Who knits socks in Florida?

Granted, here in Florida we wear flip flops all year long. Granted, one can succumb to the allure of hand-dyed fingering weight merino without venturing into the realm of dpns or magic loop - work it up into a shawl perhaps.  Granted, back when I read Debbie Macomber's A Good Yarn I scratched my head and thought, "Who knits socks?"  But as I re-entered the knitting world several years ago and quickly rose to the ranks of the obsessed (and employed, mind you - not all obsessions are dangerous) I became aware of the pervading buzz about sock knitting, and I figured there must be sound reason behind it.

In May 2011 I cast on my first pair

the first of which I finished (on a different beach) 3 months later.

Its mate was a long time coming, the victim not only of second sock syndrome but of a pattern so boring it was difficult to work up much enthusiasm for it.  Conquering both of these major obstacles, however, I had a complete pair by August 2012.

Though this was my first pair started, it was not my first pair finished.  In the lengthy interim I participated in a  KAL which introduced me not only to Plymouth Happy Feet (my very first purchase at The [Itty Bitty] Knitty Gritty) and Irish Girlie Knits, but also to Honey Badger, the hilarious-but-perhaps-too-vulgar-for-some You Tube video. (Not going to link it here, go look it up yourself.  Honey Badger don't care.)

I also learned that not all US 1 needles are the same size - Honey Badger may not care about that, but you and I do, trust me!  This pair came much faster - just over one month start to finish.

With a bold sense of now-I-know-how-to-knit-socks and a hunger to learn different techniques, I volunteered for a test knit soon after.  Wheat Rib by Lindo Jo Park was my first try at toe-up on 2 circulars, which has become my preferred sock method.

More have followed:  Skew by Lana Holden for a Will Work For Yarn Swap Group project,

Apres Ski by Kate Atherley for a beginner's sock class,

Field of Flowers by Sheryl Giles for an excuse to use Malabrigo.

Still very much in progress are my Irish Coffee socks by Nicola W, featuring a "whipped cream" cuff and belly-warming leg.

The mis-crossed cable early on in the cuff is not what has caused my delay, but it did prompt me to change the project name to "Amish Coffee."

So who knits socks in Florida?  I do.  And I'm itching to share techniques, tips, pitfalls, experiences with fellow enthusiasts and with those who, like I once was, are simply confounded by the whole idea.  Join me at The Knitty Gritty for a free-of-charge, twice-monthly get-together.  Bring your own socks-in-progress, or cast-on the socks-of-the-month project (this month it's yoga socks).  Learn a new technique, or get help for a sock-gone-awry.  Fondle my sock yarn, I'll fondle yours.  This month we'll meet Monday, May 20 from 6-8 pm, and/or Tuesday, May 21 from 11am-1pm.  In ensuing months we'll stagger the meetings every other week or thereabouts.  Become a regular, or pop in now and then.  I'll be there to knit, chat, teach, help, laugh. Hope to see you there!

Like a freight train....

Here comes March.  How did that happen?  I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, a problem I realize will not be solved by sitting here blogging instead of working and lesson planning, but here I sit anyway.  Though my March calendar is probably no more bulging than usual at this time of year, it does herald some new, fun, stressful-in-a-good-way events, while feeding my top three addictions.

First off, I'll be starting to work at my LYS, The Knitty Gritty.  Can't tell you how excited I am about this - it's a dream come true (not the big Broadway/sports arena one, but a dream nonetheless), and I'm elated that Anna invited me to join the staff.  And what a time to start, with the Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl going on from March 1 to 10.  Grab your passport and come on out!

Not only will I be helping out in the shop here and there, but I'm also slated to teach two classes.  The first, next Wednesday, March 6, is a two-hour session teaching ipad users how to take advantage of KnitCompanion, the most ingenious app in the world IMHO.  A single class will really only scratch the surface of KC's seemingly infinite capabilities, but will enable the students to download, set up and follow patterns using this revolutionary technology.

The following Monday, March 11, we'll begin a  four-week adventure learning how to knit socks, toe up, on two circular needles (one-at-a-time - let's not get ahead of ourselves!). Beginners can work in worsted weight to learn the basics on larger needles; more experienced knitters can use fingering weight....and reading glasses!

As if that weren't enough for me to prepare for, Theatre-Go-Round is opening our newest show on Sunday, March 24, which means rehearsing with increased frequency and urgency.  "New York, New York" continues for the next two weekends (with only a couple seats available, if that), then we'll begin a 10 week-run of "Those Fabulous 50's".  We continue to enjoy performing at 14th Avenue Steakhouse and working with the fine folks there.

Publicity shot for Fab 50's

Yarn? Check.  Performing? Check.  Thankfully there will still be time to indulge my beach obsession as well. My bff Big Genny will make her annual pilgrimage to Vero (along with her two girls to keep Little Genny happy), and this is one of those rare years where our respective spring breaks coincide. Our week of R&R (romp and relaxation) will culminate at the Caribe Royale in Orlando (hospitality industry connections are veeeerrrry nice!).

Couple years ago at the Caribe...before Vinny chewed up this suit.

Then, once I put our guests on a plane back to Philly, we'll head to the annual Easter Bunny Bash in Cocoa and watch Eddie kick some skimboarding butt.

LBI Summer 2012

Beach? Check.

Happiness is...

...finding over $125 worth of swag in your mailbox!

