two knits of ivory

I had really hoped this blog would be a place to muse over my projects and what I was, or was not, learning. It's seems to have lapsed into an FO and yarn acquisition gallery. Maybe that is the nature of craft blogging, as one's skill in a craft waxes, the desire to expound on every learning curve wanes. So where am I? Well, it's kinda been the summer of scarves, for me, rather than a summer of socks. In fact, the only sock news I've got is that the Bayerische sock has been ousted from my knitting basket. After getting a chance to knit on it again this weekend (after stubbornly ignoring its presence in my knitting basket for a month, maybe two) I realized I'm hating the pattern something fierce. It was a mere day in the frog pond when a post by Domesticat caught my eye. Maybe my Bayerische and I just need an extended vacation from each other. If in six months or so I feel the same, I'll know for certain frogging is the right choice. No need to be hasty after ...

It's been days since I finished my latest Digitessas . I'm not sure I've been hesitant in posting because of my lack of enthusiasm for the final pics or from basic blogging ennui. I took my first look at the pictures today and they're not great as a showcase for the socks, but there are quite a few with a pleasing composition. The project details have been ravelled .

A big thanks to all of you for giving me your support, and your perspectives, on my recent foolishness . It definitely helps relieve some of the weight of it, you know? I thought I would have some lace to show this week, at least, but no. I'm still so absorbed with my Digitessa's. Do you think I have enough needles in use? Ha. The most challenging part of the La Digitessa pattern begins right after knitting up the heel. I tried many different methods, using a variety of needles and the best tool I found, through it all, is patience. I have been seriously contemplating knitting this pattern in all the colors of the rainbow, &agrave la Tiennie Knits . The only thing that could veer me off this path was grooving over Shannon 's Embossed Leaves Socks . I have the most perfect yarn for this pattern. If I don't get the pattern soon, it just might be another pair of Digitessas.

This has not been my spring. I'm all discombobulated and every little snag and hiccup has the potential to bring me to tears. I think I need time off, but I'm downright miserly when it comes to taking vacation time. I squirrel it away and begrudge every hour used. So today I am using a day. I really need it to work magic. This week's irritation began with the Knit Picks catalog coming in the mail a day or so after I made my big purchase, wherein I actually paid the hefty 2-day shipping charge. The catalog indicates they sell Zimmerman's Knitting Around (book & DVD!), but their website has no mention of it. That was one of the items I really wanted when I made this purchase. Seeing it in the catalog immediately got me grudging. Having to order it either the free shipping way, that takes two weeks, OR by paying an additional $17, to be quickly satisfied, is about as enticing as an iced enema. Fooh!!! Then yesterday I receive my package and my heart sunk even ...

Sunday found me wiping my knitting plate clean, so to speak. I accepted that the log cabin afghan, which had been thrown over for a chevron afghan, was no longer a project, and that the Malabrigo lime and blue scarf/cowl/wtf should be frogged and put away, also. I then whipped out my swift and my ball winder and lost myself in making sock yarn cakes. When the cakes were done, I frogged my jewel rib sock and recaked the yarn. My knitting heart is elsewhere and I need a fresh start to take full enjoyment of it. So where is my mind? Two places. I hit an LYS Sunday and picked up these two beauties: I truly don't understand this direction my interest is taking, as I don't wear lace, and am not a lacy, ethereal, delicate type of gal. But my desire goeth there, so musteth I. I think my recent blogstalking of Cookie , over at Shut Up and Knit is making me a wannabe. Dogged Knit's Ashley's recently completed Shetland Triangle probably played a part, too. But as I contemplate ...

The La Digitessa pattern by Yarnissima is perfection. My iteration? Not so much. That's not to say I'm not proud of my achievement, it's just that I know I can do better, and I will. I fully intend to make a second pair with a yarn better suited to the intricate pattern. The biggest problem I had was with the gussets. My increases were very holey. My next biggest problem was with the heel K2togs. My purl stitches are very wide and laddery. Yarn Lana Grossa Meilenweit 50 Seta/Cashmere 65% Merino, 15% Silk, 16% Polymid, 4% Cashmere This is a soft yarn with great stitch definition. The fluffy, splitty nature made for a difficult knit on the 2.00 and 2.50mm needles. I hard a much easier time once I transitioned to the 2.75mm. I used about 84 grams out of a total 96 grams, or 396 yards of yarn. Needles I used circulars primarily. I started out with size 2.00mm needles but transitioned to 2.50mm needles mid foot. Somewhere around the heel on both socks I transitione...

That is when my Knit Picks needle order is slated to arrive and that is when I think I may be done with my La Digitessa socks, which is une belle cause c&#233l&#232bre! My Knit Picks order has been stalled out in Grove City, Ohio since Monday, but my first La Digitessa was finished last night. It was just in time to catch the last rays of sunshine to photograph. In mine eyes she is beautiful. I had thought the criss crossed traveling stitches would make for an intractably stiff stock, but it hasn't.

