In Which I Decide To Try For Another Box o' Socks in 2018

Apparently, the Box 'o Socks activity - whereby knitters try to knit at least 12 pairs of socks that they keep in a box until January of the following year - has been around for a while now; however, I only heard of it once I started watching the Yarngasm knitting podcast.  (The link takes you to Kristin's review of everyone's 2017 efforts.  She manages the official KAL.)

As you know, I seldom participate in any "official" KALs, because inevitably, I feel [my own self-imposed] pressure, and have even occasionally failed to knit anything at all related to said KAL.  But this one just sounded like fun, and I enjoyed seeing everyone's socks, both on Ravelry and on podcasts.  So for 2017, I decided I was going to give it a try, but "unofficially."  And I surprised myself by completing 11 pairs over the course of the year, which are now out of the box and in my sock drawer (except for the holiday pair, put away with my other Christmas socks for next December).

Two of these pairs (the Winter Berry socks on the far left and the Fradentical Holly Socks wouldn't have qualified for the official KAL anyway, since that requires socks knit from fingering/sock yarn only.  They qualify for me, 'cause I did my own thing, which is what you can do really with any knitting endeavor, but I digress ...

So anyhoo, I've given it some thought, and I'm gonna unofficially participate again this year.  For one thing, it really motivated me to do more knitting in general; it provided a great opportunity for using stash - only the Mojito socks (top, third from left) were knit from newly-purchased yarn; it made me try more patterns also in my pattern stash, which allowed me to learn some new things; and, possibly the best of all, it was so much fun to have 11 new pairs of socks, and the reminders of what/when/where I knitted them, that it made my really happy!

I've also decided that I'm going to do my own thing again this year, and even add another factor:  I'm going to try and make at least two pairs for The Tim.  Not just because he deserves them, but because it will mean I'll knit them without waiting until the last minute for his birthday or Christmas, and they'll be right there and ready.

I know Dee said she might give the Box o' Socks a try, so it will be fun to see what she knits.  I really had fun with it last year, and hope to enjoy it all even more this time around.

Will I make 12 pairs this year?  Will any actually be for The Tim?  Will I make even one pair?  Will I ever learn?

You'll just have to stay tuned ...

Another FO With a Mistake, But It's For me So That's Fine

Well, apparently this was the Christmas Where Bridget Was Distracted While Knitting, because today's FO has a couple of weird mistakes.  However, since I was making these for myself, I decided not to sweat it.

Project:  Fradentical Holly Berry Socks

Pattern:  Simple Holly Socks, by Mary Dominski

Needles:  Size US4

Yarn:  Blackberry Ridge Woolens Northwoods (discontinued, I think) in the colorways Blackberry, Green, and White

Modifications:  None that were intentional ...

Notes:  I bought a kit for these a LONG time ago, when I first learned to knit, and decided that if you could knit Christmas socks, I wanted to learn to knit socks! (And the rest, of course, is history.)  The kit sat for many years; last year, I actually wound the yarn, but did nothing about it.  Then I decided this year was the year.

First off, let me say that I do really like this pattern, and will likely make it again.  But OMG, the yarn in the kit was the WORST.  It is a 50/50 cotton-wool blend, with absolutely no give, and really hard  on the hands to use.  I also suspect it will not wear well.  Also, in the kit there was a HUGE amount of the main color, and the white, and barely enough to make sure you could do the sections with green.  

As you can see, one sock has two white rounds at the top that are noticeable but nothing near the foot.  That's the one I knit first, and I think I was so anxious to get it finished, and be closer to being done with the yarn, I completely forgot to do the final rows of white.

The other sock has the white rounds at the top that are barely visible, and I know what happened with both of them.  The first round (above the holly) I was doing as I was watching the Army/Navy football game, which ended up being a nail biter to the very end!  The next day, I was knitting while watching the Eagles/Rams game, also a nail biter to the very end!  However, I didn't notice that I'd done one round instead of two until I was at the heel.  And no way was I ripping back!  I did, however, remember to do the two white rounds near the toe.  

