Now about those Socks!

Help my heels are totally destroyed!  I've lost 2 pairs of beautiful socks to evil holes. I tried to repair them, but I've ended up with a mess. Darning was out of the question. The holes were the size of the Grand Canyon.


Enter the Afterthought Heel.  I'm working on a new pair of toe up socks with leftover bits of Koigu KPPPM for toes and heels and Knit Picks Stroll sock yarn. I think I will knit the first sock until I get to the heel part, then start the second sock and end at the same place so they are equal length. If this works, I will have a repairable pair of beautiful socks.

Zen Knitting

Well, I don't know what it is about me and knitting, but it seems that my work always ends up in new homes.  I don't know how many pairs of my hand knit socks have found their way into a friends hands - or feet as it were.  It appears that my socks have a soul of their own. They simply don't belong to me, and are just waiting for the right owner.

This happens with my hats, scarves and mittens, as well. On my way down to KFalls to a weekend sheep dog clinic, I had decided to make a hat for myself out of my newly spun wool. Mind you, it wasn't the greatest wool of all times, but I did spin it beautifully.  As I knit I kept thinking about my new dog and how we are developing our relationship in the herding world; what I wanted from her; how I wanted to be as a shepherdess; and where she and I were going in this new journey. So, all good thoughts and hopes were knit into this warm, wooly hat.  I finished it that night, but it was too big. When I returned home, I promptly put it in the wash to felt it down a bit, and laid it out to dry.  Alas, it was then just a bit too small - I hadn't knit the top long enough.

This past weekend I went to another sheep clinic where my good friend Denise and her new pup were going to work together as a team for the first time. Denise is new at working sheep and has been letting our trainer work her.  When she saw me, she admired my hat; said she needed to get a hat, because her head was always cold.  I promptly put the hat on her head - IT FIT! I guess it's your's, Denise. I told her about all the love, hopes and dreams that were knit in every stitch. Sunday she worked her dog, with her Zen hat, and she was fantastic! 

What can I say - I'm a Zen knitter. I love it.

Cathy's Tee

Finally - it's finished. The little Tee that took me 2 years to knit is done. With a lot of 'frogging' and some heavy duty math, it's completed.  I love the little rose decoration that Lee gave me - it really makes the sweater!  Yarn is Bamboucle in rose. 

Shetland Chic

Finally! I have spun and fulled the fleece that Christine gave me. It's actually turned out quite lovely.  I used my new e-spinner and got a very concise spin. There were some lumps that happened, but - oh well, gives it character.  This was not the nicest fleece to work with.  Short, sticky fibers with some debris and lots of lanolin.

I decided to full the yarn. This was my first fulling attempt and I think it turned out rather nicely.  Soaked the spun fibers in hot water with wool soap. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Rinsed out twice with warm water until the water was clear.  Squeezed the hank just slightly until it wasn't soggy dripping. Then took my anger (not that I have any) out on the fleece and whacked it against the tub walls. Very satisfying, I might add.  I got most of the water out this way.

Took the yarn outside to dry, since it was a nice sunny day.  And here is the result. A wonderfuly, soft, fuzzy yarn, that will be excellent for my new herding hat.

Doing the Math

Did I mention that I used to be good at math?  Well, I was very good at Algebra, geometry....but please, don't give me any word problems!!!

And that's what knitting is....word problems.  I finally figured out what was going on with my sweater for Cathy. The beautiful little Tee made with Bamboocle.  I've ripped it out 3 or 4 times and I think this time I've got it.  I had to do some heavy duty math.  How many stitches per inch do I have with the pattern size needle; size down; still too few sts/inch.  So calculate how many sts I have per inch on the smallest size I can knit and still have the cloth look good, then multiply by the number of inches needed for the width I want and voila - I'm down from a size 20 pattern to a size 16. But my sweater diameter will be perfect.

Finished the back and am now working on the front. It may not get done for her birthday, but it's already 2 years late, so what's another few weeks.

Fleece

I've had some fleece from a friend that isn't particularly very good. It's got some vegetable matter in it and its not been washed or carded particularly well. It's been sitting in the basket for a good year now.  I've decided that I'm going to just go ahead and spin it, lumps and all, full it, then knit myself a nice hat for herding outside in the cold.  I'd like to felt it, so I'll knit it rather big. Pictures to come.

Continued...

I'm struggling with those heels and have put them aside for a while until my friend and trusted knitting companion gets back from Oaxaca.

I wonder if I've taken too much away in trying to get rid of all the worn yarn. I may have to ditch the project. A shame because I really love the lace on the top of these socks.





 Meantime, I struggle with gauges. I've been frustrated with my sister's sweater size. I think I've ripped this thing out at least 4 times and tried other patterns.  I've changed needle sized and dropped to the lowest size and I still get something big enough for 2.

As you can see, I have 5 sts/inch, and the pattern calls for 6 1/4sts/inch. This is the back and it should measure 20 1/2 " at the bottom edge and it's 30". So you see my problem. When I did my gauge it came out perfectly. I must get looser as I go. This time I'll try 2 sizes smaller needle.