Put Your Hand Together

November 9, 2005 By

First off, I want to brag about the time I spent yesterday with one Baby Xavier and his family. I’ll tell you, what that kid lacks in size (he’s a teeny one!) he sure makes up with cuteness! And oh my god he is to die for in his Koigu hat. Makes Aunt Cara’s heart go pitter pat. Thanks Jen for letting me hang yesterday. It was so good to see all of you home and so, so happy!

Secondly, I’m anxious and pmsy today. I didn’t sleep well last night – my imagination often gets the better of me. I’m feeling overwhelmed about the amount of work I have to do – I was feeling positive on Monday and didn’t get enough done yesterday and now I have to prepare for class all day today – so I’m behind again.

And I seem to have hit an impasse on Nona’s Superfabulous Serial Gloves. I tried putting the fingers all together last night in anticipation of the thumb gusset entry to come soon, and well, I was decidedly underwhelmed. The first couple times I worked it I got some nice big holes. I kept trying to KTBL to tighten things up but that seemed to have the opposite effect. After two tries, I decided that maybe I needed to go down a needle size and knit reallyreallyreally tight to eliminate the holes. (I mean, what’s the sense of having gloves with holes between the fingers right – kind of built in air conditioning for the winter – not so nice.)

So I tried it on size #2s. And things went pretty well – I even got so far as to add the pinky and do a few rows. Then I stopped to inspect my work – I still had what appeared to be holes between the fingers. I’m not so sure now. I think underneath what looked like a hole were the stitches that come across the two circs to make the barrier if you will between the finger holes. It’s what covers the webbing between your fingers (do you have webbing? I do. It’s a hereditary thing I think. My sister barely has any.) I was all ready to accept this as the way it’s SUPPOSED to be when I discovered some disturbingly loose stitches on the index finger at the join. After playing with it for a bit, trying to tighten things up, I decided it wasn’t good enough and ripped. That’s when I went to bed last night fondling the super easy Sunshine Sock I had stolen the size two needles from – ah stockinette. You call to me. My plan in the near future (I MUST WORK!) is to try again with the size #3s and knit reallyreallyreally tight. I’ll let you know how it goes – in the meantime, any tips or tricks or reassurance I was doing it right would be greatly appreciated.

I got mail yesterday. Help, please.

Cotton Candy and Pebbles. Lots of it. Mmmmm. Socks That Rock. Thanks Toni!

ETA: The reason I bought two skeins of each is because this is Soft Rock and comes in skanks of 200yds. You need two. The Fire on the Mountain and Rock Star came in skeins of 325yds – you only need one. I specifically asked for two of the smaller skeins because I want to make nice long stockinette PINK cotton candy socks!
ETA2: All my STR yarn comes from Toni at The Fold. Tell her I sent you. (Sorry Toni! 😉 )

Filed Under: Nona's Serial Gloves, Stash

If the Socks Are A Rockin’, Don’t Come Knockin’

November 3, 2005 By

Introducing Rock Star’s hippie cousin:


This sock is all about the love and while it still ROCKS, it does in a DUUUUDE, catch my trail kind of way. Its mate has already been started. Maybe a finished pair by next Monday.

I’m feeling really bad about all the Jaywalker‘s I’m seeing out and about in blogland. Seems many, many people are having problems with gauge. This makes me sad because I’m at the point where I cast on my 76 stitches and rock out. No issues whatsoever. I’m using Addi size #1s. Two circs. I think I might have knit a bit tight on this third sock because my scale’s telling me I’ve got 2oz left to start the second sock. I started out with the same 3.8 oz as the ROCK STAR pair and by the time I got to the second one on that pair I had 1.9 oz left. No biggie. Just a little more wiggle room. Anyway – I’m hoping people can work out their issues with the pattern because I really, really love it. Something about it goes so fast for me. Maybe because I’ve got all the measurements in my head (like 25 repeats before the heel; 57 before the toe) so I know exactly where I am at all times and how much I have left. And, still, I’m LOVING this yarn. I think I want to get two skeins of Fire on the Mountain so I can make extra long socks. I think the natural pooling in the stockinette is really nice. I’d like to see it run free on some knee highs.