So, they are not quite fraternal twins, nor are they identical, hence the name "fradentical."  They are the final pair for my 2017 Box o' Socks, and I'll have them for Christmas next year.:-)

I do have another FO from 2017 to show you, once I get some photos of it, which will hopefully be this week.  In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your weekend, and the last day of Christmas!

The In-Between of Christmastime

(Fortunately, not like the "Upside Down" in the TV show Stranger Things ...)

This has been a good week, as any week that begins with Christmas Day should be!  This year I was able to take the week between Christmas and New Year's off (long annoying work-related story, but the ending is happy!), so it's been extra nice.

And yes, it's been frigidly cold and today it is snowing, but a) I like wintertime, and b) I'm fortunate to have warm cozy clothes and kitties to cuddle.  Lots of tea, knitting, wine, reading, laughing, yummy food and treats, seeing friends and making new ones.  For such a crap year, my end of year has been perfect.

I knew things were going well when I ventured over to Loop earlier in the week to return some yarn, and had the chance to have a fun chat with friends who work there.  (Yes, I returned yarn - after I bought it for a specific project, it just didn't speak to me when I pulled it back out.  It hadn't been wound, and I had the receipt, so now I have a store credit, which will be very exciting down the road!)  When I left there, I decided to wander into the used book store two doors down to poke around.  I asked the guy if by any chance he had any books by Barbara Pym.  She is one of my fave authors, and most of her books are out of print.  And it's even hard to track them down via the library, so I figured it was worth asking him.

SCORE!!!!!

Behold - two hardcovers, one paperback, all in nearly perfect condition!  Even better?  All of them combined cost me just over twenty dollars!  To say it made my day was an understatement.

Then on Thursday evening, we went out to the 'burbs to have dinner with Dee and her husband Steve, and it was wonderful because a) now they live close and we can see them, b) we love them both, and c) WE GOT TO MEET GIROUX!!!!  Oh my God, he is so adorable, and he was showing off his new Philadelphia Flyers nametag, and he is perfect!  Needless to say, he was not as impressed with us (as one would expect of a cat), but he did let me kiss him and hug him, so even if he was just being polite, I was in 7th heaven!  We had a great evening, and got to see their really lovely and festive townhouse.  They took us to dinner at this AH-MAZING Indian restaurant, and then we had some of the best cherry pie ever at their house afterwards.  It was so much fun, and it's so nice that they moved up here from Florida. 

Also, The Tim's fingerless mitts were finished after a small (HA!) blip and he loves them and they fit!

(I'll write a post about them, including the story of the blip.  It's amusing so nothing to worry about.)  I also finished my Holly Berry Socks, and today will finish my For the Birds top, as all that has been left to do for a while now is the neckline, and between being busy with other stuff and then forgetting to wind another skein of yarn, it's just been patiently waiting. 

I didn't manage to knit 12 pairs of socks for my Box o' Socks this year, but I did knit 11 pairs!

Although, according to The Tim (Mr. Atheist), I did knit twelve, because I'm the sort of person "who would knit a pair of socks for Baby Jesus to keep his feet warm, and they don't need to be corporeal" ... I have to say that amused me greatly!  I think he thought I was feeling bad that I was one pair off, and was hoping to make me feel better.  :-)

Today we are staying put and just doing things around here that we are in the mood to do.  The Tim is baking olive bread, so the house smells really wonderful right now.  I'm getting ready to fold laundry and make our cheeseball for tomorrow evening.  And we're watching/listening to "Carols from Kings" which we recorded on Christmas Eve, so it's a very pleasing day.

I hope your week has been a good one as well.  If you are in the cold/snow snap, I do hope that you and yours are all OK.  Enjoy the rest of your New Year's holiday weekend!

Thank the Lord These Are an FO!

This past Saturday, I was determined to do one particular thing.  And I did! 

Project:  Annoying Pumpkins

Pattern:  Little Pumpkins, by Sabine Ruppert (a freebie)

Yarn:  Socks That Rock Lightweight, colorway Oregon Red Clover Honey

Needles:  US size 1 1/2

Modifications:  None

Notes:  I like the finished socks.  I absolutely hated knitting these!  The pattern was very fiddly, and sometimes hard to understand.  I had to go to someone else's notes to figure out parts of it.  Now keep in mind, the pattern writer is German, and I am suspecting that English is not her first language (of course, I'm sure it's better than my German could ever be ...), so that might be part of it.  But mainly there was just too much going on all the time for me.  Once I finished the first one, I seriously considered not doing the pattern repeats each time on the second.  But then I decided that in for a penny, in for a pound, so to speak.

