Knitting In The North

Yarn Along: The Hitchcock Edition

 

~Joining in the Yarn Along~

 

 

Can you guess from this picture what I'm up to right now?  That's right - I'm writing a paper on Alfred Hitchcock, so it's all Hitchcock, all the time around here!  I finished the biography of Alma Hitchcock last night; it was so interesting to see the influence she had on her husband's films, and the level of collaboration they enjoyed.  The class watched Vertigo as part of the course, and Stuart & I enjoyed North by Northwest the other evening.  Tonight, it's going to be Rear Window, and I think that will be enough to focus my paper on. 

 

I love this class, but keeping up with the workload can be frustrating - I'm going to need to carve myself out an office space before next semester begins so I can have some quiet work time.  I wonder where that space might be?

 

The sock I'm working on is making molasses-like progress, but it's wonderful for carrying in my bag, and pulling out when I have a few minutes.  My very own travelling sock, if you will.  I'm using the pattern Kai-Mei, from Cookie A's book Sock Innovation.  The gusset decreases are worked into a lace pattern that crosses the top length of the foot diagonally - the way this designer's mind works is amazing!  

FO: Quickie Socks

 

 
 

 

With the chilly winter days we're experiencing here, and after the focus of Christmas crafting, I decided that a worsted weight pair of socks would be just the thing.  I had intended to make them for myself, but my mom begged for another pair of wool socks, so these will be going to live with her as soon as I can organize myself to put a package together and mail it away.  They knit up so quickly, though, I'm sure I can manage a pair of my own one day soon.

 

Particulars:

Pattern - Quickie Socks, from The Joy of Sox

  Yarn - Knitpicks Swish Worsted, Marine Heather, 2 balls

Needles - 3.75mm bamboo DPNs

Notes - It would have been helpful to read the errata (later found on the book's Ravelry page linked above) before I started these socks.  As it was, I figured out the heel directions without too much difficulty, but I always find it annoying when a pattern doesn't make sense.  Grumble, grumble.  I like my socks to be a bit longer than this pattern is written, and so added one extra half repeat.  I worried I would run out of yarn, so didn't make them any longer than that, although in hindsight I could have managed one full repeat.  When I make myself a pair, I'll definitely add some more length. 

I am still actively trying to knit from stash as much as I can, and was happy to find these two balls in the back of a drawer in my yarn dresser.  It's motivated me to get all of my yarn listed onto my Ravelry account, so that I can remember what exactly I have in there - how fortunate am I to have so much yarn I can forget about some of it?  Luxury, indeed!

 

 

Welcome, Socktober!

I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of October, so that I could participate in Socktoberfest!  After watching people turn out amazing socks in previous years, and hearing that Through The Loops was planning to offer a Mystery Sock pattern this year, I knew I was in.

If this is Greek to you, please allow me to explain!  Socktoberfest is a month-long sock knitting celebration, and the Mystery Sock is a new sock pattern, kindly offered at the blog Through The Loops.  The Mystery Sock pattern is released one piece at a time, over the month, so you have no idea what you're knitting until you're done. This is a great practice for me, since I can get a little crazy planning things out ahead of time.  (Striving for "perfection", you know?)  Last year, my planning-brain balked at the idea of a pattern like this, but since this is the year I embrace imperfection, I'm doing it, even if that part feels a little uncomfortable.  Because uncomfortable can be good, right?

I'm knitting my pair out of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, which has been marinating in my stash for several years now.  I'm loving the way it's knitting up, and am already eagerly awaiting the next step in the pattern.  It's not too late to join, if you want to!   
 

Making Progress

Even though life has been so busy lately, there has been knitting going on.  I'm slowly getting there with my Good Stuff socks.  I'm using 2mm DPNs, and finding it much rougher going than I do when I use my usual 2.5mm needles.  Also, to keep the gorgeous striping action, these socks are knit on less stitches than I usually use, so they're long and skinny.  They will fit, though, and I found some amazing clog-type shoes at the thrift store to wear them with, so I really should get busy.

