair using this heel and it is very nice. I still use the EOP slip stitch, which means I have to add a few rows to the heel flap before decreasing. Then I have a few decrease rounds after picking up the gusset stitches. Thanks to Nan for this great pattern and tutorial, and to Nancy Bush for the band heel.

2 small circular markers, in different colors. I like red and green: red for stop decreasing; green for start decreasing.

CO 64 (72) sts. Join, being careful not to twist, and K2, P2 for 2"

Place a marker at join. The striping pattern of the yarn should look nice for both sizes at this gauge. Knit around until sock tube measures 7 (8) inches long.

Remove marker until heel is finished. Change to double pointed needles, keeping the instep stitches on the circular needle. Change to solid color yarn if you are using it. Knit the heel on double points over the first 32 (36) sts.

Heel: Eye of Partridge with slipped st edge

Row 1: *slip 1 KW*, k1,* repeat between *'s to end

Row 2: slip 1, p to end

Row 3: slip 1 KW, *k2, slip 1,* repeat between *'s to last 2 sts, end k2 (Don’t end with a slipped stitch.)

Row 4: repeat Row 2.

Knit this pattern until heel flap is 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 (2 3/4 - 3) inches long. This is a matter of personal preference. Measure the bare foot of the intended recipient from floor to top of ankle bone to determine the correct measurement.

Heel turn: (round heel) Thanks to David Mackay's "heels by number" which was the inspiration for these.

(Note: SSK = slip a st PW* to right needle, slip a second st KW to right needle, then knit those two together)

Row 1: slip 1, knit 16 (18), ssk, k 1, turn

Row 2: slip 1, purl 5, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 3: slip 1, knit 6, ssk, k1, turn

Row 4: slip 1, purl 7, p2tog, p 1, turn.

Continue on, adding one st knitted or purled at the center of the row until all sts have been worked. You should be ending with a knit row. If not, knit across the heel in Eye of Partridge pattern until you reach the pick up edge.

Change back to variegated yarn at this point, if you are using it. Using a new double point needle, pick up & knit one st from each slipped st along the edge of the heel flap (about 20). Place first marker here. Knit across the instep stitches which were not part of the heel, place second marker. Pick up & knit stitches on opposite side of heel flap, knit across heel flap to three stitches from first marker. You should have about 96-104 stitches on the needle at this point.

Decrease Round:

Three stitches from first marker, k 2 tog, k 1. Knit across instep to second marker, slip it, k 1, SSK, knit around to the first marker. Around this point you will want to change back to using the circular needle. Knit one round without decreasing (or two, if you like a slower rate of decrease for a higher instep), and repeat decrease round. Repeat decrease and plain knit rounds until 64 (72) sts remain on the needle. Knit plain until the foot is about 7.25" (8") long (2 to 2 1/2 inches less than desired length). Change to double pointed needles again, and solid color yarn if you are using it.

Wedge toe:

Round 1: Knit to last 3 sts before first marker, k2 tog, k1, slip marker, K1, SSK, knit to last 3 sts before second marker, K2 TOG, K1, slip marker, K1, SSK.

Round 2: Knit around in stockinette stitch.

Repeat these two rounds until 16 (18) sts rem. Divide the 16 (18) sts between 2 needles at markers and Kitchener stitch (graft) them tog or do a 3-needle bind off.

Now knit the second sock!

*KW=knit wise

Copyright 2001 Margie D

All rights reserved.

25 things about my knitting life

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? My favorites are soft yarns and natural fibers. I have trouble with mohair and scratchy wools like Shetland and Lopi. I like cotton and wool blends for socks, merino wool, silk, angora, cashmere, baby alpaca.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a nice ceramic vase on my desk for the long 14" straights that I don't use very much. I didn't buy any of these long needles, except for one pair of Brittany's in black walnut with carved ends. I inherited some from my mom and others somehow arrived at my door.
I use toothbrush holders for my double points, which I store in a plastic school supplies box. I have a fabric roll for my 10" straights and a pouch with plastic bags for my circs, which have size labels on the cables. I have all of my 16" circs in a zippered pencil case to go in a 3 ring binder. I store my crochet hooks in a wooden pencil case that slides open, which was my mom's when she started school in 1930. I've been using this case since I learned to crochet in 1971 and inherited my great grandmother's steel crochet hooks.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I've been knitting for about 8 years this go round. I learned the first time (if you don't count the time my mom tried to teach me when I was 8) in college when I knit a top down sweater on circs for my mom from Bernat Berella. I stopped knitting for about ten years, and started again when Kaffe Fasset's first book came out. I paused for quiltmaking after a few years until 1999 when a quilting friend dragged me to Stitches West. This time it seems to have stuck, and I now have a SABLE (stash acquired beyond life expectancy) just of sock yarn, not to mention the other stuff.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Not really, just a save for later cart at Knit picks and Amazon.