Speaking of SOCKS THAT ROCK – JANET rocks. She won the blogiversary grand prize – a pair of socks, knit by moi, in her choice of SOCKS THAT ROCK colorways. Toni’s out of stock, ahem, right now, but Janet – let me know what you want and your size (fingers crossed for small feet) and I’ll get started, oh I don’t know – how’s January sound? Things should be pretty slow by then. 😉

And Wendy wins the runner-up prize. She’ll get some SOCKS THAT ROCK – but she’ll have to knit it up herself. Wendy wins because I liked her birthday present suggestion the best. A tiara. You know what? She’s absolutely right. I wouldn’t have considered myself a tiara kind of girl, but after wearing Charlotte’s Butterfly Princess Tiara at various times on Halloween, I’m saying YES! Bring on the diamonds! Every girl needs some sparkle in her life, no? (Although Mason Dixon Ann almost won with her suggestion of pillows. I could use some new pillows Ann, so feel free! And I also need liked Patti‘s suggestion of a year of housecleaning.)

All the rest of you should worry not. I will most likely be buying myself a wheel and Georgie’s got the whole Bruce thing covered. He let me know the other day that we’ll be going to see him on November 18th. Look for the hyperventilating to begin around the 10th.

So Janet and Wendy – congratulations and send me your addresses. And then go back and read yesterday’s post. HAHAHAHA! I’m pathetic.

When I made my startling confession to being a deadhead, some of you questioned my mention of “the one.” I just love how you all leaped to Georgie’s defense. So sweet. Have no fear – if you read carefully I put “the one” in quotations marks – clearly demarcating that even though this was a “the one” it wasn’t THE the one! Georgie is THE THE ONE. The one and only. As in She’s The One. “The One” is the guy I gave that very special gift that you only give once – in a basement rec room with Light My Fire playing in the background. I shit you not. Ahhh. Special Memories. All I have to say is that he was no Steve Lapierre. Of that I’m sure. 😉

Oh yeah. In the interest of full disclosure I bought some more yarn. Sock yarn at that. Someone stop me.

Pretty purply Koigu. Couldn’t resist.

Long coveted Vesper Sock Yarn. Enough said.

Have a great day!
L, C

Filed Under: Deadhead Socks, Socks, Stash

A-a-a-CHOO! Snooort. Cough, Cough.

October 26, 2005 By

Ah. The soundtrack of my life. I’m sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. I’m kind of a rotten sick person. I expect to be waited on hand and foot and I complain and whine a lot. I think because, secretly, I’m excited to actually HAVE something to complain about. Something tangible like snot running down your face. Like your teeth itching so bad they hurt. Like a drippy eye. You know what I’m talking about.

See that? That’s the couch. That’s where I slept last night. Believe it or not it was more comfortable than my superfantasticsuperdeluxesuperspecial bed. Now, I think, you know how really sick I am. Thankfully TCM is showing Alfred Hitchcock this week. I watched Notorious last night, and then Rebecca came on, my all time FAVORITE! And after that Suspicion. I taped Rebecca and Suspicion. Gotta look and see what’s on tap for tonight.

Want to know what a selfish knitter I am? I’m already on record saying I don’t knit no holiday gifts. If I decide to knit something for you, I decide what you get when you get it. That’s it. End of story. BUT, I so enjoyed knitting my sockapal2za socks that I volunteered to be an angel. I received my new sock pal’s name the other day and high on the ROCK STAR socks, I thought I’d hit the Socks That Rock yarn for my pal.

You see, there was a skank in there that I was pretty perplexed about. Azurite. Muted colors – lavenders, purples, grays. I honestly don’t remember how it got in there. I can’t see myself picking it. It’s not really something I would normally go for – but there it was. Perfect, I thought! My sock pal can have some Socks That Rock as well!

And then I wound the sucker up. And created a nice big tangle in the process. Well, let me tell you, after handling this yarn and looking at it all wound up there ain’t no way I’m giving it away. NO WAY no how. It’ beautiful.

The picture doesn’t do it justice. But more than the colors, the feel of this yarn is truly spectacular. You know those rumors about how Koigu and Cherry Tree Hill are really Gems Opal, just with different dye jobs? I had heard the same about STR. But I think NOT. As soft and nice as Koigu and CTH and even Gems Opal are, STR is like SILK compared to them. Silk. I shit you not.

