The end of summer??? So soon??? Waaahhhhh........

Yes, kids - I think Fall is on her way. The weather is SO beautiful - in the 70's, breezy, pleanty of sunshine too, but not so hot - just perfect. Makes me think of colder weather being just around the corner - wpn't seem so silly then that I'm knitting all these sox, will it?? LOL

Yup - just about 1/2 done with my SEVENTH pair. Did I say SEVEN??? Yes, I did - making a pair of thick camo-colored sox for Greg to use when he goes hunting. You won't see 'em much, under the Carhartts, but I think they are so awesome!! I used this yarn from Hobby Lobby, called I Love This Yarn. It's worsted weight, and I used size 6 DPN's. The colorway is Green Camo Stripe & I used Bobby Zeigler's Thuja pattern to make a nice, calf-hugging sock. Take a look:



I love the way the colors striped on the sock - I'll have to remember to start the 2nd one in the same place as this one, so they look the same. After this, tho - I'm gonna dye my sock blank. I've decided. The other sox can wait - because I'll need a pair if it's going to be cooler outside! Toe sox, too - make like the Japanese tabi sox, with the big toe seperate so I can wear my flip-flops with 'em. What is a sock flat, you say?? Well, it's a flat piece of knitting, usually done by machine in undyed sock yarn. You use dyes to paint, dip, splash or pour any design or color that you want onto the flat knitting. Let it dry, then unravel one end & start knitting your sox!! Now, be aware that the design or pattern on the flat will look NOTHING like your actual sock once it's knitted, but that's half the fun, I think. Seeing how the colors are going to end up when it's all said & done.

There'll be photos of the whole process, good ones, I promise. The company that makes the dye I'm gonna use wants pics of start to finish, because they may use them on their website. So - that'll be my next project that involves sox. Okay - better get back to work now!!


Peace!!

Knitting & driving....

No - I'm not gonna admit to knitting while I'm driving, that's crazy talk!! Besides, how could I text & email then??? Hmmmm?? Anyways, you know my knitting is always with me, in my purse. I'll knit a row or 2 while waiting in a drive-thru for a drink, or at the bank - whatever. So, I take Melanie by to get her key from the hubby so she can go to CarX to pick up the truck. I'm putting a few rows on the 2nd orangeade sock (yes - one is done already) and when she comes out, I stick it back into my bag. I back out, and feel something soft slide across my knees. It's my 1/2 knitted sock! Out of the bag & now the yarn is wrapped around the steering column! And it's IN the steering column, where the 2 parts go together for the tilt wheel! WTH?? How did that happen? So we are sitting there, trying to get it untangled, and can't seem to find a beginning or an end, except IN the already knitted part.

Finally, after tugging & pulling, I feared the sock was gonna suffer some harm, so I get in my purse for the sewing kit. Mel says "What are you gonna do - cut it??" Yup - that's what I did. Hated to do that, but couldn't figure for the life of me how to get it undone. So, it's cut & what happens? The piece of yarn I cut just slides right outta the steering column. Ain't that sweet?? LOL

But, on a more serious note - my day has not been as nearly bad as the folks @ Whirlpool cooperation here in EVV. Fifty years here in town, and now they are moving what's left of production (they've been cutting back, year after year, piece by piece) to one of their facilities in Mexico. 1,100 jobs - gone. Who knows how many jobs overall, with all the parts supplier plants in EVV that count Whirlpool as their major customer. Sad times - and they still wanna build that stupid stadium downtown in hopes some big team will say "Hey, look - let's move to southwest Indiana!! It looks like a happening place!!" Yeah - right. It's the old Field Of Dreams Syndrome (build it & they will come). The city council ought to take a look at all the empty warehouses, strip malls and storefronts that are empty in this town and get a clue.

Okay - stepping down from the soapbox, now.


Peace, ya'll!

More sox.....

I agree - I am certifiable!! I am now in the middle of my SIXTH pair of sox, and have at least 2 - 3 pair more planned, NOT counting the dragon sox!! LOL Will the madness ever end??? Anyway - they are mostly like the Hannah sock, except I left out one knit stitch between lace repeats - the pattern stitch is now a multiple if 5.......which would be good if I could remember that every row!! But anyway - here's the yarn, and interesting wool blend I picked up @ Hobby Lobby. It's almost got a Donegal tweed effect on the yarn, which is 56% wool, 42% acrylic, and 2% PNC, I think - whatever PNC is.