I know others have made these and didn't have issues with the pattern, so it may very well be me.  I like textured and/or patterned socks, I guess I just prefer it in smaller doses.  And as you can see, I managed to survive, so it may very well be that my issues are just so  much blather.  These will go into my Box o' Socks, and hopefully by the time I open said box and wear them, all of my feelings will have moved on.

The yarn was great to work with - very smooth, and takes stitch definition really well.  This was my first pair made with Socks That Rock yarn, and I did enjoy using it.  The color is also perfect, so that made me happy.

Here's a bit closer look at the stitch pattern that creates the pumpkin-looking texture.

I knit these for the I ♥ Fall KAL hosted by Dee and Vera, and that was fun.  But I REALLY hope they are not prize-eligible, as the prize is getting them finished and out of my life!

So, on to the next thing, yet to be decided.  I'm happy with the way these turned out, but I also have to say #neveragain.

Hooray! An FO!!

Hello and Happy October!  I love this month for so many reasons, and the weather has cooperated here in Philadelphia this weekend by being sunny, cool, and crisp.  Sleeping under a cover, pulling on a sweater over my t-shirt in the evening - it's all good.

And to start things off, I have an FO for you today.  I finished these a couple of weeks ago, but had wait to get a decent photo to show them off.

Project:  Summertime Solar Socks
Pattern:  Solar (a free pattern on Ravelry)
Yarn:  Yarn Ink Classic Sock, colorway Beach Life
Needles:  US 1.5
Modifications:  I made the legs slightly longer than the pattern instructed
Notes:  This is a whole lot of YES for me.  I loved the pattern, I loved the yarn, and knitting these socks were truly enjoyable.  The pattern is easily memorized and not as complicated as you might think when you first begin.  I had never used any yarn from Yarn Ink before, and this yarn was not just pretty to look at, but so pleasant to knit with.  It was smooth, and not splitty at all.  I could completely understand anyone who wanted to build a sock stash of this yarn alone!

I now have 9 pairs of socks in my Box o' Socks for this year!  For me, that is an amazing feat, and I'm thrilled I've been able to do this.  Next, I'll be making my October socks.  I'm gonna use this yarn:

These socks will be my entry for Dee and Vera's I ♥ Fall KAL.  I've narrowed it down to two possible patterns.  You'll just have to stay tuned to see which one I choose ...

Here's hoping it's a good week ahead for all of us.  ;-)

An FO Post for Eclipse Monday

Hello everyone!  I hope you had a good weekend.  Ours was fantastic in Baltimore - though the last part of the trip driving there was blinding, torrential rain.  It could only go up from there, right?  Well, it definitely did!  And ... I took zero pics of anything.  Others took a few, so if we are FB friends you may have seen them.  But for a brief recap, it's mostly The Tim in his Mr. Bean t-shirt on our boat ride.  Good times!

I am quite pleased, because finally - between arthritis flareup, falling and banging one of my hands, and just general other stuff-ness - I have an FO to show you!  [cue applause and awe]

TA DA!!

Project:  Bridget's Social Security Number Socks
Pattern:  I just use my go-to plain vanilla sock pattern for worsted weight yarn.  It's based on Classic Socks for the Family from Yankee Knitter Designs (Rav link)
Needles:  Size 5US
Yarns:  All of the yarns used at Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight yarn, left over from various and sundry projects over the years (trust me, I have plenty left!)
Modifications:  I striped the pattern, but otherwise nothing else
Notes:  These are QUICK.  Each one took only a few evenings or weekend afternoons to complete.  I made the gray one first and though I like it, decided it was too "serious."  So I decided to make socks that matched but didn't match, and changed around a couple of the colors.  I like they way they look and the fact that they are a quick project is quite satisfying.

These will go and live in my Box o' Socks until next year, when I can pull them out and wear them during the cold months in our house.  We have hardwood floors, so it can feel pretty chilly!

