Reverse Seasons

I do a pretty decent job of knitting things on time if they are a gift for someone else.  I may be a teensy bit late, but no more than that.  I'm usually even on time.  I think it's because I want someone I'm gifting to know that I'm thinking of them, and conscious of noting the holiday/birthday/whatever.

Knitting for myself, though?  Well ... that usually takes a while, even if I *think* I'm knitting with a deadline.  You may remember my Halloween Socks.  I started them at the beginning of October last year, with the confidence that I would be able to wear them for Halloween later that month.

I finished them in January of this year.

Fortunately, Halloween comes around every 12 months.

Then, a week before Memorial Day, I started these socks, which I called "Watermelon, Anyone?"

I had every plan to wear them for the rest of the spring, into summer.

Fortunately, spring and summer come around every year, just like Halloween.

Because, I finally finished them last week.  You know, after watermelon season.

As a friend said when I mentioned how I seemed to complete things out of season, "You are Fashion Forward."  I'm gonna stick with that.

Project:  Watermelon, Anyone?

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

Yarn:  Abi Grasso Watermelon Self Striping Sock Yarn with Seeds (purchased here)

Needles:  US 1 1/2

Modifications:  I made the leg part longer, otherwise, just followed the pattern as written.

Comments:  I LOVE how these turned out!  They were such fun to knit, because I couldn't wait each time to see the next "watermelon" pattern turn out.  I put them down for a long time due to a) laziness, and b) a sore elbow that made it hard to knit, but I am really happy with the resulting socks.  And I'll be all set next spring/summer!

Also, when I was knitting these, one of my nieces was amazed that the yarn made the pattern.  When I showed her the resulting socks, she said, "I like how the yarn knows what to do."  That made me laugh!

I have quite a bit of yarn left over, so the remainder may become a watermelon hat for one of my great-nieces.  I think that would be really adorable.   (We'll see.  I always have a lot of great plans.  That remain plans - just that - in the end ...)

A Very Happy Knit

Recently, I haven't had as much knitting time as I'd like.  But the good news is, when I did have a chance to knit, I managed to finish something that turns out to be one of my very favorite projects ever!

Milo and Jetsam helped me with blocking:

Such good helpers, right?

I had been to Loop early in March, and they had a sample of this, knit in the yarn that had been specially made for the shop.  The sample was in this color, and I just fell in love with it.  So I bought the yarn and the pattern and went home to get started.

The pattern is actually quite simple, and brilliant - once you actually pay attention, that is.  After a few false starts, it finally clicked, and I was on my way.  I would have probably finished it more quickly except that once I started there was an entire week when, for one reason or another, I didn't get a chance to pick it up.

Pip was quite happy to model the finished piece:

So, you are probably saying, if this is such great pattern, where are the details?  Keep reading.

Project:  Rechargeable

Pattern:  Portfolio Scarf, by Erika Flory

Needles:  Size 7 US

Yarn:  Loop Studio, colorway Cadmium (I used most of one skein)

Modifications:  None

Comments:  This is one of my very favorite knits ever.  The pattern is extremely well-written, and involves garter sections interspersed with sections of lace.  You work one part at a time, and cannot wait to get to the next part!  I named mine "Rechargeable" because I read that cadmium is mostly used for rechargeable batteries.  The yarn is soft, and lovely to work with.  I have already worn this a few times, and it is just perfect for springtime.  I see more of these in the future, both for myself and for gifts.

My suggestion?  You should really knit one of these - you will not be sorry!

Way Too Late or Way Too Early

I am finally able to show you my first FO for 2015.  And it's kind of ridiculous.

Perhaps you are thinking to yourself, "Weird. Those look like Halloween colors."  You would be correct.  I  bought the yarn for these a couple of years ago, and finally in the beginning of October 2014, I started knitting myself a pair of socks with it.  You may remember that October was also when I started the Kidney Socks for The Tim.  Well, once I started concentrating on those exclusively, these got put to the side.  And then the holidays kept me busy with other things, and suddenly it was January, and they were still languishing.

But I liked the way they were looking, so I decided that I would finish them before I let myself start anything new.  That way, I wouldn't leave them until the last minute for Halloween 2015.  This turned out to be a good thing, because having other things to work on, and not being able to, meant that I really did dedicate myself to finishing these.

Jetsam approves.

Project:  Halloween Socks
Pattern:  Classic Socks for the Family, by Melinda Goodfellow
Yarn:  Vesper Sock Yarn, from Knitterly Things.  Colorway:  Trick or Treat
Needles:  Size 1 1/2US
Modifications:  Nothing major, but I did make them taller than usual.  I was amazed when I went to block them, to realize that the stripes more or less match up perfectly!  This is not something I would ever have gone to the trouble to work to make happen, so it was a funny surprise to me.

I loved the yarn, and have a nice amount left for some little thing, or sock blanket squares or whatever.  The socks fit perfectly, and now they are ready when Halloween rolls around this year.

So ... yeah ... my first FO of 2015 is a pair of socks I will wear in October.  I know I'll be thrilled that they are waiting for me!