Because I’m a selfish knitter, my sock pal will be getting some nice blue Cherry Tree Hill that I’ve got in the stash. I’m thinking some simple (yet elegant) garter rib socks from the Sensational Sock book. That’s the plan anyhow.

Oh and I want to cast on for mittens. Mittens are calling me.

I’ve got a busy night tonight. First on tap, the KnitLit3 reading. I’m not going to be able to stay until the bitter end, but I’ll be there. I have to dash over the the theatre, dahling, for an evening of singing and dances and witches. We’re going to see Wicked. Someone cast a spell on me please and take my cold away? Please?

Oh and if you see me tonight, I’ll be wearing the ROCK STAR socks and I would think very kindly of you if you would only refrain from telling me that my nose actually matches my socks.

Filed Under: Sock Pal Socks, Socks, Stash

Wicked Nice

October 18, 2005 By


I think Alison has the same picture – great minds think wool!

I’m so not sure where to start. Do I begin with Thursday when Vicki ended up at my house, in the ridiculous rain, with me mid- job and mid-cleaning? I did shower to pick her up and thank god I had washed the sheets that morning. Do I tell you how Friday morning I ran around like a chicken with two heads (that seems worse almost than no head) trying to get the jobs finished so I could run to the post office, in the still ridiculous rain? Do I tell you how we stopped for shoes for Vicki – because she didn’t anticipate the beyond ridiculous rain and only brought open shoes? (I’ll let her tell you that.) Do I tell you that we got home and Ann called to say her and Peggy were down the block and I hadn’t showered or packed yet? I just don’t know.

How about I start with the 1.5 hours it took us to go about two miles (I’m being extremely literal here) because of flooding. Once again, I’m sorry girls. I wish I had read the directions better. I’d like to think I could’ve gotten us out of it. But still and all, I think that Ann is secretly glad we got stuck because somehow I got control of the I-Pod and Barry Manilow got extra airplay and now she has something ELSE with which to torture me. Blogless (but not wheel less!) Peggy was the BEST driver – a girl after my own heart – aggressive and pissed and the quintessential NY driver. Yay Peggy! She got us to Rhinebeck (and home) safe and sound under adverse conditions. Listening to Ann and I go back and forth cannot be easy. Thanks again!

We finally got to the hotel in Poughkeepsie (blogger central) about six hours later – including a stop for dinner – to find Kris and Michelle looking for Norma. We invited them in until the festivities started. The cake was delish! Thanks Norma – and congratulations Nathania! Bloggers flowed in and out of Norma’s huge room all night. As Juno pointed out, I made the mistake of knitting something that I still needed the pattern for – not a big complicated chart – but a pattern, with like two YOs and some ribbing. I think I ripped 814 times. Next time, only socks for me (like pretty much everyone else) and st st ones at that.

Saturday morning we were up bright and early. I didn’t know what knits to bring, since it was raining (AGAIN) and even though it was supposed to stop, it was going to get hot. I had brought DFS, AEC and my one and only pair of handknit socks. Saturday I threw DFS in the car and headed out. My one and only goal, as you may have already heard, was to get to the Socks that Rock Booth before anyone else. I succeeded.


l to r: Fire on the Mountain, Watermelon Tourmaline, ROCKSTAR, Petroglyphs


l to r: Hard ROCK, Azurite


l to r: Black Onyx, Obsidian, Black Onyx

Um. DUH! Ann’s going to give me such shit for this, but in my haste to buy up all the SOCKS that ROCK, I missed. I wanted three Black Onyx to make a shawl – something dramatic with fringe (and maybe beads?) so I grabbed three. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized only two of them were Black Onyx and one was Obsidian. Although for the life of us, Vicki and I couldn’t tell the real difference. It seems like the Obisidian has a bit more brown in it and one of the Black Onyx has a lot of white, but really all of the them look pretty different. At this point, the only reason to get another Black Onyx is because of mental problems and packaging, not because of yarn and dyes. Thought you’d like that story. Oh and if you’re counting up the skeins and want to call me a liar because there are only nine, not ten, one is a gift. That’s right. Only one. Don’t you wish you were the lucky giftee. 😉

After SOCKS that ROCK, I really didn’t care anymore about anything festival related. Oh that’s not true. Please. I went shopping for a special someone and elicited the advice of many a blogger/spinner. Julia was particularly helpful. Thanks Julia!