Since The Tim is on vacation this week, I decided to take time also.   We will be taking day trips and also doing stuff around the house/garden, taking The Koodle and Jack for vet appts, and other various things.  This afternoon, we're going to walk over to the Schuykill River Park, since Philadelphia is supposed to get an 80% effect of the eclipse.  It's a beautiful clear day, so we will be able to recognize that it's actually happening.  We have our eclipse glasses ready to go.  In a way, this works out to be our big activity for the day - our weekend was quite busy, so a day of more or less down time works well.

And that's that.  I hope this will be a good week for everyone.  Today would be my father's 101st birthday, which I just cannot imagine, and as you saw in my Friday post, it would be our Tess' birthday as well.  In another odd coincidence of life, The Tim's dad also had his birthday on August 21st!  How weird is that?  So happy birthday to three of the best!  We love you and miss you every single day.

OK Here Is an FO Post for You

Hello Friends.  And I mean Friends - you guys are really the best.  Words cannot express how much your kind, sweet, and heartfelt comments to my post about having to say goodbye to our Jetsam meant to all of us.  It's still awful, and all of us are still hurting.  But life is for the living, cliche though that his, and to use another cliche, it does go on.  It only makes sense to continue and keep going.  I am also firmly of the belief that none of our loved ones would ever want their loss to be the complete and total end to our worlds.  I know that for myself, when I depart this mortal coil, I want my friends and family to miss me, yes, but not stop living and enjoying their lives.  Even though it sucks.

So in the interest of that, I'm doing an FO post.  After what seems like a long time, I have finally finished my shortie socks, which are "shortie" only in descriptive terms!

Project:  Berry Mixed Up Bashful Socks
Pattern:  Not really a pattern - just made a plain pair of socks much shorter ...
Yarn:  Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Mixed Berries colorway (leftover from these); cuff/heel/toe is Knitted Wit Gumballs Fingering in the Bashful colorway that I bought in a mini-skein to try.
Needles:  Size 1US
Modifications: Well, I modified a plain sock to make it shorter, but otherwise just kept knitting.
Notes: I like these.  And the end of the second sock was nice enough to keep my brain occupied after the events of last week. so that was good.  The Knitted Wit yarn is really nice, and comes in lovely colors, it was nice to be able to try it without breaking the bank.

I'm still a pair behind on my sock quest for 12 pairs for this year, but if that's how it turns out. I'll survive, you know?

In other news, my Scattered Wishes Shawl (aka Sonora) is growing and is now just about too large to fit in the project bag where it has been living.  It's also too big to photograph easily, so I shmushed it for a photo.

I continue to really enjoy knitting this, and am loving the way it's looking.  I *think* I'm about 2/3 of the way through the pattern.  I'm not in any hurry, but it is becoming a bit unwieldy!

This weekend I am hoping to cast on another pair of socks, and wind some yarn for another project I'd like to start.  It's supposed to be really rainy here starting tonight into tomorrow, so one or both of those may actually happen. :-)

I hope all of you have a good weekend!  And thanks again for being such wonderful and kind friends.

This FO Post Is Overdue

I realized that I never wrote a post for my last pair of completed socks.  Well that's just wrong - I have so few FOs, they should all get their own post, right? So let's get it done.

Top view

Project: Hannah Socks
Pattern: Petty Harbour, by Rayna Curtis (free on Ravelry)
Yarn: Ancient Arts Fibre Craft Superwash Wool Fingering Sock; colorway, Orange Tabby
Needles:  US 1
Modifications:  I made the leg a bit longer than indicated in the pattern.
Notes: I love these socks!  I have named them "Hannah Socks" because when Ancient Fibre Arts first introduced their Meow Collection, I bought a skein for each kitty we had at the time.  And we had a cream-orange tabby named Hannah.  The yarn is great to knit with, and has lovely stitch definition.  The Petty Harbour pattern is fun to knit - it has enough interest to make you pay attention, but is not overly involved and is easy to memorize.  I recommend it if you are a sock knitter.

