Knit Addict

Hi!

The monster is done, but he’s still sitting here waiting to be mailed.  Maybe I’ll get off my butt and package him up today so I can mail him tomorrow.  He’s very cute.

My first installment of the Woolgatherings fiber club came a few days ago.  It’s very pretty.  I went with plain BFL for my fiber.

Over at The Knit Girls they’re doing an expand your horizons sort of spinalong. The February fiber is shetland.  Rather than order some, I’ve pulled 6 ounces off the 2 pounds I got from Schoolhouse Press a couple of years ago and will try to spin it up fairly fine.  A new muse has been released by Romi in the second year of Small Shawls, and I think I can get plenty to knit it.  I’ve got some Skinny Bugga! That would look awesome, but I kind of like the idea of spinning my own yarn.

Currently working on the test knit for the April Six Socks.  It’s going very well, although I stalled this morning because of a discrepancy between the written pattern and what was on my needles.  I know what the deal is and how to fix it, but test knitter rules say you stop and wait, so I’m waiting.  The only thing you can see is the yarn I’m using, which should give you an idea why I’m enjoying it so much.  And yes, that’s all I’m going to tell you.

The first shipment of the 2012 RSC came a few days ago.  It’s the most amazing shade of purple, and I can’t get it to photograph well.  This picture comes closest, but it’s still showing bluer in the photo than it is IRL.  I love my little camera, but it never can do the purple thing well.

Got some lovely BFL in a color called Finders Keepers from FiberNymph a few days ago.  I plan to spin it up some time… maybe when I find out what the next SSK KAL is.  I hate to spin it too far out since I won’t know what weight or yardage I need.  It is a nice generous 5.5+ oz, so I should be able to get enough to do whatever I want with it.

I also have some lovely new sock yarn from Lost City Knits to knit up.  I think I’m going to do Hypnosis by Janel Laidman (Ravelry link, login required) from it.  I’m pretty sure Denise is OK with me showing pictures, but want to be sure before I spoil the surprise.  Let’s just say I’m really looking forward to knitting it up, because it feels wonderful.

I caught Thomas being extra cute a few days ago.  Those of you on FB have seen a very similar photo already.

Because I’ve been working on the test knit I haven’t done a whole lot on my Swirl the last few days.  I have got the sleeves extended all the way (that portion knits like a cuff-to-cuff sweater) and am now on some really dull straight sailing for several inches.  I’m still stupidly excited about the thing though, and still can’t wait to finish it.

Yesterday I was in a class for six hours (don’t ask!).  Luckily the instructor didn’t bat an eye at me knitting all the way through.  Helps that I sat on the front row, maintained eye contact, and participated all the way through.  I got a long way into a plain vanilla sock out of a skein of the Opal Harry Potter yarn in my stash.

This color is Harry Potter.  As I was working on it I thought a couple of my needles were probably 2.25 mm instead of 2.0, but since I was in class and the rest of my needles were at home I couldn’t very well check.  So I looked this morning, and yes there were a couple of odd balls in there.  I’m not that worried about it, but I have switched them out for the smaller needles for the remaining gusset decreases and the foot.

Finished the Pico socks, and the different method of working the afterthought heel worked very well.  All it took was working a few rounds of stockinette after picking up the stitches so the cup at the heel was deeper.  Then pretty much make another toe and that was it.  The trick for obviating the holes at the corners didn’t work out so well, but I’m going to try the trick Colleen shared for the next pair.  It sounds like it will work better. This is what the stitches looked like freshly picked up.  Obviously I had to untwist some of them as I was working the first row.

And here are the finished socks.

It’s Super Bowl Sunday here in the US.  And it’s my weekly red meat day.  I get a steak.    Yes, sometimes I am that easy to please.  Sometimes.