In contrast, Liam's Baby Sophisticate sweater is flying along!  The pattern sizing only goes to 6-12mths, but it's a fairly standard top down coconstruction, so I added a few increase rows before I separated the sleeves.  I can't wait to see Liam in this, it looks so much like a tiny smoking jacket - so sweet.  I'm using Knitpicks Comfy Bulky in the Planetarium colourway - it's such a soft, squishy yarn.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it wears over time.

Even though we've had the most amazing summer weather ever, I've surprised myself,  finding my thoughts turning to fall of late.  I've been thinking about upcoming sweaters, Christmas knitting, starting a fire in the fireplace...  Mmmmm, I can almost see the leaves turning! 

Do you have big winter knitting plans?

Using the Good Stuff

 

I realized the other day that I've fallen back into a bad habit.  I have a collection of beautiful sock yarn, but I leave it in it's box, waiting.  Stuart gave me these beautiful rosewood DPNs last fall, but they've stayed in their pretty little tin.  Enough!  I tell myself.  It is time to use the nice things. 

I have to give myself permission to work with beautiful materials, and there is a part of me that is afraid to, as if what I create with this yarn, these needles, will not be "perfect" enough to justify their use.  Sigh...  Imperfection...  The good part of this is that I recognize it now, and can take steps to change my thought processes.

Yesterday, I pulled out the pretty needles, and one of my favourite skeins of yarn.  I cast on for a pair of toe-up socks, sitting at the computer watching a tutorial for the Magic Cast On until I figured it out.  

It's raining here, and I can think of nothing I'd rather do than throw a loaf of banana bread in the oven, and then curl up with my sock, my nice needles, my pretty yarn, and a good cup of tea.  I remind myself: self-care is important.  How are you taking care of yourself today?  

Again With The Tuesday

 

After more bitterly cold weather over the last week, the temperatures are on the rise again, and the snow has returned!  I'm always happy to see the snow come back, as it's so good for me to get out and shovel.  Plus, if it warms up as much as they're promising, I'll be able to scrape off some of the ice that's coating my driveway and walkways.  Ah, the pleasures in a Canadian winter...

This week, I'm taking care of myself by... finishing my socks, the first FO of 2009!  I grafted the second toe last night, and quickly gave them a soaking and blocking, so they'd be ready for photos (and then wearing) this morning. 

Particulars:

Pattern - Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock, from Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Yarn - Regia Spirit Color, in Nightshade, 2 balls

Needles - 2.5mm DPNs

I made no modifications to this, although the cuff is perhaps a bit shorter than called for...  I get bored on the leg.  Still, they are exactly what I wanted - a simple, wear-with-jeans around the house kind of sock, for me, me, me!  I was surprised, upon blocking, how much this yarn softened up.  My most worn pair of handknitted socks were knit from Paton's Kroy, simply because they require no special treatment of any kind.  I think that what I need are more and more socks, so that I have at least a week or two's worth, and then I could wear only handknit socks, all the time!  And it seems like this is just the year to do it.

   

An exciting new treat - I was doing some blog reading last night when I found this recipe for Cocoa-Peanut Porridge over at Handmade Homeschool.  I instantly stepped into the kitchen and started a batch, which I enjoyed thoroughly (although I did have to share with Katie & Brian).  It was requested for breakfast this morning, again!  If you like chocolate and peanut butter, check it out, it's well worth a few minutes and a few ingredients.

Care Taking

I came across an interesting blog the other day, called Aprovechar, that really sparked a line of thought for me.  The writer is focusing on Taking Care of Herself in many ways, including healthy eating and exercise.  As I read back over some of her previous posts, it all suddenly made sense to me - if I can change my mindset in regards to, specifically, my eating and fitness, how much easier would I make things for myself? 

Instead of groaning that I need to get on the treadmill, or forcing myself to start my day with exercise, what if I gave myself a chance to take care of me?  What if I looked forward to it?  What if, during my day, I asked myself, "What can I do to take care of me, right now?"  It could be a simple as drink a glass of water, or walk away from the chocolate, or spend a few minutes stretching (it might even be, Eat the Chocolate!).  But I feel better when I do these things, so perhaps, just perhaps, I could start enjoying them?

