I’ve got another one!
These are the Flat Feet Socks. I’ve only done the soak and lay flat, haven’t run them through the wash yet. That’s for today while I’m doing the rest of the laundry.
I’m on a roll - but boy I’ve got stuff calling me to cast on!
Or at least they didn’t get it all.
GYC got their shipment of Malabrigo last week. I finally made it in today, and lookie what came home with me:
The color is called Brillante, and it’s gorgeous. The color is fairly true in the photo, although it may be showing a bit lighter than it appears IRL. It wants to be a BPT when it grows up. Which will also be my first attempt at setting a zipper.
I was thinking I’d get some of the lace weight to do the Peacock Feathers Shawl, but there wasn’t a color that worked for me. I’m hoping some of the semi-solids come in the next shipment. I saw the laceweight at the shop we went to in Arizona in January and wasn’t impressed, but this looked much more even and less overspun. Nothing on the label in AZ made me think it was seconds, so I don’t know what the deal is there.
I also used my new camera to take the picture. It’s a Nikon Coolpix S210, and I’m in love. It’s tiny, it’s light, and it’s awesome. The other thing I liked - Circuit City not only gave me their price, they looked up their web price and it was cheaper, and checked competitors prices too - and gave me the lowest one available. That’s pretty smart of them I think. I wanted a new one to take to camp, and this fits the bill perfectly!
Tonight about 8 I’m going to give Brandi two Benadryls in hopes of keeping her calmer tonight. The poor baby was absolutely terrified last night with the fireworks, and there was nothing we could do to calm her. I’m not sure it will help, but at this point I’m willing to try just about anything.
I don’t remember if it was on Rav or on someone’s blog, but I remember a recent conversation about how we knitters sometimes know something isn’t working, but we just keep going anyway. Such was me with my Handsome Devil Socks.
Note the absence of needles. I knew they were snug to go over my heel, but for some reason I kept going. I got a few rows down the foot and decided to go ahead and try them on again.
Nope. It’s just not going to work. So I’ll start the next size up in the next day or two. I’m not going to rip this unless I need the yarn. Look for a new pic of a shorter sock n the next few days…
On a happier note, Mom’s Ruffled Shawl is done and will go in the mail tomorrow.
I did a crappy job taking the photo, but there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s actually very pretty.
I absolutely love this colorway. There’s one other I like more, it’s also neutrals but much lighter. So far I’ve fought off the urge to buy it, but it’s hard for me.
The Happy Sox have been riding around in the car being car socks for a few weeks. I brought them in thinking I might get them finished in the next couple of days. I’ll have lots of yarn left over, I’m past the gusset decreases on the second foot and am just about to join the second pane of yarn.
I’ve also been working on the Jeannee Shell again. It’s past the armholes on the back, and really progresses pretty fast. Depending on how things go this weekend it could get done, but that might be a stretch.
Thanks for all the private inquiries about the new job. It’s been a slow week while we work on getting all my stuff established. Being a government agency you have to go through all the channels to get things done. My PC was joined to the domain yesterday, so I can finally start looking at the stuff I’m supposed to be taking care of. We had to resubmit my fingerprints to the FBI on Wednesday, so I don’t know when they’ll get my stuff back and get me a sticker. I’m hoping before I leave for camp.
Everyone seems very nice, and I’m looking forward to being able to put my head down and do some real work for the three days I’m there next week.
Happy Fourth! We went to David’s today and had a cookout, then scooted back home to give Squeak her meds and to be here to bring Brandi in once the fireworks start. She was a basket case last night. 40 pounds of quivering dog going from lap to lap. It was really pitiful. Maybe I ought to give her a couple of Benadryls this evening….
That was me yesterday when Robin got here. She stopped at Yarn Barn in KS on her way. One of her assignments? Pick up 8 ounces of a “Linda Color” roving. Boy did she do good!
This is a wonderfully soft merino in a colorway called “Cranberry”. I went diving in my small roving stash and discovered another 16 ounces of very similar roving, also called cranberry, also merino. And before you ask - yes I knew there was something very similar there. That’s why I went hunting. They’re obviously different dye lots, but I think I can alternate bits from each batch and wind up with a whole bunch of lovely yarn. Also - she finished plying up some very pretty lace weight and let me practice navajo plying the remains on one bobbin. It’s not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. So….I know exactly what this is going to be.