Side view

So this pair is happily tucked away in my Box o' Socks, ready to surprise me all over again in 2018.  Since I had started another pair before these that were going along well until the yarn exploded and could not be untangled, I'm a pair behind on my goal of 12 pairs for myself.  Which is kinda frustrating, but then again, I'm doing it informally and for fun, so there's actually no real pressure.

I see also that now Ancient Arts Fibre Craft has not just the Meow Collection, but the Woof Collection.  Which means I may have to take a look and buy some yarn in honor of our Dug. :-)

Seriously though, this yarn and this pattern were both well worth the time to knit!  You should give them a try.

Odunde Sunday and [Finally] Some Knitting!

Are you melting?  I'm not so far, but I have no delusions about it as the day goes on.  We got out in the garden early today to clean up, so we could be out when it was still bearable.  And it worked, it was about 71 degrees and there was a tiny cool breeze.  We have both since come inside, showered, and eaten breakfast and currently it's 88 degrees, with the high expected to be between 93 and 95 degrees.

Which means that it's also a nice day but extremely hot for the Odunde Festival, which is today.  It's really fabulous, but between the temperature and the crowds (easily 1/2 million people in our neighborhood!), we'll be staying put, sitting in front of the fan.  Of course we'll still be tempted by the smells coming through the windows of all the yummy food being grilled ...

I realized the other day that I never did an official FO post for my Mojito Socks, and we can't have that, being that you a) kept hearing about them while they were in progress, and b) I love them so much!

Project:  Mojito Socks

Pattern:  Classic Socks for the Family (my go-to basic sock pattern)

Yarn:  West Yorkshire Spinners 4-ply, colorway Mojito (ordered from The Woolly Thistle)

Needles:  Size 1 US

Modifications:  I made the leg longer, because I like my socks a little higher above the ankle

Comments:  How I love these socks and this yarn!  I came across it shortly before we were headed to Puerto Rico in April, and knew that it had to come with us on our trip, and that it would make great socks.  I enjoyed knitting the socks, because the yarn is very nice to knit with, and loved watching the stripes show up.  And though I did not make any special efforts to get them to match, they actually come pretty close!  I can also recommend The Woolly Thistle, both for prices and for fast shipping.  Everything about this pair makes me happy, and they will always remind me of a wonderful trip as well.  I cannot wait to open my Box o' Socks in 2018 and see them waiting for me!

That's it for now.  I hope you have a lovely Sunday, and if you are also getting blasted by the heat, I hope you can stay cool.  And of course, Happy African New Year!  :-)

Stick a Fork in 'Em

Because they're done.  Finished.  Finally.  It took way longer than it should have, and it put me behind on my sock goals, but as I am writing this post, they are residing in the Box 'o Socks.

Project:  Weird Colorblock Socks
Pattern:  Pin Striped Socks, by Julia Swart (free pattern on Ravelry)
Yarn:  Knit One, Crochet Too Ty-Dy Socks, colorway 1883
Needles:  Size 1US
Modifications: None
Comments:  Ugh.  These turned out to be such a slog!  The yarn tended to split, which was frustrating.  And the color changes were hard to figure out (or not, as you seen in the photo).  And then of course, the use of the Afterthought Heel.  NEVER AGAIN.

I don't have a problem with a heel flap/gusset construction, but in the interest of broadening my knowledge and experience, decided to try the Afterthought Heel.  So many people I know use it all the time, and rave about it.  On the first sock I tried to install the heel, I messed up so badly, I had to cut the socks in half and re-knit the foot and toe.  Then I managed to get the heel into that sock, but it wasn't pretty, and there are a bazillion ends where the yarn kept splitting/breaking.  Yesterday, I sat down to put the heel into the second sock, and though previous experience made it go faster, it was still annoying and I'm not completely happy with the result.  After all of the work put into the socks, I have a sneaking suspicion the heels won't do well with a lot of wear and tear, and that makes it even more frustrating.

But - they are finished.  I tried them on, and they fit.  They're in the box and I'm moving on.  I am hoping that being away from them for a while before wearing them will bring back my initial fondness for how they looked, and that they will prove me wrong and last a while.  It's very disappointing to have a project that you just want to get out of the way.

