As Ms. Spears Would Say...

Oops I did it again.
Bought yarn on Ebay.
100% silk noil, dye lot ends at a great price.
I give up.

Socks: The Verdict

One sock has become two.
Here are my conclusions regarding the knitting of socks.

• Once you get the hang of it, the process goes pretty quickly.
• It's a great summer knit as no heavy lap covering occurs.
• They certainly are small and portable thus make perfect subway knitting.
• Contrary to what I was told, sock knitting is not orgasm inducing. Too bad.

I have begun a second pair because the daughter (aka - the foot model) would like a pair in a more subdued colour combo. I've gone down half a needle size and cast on fewer stitches so the leg shouldn't be so baggy.

One Rainy Weekend, I Blocked A Shawl

Diamond Fantasy Shawl - Sivia Harding Knit Design

Jojoland Melody %100 wool 50g(200m), 3 skeins

Pony 60 cm, 3.75mm circulars

I wish I could take credit for the fabulous blocking idea but I can't. I read about it one night when blog surfing. Some amazingly clever knitter came up with the idea of blocking on these foam interlocking baby mat squares. Her logic was that one can create the approximate size and shape required for each project and they come apart for easy storage. I discovered an added benefit. The squares create a grid making the pinning easy peasy. The shawl above is pinned out in a perfect triangle. How cool is that?

I purchased the foam squares in the toy section of Dollarama. I love these things with a passionate love.

This shawl is the most intricate thing I have ever knit and I'm so damn proud of it! Sadly, the yarn is a bit itchy so wearing it with bare shoulders is pretty much out of the question. However, I do adore the colours. This morning, I took advantage of some meager sunlight to shoot this baby in the garden.

Hangin on the front porch with the baby tree.

Draped attractively over the cherry tomatoes.

Beneath the grapes.

Admiring the tomatoes - Jet Stars.

ARRRRGH!!

My Diamaond Fantasy shawl is this close to being finished. Eight repeats of teeny tiny lacy stitch pattern done with painstaking detail. We're talking fixing every single mistake here. Now I can't cast the damn thing off! I've been trying, on and off, all afternoon! I started with the recommended i-cord cast off. Looked roly and too chunky in the yarn. Then I tried three kinds of sewn bind off and am now taking a break from picking out the last one. I will not let that much work be ruined by an ugly edge. I am ready to SCREAM! Does anyone know a nice flat looking cast off that gives an attractive edge?

So, it's in the bag for a day or two.
Here are the promised photos from last Friday's gathering.

Our newest member, Melinda tries to pretend she's not being photographed. The fellow peering over her shoulder is my "admirer."

Lori, Sandy and Jackie love their work a little too much.

Kelly's attempt at an arty still life.

Now that's a shawl edge. Alas, it is Stephanie's, not mine.

Too Pooped

Ok, I'm still a bit hung over from last night's riotous knitting and drinking. I'll do a detailed post with many photos in a day or so. Until then, check out the post I just completed on the Team Canada blog.

A Sock and A Party

Ta Da! Here it is! My first sock. It is nowhere near perfect, but remember it is my first sock. So, the ribbing is horrid and the ankle is baggy and the toe grafting is...ahem...weak. I forgive myself the errors. In the proper spirit of the first sock, I decided to stick exactly to the pattern even though I suspected the baggy ankle problem early on. If I ever knit a third sock, I'll try a bit more shaping.
I am no longer a sock virgin.

The daughter and I had a wonderful time at Amy's Big Leap Party. As usual, the knitters were warm and friendly so, she felt welcome. When I asked her if she wanted to go home, she replied that she was enjoying listening to everyone's conversations. What was supposed to be "We'll just drop by for twenty minutes," became two and a half hours. The new Lettuce Knit is beautiful and Amy was glowing (with pride and champagne).

So she wouldn't get too bored, I bought the daughter a ball of yarn and a pair of huge needles - the only kind she likes. She chose this gorgeous Misti Cotton. It feels like heaven. The 17% silk makes all the difference. Laura let her use the ball winder. (Now she's convinced that we need one. She may be right). Then I cast on 16 stitches for her and she started another of her big loop, garter stitch scarves. She's still at the stage in knitting where she needs to see fast results or she gets discouraged. This is just fine - all part of the process.

An Exchange Between Barbara Crowe and Cosmo Wisdom

"You came to discuss business of some sort. I don't suppose you got far with old Mr. Saxby? No, I thought not. Was he knitting?"
Cosmo winced. Her question had touched an exposed nerve.
"Yes," He said coldly. "A sock."
"How was it coming along?"
"I understood him to say that he had turned the heel."
"Good. Always the testing part. Once past the heel, you're home. But except for learning that the sock was going well, you did not get much satisfaction out of him, I imagine. Not many of our clients do...."

P.G. Wodehouse
"Cocktail Time"