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!

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!

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.

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!!