But I was neither impressed nor pleased with the Afterthought Heel.  As I said above, I don't mind the heel flap/gusset construction, and when you finish the toe, the whole sock is finished - all that's left to do is weave in the ends.  Granted, you may still end up with an attack of Second Sock Syndrome, but you won't end up with socks that are finished but not quite.

Of course, I also don't mind knitting with double-pointed needles, so maybe it's just me ... ?

Regardless, another pair for the box.  :-)

Evil Amongst Us

Well, my fourth pair of socks for the year are 98% finished.

They each need their Afterthought Heel and then some ends woven in, and they desperately need to be blocked.  But due to their evil nature, that will not be anytime soon.  I want to put them aside, start a new, happier pair of socks, and then go back and do the heels (or rather, *try* to do the heels) when I am not so sick of them.  They have tried my patience more than just about any pair of socks I've ever knit, and that's saying a lot!

Stubborness made me finish them - nothing else.  

That's it for now. I'll fill you in Easter and other more pleasant things in the next couple of days.

Things That Have Made It Feel Spring-y

Hello sports fans!  OK, maybe I'm the only sports fan, but that's how my mother used to wake us up for school every morning (again, I was the only one remotely interested in sports ... my sisters were interested if a cute boy was on a team or something, but other than that, forget it).  

Anyway, how was your weekend?  It wasn't actually too spring-like here in Philadelphia - cool, rainy, and then even when the rain stopped, it was mostly overcast.  It was a good weekend to do some knitting reading, and catching up on recorded TV, as well as watching college basketball.  (I wanted Gonzaga to win last night, but at least it was a good game.) 

I kinda sorta finished the first Ty Dy yarn sock, in that the "tube" is finished, but I didn't do the afterthought heel.  I decided I'd wait until both socks were ready for that, and do it all at once.  Well, so to speak, who knows if it will be straightforward enough to do two at once, or one a day ... I thought I'd taken a picture, but I know realize it was an Instagram photo, with Jack blocking most of the picture. Shocking, I know.  Anyway the yarn is more like blocks of color, rather than stripes or even pooling.  But every once in a while, there's a random one-row/part of one-row stripe.  It's weird.  And I feel somewhat obliged to try and make them match, since the blocks of color are quite large.  We'll see - if it starts to aggravate me, I may end up with mismatched color block socks.  

But I digress, I wanted to show you some things that made it feel like spring to me.  

First up, my new box for my Box o' Socks:

Isn't it pretty?  I like it because it's not just springy, but it's not just a regular box.  I was using a gift box from Nordstrom's which was a lovely silver box, but The Tim kept putting it away with some other gift boxes I'd saved.  And I don't think many socks would have actually fit into it, in the end.  This one is nice and deep, so I can layer them if nothing else.  And if I don't do another Box o' Socks next year (or anytime soon), I can still have a lovely box for various uses.  I'm sure I'll get my money's worth - it wasn't that expensive to start!

Next, the happy daffodils in the front planter of our house!  Believe it or not, this photo was taken on Sunday, and there are even more of them today!  They started budding way too early, but even the cold temperatures and some snow didn't deter them.  I love daffodils, they always look so happy to me.  Even if nothing else blooms or "takes" this year, at least we had lots of daffodils!

Baseball season has started, and yesterday the Phillies won their first game of the season - yay!  I'm hoping they will have a good season this year.  Last year they weren't too bad, considering most of the team was new players, and there were some standouts.  I know they won't be heading to the World Series, but I really hope they improve on last year.

Not related necessarily to springtime, but related to knitting, I recently watched an episode of the podcast Treehouse Knits.  I liked it, but I especially liked the segment where she gave some information on the background of Icelandic Sheep.  Plus the photos of the sheep made me happy.  If you decide to check it out, the specific part about the sheep starts at about 17:30, and goes for approximately 7 minutes.  That alone with is worth seeing/hearing.

Just one more thing - thank you for your kind comments from the part of my last post where I talked about giving the woman a hug when I learned she was taking her dog for her last walk.  It turns out that a reporter at one of the local news stations saw her post, and contacted her for a story.  Granted, they misspelled my last name in the article, but it's still a nice write up.  If you are interested in reading it, here's the link.  As I mentioned when I shared it on Facebook, I mainly wanted people to stop and think about how much a small gesture of kindness can help someone more than you might think.  :-)

That's it for now.  I hope your week is going well so far.  And I hope you will come across some things that make you feel like springtime has truly arrived.