The color is called Orangeade - I really like how it's working up into the sock. The yarn & the color probably don't lend themselves very well to a lace pattern, but I like the effect overall.



Well - that's all I got for now. Just a progress report.


Peace, kids!

In Need Of A Nap.....

I got up way too early this morning & the day isn't even over yet. Somehow, I see an early nite in my future - I'll probably feel lucky to get my bed made before i collapse in it! Got up @ 5:20 - went out to the kid's house, got the hats that Greg had forgotten, put 'em outside, went to Mickie D's to get some breakfast, went to my meeting early ('cause I had to pee - LOL), had coffee, lunch then laundry & now I'm at the library, catching up my emails and such before I go to feed Greg's dogs. Yup - I'm tired.

Started my SIXTH pair of sox & I have bought the sock yarn already to knit my 1st three dragon sox patterns - as soon as I bother to make them up! The first will be the Saphira pattern - in blues, of course. The Glaedr - yellow & gold. And finally, Thorn - in shades of red. These will probably be longer sox, to show off the pattern stitches. Not sure who will wear 'em yet, but I'm sure I'll be able to find good homes for them when the time comes.

Well - that's all I got for today. Time to go spend some time with the dogs. Later!


Peace.

Hannah sock pattern

I have written the pattern - finally!! Please inform me of any missing instructions & I will correct. Also, remember - this is my first time actually writing
a pattern for knitting, please bear with me. These instructions are for a anklet or sport-style short sock, knit from the top down - if you want a longer sock, simply knit in the lace pattern stitch until you reach the length desired. Most "normal" sox are 6" - 7" long from top of cuff to top of heel flap. I'm also including tips I found very helpful in learning how to knit sox. Those of you with previous experience may find me a bit long-winded, but to the beginner - I hope they help you like they did me - to truly understand the construction of a hand-knitted sock. A very good sock tutorial can be found on Knitty.com - here's the addy of the article: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/FEATsocks101.html

I used size 3 (US) double pointed needles and a sportweight yarn, I think. As I said before - it was something I bought off Ebay from an estate sale. It seemed slightly thicker than sock or fingering yarn. Gauge was 7 sts per inch/9 rows per inch (I knit a little on the tight side).

Cast on 48 stitches using preferred method. This sock fits a medium with foot (the lace pattern stretches nicely) - if you need a wider sock, cast on your increases in multiples of 6 sts to accomodate the lace pattern. Divide stitches in multiples of 6 onto 3 or 4 needles, your choice. I most often use 4 needles, so I had 12 stitches on each needle. Join, being careful not to twist sts, and work in fave rib pattern (mine is done in 1 X 1) for 3/4" (2 cm) or approx 8 rows. Use stitch marker to remind you where the end of the round is.


LACE PATTERN - multiple of 6 stitches
ROW 1 - *K1, P1, YO, SSK, P1, K1* repeat until all sts used
ROW 2 - *K1, P1, K2, P1, K1* repeat
ROW 3 - *K1, P1, K2tog, YO, P1, K1* repeat
ROW 4 - WORK THE SAME AS ROW 2

Start & work in pattern stitch for approx 1 1/2" (4 cm) or longer, depending on the length of sock you want. When desired length is reached, divide sts onto 3 needles - 1/2 the # of total sts on 1 needle, the other 1/2 split between 2 needles. On mine, it was 24 sts on 1st needle, 12 sts ea on needles 2 & 3.

Work heel flap in desired heel stitch. Traditionally, a heel stitch is:
ROW 1 - Slip 1st stitch, K1, *Sl1, K1* repeat
ROW 2 - Slip 1st st, purl across back of row
Repeat until heel flap is desired size, ending on WS row.

I used the Eye of Partridge heel stitch, tho - I think it's very pretty plus sturdy!

EYE OF PARTRIDGE HEEL STITCH
ROW 1 - Slip 1st st, K1, *Sl1, K1* repeat
ROW 2 - Slip 1st st, purl across back of row
ROW 3 - Slip 1st TWO sts, *K1, Sl1* repeat, end with K2
ROW 4 - WORKED SAME AS ROW 2
Repeat these 4 rows until heel flap is desired size, usually about 2 1/4" (5 1/2 cm) or a square shape, ending on WS row. If the person who wears sox has very high instep, you may want to make it a little longer.

