Knitting: Back in the saddle

Well, nothing like hanging out with Cookie A to inspire one to knit again. The class was a lot of fun and while much of the discussion went over items that were in Sock Innovation, hearing it and seeing her draw it up right in front of you, had a much bigger impact. I can extract a lot from reading, but seeing the visual come to life and the person behind it explaining lends quite a different perspective.

Let me start with the drive there. It was long! In part, probably because I had no clue where I was going and partly because I took a wrong turn a time or two. But with my keen sense of direction, I managed to make a few turns and came out on a "good" road that led me where I needed to go.

Anyway, once in town, I called Susan the owner of Ball and Skein and host of the class. She told me to head over to the municipal building area because class wasn't at the shop. I indeed went over and the class was in an old railroad depot building.



So with class underway, the students picked through patterns to find SOMETHING they wanted to make into a sock. I chose a heavily cabled pattern and Cookie helped me work out the sizing and math and placement of "things".



My start is here. I might have gotten further in the class but I opted to do an 80 stitch cast on and rib, so going around 80 stitches for nearly an inch of 1x1 ribbing does take some time. I don't have a name for it yet, but my example is below.



At one point we had lunch:


And of course as all great things do, the class came to an end. Here's a slightly blurry shot of Cookie and me.


And, if you want to see more about Cookie A's adventures here in Ohio, please see her blog (she also has the class photo up).

After class, a bunch of us headed over to the Ball and Skein, where I purchased some fantastic sock yarns! Susan had a great selection (and a coupon for class attendees). YAY! The lighting isn't he greatest so you can't really see the great colors, but here they are. I'll have to take better naturally lit photos later this week.



So after the shopping extravaganza, I headed home.

Last Thursday at Knit Knite, Brandy showed off her finished sock #1 from the Ampersand pattern. She used Jingle Bell Rocks from Socks that Rock. It was pretty awesome and I fell in love with that pattern.

Saturday morning, I wound up my Farmhouse (STR purchased at SS09) and cast on the Ampersand while at the OSU tailgate. Unfortunately, there was a piece of the pattern that wasn't quite clicking right for me. It was definitely a dummy moment, but after fooling around for over an hour or more... I put it away. After getting home, I brought it back out and figured out where my mistake was. Moved on and I finished the sock on SUNDAY!! The only sock I knit faster was my Starry Night sock from last year. Anyway, I still love the pattern and I definitely want to knit the SECOND sock! Like right now. I could have cast on yesterday, but I needed a small knitting break. Then I ended up going to bed early. So perhaps tonight, 2nd sock will be born.

However, before bed, I drew up 3 new sock patterns. With the help of some Barbara Walker stitch patterns. Now I just have to get swatching and see if they will work. But first... the 2nd ampersand sock! :)

Knitting: Taking a break

Because I can't attend my weekly knitting with friends right now... I have decided to try and keep the world updated via blog. I miss my knitting gals, but due to work schedule changes and husbands work schedules, knit night is not do-able for a bit.

Although in a way, this isn't a bad thing because I have seriously LOST my knitting mojo. Think about this for the last 2-3 years I have knit almost constantly, every single day. I mean now and again there were a few days I didn't, but mostly, I did try at least a few stitches, rows, or rounds every day. Be it at work during lunch hour or at home... or my weekly knitting with friends. Anyway, the last month has been a difficult one for me. Actually we'll call it 2 months.

I've been in that quandary with a lot of unfinished projects hanging around, it does bug me yes. And being tired of them and not wanting to work on them and not wanting to start yet another thing... I do the opposite and do nothing.

Add to this being pulled in other crafty directions. I really want to sew again. I really want to work on quilts and blankets and WARM things. I want to weave (I now have a loom), I want to get my scrapbooks put back together, I have pictures EVERYWHERE. I want to clean and get organized. I have actually been yearning to crochet... and for anyone that knows me, that should be a surprise. I hate crochet! Well, sort of. It has it's use, is applicable in certain things like edgings, etc. But for the most part crocheted fabric, is kind of gross (to me anyway). HOWEVER... that being said, I think in my head the term crochet often goes with crappy acrylic yarn. There is a reason for this. I learned to crochet when I was really young, say 6 or 7. What was I given, a bunch of hand me down magazines, some hooks and really cheap yarn. Fast forward a few years, my crochet was never great, my hands always hurt and well, it wasn't "cool".

So I quit crochet. Jump forward a billion years and I decided to learn to knit. But knitting to me is fabulous yarns and beautiful fabrics etc and so on.

Anyway, Cath got me started on this crochet bug because she posted about this cute crocheted gingerbread house. I promptly went and bought that magazine like 2 days later and have been looking for the right yarn ever since. I really want to make a blanket, so I figured crocheted squares is the way to go, they are mostly quick and I can trot them around with me. Easy-peasy. I buy a book of like 90 or 99 different squares... I work on a few, I'm bored. :)

Then... I'm browsing more magazines and buy another crochet one because there is this unbelievable blanket in it that I'm dying to make. So anyway, I'm pulled in different directions. I have a million things to finish and yet no desire to do so.

Argh!

However, this weekend, I may put a plan into place that will give me more crafting room/space. I have a spare bedroom, I've been wanting to convert for awhile now. There is a bed in it, that I will move out. There is much cleaning and organizing that needs to happen in there as well. But I think if I get my arse in gear, I could do it this weekend.

Of course I may be lazy, so no promises, but we'll see. My plan for the room, which already houses 2 book cases, will be to get a sofabed in there. Possibly a small TV (cable is already wired) and a large long table to set up sewing machine and cutting area. I will also need bins and such to put tools in and so forth. This could be a good plan and could come together nicely. Of course this entails shopping for furniture. I definitely see a trip to Ikea in the near future, won't Brian be so excited, um no, probably not. :)

So even though I'm not really knitting. I'm working a what I think is a really neat hat. I haven't even photo'd it yet, so I'll just have to tantalize you with details. It's a fair isle type hat, pattern is a little boring, next one I'll design myself. But I love the yarns I'm using, Mochi Plus and Berroco Lustre. I can't wait to finish it and show it off. Not sure if I'll keep or gift, but that's what I'm working on lately.

Knitting: The toilet

So, no I'm not knitting a toilet, or on the toilet, or even a cover for the toilet... but I feel like my knitting is in the proverbial toilet. I have become lackluster with projects and ideas and knitting in general.

Now don't get me wrong, I love to knit and talk about knitting and read about knitting and just be a geek about knitting... but lately... so unmotivated to do actual knitting.

I think it's partly the whether and that time of year. Days are shrinking, my house is a cluttered catastrophe. I've put off so many things for so long and they are really biting me in the butt. So as unmotivated as I am to knit, I'm even more so to clean and declutter. But it is something I have to do... and do it soon!

I need to reorganise my house, my life and my knitting. I start 3 day weekends very soon, I think some of this can be accomplished.

Onward!