An FO and Trying to Be OK

Today I have one of two recent FOs to show you (I know - TWO!  It's like I've become this person who actually finishes knitting projects, go figure!).  This is my third pair of socks for 2017, so I'm right on schedule to have 12 pairs finished by the end of the year.  As I think I mentioned before though, if I had "officially" signed up to do this in the Ravelry group, I'd probably be in the middle of the first pair of the year ...

Project:  Texture Blue Socks

Pattern:  Hermione's Everyday Socks (a free pattern on Ravelry)

Yarn:  Black Bunny Fibers Canadian Luxury Sock, in the Unity colorway

Needles:  Size 1US

Modifications:  None

Notes:  I know this is a popular pattern on Ravelry, and I've seen so many pairs that friends have made that are amazing.  But for whatever reason, I didn't enjoy knitting this pattern.  It's not difficult, and once you get started, it's easy enough to memorize, but it just didn't "click" for me.  Then there is the yarn - I've had this yarn in my stash since 2007, when Carol (Ms. Black Bunny herself) dyed this colorway to sell, using the proceeds to support the initial run of Barack Obama for President.  It's a lovely shade of blue, a little heavier than the usual sock/fingering yarn, and they will be warm, since they are 50% alpaca, 30% mohair, 10% silk, and 10% merino.  It's really lovely and soft.

I wonder though if it was the combo of pattern and yarn that didn't thrill me.  Though I love the color, I think I've knit so many variegated/striped socks recently, that a solid color seemed less than exciting; I don't know.  I may try the pattern again down the road with another yarn, and see if I enjoy it more.  Overall, I'm happy with these - they just didn't get me as thrilled as I was expecting to be.  

Here's a better photo that shows the texture of the finished knit:

In any event, they are now tucked away with my others in my 2017 Box o' Socks.

Other than that, I'm having one of those days when I am feeling like any second I'll burst into tears, even though I have no idea why.  Granted, some things I've done today have not worked out, but none were big things that should put me over the edge.  And I've been making an extra special effort to do things I enjoy, but they don't seem to make much of a difference.  I hate when this happens, and I know it will pass - maybe even by this evening, who knows.  

On the plus side, I have a barley-feta casserole cooking in the crockpot, so The Tim will get a break from fixing dinners, like he has been doing while my ankle has been non-functioning.   And I just a little while ago took some Irish Soda Bread out of the oven to cool.  (I was all set to make it yesterday, but was missing an essential ingredient that the market around the corner didn't  have, and the other places that would have it were not nearby.  So I had to wait to get it today.)  Never fear though, we marked the day yesterday with Guinness and Irish cheese. :-)

So truly all is well, and I'm hoping to feel more together soon.  I can deal much more easily with a bad day when I've been having a hard time than when it just shows up, like today.  And the kitties are all fine, sitting here with me and occasionally sitting *right* in front of the TV so they can follow the ball in the NCAA games - they have sudden bursts of fandom, apparently ... ;-)

Anyway, that's all for now.  Hope all of you are having a good and cozy day.  I'll be back with FO #2 sooner rather than later, so stay tuned!

Cold Weather, Warm Feet, Another FO

Well, after it being 60+ degrees on Wednesday, then an snow/slush storm yesterday, today is just plain cold!  But cold and sunny, and FRIDAY, so I'm not complaining.  I had my return visit to the dr today to get x-rays on my ankle to see how/if it is healing, and got good news!  She said it's healing really well, and that I can use one crutch now instead of two, and that I should start regularly putting more weight on it.  She also said that before I go back to see her in another four weeks, she wants me to take the walking cast off every few days and do some basic range of motion exercises.  HOORAY for good news!

As I was waiting for a taxi to take me to my appt, I did think about how my right foot was extra cold, due to the low temperatures, but also due to the fact that the walking cast is open at the toe. I had on a pair of Smartwool socks that are cozy, but standing still while waiting meant that I really felt the cold. you know?