When we finally got out of Building A, it was time for the blogger meet-up. I had mixed feelings about facilitating this one, to be honest. I wasn’t going to do it. I did it for Maryland and it was disappointing to me. I think, having the 20/20 vision of hindsight, my expectations were too high. And the area we met was less than condusive to meeting. This fact alone I think contributed to the fact that the Maryland meet-up lasted like ten minutes. So I wasn’t going to do it, but then Vicki was coming and she asked for it so I did it. It was great! First off, at MDSW, I picked a bad spot. It was right in the middle of traffic and the line for the t-shirts was still a mile long and, well, it just didn’t work. I wanted to meet EVERYONE at MDSW because I didn’t know anyone. This time, I was a little more grounded. I came with some great girls. I knew I’d see them (a little too much if you know what I mean.) Wendy and Elisa were sleeping with us that night (more on that later.) A bunch of girls I’d seen the night before. I knew I’d be seeing a bunch at the hotel later on. So for me, there was no pressure. Everyone I met at the meet-up was like gravy, you know? A very different feeling than at MDSW where I felt like if I didn’t meet them then, I’d never meet them. And the spot I picked was right on. A big open thoroughfare with benches and plenty of space to linger and talk and move around. People thanked me for setting it up and really, all I did was put some names up on my sidebar. You guys did all the work – you came, you met, you (hopefully) got to talk to some great people who you really wanted to meet. That’s all I asked for – and I received ten-fold. The only regrets I have is that there were people that I didn’t get to spend ENOUGH time with – they know who they are and all will be rectified. Mwah! Just because I didn’t hug you enough doesn’t mean I don’t love you! I do! I do!

Where are the pictures you ask? Welp, even though I carried that big ass honking camera around for two days, I really
didn’t take any pictures. Besides what you will see here – the only other ones I took are over on Kay‘s blog. The conditions at these shows are less than stellar for photography and I was too busy having fun with friends (old and new) to worry about getting the perfect picture. I should’ve left the camera in the car, but god forbid I should miss something like this:


Ann – you found the booth, right? (Kay actually spied this sign.)

So I had to have the camera. But, alas, I didn’t even get a good picture of a sheep. Sorry to disappoint.

Where was I? Oh yeah. If you aren’t bored out of your mind already, read on.

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Filed Under: Rhinebeck, Stash

World Peace

August 23, 2005 By

I’ve decided that if I spent half of the time and energy I spend on my anxiety, worrying about whether or not I’ll be anxious, thinking about NOT thinking – well, frankly, I’d have found the solution to world peace by now. Either that or I’d be building the Google Elevator.

Something, anything more productive than driving yourself crazy and then having to pull yourself out of the hole.

Margene, zen master, has an interesting post on Motivation today. I’m thinking in a similar, yet opposite direction. What kind of LACK of motivation allows you to slip down that slope – fully conscious of what’s going to happen THROUGH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE – and yet you can’t get off your ass to stop it? Do I need to feel like shit for some reason? Am I going to come out the other side with some great revelation? I KNOW how to stop it – even before it really starts, yet I let it happen. Granted, there were lots of things this summer working against me (Hello? People who control the Weather?) but still.

You know what? What’s done is done. This is who I am. I just hope it doesn’t take me too long to get through it. I am SO OVER me.

On to knitting.

Look! Is it a bird? A plane? A superhero? No. It’s just a Short Row back – T2 style.


Take Two

It’s seems a little bit wonkier than the first version, but I’ve decided that because of the short rows, this will never be a flat knit. Blocking may help, but there are so many ends and so many starts and stops with the yarn. The size looks good – I’ve compared it to my prototype (the pullover in my closet that fits nice) and it’s right on. I’ve woven in half the ends and I feel good about the other half. The front is next, as soon as possible, and I’ll deal with the sleeves last. I have company coming tomorrow for a couple of days, so we’ll see how I do with it.

Socks are stalled. The Sunshine sock is stockinette and I need that like I need another hole in the head. Mindless knitting equates to idle hands. Which means the devils are hard at work. I’ve got (maybe) one more repeat on the long lost never ending Retro Rib sock and then I can turn the heel. Don’t hold your breath.

