New Sock Yarn

Look what I got from The Loopy Ewe:

It's The Knittery!

60% Merino, 20% Cashmere, 20% Nylon. Very soft.

Colorway: Summer. Which is kind of funny considering we are at the end of it (hopefully).

Swap Status

My box from my Dish Rag Tag Team arrived today. I got home at 5:32 p.m., tore into the box, pulled out my goodies, picked a pattern and some needles, cast-on for a feather-and-fan discloth, and cast off at 8:48 p.m. Now I'll drop it in the mail to Heather In Utah tomorrow morning, and Team Whatever-Our-Name-Is is in the homestretch!

In Monkey Sock Swap news, I have selected and wound the yarn I will use for my pal's socks. Green Koigu! Whats not to love? By the way, I think there is still a day or two to sign up for this swap.

We went out with some friends last Saturday night to The Boston Deli. It was really, really good--seriously, if you're in the Tulsa area, stop by for a meal. I promise you won't be disappointed. Especially if you get desserts, to go, of course.

We went back to Sara and Kris' house for take-out dessert, jug wine, and a little fortune-telling with that ancient Mattel seer, Fortuna.

The weird thing is, she's eerily accurate. Here's Sarah, checking Fortuna's picks against her favorite horoscope site. Definitely a match!

And here's Paul, apparently supremely unconcerned that his hitherto unknown lovechild is supposed to appear on his doorstep this week. I'll keep you posted...

Monkey Sock Swap

I liked Sockapalooza so much, I decided to get in on the Monkey Sock Swap. Signups are ongoing until August 31st, so you might want to check it out.

Anyway, this is where I do the swap questionnaire, and it likely won't be interesting to anyone except my swap pal, so feel free to skip it!

The basics:

Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep? I think I am at an advanced beginner level, or possibly a beginning intermediate.

The measurements:

Shoe Size: 9.5 US

Foot circumference: 9.5 inches
Foot length: 9.5 inches
Weird!

Yarn Preferences:

What colors do you love? Pinks, reds, blues, greens. Paler colors, for sure. I am not really into earth tones, although browns blended with the above colors is always nice. I think my color preferences are pretty apparent from a scan og my blog, and if you need clarification, feel free to ask!
Do you prefer solids or variegated? I love variegated yarns, especially for Monkeys! For lacy patterns or anything else, I like solids. I have been trying the last month or so to focus on amassing more solid colored sock yarns because I have a tendency to buy the lovely variegateds, and then have nothing to use on all those lovely patterns from Favorite Socks!
Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn? I prefer wool, wool blends
What colors would you never wear? Earth tones, jewel tones
What are your favorite brands of yarn? Cherry Tree Hill Supersock, Fleece Artist, Koigu, Lisa Souza, Socks That Rock, Lorna's Laces, various independant Etsy sellers
Are there any new brands you would like to try? Brooklyn Handspun, Wollmeise, Yarn Nerd, The Knittery cashmere/merino blend, sKnitches

Cookie A. Patterns:

Which of her patterns have you already knit? I've done two pairs of Monkeys, started Pomatomus several times
Which pattern(s) would you like to knit and don’t already own? I really, really love Twisted Flower, and at the same time am intimidated by it. I do want to give it a try though!

Other pertinent information:

Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US? Prefer US
Do you have any allergies? None
Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? Cats and dogs!
Are you on Ravelry yet? If you don’t mind having new friends, what is your Ravelry name? lawyerlit

Conference Sock

I got lots of knitting done on my Yarn Pirate sock during my conference. Lots of knitting in public, and lots of questions and interest from people watching me. Seems like everyone wants to have a sock, but no one wants to learn how to do it themselves.

I am not that crazy about this Yarn Pirate sock yarn though. I love the colors, and I love the feel and the sproingyness of the yarn, but this skein is full of knots. I ignored the ones I could, but there was one that was actually holding two pieces of yarn together, and it came undone, causing many minutes spent dealing with reconnecting the yarn in a way that didn't disturb the striping too badly.

Speaking of the striping, I thought they striped really badly, more in a ragged spiral pattern. I tried varying the stitch counts several times before finally going with a 64-stitch sock. I have seen other socks made with this yarn, and the stripes were much cleaner. There's either a secret to it, or I got a bad skein. Plus the sock broke one of my favorite DPNs.

Those Yarn Pirate fans out there, tell me--what is going on with these socks?

Obviously I am not the hugest fan of these socks. I am just ast the cuff on the second one, doing them Magic Loop style, just for fun. Next up? A pair of Embossed Leaves in this ice-blue Koigu. An excellent incentive to get the Clementine socks done ASAP.

Garish Monkeys Gifted

I pressed on with the socks, and in the end, I think they came out pretty well. The odd striping held up through the gusset section, and duplicated itself precisely in the second sock.

And Tara was thrilled with them, she loved the colors, so it all turned out well. By the by, Tara's birthday party was last night, and it was pretty wild. Much wilder than one would expect from a bunch of drunken Ph.D students, but maybe I should have known better!

I'm off today to Oklahoma City for a conference. I've got hotel room knitting packed away in my suitcase...

...and a plain stockinette sock ready to go for actual conference knitting.

Drive By Post

Just dashing in to say, how freakin' cute is this lunchbox? Love it. (And it matches my blog!)



Also, kelp is accepting submissions for the September edition of Yarnival. Hop on over and send something her way.

Socks, More Socks, and a Poll

My Sockapalooza socks arrived!


Broadripple from knitty in Panda Cotton. They are so soft and silky, and this is a pattern I have looked at several times, but never made.

My pal was Sereknitty, and she also sent along some much-longed for Trekking XXL. Thanks so much--I am looking forward to wearing the socks once it's no longer 100 degrees every day and I start wearing socks again.

Now, for opinions. I started a new pair of Monkeys and they are patterning in the weirdest way. Big bands of pink alternating with bands of yellow and red stripes.

What do you think? Garish or gorgeous? I keep going back and forth on it myself, and I want to make this pair for a friend's birthday next week, so I need opinions, and I need them quick!

Oh! And a heads-up. I am editing the October edition of Yarnival, so start thinking about a post you may want to submit, or start composing that brilliant gem in your head, and watch this space for the submission call.

Posted

One (1) pair of Sockapalooza socks and fun skein of sock yarn

One (1) somewhat sloppily finished baby blanket.

What a relief.