I hate it when my feet are cold, which is why I  am always wearing slippers and socks around the house.  I think that whenever I get to wear my latest FO, my feet will be nice and cozy!

(with the cuff folded)

Here are the second pair of socks I've finished for by Box o' Socks!   As it turns out, it's a good thing I'm only doing this on my own, and not "officially" because I'd be disappointed that I couldn't count these towards the goal of 12 socks for the year.  I took a look at the Ravelry group, and one of the requirements is that all socks for official KAL be fingering or sock weight.  But since I'm doing my own thing, these definitely count!

Project:  Winter Berry Socks
Pattern:  Wisconsin Winter Socks, by Carol Anderson and Kristi Williams
Yarns:  Lorna's Laces in the Mixed Berries colorway - Shepherd Sock Multi and Shepherd Worsted Multi (one strand of each held together for each sock)
Needles:  US 5 (cuffs) and 8 (rest of the socks)
Modifications:  None
Notes:  The resulting socks are cozy, comfy, and it's great to have a nice pair of warm knee socks included in my box for 2018.  The yarns were both great work with, no knots, uneveness, or other things that can make it annoying.  But as I've mentioned before, I absolutely HATED this pattern!  It was written in a faux folksy, chatty tone that made simple directions seem way more complicated than they were or needed to be.  I know this is a popular pattern, so maybe I'm the only one who thought it was faux folksy, or who is driven nuts by that, but as soon as I finished the second sock, I put the pattern booklet right into the recycling bin, because to use a popular expression, "Ain't nobody got time for that."

It's been a while since I used worsted weight yarn to make a pair of socks, and I forgot how quickly they go, so that was a bonus!

(with the cuffs up)

In the end. I am really happy with these, and they are safely tucked away in Bridget's Box o' Socks.  I am so glad I'm doing this because I know next January when I open a box of new socks waiting for me, it will make me all kinds of happy.

Now it's time to decide what's next.  Definitely another pair of socks, and something else ... specifics to be determined.

Are you up to anything interesting this weekend?  The Tim is working on Sunday, but tomorrow we may venture to a nearby Kohl's since we have a coupon and we need some new towels.  That will be an exciting outing for me, and a chance to get out and do something other than go to and from dr appts and work.  You know you're jealous of my thrilling plans, right???

Have a good one!

The First FO of the Year!

Uncharacteristically for me, I already have an FO for 2017!  This pleases me very much. Last year, I noticed a lot of people were participating in the Box o' Socks KAL, where you knit a pair of socks each month, tucked them away in a special box, and then starting this year, you had 12 new pairs of socks.  I like that idea, and though I did not in any way formally sign up for this year's version, I've decided to try and do it for myself and see how many pairs I can end up with.

Because at least in my case, the minute I sign up for a KAL, I seem to lose the desire to knit, or I get sick, or something else happens that keeps me from picking up the needles on said project.  So I'm just gonna see where this leads me. I mean, I love to knit socks, and I only have about three pairs for myself.  As I mentioned before, this year is gonna include more knitting for me, so how better to start the year than with a pair of socks for myself?

Ta da!  

Project:  Ms. Dumbledore Socks

Pattern:  Classic Socks for the Family, by Melinda Goodfellow (my go-to pattern)

Yarn:  Brit Sock from Nomadic Yarns, in the colorway Dumbledore

Needles:  US 1 1/2 

Modifications:  I made the leg and foot a little bit longer, for more comfort

Notes:  I am thrilled with how these turned out - especially since they actually match, which is dumb luck, nothing on my part.  (Frankly I can't be bothered to do anything extra to make it happen.)  And I started and finished them in 16 days, which is crazy fast for me.  The woman behind Nomadic Yarns, Ashley, is a former co-worker from Rosie's Yarn Cellar, so I enjoy seeing the color combos she comes up with.  This yarn is pretty easy to work with, and unlike the ball of yarn I used for the Vacation Socks for The Tim, which was somewhat splitty, this ball was just fine.

Not a bad beginning, huh?

And I already have another pair of socks on the needles, as well as a hat.  I'm going to strike while the iron is hot, since inevitably, there will be some point when I'm just not in the mood to knit at all ...