Sleeve One - Check

Finally, a finished sleeve! The cabled goodness never ceases to amaze me. It's so smooshy (technical term) and wonderful!

The sleeve cap on this took me longer than I'd hoped - I think I worked just a handful of rows each day all week. It wasn't until after work on Friday, when I got home to a quiet house that I could actually finish and bind off. Next up: the back. Like the sleeve but with even more cables! I'm thankful for a long weekend to relax and knit, even if Virginia Tech holds classes on Labor Day (boooo!).

So, as part of my August organizing kick, I opened up a box that was labeled "desk & house files," and armed with the shredder, prepared to do battle. I was not, however, prepared for the first thing I saw:

My Denise needles, which abruptly disappeared into the ether, have been rediscovered! I lamented their disappearance in March when they'd been gone for a year or so. Now it's dawning on me that they probably have been packed up like this since we moved in late 2005. None of my 2006 entries make mention of them. How's that for lucky discoveries?

It sort of makes me want to unpack the last 6 or so boxes of "the randoms" -- you know the ones -- you pile a bunch of stuff into a box because you can't be bothered at that point in the move to be organized. They're also the most frustrating to unpack because it's the same hodgepodge of homeless stuff you packed in the first place. Or is that just me?

Heelless Socks

So, the Heelless Sleeping Socks have been done for a few days now, but I had to keep mum until they landed at their new home. See, a couple of weeks ago, Grandma told me that she loved the first pair of socks that I gave her in January, and she was wearing them to bed to keep her feet warm. Well, I know a knitterly need when I hear it -- clearly, Grandma needed a second pair of socks! (And maybe more, but I only have two hands.)

And the Heelless Sleeping Socks fit the bill perfectly.

Heelless Sleeping Socks
Pattern: From Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Socks That Rock Mediumweight, colorway "Rare Gems"
Needle: US2, done on Addi Turbos
Modifications: I did this sock toe-up. I used a figure-eight toe and increased the sock to 56 stitches, and knit the leg until it had 7.5 pattern repeats.
Comments: This sock would be a great beginner sock - it only needs a toe, not a heel. It's an easy-to-memorize pattern, and it looks good inside or out.

I wondered how the socks would fit, being without a heel and all, and you know what? They are cozy and comfortable. They fit while not being fitted, and are nice and snug. The ribbing at the top will keep them in place. These would be a great sock to give to someone that you weren't quite sure of their shoe size and didn't want to ruin a surprise by asking for foot measurements. And, as a bonus, I think they're the fastest socks I've ever knit. Start to finish, the pair was done in under a week!

And now, the Heelless Sleeping Socks have landed at their destination! Grandma reports that they fit and are cozy. I was just thrilled with how the stripes lined up perfectly.

*****

In other news, I am a (nearly) monogomous woman... the Phildar Crewneck sweater has totally seduced me. With the exception of a few pieces that still need finishing, this is the only thing on my needles. I've just now arrived at the sleeve cap shaping:

And you know what the best part about that sleeve is, aside from all the cabley goodness? That was all done with a SINGLE skein of yarn. The Shelridge Farms DKW has something like 250 meters per ball -- it just goes and goes! And you know how I feel about weaving in ends (hate!) so the fewer, the better.

Of course, it helps that it's ridiculously soft and cables like a dream. I should have a finished sleeve in no time!

Three Years

Overheard at Casa de Fidget this weekend:

JT: Wow, it's so nice that you have this whole closet here, you know, for YARN. Not clothes like normal people keep in their closets.
Me: Well, I prefer to think of this closet as holding potential clothes.

******

As it turns out, yesterday marked three years writing here. It hardly feels like it's been that long -- at the same time, I feel like I know so many more fantastic people (both in real life and thanks to the blogworld) than three years ago. And I definitely am continuing to improve on my knitting skills.

As proof, I offer up this:

That's a sweater that, no kidding, has been on my to-knit list for two and a half years. (From Phildar #397, Irlandais, Winter 03/04.) It's languished in my mind, waiting for the right yarn, the right mojo and my own tenacity in translating the pattern. And I think I've finally hit the trifecta.

Translating was actually easier than I imagined. (I've been trying to revive my lagging French skills by listening to some French-class podcasts.) And Chez Plum has a wonderful guide to french knitting terms.

And we're off -- here's a sleeve in progress! The yarn called to the task is Shelridge Farms Soft Touch DKW, one of the MDSW purchases this year. I love the color and love the way that the cables are popping out. There's a voice in the back of my head that's a little worried about the sizing and ease, but I've neurotically checked the maths multiple times. (Measured and re-measured the swatch, measured against a sweater I love, etc.) I'll wash and block the sleeve before setting off on a front, just to make sure.

So, that's all for today. A new sweater, that with any luck will be ready in time for Rhinebeck.

And many thanks for a great three years. If you're reading this, you helped make the journey this far both fun and fantastic. :)

The Taming of the Stash

Clearly, I've been craving a little order and control in my life. It's showing up in just about every aspect - my desk at work is the most organized it's ever been in my life! I'm sticking to my gym schedule! I'm cooking and eating healthy foods! And at home, where I have packrat instincts and my organizational strategy can best be described as "mounding"... well, I've turned over a new leaf.