Since socks aren’t doing the trick, I started something new. After finishing the Flower Basket Shawl and the Acorn Socks, I wanted some more lace. But I couldn’t find a yarn or pattern that I was happy with. I didn’t want to do the Leaf Lace – too similar to FBS. I actually bought two Robert Powell shawl patterns – #103 (pattern) and #106 (kit). The kit came with 4 oz. of Jamieson & Smith 2-ply jumper-weight in Cream which I will probably never knit (look for a contest soon!) but I still like the patterns. Couldn’t decide on a yarn.

And then I saw this. And this. And this. And I bought some of this. And here we go!


Sivia Harding’s Diamond Fantasy Shawl
Twinkletoes Sock Yarn – Foggy Dew

I also bought some Twinkletoes Denim Multi – hard to photograph though.

So far I’m liking the pattern – although I have yet to finish the first repeat section. But it’s easy to understand and I feel like I will have the charts figured out – you know what I mean – when you GET the lace pattern – pretty soon.

The yarn. I don’t know. I definitely like the colors and the weight and the texture. I don’t know if I’d ever use this for socks though – it’s kind of scratchy – but for the shawl I think it will be good. It seems like it will block well. One thing though – when I was winding up the Denim Multi – the yarn broke once at the beginning and once at the end of the wind. May be I was too tough with it? But it also has a few knots here and there, which annoy me. Juries still out on this – but like I said – I can’t imagine I’d use it for socks. Maybe there are lots of shawls in my future. I do have like 1500 yds of the denim. Not sure what I was thinking there. Or NOT thinking. Hahahahahaha.

I started this post on a dark note and I’m going to finish it on a good one. A couple of weeks ago I received an email to my blog address asking if I was the same person who wrote a story entitled “The BBC” which appeared in Fourteen Hills, the literary journal out of San Franciso State University. I replied that indeed I was. Welp, it turns out that FH is putting out an anthology of fiction from the first ten years of the journal and they’ve decided to include my story. I also found out my story will appear along side some of my favorite writers! Lydia Davis! Lynne Tillman! Peter Orner! Pam Houston! Next to little ol’ me! What an ego boost! As you know, my writing has suffered the last couple of years – but this has spurred me on! I actually took out a story yesterday – one I’ve been wanting to revise – and read it and took notes! This could be it the opening I’ve needed….

Open up the windows and sing out loud! It’s a beautiful day today!

Filed Under: Diamond Fantasy Shawl, Life, Short Rows, Stash

Got Gauge?

August 1, 2005 By

I want a t-shirt that says this. Who’s going to help me design it? We can sell it and give the proceeds to charity. I’m not kidding. I need a t-shirt that says “got gauge?” and maybe one that says “swatch-n-bitch“. What do you think?

This weekend was all about the knit, baby. And even though there was some phenomenally BAD news of the knitting variety, I enjoyed the weekend and thinking about my knits.

I’m leading off with the bad, because, well, it’s so bad that I want EVERYONE to read it – none of this skimming through and missing it at the end.

Okay. Here goes.

Friday night, I FINALLY cast on the front of Short Rows. And guess what? I GOT GAUGE!!!! This may seem like a good thing, but trust me, it’s very, very, very bad. Why you ask? Because when I knit the back, I didn’t get gauge. Or at least I thought I didn’t – I seem to remember measuring it a bunch of times. I even remember starting it a couple of times and ripping it because I DIDN’T get gauge. I deliberately, painstakingly decided to move up a size in the pattern – which would leave me with a sweater conveniently between the medium and large size. Nice and comfortable for me. But while I was casting on and knitting the front, something kept nagging at me about the back. It just seemed, so, I don’t know, HUGE. And I kept pushing those bad feelings down, down into the locked closet of my brain that sucks all the bad thoughts in like a hoover – as I’ve been training myself to do. (It’s working. A little bit. Everyday.)

But. I just couldn’t let it alone.

Sunday, I got out a sweater I have that fits pretty good and put the two backs together. Then I took out not one, but three tape measures. Sure enough I GOT FUCKING GAUGE! The sweater matches perfectly to the dimensions the pattern lists for a large. It is WAY too big.

