lolajl: September 2005 Archives

In preparation for upping to MT 3.2 (I've got it loaded on my laptop for testing purposes), I've started making changes to the blog layout. You'll see that now the monthly archive links are now accessible in the pull-down menu. This should keep the blog page from going a bit too long. And I think I'll bring categories back; I'll need to go through my entries to categorize these even further.

And there's going to be changes in my work situation; I don't want to say too much about this here at this point, so I'll just ask for your prayers and positive thoughts in making these changes work for me, leaving me in a better position than before.

Meanwhile, I'm still knitting away at the clog socks. I've had a bit of a setback and had to rip back, but it should go better once I've gotten over the hump. I wish I could have gone to Stitches East. But it being in Atlantic City, this is quite a distance even though New Jersey is just a few steps away from around the corner. However, I've been reading reports from those who went there on my knitting lists, and apparently the market wasn't so good because quite a few vendors stayed away.

My favorite yarn store sells their own yarn line and this year they decided not to go there because they were doing so well at Maryland Sheep and Wool festival. There's a bit of good news, though - they're going to be in Baltimore next year and it will be the 1st weekend of November. So I can save quite a bit of $$$ by just spending the night at my home with my lovely hubby, cooking delicious meals from my crockpot, and driving to Baltimore in about 45 minutes in my newly acquired Volkswagen Jetta Wagon, model 2006.

Yesterday my project group got some not so good news about the project we'd been working on for quite a while, so it was a downer, and I was not feeling so happy when I came home. Bruce was there, as usual, having gotten home before me, and gave me one of his big hugs. I saw the box sitting on the stairs, and realized that it had to be from Samantha Blackmon. Besides the lovely socks, I found a tin of Altoids Apple Sour, a small tin of green tea leaves, and a yellow highlighter with mini-tabs. I love tart food, and I've seen this new product at the store but haven't had a chance yet to buy one. And I love tea - my custom is to have a cup of tea every morning to start off my day at work. I like coffee, but I find it hard to drink it all down, and Starbuck coffee does add up. Oh, yes, the socks do fit! I'm really looking forward to wearing these during the cold weather.

Meanwhile, I've been working on the cable clog socks. I love the pattern. The first sock I started on Saturday and am almost finished with it now - only just have to bind off the stitches. The knitted fabric feels really good and soft. I'm looking forward to seeing how it will wash up and wear. I suspect it may felt a little bit on the soles, but that's okay. I think I may have enough yarn to make four out of this pattern.

Just in time for the September 15th deadline, I've finished my sock pal's socks. The yarn was a lot of fun to work with and I even ended up with plenty of yarn left over, which will be sent along with a little gift, of course. And I have an whole skein of the blue yarn, so I've decided to start a new sock for myself, especially since it's going to be getting cool soon. I just can't wait to get back to my Birkie clogs!

QueerJoe asks why not use the brown Romney. I totally agree with him - this would do the Eris pattern a greater justice. The only problem is . . . looks like there are just two skeins and I do not seem to any more of the wool to spin up. Sigh. I guess I'll have to go looking for that elusive brown Romney fleece.

Meanwhile, I'm knitting away furiously on the sock. I'm not going to finish it tonight as I'm getting close to conking out. Knocking on wood, I'll finish it tomorrow.

It's been quite a while since I posted to the blog. I've been busy with Life, and was distracted by Hurricane Katrina. [Comments deleted because passions are running high in the blogosphere right now, on both sides. - Ed.] Now, moving on to other things . . .

I've been working on my Sock Pal's sock. I've got the twin completed. I really loved working with this yarn - it feels good and is going to be very comfortable to wear. After completing the twin, I immediately got started on the other one, especially since deadline is September 15. May the knitting go quickly . . . I'm fixing to get this done tonite. Pictures to go up tomorrow, of course, in time for the roll call.

I'm still lusting after the Eris cardigan, and printed out the pattern since I couldn't find the otther printout that I'd marked up. I started swatching for it, using my handspun. For both of these, I used 3.75mm needles. Here are the swatches, before washing.

The brown swatch, handspun from Brown Romney roving, I think, is very dense, and I would need to use a larger needle to obtain the needed gauge. I think it is also heavier. The white swatch, handspun from Romney pin drafted wool, is much more drapey, but a bit too loose. I have some other handspun yarn that I want to swatch with, but the boxes are high up on the alcoves in the other bedroom and I'm going to need to have Bruce move the box down. First, I got to get the bedroom cleared out. Then, got to get the rec room cleared out so I can move the boxes down there (and get rid of that massive desk that Bruce doesn't use anymore) . . .