Having just three projects on my needles feels crazy fabulous. I think it is because I've turned the corner on the problems which loomed large over them. My knitting basket is now as light in soul, as it is in it's corporeality. Last Tuesday, though, I hit a very rough patch at the beauty parlor. It was a marathon four and a half hour ordeal and for a low maintenance woman like myself, this constitutes an evening in Hell. (And my hairdresser wonders why I come in ever twelve weeks rather than every six? Who has the fortitude to withstand this much primping?!?) At the hairdressers, I felt the pull of La Digitessa and threw myself into her completely. Hours later all I had to show for it were about 22 rows. 22 Rows. And into each and every row I grafted a misery so potent I couldn't look at the sock for days without revisiting it. I hated on the pattern and the yarn and the sock itself. And then I got over it, though I don't have the photographic proof. And there was gl...

Hubby had a grand old time being my foot model. He has no reason for modesty, and clearly he knows it. As you can see my Blue Wavering socks are done. One good wash and they'll be ready for the post. With a second cast off to tighten up one sock's bind off, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. As I contemplated the status of my knitting basket, (near empty!), the elephants meandering out of the room were near tangible. Who would have thunk three and a half ounces of knitted wool goodness would have such import? Really they don't. I know it in my heart. Time is working it's magic and it has coincided with the conclusion of these socks. I've still have a way to go, but after seven or so months of stress it's nice to breath some uncomplicated air. Seriously, though, my knitting basket is near empty! This is such a hallelujah! moment for me. I decided to put the Malabrigo yarn away and I resisted casting on another sock. As of today, I have Blueberry Moon , La Dig...

I checked my email this morning and saw that I had received a comment from fellow Raveller, Knitsabella , in which she told me she nominated me for a "You Make My Day" award on her blog, Knitsabella Knits . I don't which way to turn, I'm flabbergasted, and of course honored, that a few words of help & encouragement about her Firestarter socks translated into a "more than I deserve" award. I'm an aspie so random human recognition friggin' weirds me out. It was an extremely nice thing for her to do. I don't know yet if I'm going to pay forward the compliment to bloggers I admire. I'll have to think on it. I'm already overwhelmed by life, as all my nerves are busy freaking out about waiting to hear back about a job. I'm supposedly one of two finalists and the job would be a significant change for me. I was really expecting to hear Friday and when I called that afternoon I was told I'd learn about their decision by today, spec...

It was my plan to get a blog post in about my recently cast on baby sweater this week. Doesn't look like that's gonna happen since all I've been knitting (and thinking about) are my La Digitessas . Once I began to knit sock #2 on US1/2.25 mm needles I actually began to enjoy the knit. So much so I didn't stop knitting until I got a few rows into the gusset and realized I needed to catch up on the first sock. (My plan is to work on these in tandem, so as to better master each phase, as well as reduce knitastrophes). While knitting sock #2 I made the decision not to frog sock #1, which is knit on US0/2.0 mm needles, but to just pick up where I left off with the larger needles. This is my first go around at the pattern, I don't expect, or need, perfection. Next time around I'll be unforgiving. So far the discrepency isn't that overwhelming. What was overwhelming was going back to knit on the first sock. OMG, I didn't realize how miserable a knit it ...

Has your brain ever made you believe things that aren't true? Mine does. It's a cross I bear with longstanding resistance. I was getting in a couple of rows on La Digitessa last week when I was overwhelmed with the idea that my sock tension WAS.ALL.WRONG. I looked down at the sock and all I could see were smooshed cables with no stitch defniition. I convinced myself that the US0/1.5mm needles were too small for the yarn. I was so convincing I decided to knit up some rows on the second sock using US1/2.0mm needles. By the time I had a chance, and some sun, to properly photograph the damning evidence my hysteria had dissipated and I could plainly see that my fear was as phony as a two dollar bill. My brain was trying to tell me I wasn't enjoying knitting these on the US0/1.5mm needles. But because I'm so foolish I may kinda, sorta think I'm less of a knitter because I don't have the fortitude. What a crock. It's true, I want to be that knitter who can...

So I did wind up taking Project Stole and La Digitessa to Arizona. But after I had packed Saturday night, I rethought my knitting plan and decided I needed a more portable knitting project for all those stop and go moments that travel throws at you. La Digitessa couldn't fill those boots and neither could all 60 inches of Project Stole. As I sat on the couch that night one skein of the Rhinebeck STR beckoned me, the effervescent Seal Rock . I had been staving off the urge to knit this yarn for a long, long time so it seemed the perfect gift to myself to help face the horror that is contemporary, holiday, economy airline travel. It worked out perfectly. Whenever I needed it, my Seal Rock Socks kept my hands busy and my blood pressure down. It even brought me close to celebrity. As I knit away at Logan Airport Sunday morning, I must have seemed innocuous because the inimitable Terry Francona and family sat right behind me, as it turns out they were taking the same flight. I could...

What I was afraid would happen did. I purchased two sets of size US0, US1, and US2 KA circular bamboo needles at Now and Zen Yarns on Long Island this summer. On Thursday night I confirmed two of the three sets are worthless. Worthless. The size 0 and 2's metal connectors snag anything that crosses their path. I've known about the size 2s for a while, but I've never had an occasion to try out the size 0s until last night. I had planned to begin La Digitessa socks on the plane but I had a feeling I'd have to deal with snagging so I decided to cast on the toes before travelling in case I had any problems. This is not something I wanted to deal with at 30,000 feet. My hunch was on the mark. What do people do when they buy defective needles? It's not like I can return them to the store, I wont be down in that area until next summer at the earliest. A helpful booth owner at Rhinebeck implored me to contact the manufacturer directly, but I think I'm too lazy for that...