It all started when Container Store sent me a coupon for 25% off Elfa shelves. Right at the start of my break between jobs. I figured it was a sign. I took some measurements, headed out, and $300 later, had the fixins of organizational nirvana. At least for two closets. I did our bedroom closet while JT was traveling, which gave me the freedom to make it a total mess. It went from one shelf and one bar to many shelves for his shirts, plus some long hanging space for my dresses. It went from being "space" to "closet", which is all we really needed.

But in the office, a more dramatic approach was needed. We were asking a lot of that closet - particularly, to hold (most, anyway!) all of my yarn as well as some important old files, keepsakes, and other things. Again, it's a standard old closet -- 44" wide, with one shelf and one hanging bar. I had so much crammed in there that to get to anything, it required spelunking and excavating. (Click to see what it used to look like.) So I took a crowbar to the wall and started taking down the old shelf and bar.

When I pried the shelf off the wall, some papers fluttered to the ground. Hidden treasure!

Apparently the Alexandria City Council election in 1964 was worth remembering. Also, the school picture is of someone named Honora, as written on the back. I don't think an Honora ever lived in our house... maybe a secret hidden crush?

Anyway, I got the shelf down with minimal holes to the plaster (I'm old friends with the plaster patching, having learned my lesson the hard way on the first closet). And in about 48 hours (time for demo, patching, painting and install), I got this:

(Click picture to see annotations and notes on the flickr page)

It's the yarn closet of my dreams, quite frankly. It holds everything I need it to, and best of all, I can SEE things without having to spelunk! Love that. Wish I'd done it when we first moved in. Of course, it also makes clear that there is NO ROOM for any other hobbies. It's all knitting baby!

While I've been redoing the stash, I needed some mindless knitting. Enter the Heelless Sleeping Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks.

I'm knitting up some stash yarn, natch -- Socks That Rock in a "Rare Gems" colorway. This is the epitome of mindless sock knitting: There's no heel! Just knit the pattern round and round. I modified this to do it as a toe-up, and tried the figure-8 cast-on for the first time. I *love* this cast-on. So easy! No short rows! Just cast on and go! In this case, it adds a level of shape to the pattern that wasn't there originally -- the original round toe emphasizes that there's no wrong way to put on the sock.

(This is a better representation of the color.) This way, you've got to fit your toes into the shaped toe - but I figure it's a small price to pay. (Besides, they're not for me.) Plus, they're going to be so soft and smushy! I'm tempted to keep them for myself.

Oh, The Potential

I've been trying to be good about finishing. But there are so many gorgeous patterns out there -- I want to cast on for about a million things RIGHT NOW. (Thanks, Interweave! And Ravelry!) I actually feel a bit overwhelmed by all of the great project options. It seems like somewhat of a renaissance for knitters -- I wonder if there have ever been so many yarn, pattern, color, support options before?

But I'm really trying to be good and not cast on for a new project (except socks) until I've finished at least one, and maybe two, things out of the to-finish pile.

Of course, that doesn't mean my eye can't wander. I was in need of some mindless knitting the other day, and realized that I have a bunch of yarns I don't know gauge for. And what's more perfect mindless knitting than swatches?

Clockwise from top left: Sheldrige Farms Soft Touch DKW in Pussywillow; Rowan Denim; Rowan Wool Cotton in Mist Grey; RYC Cashsoft Aran in Pine.

All now vying to be my next big project. Which yarn, which pattern -- which sweater -- will win??

Socky Sock Sock

Okay, clearly I didn't mean for it to be more than a week before I updated again! Starting a new job and finishing a class at the same time will do that to you. Whew!

So, first things first: The scrapbook mags in the last entry go to Sarah B. I'm sure she can give them more love than I can.

Now, onto the socks! First up are my own -- the Anastasia socks are finished! I love this pattern. It was easy enough as to be practically mindless, but they look complicated because of the spirals.

Anastasia Socks
Pattern: Anastasia Socks by Pepperknit
Yarn: Socks That Rock Lightweight, colorway Seal Rock
Needles: US1s, done on Addi Turbos
Size: To fit a women's 9 (me!)
Modifications: I used 56 stitches around the foot (30 for the instep and 26 for the sole) and increased to 60 after the heel, for the leg.
Notes: LOVE. Love the pattern, love the yarn. It's my first actual use of Socks That Rock, even though I have a half-dozen more hanks in my stash. It won't be the last time, that's for sure! It's sproingy and squooshy and I can totally understand why people went mad for this yarn.

This marks two pairs of socks I've knit for myself this summer. Which is great -- hooray socks! -- but also dangerous because I'm getting precariously close to needing a new, bigger sock drawer. Especially when you check out these babies:

Those are my FABULOUS sockapalooooza socks, sent to me by the blogless Lydia from Illinois. They are the Diagonal Rib socks -- another great sock pattern that's going on my to-do list. She knit them in Sophie's Toes yarn, dyed by a friend of hers. They fit like a dream, see? Wonderful.

Lydia also included a couple of really cool goodies in the parcel - my very own hank of Sophie's Toes in a delightful colorway. Plus, a necklace that looks cool and abstract, and then she explains that it does double duty as a needle sizer! I was gobsmacked. Thanks again!!

So, it's been pretty sockalicious around these parts lately. But I think the winds of change are blowing in... I'm about to scale a mountain of finishing. Send provisions!