I'm taking care of myself in some other ways these days, too.

   

My Stitch 'n Bitch meets at a local Starbucks, and I've been eyeing this cup up since before Christmas.  I didn't buy it, because it felt too self-indulgent to spend $10 on a cup that I certainly didn't need.  When I finally changed my mind, and told myself that I can do something nice for me, even if I am imperfect, the cups were gone.  So disappointing, and a good lesson learned about seizing the moment.  However, there was a reprieve - Stuart & I were shopping in a different part of town, and noticed a Starbucks; I ran inside, and there was my cup!  It's such a nice treat.

 

Also in the caretaking category, I finished the first of my Vanilla Socks!  I'm so looking forward to wearing these...  In fact, I think I'm off to cast on the second sock now.

What are you doing for yourself these days?  Take Care!

Summer Socks

Even with the detour for baby knitting, I managed to finish my little ankle socks yesterday.  I am quite pleased with these, and have plans to knit another pair out of a ball of Regia Cotton I have from my stash.  As I was knitting, I wasn't sure I liked the TOFUtsies yarn that much, but it grew on me, and now I'm looking forward to finding some more (but not until next year, of course!). 

Particulars:

Yarn: TOFUtsies, not sure of the colourway.  I weighed the ball once I was done, and I have 59g left, so I could easily knit two pairs of these from one 100g ball.  Which is good, because I'm pretty sure that when my mom sees these, she's going to want a pair herself.

Needles: 2.5mm Brittany DPN.  These needles are 5" long, and I am in love with them.  This is the perfect length for me and sock knitting, so much so that I'm thinking of cutting down some of my longer ones.

Pattern: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Vanilla sock pattern.  I knit four rounds of 1x1 ribbing, 3 rounds of plain stocking stitch, and then went to the heel flap.  For me, this makes a perfect fit.

Gentle Arts

I was in an agony of impatience all weekend - the library called Friday evening to say my copy of The Gentle Art of Domesticity was finally in and processed and ready to be picked up.  (Please forgive the lack of links - Typepad has very rudely changed everything on me, without asking my permission, and I will have to take some time to figure out how to add links.)  However, they were closed because it was a holiday long weekend here in Canada, and I had to wait!  That's just mean.

This morning, off we went to pick it up, as well as a book called Cheesemaking Made Easy, by Ricki Carroll (after reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver, I've become obsessed with the idea of making cheese.  It's probably just a nesting thing, but we'll see.)  I hadn't really thought of baking at home as an art, more of a necessity for all the hungry little mouths in my house, and a craving dampener for the large pregnant woman.  I like the idea, though, of gentle arts.  It brings to mind a sense of peace and pleasure in the process of all the things that we used to do because we had to, and now do because we choose to.  Like baking brownies for an after-school treat, with the help of a Very. Busy. Two-Year-Old.  And like knitting socks.

I finished the first ankle sock during our afternoon quiet time, and have cast on for sock #2.  I know that this should be fairly obvious, but I was overcome with delight today by the realization that ankle socks knit up super fast, since they're half the size of a regular sock.  Plus, I can get two pairs of socks out of one 100g ball of yarn!  Thrilling stuff, I tell you.  Or else, I need to get out more.

Returning to Earth

Sometimes, with knitting, the timing of things just comes together so perfectly, you know it's meant to be.  I finished the Returning to Earth socks tonight, just in time to send them home with my sister after Sunday dinner.  She just graduated from university, and starts a full-time job as a Social Worker tomorrow morning.  She's a little nervous, and I told her I hoped that these socks would help keep her grounded on her first day.

Particulars:

Pattern - Garter Rib Socks, from Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn - Returning to Earth, hand-dyed by the amazingly talented Ruth

Needles - Brittany birch DPNs, 2.5mm

Notes - I knit these socks over 56 stitches, using a very basic pattern.  I didn't want anything to compete with the wonderful colours in the yarn, and I am happy with the way they turned out.  Not only do I love them, but my sister loves them,  and that makes me feel great.  I've always loved the Garter Rib pattern, and still plan to knit myself a pair one of these days.  For now, I'm quite content with my place in the knitting universe.