I think you all know where this is going. Do I really have to say it? At least I didn’t get too far on the front (honestly, I was getting bored pretty quickly. What happened to all the love?) I’m going to cast on again for a back. In the size I should’ve done the whole time. I’m going to knit said back, and compare the two. Then I’m going to rip the sleeve I’VE ALREADY KNIT, because I can salvage the yarn easily. I think I might just leave the first back and buy more yarn. The thought of ripping it, after I’ve cut and WOVEN IN all those ends is enough to – I don’t know – NEVER KNIT AGAIN?! What’s a few extra dollars for a project I really loved (once) and want to get right? Don’t you agree? Eventually I can rip out the bad back and make something with the yarn. But right now, I think that would just be way too depressing.

That’s it. That’s my awful knitty news. Feel sorry for me. Seriously – I WANT the pity.

~+~+~+~+~

On to the GOOD!

I found a new knitting store this weekend. I was looking through the new VK and came across some interesting notions. When I went on the website to see where they were sold, I found Stix-n-Stitches in Montclair, NJ. They literally opened about a week ago. The store was very nice – nice wood – roomy – lots of cool notions and stuff. Tons of Classic Elite yarns. I asked the proprietress, Sheila, what kinds of new yarns she was going to get in. No Noro or Debbie Bliss, because another yarn store in town is going to carry it. What about Rowan, I asked. Another new store opening up is going to carry that, so no. I found this really, really interesting. What do you think? Is she limiting her business by not carrying yarns that other stores in the area are carrying? I’m not sure what I think about this.

One thing she does have is a full line of ArtYarns – which happens to be one of my all time favorites – so that’s good!

That’s Ultramerino 4 – a new fingering weight yarn. They’ve come out with Ultramerino 6 as well to go along with the 8. Good stuff. Oh and I bought some circular needle size markers as well. They clip onto the wire and clip right off. Never seen them before – maybe they’ll help.

All in all – a nice store that I definitely plan on going back to – Jen – whenever you’re ready!

I spent a lot of time looking through stitch pattern books this weekend. I was pulling together cable patterns for my dad’s sweater and also looking for stitch patterns for squares for the John Glick Afghan Project. Some fits and starts, but I’ve managed to identify all of the cables and I’ve finished one square and started another.

Both squares are from Cascade 220 I had in the stash. I love the blue-green heather color and I have more, so I might make another one with this. The stitch on that one is the Quaker Ridge from Barbara Walker – I figured it was fitting for John since by all accounts he was a peace loving man, traits the Quakers embody. The brown square stitch is called Jacob’s Ladder or Ladder of Life – both of which I thought were appropriate. I’ve tried to infuse the squares with love. I hope they bring comfort to the recipient.

And last but not least, when your knitting gets you down, KNIT SOCKS!

I’m calling these my Walking on Sunshine socks! I’m hoping to remember the bright, warm, NOT HUMID, sunny day I started them on when I’m wearing them on a particularly cold and gray winter day. Also, they match my bright orange flip flops (which I won’t be posting a picture of – they’ve turned black under my toes and well, ew.)

I’m using Trekking XXL Crazy Stripes in Color 38 – I’m loving me some stripes and stockinette and hey, you can never have too many socks, right Margene? (Check it out – she’s got FOUR FEET!)

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, Short Rows, Socks, Stash, Sunshine Socks

Hold Everything!!!

July 28, 2005 By

Look what just came in the mail!

From the lovely Juno! Thank you! Thank you! (You enablers are good, let me tell you!)

Hold my calls for awhile will you? I’ve got some stuff to spin….

Filed Under: Spin, Stash

What I Did on My Summer Vacation…

July 18, 2005 By

by Cara.

Super long. Proceed at own risk.

First off, I got a lot of knitting done. Everday we were awakened (early – NY time!) by G’s office with one crisis after another. It wasn’t fun for either of us, but I did get a lot accomplished:


One sock pal sock down (although I need to fix the toe close) and one almost done. I was hoping for two repeats on the plane home last night – I managed to finish all four. Now I only have nine rows of the lace before I do the heel. I should be finished with it in a day or two. I LOVE these socks. Sorry, sock pal, but I’ve been trying them on left and right. (I even tried them on for the flight attendant last night when she asked what I was knitting.)

I’m not usually a big fan of lace socks, but these are different. As G said, there’s just a hint of skin peeking through – and the color of this Koigu is just beautiful. I’m in love. It’s going to be VERY hard to give them up. (That’s okay – I’ll just make myself a pair!)