TURN HEEL - this is easy, once you get used to it. Scared me @ first, but no more. A good tip I found online was that no matter how many sts your heel flap is, knit approx 2/3 of them on 1st row before doing the dec stitch. Then on 2nd row, purl about 1/3 of total # of heel flap sts before doing dec st. Hope that helps.
On 24 st heel flap: ROW 1 - Knit 1st 16 sts, K2tog, K1, turn work
ROW 2 - Purl 1st 8 sts on needle, P2tog, P1, turn work
ROW 3 - Knit all sts til you reach gap caused by dec on prev row, K2tog over gap (close it, in other words, by knitting st before & after gap together), K1, turn work
ROW 4 - Purl to gap, P2tog over gap, P1
Continue in this manner until all sts have been worked, end up with approx 10 sts. End on RS row.

PICK UP HEEL GUSSETT STITCHES - easy rule of thumb here: pick up 1/2 the # of rows that are in your heel flap. Ex: If heel flap is 28 rows long, pick up 14 sts down the side of the heel flap. I usually pick up an extra stitch down in that corner where the pattern stitch starts again, so I don't get a hole there (approx 38-39 sts on needle now). Continuing around needles, work the pattern stitches in the patt stitch all onto one needle (24 sts). Using spare needle, pick up 14-15 sts along opposite side of heel flap and knit 1st 12 sts onto needle (38-39 sts).

DECREASE ROUND
Needle 1: Knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1
Needle 2: Knit in lace pattern stitch
Needle 3: K1, SSK, knit to end of needle

Alternate decrease rounds and even (lace pattern) rounds until you're back to the number of stitches you cast on originally.

Work in 1/2 lace pattern and 1/2 stockinette stitch until sock measures approx 5 1/2" (14 cm) from heel flap for ladies size medium, 6 1/2" (13 1/2cm) for ladies size large. Now you're ready for the toe decreases, which will be all in stockinette stitch. Remember that center of the round is the center of the heel. Make sure your stitches are distributed as follows: 1/4 of the stitches on Needle 1 starting at the center of the round, 1/2 of the stitches on Needle 2 (these are the stitches for the top of the foot), and the remaining 1/4 on Needle 3.

WORK DECREASE ROUND
Needle 1: Knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1.
Needle 2: K1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1.
Needle 3: K1, SSK, knit to end of needle.
Work an even round.
Alternate decrease rounds and even rounds until 8 stitches remain.

Graft toe together using Kitchener stitch or do what I do & don't graft @ all! Thread length of yarn thru tapestry needle, run thru loops on "live" stitches, twice, draw tightly and end off, weaving in ends of yarn. More on non-grafting toes here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/FEATgraft.php

You're done - now go & make the 2nd sock!!

Okay - this is kinda weird the way these posted - I may have to redo this. But this is the finished Hannah sock - pattern will follow, probably tomorrow when I finish writing it out in long-hand. Never realized how
long it actually took to write a fairly simple sock pattern!! Kudos to those that do so on a regular basis!! You can see the lace detail here ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>
The close-up pic below is the true color of the yarn. The sideways pic above is one where we were having a problem w/the lighting. Not sure what the yarn is, but the more I worked with it, the more I suspected it was an acrylic sportweight. But makes a nice sock, nonetheless




My goal, other than to design a line of sox, is to use yarns that are readily available. I may even use yarns you DON'T buy @ your fave LYS. Some may be from Hobby Lobby, some may be from Jo-Anne's. I have a Michael's here, too - but honestly, tho I waited patiently for them to setup their much-touted "New Yarn Section - Coming Spring of 2009", it disappointed me to say the least. It almost seemed they had LESS yarn, than more. So I don't visit there as much anymore, which is good - 'cause they have WAY too many beads for this bead fanatic!! LOL


Anyway, here's a pic of Corbin's boring sock. I say boring because it had to be simple and plain, because he was going into middle school now, and couldn't have the guys laughing @ his sox. So it is - simple sock pattern, very regular knitted with grey, heathery yarn. The only redeeming factor is that the yarn came from Norway - from sheep that live there, and it was spun there. Some more of the mixed lot of yarn I got from Ebay, from an estate sale. But he likes 'em and says he will wear them - that's all that matters.

Okay, then - best get some work done here!!

Peace!

Oh, what a nite!

