Shut Up & Knit!

I lied

I can't even remember what I promised y'all yesterday, but I'm thinking this may not be it.  Too bad.  It's Monday and most of us aren't getting what we want.  This is just another example of that.  Can you tell I'm in a bad mood?

Feel free to guess which totally fab stitch marker made by the Amazingly Wicked Stacey if my favorite.

She really does need to set up her own Etsy and get to selling these things because she makes wonderful stitch makers.

Yeah, I got nothing, but it seems to be going around, so I'm okay with that.

They can't all be winners, ya know

And these little felted ballet slippers prove it.

I used the Fiber Trends pattern for knit and felted ballet slippers.

As you can tell they are a bit big.  I'm hoping I can get them a little smaller.  I will be knitting the pattern slightly differently next time.

The yarn is/was Lamb's Pride worsted weight in Lotus Pink.  The first time I saw that color way I knew I need to do something with it.  I'm not sure this was the best use of that yarn, but it's too late to rethink.

I loved working with the yarn and am now thinking how a cardi out of the Lamb's Pride would be.

Yes, clearly, the felting process has gotten to me.

I may still operate on these and try to get a better fit out of them.  I think that may be easier than running them through the washer and dryer again.  The garage is a very boring place to hang out while the felting magic is happening.

I used the large laundry bag that I have and tied it shut.  I don't trust draw strings.  The washer seems to have survived and I did find the shelf that goes in the dryer. 

Did I mention I'll do them smaller next time?

Assuming there is a next time.  We'll have to see how this pair do.

Although, I must say that they slide very well on hard wood floors.  This may not always be a happy, though.  Depends on what's happening, I would think.

Tomorrow, there will be love and a little cursing.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've to go celebrate Germany's loss to Spain in soccer.  I love it when the right team wins.

That's Not Cloud Cover

It's been a week since we have had blue skies.

Instead we have had a long smoky week with no end in sight.  A very long week it was, too.  There is a slight breeze today and that allows me to naively hope that there is relief on the way. 

Right now, I think a little naive hope could do me some good.

Oh, and the washing machine is just fine, thanks.  I haven't felted yet.  I need to learn how to read and follow a pattern first.

Yeesh!

I hope your skies are blue and fabulous. 

Happy Saturday!

Just about the only live thing here

The short row toe tutorial is up and live.

Follow the link in the button that Evil&Fabulous Stacey kindly made for us if you're interested.  You can find an example of a test knit sock knit toe-up using my version of short rows at her blog... here. 

If you're a proud flapper, just ignore the nonsense.  I just bought three kinds of chocolate and "acid reducer" at the Target.  This sock thing won't be holding my interest for long.

Acid reducer for the cat.  Can you even believe it?!

I only know I'm alive because of how anxious and stressed out I am and she's the only on the meds.  *L* 

Yeah, okay.  She's on them to help her feel better.  Another side effect of her declining health.

On the upside, I've been told that I can bring her in daily for someone at the vet to pill her if I can't do it.  And they won't charge me. (YAY!)  We'll see how it goes.  I may have to.  I'm not nearly as tough as I used to be.

Oh, and she's only getting a half of a pill.  Her vet signed off on the deal, so I'm not doing anything that I shouldn't be.  Just trying to help her feel a bit better.  I know from experience that wandering through life queasy is not a good time.  Hopefully, this will help her... and me. 

And many thanks to the pro-short row people, my test knitters, the art department south division and Carrie for trying to cheer my moody ass up.  I'd be lost without y'all. 

Tomorrow, I'll show you the sky that's breaking my cold black little heart and tell you if I killed the washer machine or not. 

Yeah...

Happy Friday!

My Summer of Sock Fail

I am blaming those people at that place for this, btw. 

Well... them and their dumbass questions.  Which one is worse... the one about what size sock is an adult size sock or what pattern/yarn should someone I don't know use for socks for her husband that I don't know who seems to be having doubts about his masculinity. 

For

Fuck

Sake!

Anyway...
The pattern is Spring Forward.  The yarn came from Jessica and it's fabulous.  However, it's superwash and tencel and I'm a little worried about how many chances I have with it.

Ya know?

I have 400 yards of the yarn, but I'm not sure if it will be enough to knit two socks because I did three repeats of the chart before doing my short row heel.

The pattern calls for less yarn, but the designer made a shorter a sock with a different yarn. 

I'm not sure what I should do because if I run out of yarn at the toes of sock #2 I will be ten kinds of livid.

I'm toying with the idea of casting on for sock #2 and seeing how it goes, but see above mention of "livid".

Thoughts?

Ideas?

Opinions beyond the fact that it's a pink sock?

Because I already know that part.

Btw, if you want to learn how to read a chart and, you can knit a sock, this may be the pattern for you.  The chart is 11 stitches wide and very simple to understand and follow.  Just sayin'...

Then there's this.

I'm not totally sure what happened here.

Okay...

That's a lie. 

I know exactly what happened.

It was a man's sock knit on US1, toe-up with my short row cast on.  (Yes, I know!   Tutorial!  I'm working on it, I swear!)

My normal man sock is a footie style and the US1s are perfect for that.  Tight enough to not slip into a shoe, but  with enough give to keep the blood flowing.

However, I wasn't thinking when I was knitting this sock.

Okay.

Another lie.

I was thinking.  Just not about the sock or how it would fit on an actual foot.

No, we will not be discussing what I was thinking.  Y'all are much better off not knowing how my brain works.

Trust me.

So I ended up with a sock that was a nice hugging your foot kind of sock that was cutting off the blood flow to the rest of your body above the ankle.

Not good.

I thought about ripping it down and going up a needle size, but, while working on the sock, I had fallen out of love with the yarn.  Fallen out of  as in if I never see it again I'll be just fine, kthanxgetofmylawn.  I'm not sure what happened, but this is no longer the yarn for me. 

Or anyone I know or could ever want to know.

Yeah.

Lorna's Laces Black Purl for the curious.

Loved knitting with it.

Just hate the colors or something.

Did I mention that Aunt Flo will be visiting us twice this month?

Explains a lot, no?

Then there is my New Hope.

Hand painted Opal.

At 425m, I know I will have enough yarn to knit the Spring Forward pattern without a problem.

Plus there's something comforting and familiar about Opal yarn.  I know what it's going to do and know there won't be any rude surprises along the way.

At this point, I think that's what I need.

Something simple that won't fail me.

Well...

That and a freakin' breeze so the smoke will go away. 

But the fact that my beloved state is on fire is a rant for another day.

Trust me, it's for the best.

There's a rumor going around that today is Thursday.  I can't help but think that's a very good thing.  I need a break and a chance to unplug and forget about the world for a little while.

Why, yes, it has been one of those weeks.  Thanks for asking.

Happy Thursday, people!

& If you see my sock mojo, please kick it for me.