The pattern is very well written (thank you Evelyn Clark) and it goes so fast, really. I have nothing to complain about at all. (And all that ripping I’ve done – completely my own fault.)

Oh and thanks for all your comments the other day – and thanks Alison for the update!

Here’s a close-up of the lace:


On to the trip details…

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Filed Under: Sock Pal Socks, Socks, Stash, Vacations

Cheeseheads and Sharpies

June 27, 2005 By

I’ve been avoiding blogging about the last few days, not because it was awful or disappointing – but because it was so good, so lovely, so RIGHT, I’m at a loss for words.

Admittedly, Thursday was a bit stressful. I had been designated cruise director, a job I’m not often given, and since I’ve got that debilitating perfectionism problem, well, you guessed it. I wanted everything to be perfect. Doesn’t really leave you a lot of time to enjoy yourself. But I managed. 😉

Jen and I headed into the big city around 9:30 and met up with Vicki at her hotel. Lauren met us there and when we could pry Vicki off her bed with seventeen thousand pillows, we headed up to Tender Buttons. I think Vicki got a good picture of the place. It’s basically nirvana for buttons. Button Heaven if you will. VERY overwhelming. But somehow Vicki, Jen and I all managed to find the PERFECT buttons for our projects. (Lauren didn’t need any – but she was essential in the choosing.) Here’s what I found for Bohemia:

Lest the picture isn’t revealing enough – these babies are LEATHER. Aren’t they super perfect for the aran delight this sweater will (hopefully) one day become? As perfect as my buttons are, Vicki’s are better. I hope she shows a picture.

After TB, I took Vicki on her first ever subway ride to meet up with the rest of the gals at School Products. Ann, Nancy (go wish her a happy birthday today!), and Cassie joined the rest of us – I didn’t get anything, but a few of us walked away with goodies. Sadly, Jen had to leave us after School Products (hope you’re having a good time basking in the Caribbean Sun Jen!) but the rest of the troops made our way to Habu. Again, I’ll let others tell you about this place, since I’ve already given you my first impression.

With the tantalizing deliciacies of Habu under our belt, (that’s two yarn stores down, no yarn for Cara) we headed off to the Shake Shack for lunch. Vicki’s husband met us there and we stood in line for supposedly THE BEST BURGER in New York. (I’m sticking with the Burger Joint at the Parker Meridien, but it was very good.) Some guy asked me if they were like In-N-Out. No. They aren’t like In-N-Out. Nothing’s like In-N-Out – but that’s a whole other post.

We ate, we knit, we relaxed on what had to be one of the top ten weather days OF ALL TIME. Seriously. Vicki got really lucky considering the gross, disgusting weather we’ve been having. I’m sure she had a taste of it on Saturday, which I think was one of the hottest days in the city. But on Thursday it was clear, no humidity, blue sky beautiful.

Satiated by our burgers, we took the subway down to Seaport, leaving Nancy to go back to work at my old stomping grounds. I knew I recognized her from somewhere! Great to meet you Nancy. Seaport Yarns is crazy. It used to be a consulting firm, but post-9/11, the proprietress decided to follow her heart and open a yarn store – right in the middle of the consulting firm – at least that’s the story I’ve been told. I welcome a correction. (One thing to note is that of the four yarn stores we went to that day, NONE of them were storefronts. Meaning, three were in office buildings and one was in a residential building on the second floor. Gotta love NYC!) Seaport pretty much has everything and anything and I did come away with a purchase, even though I was made fun of mercilessly. (So what if I’ve only finished ONE pair of socks?!? Can you EVER have enough sock yarn?)

While Seaport has A LOT of yarn, I’d have to say their book/pattern selection is second to none. They have everything.

Cassie had to go after Seaport, so Lauren, Ann, Vicki and I headed uptown to the Yarn Connection to meet up with Kathleen, who was joining us for dinner. By that time, we were pretty much spent. The day started at 10:30 (9:30 for me) and I think we were yarn crawled out. The Yarn Connection provided a lovely table, some punchy conversation and a couple balls of yarn for me.

I’m thinking this will be trim for a long sleeve v-neck sweater (Nothin’ But a T-Shirt? The Vogue Tennis Sweater?) I have a bunch of chocolate brown Calmer, so these two balls will be the accent. What do you think?