The other day I was checking in with a few of my favorite blogs, and on a recent post over at YarnontheHouse I noticed my name and "Congratulations!" on the same line.  Sent Veronika my mailing address and a speedy two days later I'm playing with this:

and this:

with which I might make this:

Honeycomb Kerchief - Bijou Basin Ranch

but it's hard to decide because I also got a couple patterns from Alana Dakos, like Cosette:

Cosette Wrap - Never Not Knitting

which I'm partial to because I'm a Les Mis freak, but there's also this:

Wee Wildflower - Coastal Kids

which is adorable, but oh, then there are the patterns from Kate Oates of When I Grow Up:

Lilly Tunic

but, yikes, I think I grew up a little too much for that one, so maybe this one would be better:

Johanna Jacket

or maybe just a hat:

Dindy Beret

but then again there are some babies on the way who might need something from this:

For now I guess I better get back to working on my test knitting assignment, which is just the perfect size for my wonderful new project bag from Little Lippy Ewe:

Thank you to all these wonderful vendors, and especially Ve at YOTH for sharing the love!

Bank of Royal Copenhagen

Yesterday I went hog wild and spent $22 on myself. While grocery shopping at Publix, the Winter 2012 issue of Interweave Knits jumped into my cart.

and while DD was spending some quality time in Plato's Closet, I enjoyed a manicure next door.

These are the kinds of treats, no matter how seemingly small, that I sometimes agonize over, but no more. Last year I began paying myself for completing certain tasks that I could and would easily avoid. Things like flossing, exercising in any intensity (including little or practically none) for 15 minutes, and going to bed without leaving any clothes on the floor. There are a few others which I am loath to disclose, but in any event I'm now motivated to do these things, if not by their intrinsic necessity or benefit, then by the fact that for each one checked off I put $1 in my favorite vase.

Win/win: things that need doing get done, and I have a modest fund of fun money to spend on little extras that make me smile. And I still have $19 left. Mad Tosh?

 

 

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FO Friday

Wednesday came and went this week, and my WIPs pretty much look the same as last week....except there are more of them. Not to worry - I have 51 more opportunities this year to get those projects off the Wednesday post and onto the Friday post.
However, it is with suitable glee that I present my first finished object of 2013.
[Insert drum roll here.]

This is my version of OwlCat Design's Rosy & Grey Hat by Simone Kereit.  The pattern is still in testing but will be released shortly to complement her Rosy & Grey Wristlets.  Obviously mine isn't so rosy and is blacker than grey. I did some stashbusting and came up with Fjord Solid by Crystal Palace Yarns (Jet Black) and Knit Picks WOTA Tonal (Blue Violet), and I must say I was quite pleased with this color combo.

What tickled me even more, however, was that this was the first colorwork project (of not all that many, mind you) which I attempted to use the "strand-in-each-hand" method.  I am a confirmed thrower and proud of it, but juggling those balls, pardon my French, is no fun.  So I watched a quick continental tutorial and away I went.

[Insert pat on the back here.]  

Such gratifying results from a simple pattern, in less than a weekend to boot!

WIP Wednesday: What's needling me

While most moms I know in other parts of the country are sending their kids back to school this morning, we still have five days to go in our leisurely Christmas* break. (* I know, I know, the school calendar says "winter break", but in my Florida household it's much more Christmastime than wintertime, and so it shall be.) So we're still in a cycle of staying up late and sleeping in, except for my DH who maintains his usual bedtime and gets up for dawn patrol to catch some waves before work each day.

Thought I'd enjoy my coffee on the couch with some knitting this morning, but I got sidetracked by blogging.....isn't it usually the other way around? My favorite project right now is Irish Coffee.....hmmmm...too early in the morning for either kind, I guess.

I'm mid-heel flap on the first sock - two-color eye-of-partridge...in a pear tree. (And yes, the Christmas decorations are still up. Today is the ninth day of Christmas, and while I have no dancing ladies here, I'm still very much enjoying the observance.)  I am loving Bijou Basin Ranch's Tibetan Dream Sock yarn, but I've learned the hard way that the fine-gauge cabling and twisted-stitching of this pattern makes it a "natural daylight only" project for me and my middle-aged eyes.

So for lamplight and TV watching I have the 10-stitch blanket to work on. There's a baby on the way (not in this household, good gracious!), and I've the feeling she won't wait till her February 19 due date.

Not as thrilled with this project as I expected, but it does have the advantage of being practically mindless except for counting the short-row corners.  And the yarn is key - Cotton Supreme Batik is a machine washable and dryable cotton.  Colorway is Sea Glass.

Still dearly loved but shoved in a bag for now is Florence.

The body is finished and the first sleeve started, but she's for me so, alas, she waits.

So far the only serious resolution I have for the new year is that I publish more WIP Wednesday posts in 2013 and that these 3 projects do not appear in all of them.

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The First Step

Scene: Mother and daughter are seated on stools at the kitchen counter. Daughter is doing homework while listening to her iPod and texting her friends. Mother has 2 balls of rosewood colored yarn in a cereal bowl in front of her. Knitting magazines are strewn all over the kitchen, one of them open to the Farmstead Cardigan. Ravelry is up on her desk top and her iPad, and she's swatching, sniffing, petting, admiring what is obviously her first ever skein of Mad Tosh DK, which arrived in the mail just hours before.

Mother: This stuff is like crack, I'm addicted already.

Daughter: You need knitting rehab.

M: No, I don't.

D: (making rare direct eye contact) Mom, the first step in recovery is admitting you have a problem.

M: (holding swatch up to her nose and inhaling deeply) I don't have a problem.

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