Well, well, well - is it time to go home yet?? OMGoodness, I am so wiped out. Yesterday w/me in charge (LOL) at work didn't go particularly well - we had a deal w/the new phone system that I couldn't fix, of course. Then a girl in the warehouse had a family crisis that I didn't have the authority or feel comfortable making a decision about. Then to top it all off, the electricity went out right before I get ready to leave!! So I run around to check all the A/C units to make sure they're running - don't wanna end up with puddles of chocolate on the floor! Go to my meeting, then text the bosses, who decide, if I didn't mind too much - would I come BACK out to work & check the units again? Just to make sure everything is cool? Literally - temperature-wise? So I did, but now I kinda feel like I never left the place! :~)

A little background, for those who don't know - I work at Old Fashion Candy. We sell & distribute fundraising candy, snack items, candles, keyrings & such across the USA. I'm also a compulsive overeater who attends Overeaters Anonymous on a regular basis to help me get well from this progressive, compulsive disease I have. Now, it used to be that working @ OFC was kinda like being an alcoholic that worked as a bartender - I mean, hey! It was there for the taking (and eating), I might as well have some, right? But luckily, a friend & neighbor introduced me to OA before I ate myself into oblivion. With the help & grace of God, the 12 Steps, my fellow OAer's, my sponsor, family & friends - I am slowly overcoming the urge to compulsively overeat. No more snacking - no more stash in my desk or my bedroom @ home. Thank goodness I don't have my mind on food 24/7 - leaves me more time to knit!

Speaking of which - the Hannah sock should be done tonite & since I'm running out to McCutchanville to help her with algebra homework (yay!), I'll have her & Corbin model their sox so I can take pics with the good camera, then post my first pattern. Sad to say, I've already started my 6th pair of sox for Hannah's mom, Christy. They are on the needles as we speak, or I write.............I know!! As if I don't have enough WIP's hanging out in my bedroom!! Okay - back to work now - that's what I'm supposed to be doing!! LOL

Peace to all.

My bad!!

Ooohhh - I didn't post anyhting yesterday!! And I was @ the computer most of the day. Just lazy, I guess. No - really, I didn't have much to blog about - not unless you wanna hear about my daily irritation from a 90+ woman I live with. But, hey - I gripe about that enough as it is!! LOL It's fine, tho - spent most of yesterday watering the grass, big job that!! Me turning on the hose, turning it off & moving the sprinkler, turning it back on, then back off & REsetting the sprinkler to a new, more perfect spot, turning the water back on, checking to see that all areas of the sod are getting wet ----- more work to it then you might think, especially when you have someone w/OCD working on it!! ;~)

I did spend a lot of time looking at & working on designs for my new sox. Not so much time knitting yesterday afternoon, tho I did knit a swatch to see if I liked a pattern I had worked out on graph paper (I didn't). Seems I like to use graph paper to chart designs, as long as they are knit & purl stitches only - no yarnovers, or k2tog's. But I don't like to read them, at all - I take the design I came up with & immediately translate it to text knitting instructions. Don't know that I'll ever get past that - I've been skipping over any pattern stitch that looked especially difficult & especially if it was charted. Hmmm - but then again, I never thought I'd knit sox, either. Who woulda thunk it??

I really want to design patterns that are all my own, tho - I might borrow a stitch pattern, but my goal will be to change it up somewhat so that it's unique. And I really wanna try to stay as simple as possible. To me - that is the whole joy of making sox, along with the fact that they are a very easy project to carry anywhere. If a pattern repeat isn't too long, it can be memorized, like the lace pattern on the Hannah sox - and patterns keep the sox from being off-the-wall B-O-R-I-N-G, in my opinion. Of course, making shorter legged sox helps with that, too.

I was telling someone about my blog yesterday @ church (yes - the Dragon Lady believes in God & attends worship & Bible study on a regular basis) and when I mentioned my goal was to post my patterns for free, they suggested I sell them instead. I thought about that for about half a minute, then decided no - I had started this blog with the intention of making new patterns for sox and posting them for free, and that's the way it will remain. However, first I need to actually POST a pattern!! LOL But that should happen later this week - I just want Hannah & Corbin to model their sox so I can take a nice pic to show with the patterns.

So - stay tuned, folks!! The best is yet to come!

Peace, dudes & dudettes!!

Watering the grass.....

Yup - back @ the office today.......not doing much of anything yet, just ate my Taco Bell lunch. Hooray for Taco Bell!! I finished the 1st of the Hannah sox - will post a pic of that later, when I have them both done & they are on the namesake's feet. They look okay off the foot, but I think they'll look better ON for the photo shoot! ;~)

Did you know I'm watering the grass @ work today?? Yup - new sod had to be put down and Sam was afraid it would die in the heat, so he paid me extra to come in and turn the hose on tho soak the front yard. Works for me - I had some things to catch up on anyway, since I've been taking advantage of the slowness in the office to knit. No more of that!! Busy season starts next Monday & so do fall/winter hours. Poop!!