After YC, we walked around aimlessly because by that time all my planning skills had pooled in my feet with about ten pounds of water weight (can you say swollen tootsies?) We ended up at some tables off to the side of THE New York Public Library building. Yes, the one with Patience and Fortitude. (How apt!?! We knitters should adopt them as our mascots. Anyone ever try to knit lion mane?)

Soon after, Lauren had to catch a train and the remaining four needed something for dinner. I seriously couldn’t think at that point. What should we feed Vicki? Something New York. Something she can’t really get in Wisconsin. Of course! Pizza! And not just any pizza, but John’s Pizza. My fave. (Okay, they have cheese in Wisconsin, but mozzarella? Please!) So Ann, Kathleen, Vicki and
I had pizza. And beer. And laughed and teased and laughed. I had a great time all day, but this was the highlight for me. These girls are irreverent and bitchy (in the BEST sense of the word) and funny and loving and just a BLAST! I’m so glad I got to meet ALL of you. Thanks for giving as good as you got.

Suffice it to say, I didn’t get home until after midnight. Apparently Kathleen and Ann got home much later – but hey – that’s what happens when you live on LonGUYland! 😉

Want to hear about Friday? Read on…

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog, Bohemia, Socks, Stash

SOCKASTRIPENANZA!

June 21, 2005 By

Admittedly, I’ve gone a bit crazy the past week or so. In more ways than one. My anxiety has reared its ugly head and I’ve let myself give in to it – something I’ve been working on for a long, long time. My shrink always says that my being smart and having an excellent imagination are recipes for torture – and torture myself I do! I’m exceedingly good at making myself feel awful! YEEHAW! (See, Margene, I’m working the yeehaws in every where I can.)

Don’t feel sorry for me or extend sympathy – unless of course you yourself make yourself crazy – because then I’d like to hear I’m not the only one. (LOL – I’m only half serious.)

Anyway – the craziness has extended into SOCKS! I know. I’ve made one pair. And it’s not like I haven’t been collecting sock yarn for a awhile. But the STRIPES made me NUTS!

Columns left to right:

Opal Petticoat Regia Cotton Surf #5413 Trekking Crazy Stripes #48
Regia Mini Ringel #5217 Regia Cotton Surf #5411 Trekking Crazy Stripes #39
Regia Crazy Color #5402 Regia Cotton Surf #5414 Trekking Crazy Stripes #35
Mountain Colors Wild Rasberry Regia Cotton Surf #5412 Trekking Crazy Stripes #38

In my defence, It looks like the Cotton Surf and the Trekking Crazy Stripes are being discontinued. Or, if they’re not, they were on sale. Seriously, I don’t know which ones I want to knit up first! The Cotton Surf #5411 (The Reds) might be for my Sockapalooza 2 Pal. She likes red, stripes and cotton – perfect, no? But she also likes lace. So I might try to find a nice cotton solid (anyone know of any cotton solid sock yarns?) and make the Go With the Flow socks from IK – or I may just go with some nice Koigu instead of Cotton. But I think Go With the Flow is the pattern. Maybe I’ll make the exact socks in the magazine. Can I make my sock pal two pairs?

Knitting saved me this weekend. I don’t know how many repeats I’ve completed on FBS, but I’ve completed 8 baskets on each side of the divide and am two rows into the nines. Experienced FBSers: Does that mean I’ve done seven repeats? I don’t know how to count this.

The pattern is great. I look at the chart at the beginning of the row and I’m gone. I’ve had some to rip back a row or two, but for the most part it’s going well. I like it – the yarn is good, the color is good, the pattern is good. It rescued me from a panic attack the other day on the train – although it is hard to knit when your hands are shaking. But it was a blessing because I HAD to concentrate. You know, get out of my head and all.

I’m home and feeling a bit better. Georgie calms me down. No matter how crazy and evil my thoughts – he can always do me one better! Gotta love him. I’m off to get my hair done today so I can look pretty for Vicki on Thursday. I’m thinking a yarn crawl that day – so anyone in the NYC area interested, send me an email and we’ll map out a plan. We’ve got the whole ISLAND to cover and a contest prize to buy! (Thanks Jackie for the link!)

Oh and this is for Norma:

Filed Under: Flower Basket Shawl, Socks, Stash
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