Yesterday after she rested a bit we embarked on the usual fibery runaround. Went to L&B in Norman. I got some sock yarn I’ve never heard of before but that I like. It’s Marion’s Sock Yarn from Germany.
Also picked up a bamboo blend called Bamboozle. I’m glad I took a ball outside, because the colors are much prettier than the flourescent light made them out to be. It’s called Fall Herbs.
And a couple of colors of Classic Silk from Classic Elite - at 40% off. Then we headed north for GYC.
On the way we stopped in to see Nina. She had made a peach cobbler - do you really think I could resist? We visited with her for a little while, then headed over to the shop.
The Saturday crowd was in full swing when we got there. As usual, it was loud and funny and everything you want in a good outing.
Liz was knitting some of the new Ecco Cashmere that came in, and I finally couldn’t stand it. I brought a hank home. The stuff feels amazing in the hank, but even more so knit up. And that was before blocking, which should bloom it even more.
No pattern, but the one they have is for a 38 stitch wide scarf that looks nice. I’ve got enough stitch dictionaries here to figure out something of my own no problem.
We hung out and knit for a couple of hours before my growling tummy made us head for home. Well, for the grocery store to grab hamburger stuff and then home. Like an idiot, I didn’t read the pickle jar closely enough and got Bread and Butter slices instead of dill. Gag! Jim will have to eat those. I sure won’t.
We hung out at the house and knit last night. And watched the Cards win. Slept kind of in this morning, and sat outside for a while knitting before the flies all woke up and started pestering. That was enough to drive us back inside. The dogs didn’t mind her being here at all.
They lead such a tough life….
I finished the BYOB this morning, and it’s been through the wash. It turned out nice.
It’s pretty floppy, but that’s OK. I used one skein of the multi and four of the black. I had less than two yards of each left over. I realized I had done one extra row in the multi on the top band, but wasn’t about to rip it out. So, if you knit it right and run out of black you could bind off with the multi instead.
Robin left this afternoon. Jim and I just finished (like in I interrupted this post and finished cooking) having a cornish game hen for dinner and I’m stuffed. Still sipping on my glass of wine. The Jeannee shell has come out to play again - I’d like to have it done for camp, but I also want to finish Mom’s shawl and get it in the mail before I leave.
Speaking of, I gave mine a little soak in warm water with some wool wash, and it did soften quite a bit. I love the way Noro looks, but it’s always felt a bit rough to me. While I still wouldn’t call it perfect, it does improve quite a lot with the soaking. I used Silk Garden.
Tomorrow I’ve got a free day before starting the new job on Tuesday. I’m pretty excited. It’s felt very strange today to not be carrying the Blackberry around watching for an issue. I did get a new phone with internet access though, because I realized I had become one of those crackberry heads and love having access to email any time I want it.
Off to knit some more, and maybe to spin a little. Happy Sunday!
I was going to do this last night, but I kind of left the camera on and ran the battery down so it had to charge overnight.
We had more fun at the sock class Saturday! Lyn, Linda and Kathy were so much fun, we laughed all day long. They also did a great job with their socks, and I think they all got the technique. Like many of them, the getting started was a PITA, but once it was moving it was lots better.
I’m so excited about the new job, but holy cow what a lot of stuff to do. I spent a couple of hours “orienting” and signing paperwork yesterday morning, then today had to go get my paperwork started at the FAA. That included fingerprints. They don’t do ink, it’s an electronic scan. My shaky hands drew a comment - if they only knew how normal that is for me….
Mom’s ruffle is ruffling slowly. Someone told me yesterday there are 993 stitches in the ruffle. I believe it. Those rows get to be ridiculously long.
The BYOB is knitting along very nicely, dog hair and all.
I did pick up one more skein of black and of the multi. That’s a total of four MC and two CC in the Jeannee. I think I’ll finish easily with those.
Tuesday I swung by after work. I finally succumbed to the siren call of the Boomerang in Burnished Red. I’ve been eying it for months. I deserve it. 
I also picked up some Claudia Fingering 55. It’s 55% silk/45% merino. Yes, I’m going to knit a pair of socks that are mostly silk. Once again - I deserve it.
Yep, I like myself. Yep, I’m spoiled. Yep, I like it that way.
On a serious note, please keep Carolyn and Amanda in your thoughts. They’re both having a tough time right now.
Only 14 days until camp! Whoo Hoo!!!