Well - time to move the sprinkler. More later.

Peace!

Newest Sock

Yup - the new sock is coming along nicely. I was gonna make it the first in my line of Dragon Sox, but have decided I don't want the Saphira to be the color this sock is. Altho, it is a beautiful sock!! Think I'll just name it Hannah after the person it's made for (she wondered why I hadn't named it that, anyway!! LOL). I'm almost done with the first one (doing the toe now) so here it is. Sorry for the image - cell phone camera, what can I say? But I'm @ work & it's all I have!! One of these days, I'll get it all figured out. But this is the Hannah sock - I'll post a pattern for it later. It's a short sock, which are SO quick to knit, but the pattern could be easily extended to a longer sock. The lace pattern draws the sock up a bit, so it looks a little narrow, eh? But I tried it on Hannah last nite (yes - the dreaded algebra homework has started already......) and it fits just fine. The lace part stretches out & looks even lovelier, if I do say so myself!! It should make for a well-fitting sock, too. The yarn is from a yarn cake I got on Ebay with a bunch of other yarn in a mixed lot. No idea what it's made of but the colors are pretty, aren't they? I may be wrong, but I figured if someone went to the trouble of winding it into a cake, it's probably some kinda decent yarn. Hopefully. Well, if her mom washes them in cold water she should be fine. Here's a close-up of the lace pattern - it's very simple, just a 4 row repeat, which I love. Much easier to remember.

My goal is to be able to knit a sock (eventually) totally from memory & not have to drag out my general sock instructions - which I carry in my purse, by the way. Well, it's back to work now.

Peace, kids.

ENTRY #2 - so far, so good!!

Aaaahhh - I made it back!! I should be working tho......not blogging. Oh well, just a coupla more days & all h*ll will break loose around OFC - and I'll be in the middle of it. Let's just hope I get my work mojo back before then - somehow it has managed to disappear this summer. Hmmmm - perhaps it's on vacation!! LOL Well - it better show up soon, or I'm in BIG trouble!! I know they aren't paying me to sit around & knit sox!!

I think I'm going to design & knit some sox themed on the Eragon series of books. I need to make the name of my new blog mean something, so why not sox named after dragons? In fact, the pair I'm working on now is one of my own design - I took a lace pattern from here, a heel pattern from there, and heaven only knows where the yarn came from!! But it is in blues, so what better name for my first sock design than Saphira?? Has a ring to it, don't ya think? But more on that later - this has to be short, today. My head is pounding & I must work a little - after all, they just gave me a raise! Yup - a dollar more on the hour. Woo hoo!! More $$ to buy yarn with, I think! Oh well - not really. It's time to knuckle down and get serious. Okay - I really have to go now. Honestly. Time's a wastin' & all that jazz.

Peace.

My very own BLOG????

So - am I certifiable now?? I go online to look @ sock patterns, see all these people's blogs and decide I wanna join up. Hmmm - good thing I never took a serious look at the Army, ain't it? And I suppose I'll fill ya'll in with my juicy tidbits on knitting & such. Well - we'll havta see how that goes, won't we?? This may be the only blog you ever see from me, who knows? Time will tell, I suppose.

My idea here is to maybe one day have pics & patterns to share, so I'll be one of those peeps that someone, somewhere, sometime - will click on and say "I could knit that!" or maybe "Hey - if she can post a lame-*ss blog like that, then I can too, by golly!". I would like to think that one day, somewhere down the line, that something I have done or am doing will inspire someone else - in a good way of course.

You won't read instructions here about how to build a bomb or become your own terror cell. I am all for peace throughout the world, and don't have a bit of use for those that use whatever means they can to inspire terror in others - whether it be a small, misbehaving child or a third-world country. If more people would knit, they wouldn't have time for all that nonsense, anyway. They'd be able to sit still & really listen to what goes on around them. To be at peace with themselves AND the rest of the world.

Am I a throwback to days gone by? A die-hard, misplaced, long-hair, bead-wearin' hippie type?? Yes - I probably am. But I don't have long hair, altho I do like beads & making jewelry. I do wear patchouli a lot - it's my fave scent. I just think if I can get along with the wide assortment of peeps I come into contact with everyday, than so can most other folks. The key to that is trying to. Yes, that requires an effort - but so be it.

That's enuff philosophy for now - I have a sock to knit!! So, hopefully - there'll be more to come. I'll keep ya posted!!

Peace, dudes & dudettes!!