5. What's your favorite scent? I'm allergic to most perfume, and I can't smell because of the allergies. I wish I could smell chocolate!

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Chocolate, chocolate chocolate. Home made cookies.Favorite candy? See's almond truffles

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Mostly knitting and quilting. I can crochet, used to do cross stitch and macrame.

8. What kind of music do you like? Eclectic, a wide range. Jimmy Buffett, the Beatles, Carly Simon, George Winston, Celtic harp, Dixie Chicks, vintage rock, Elvis, Broadway shows, Billie Holiday, Joan Baez

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Blues, teals, some purples, rose Any colors you just can't stand? Orange, beige, tan, puce, blah.

10. What is your family situation? Married 1 kid who's grown up but still at home Do you have any pets? a dwarf bunny named Handsome Benjamin

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? hats, scarves, mitts, sometimes ponchos

12. What are your favorite item/s to knit? Hard to say. Socks, felted bags and slippers seem to be most popular, with hats, scarves and now fingerless mitts bringing up the rear.

13. What are you knitting right now? socks, felted bags, stranded vest

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Doesn't everybody?

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? I usually knit on circulars or dpns. I don't like long straights at all. Bamboo, aluminum, or plastic? wonderful Wood, steel Addi's, good bamboo, vintage nylon circs, vintage Balenes.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? The swift is broken (too much use?) but I have two ball winders

17. How old is your oldest UFO? 1973, a turqouise cotton crocheted pineapple tablecloth which I may make into a shawl.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect? yarn, fabric, books, stamps

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to
get your hands on? Of course. Sea silk and wool sock yarn is the latest obsession. Ebony and rosewood double points & circulars, ebony anything! I want the Koigu book and more Koigu yarn to go with it.

21. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Knitter's, Creative Knitting, INKnitters, Interweave Knits, Knit Simple

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I just learned entrelac, and need more practice with cables. Intarsia is intriguing, too. I love Kaffe Fassett's work.

23. Are you a sock knitter? Yes
What are your foot measurements? 9.75" length 10" around ball 11" ankle

24. When is your birthday? May 3

25. What is your preferred sock knitting method? I like to use one 12" long ADDI turbo for the body of the sock, and I use douible points to knit the heel and the toe decreases. I also use the three needle bind off to finish the toe.

Stitches West/ I succumbed

I had 4 days of classes at Stitches West, met someone for lunch on Saturday (no shopping that day until after class at 5:00), and yet I still managed to buy yarn. It was a good thing I brought a bag lunch on Friday because I spent my whole lunch break (2 hours) at the Woolstock booth looking for another bag of some Louisa Harding Aran weight cashmere blend. Everything at the Woolstock booth was 1/2 off but you had to buy the whole bag. I also got some Noro Kochoran for $10.00 a skein there.

Sock yarn purchases:
Sock Candy from STR (stretchy cotton, hand dyed) plus the Fairisling on Blue Moon book.
Shelridge Farms Ultra in heathered purple (never mind that I already got some in another color two Stitches ago and haven't knit it up yet). I am almost finished working on another pair in rust heather and it is wonderful.
Fleece Artist in parrot, which has blues, greens and roses, plus lilac
Sol Joy in a dark blue/multicolor
STR light in Hen House (rainbow)
I also tried to buy two skeins of STR that I already owned but haven't knit yet. Luckily they could tell me at the check out table that I did own it, so I saved some money there.

I resisted buying anything at Webs and was glad I had ordered some sock yarn from Astrid in Holland the week before so I wasn't tempted by the bamboo blends. I almost bought more Hand Jive Nature's Palette in a pinky grey burgundy odd duck dye lot but there was only one skein. Next time. That was at Carolina Homespun and they are a somewhat LYS. That's not all the yarn I purchased: more next time.

I also got Lily Chin to sign my French Madeline book. She was dressed as Madeline at the student banquet Saturday. She thought that was a hoot and said I made her day on Sunday afternoon, after a long four days. She even signed en francais.