Traveling stitches

Naming techniques of knit stitches was discussed last weekend...Bavarian, twisted and traveling stitches can all mean similar things yet here's the ultimate traveler! Traveled hundreds of miles today and thousands more coming up... what a riot of colors! Certainly not a subtle craft when I pull it out of the bag.

At the Riga airport, I lost my points....SAD FACE!  And I was very grumpy, too.  Security said no knitting needles under 5 mm.  THAT'S US 8!  Huge!  Because I was traveling with knitters, of course, I had needles.  My tiny (indeed dangerous) 1.25mm and 1.5mm dpns were taken away which were actually in a project...(pulling them out took a deep breath and sigh) and the points were cut off, leaving the cable in this sock.  I didn't point out that my traveling companion (in another security line) had the same.

This was taken AFTER my friend offered her extra 1.5mm.

Some thoughts:  Maybe it wouldn't look so lethal if they had been separated.  In fact, the dpns were all nested together.  The Circular needle wasn't noticed in the first scan, but I offered them up for inspection before the second scan.  

Some Things I Do ...

I wanted to say I have an alter-ego, which can be sinister, but really it means I live two lives.

I have a home, a great man, and activities which can be defined as hobbies and work.  Then I have this other life which happens 4,000 miles away from home, where I am a live-in grandma, cook and errand runner.  My hobbies follow me to my second life, and I feel loved in both lives. 

Rather than driving everywhere, I use public transportation.

Rather than having meals discussed and prepared for me, I fill the refrigerator with my desires for my family.  This is how the refrigerator looks when I arrive... I fill it.

Rather than sitting in my backyard, I get invited to picnics in the park and discover geocaches on my own.

Rather than listening to the occasional dog barking, and the sound of hammering on the roof of a new house, I listen to children playing, and music blaring from next door.

I get to celebrate with a nation of people who are strictly traditional, wear red, white and blue, and hope it never ends!

Rather than depend on sunshine and hanging clothes out to dry, I cross my fingers and hope that I'll be able to go outside without rain gear and boots.

Rather than fretting about my monstrous stash of yarn, I get to reward myself with new yarn and ideas.

Which can get a little out of hand...  Here's the makings of 3 pairs of socks and a sweater.  What you don't see is the yarn for another 2 sweaters, one which quickly was started and finished so I didn't have to embarrass myself (my own guilty conscience) when packing for home.

Knitting spring

Post concert:

Putting in 3 hours a day of practice time on location, 20 minutes away, took a toll on knitting and weaving at home.  A few days ago, I sat at my loom and apologized for my neglect.  It happily tightened up, and grew 10"... still not sure what it will be when it grows up and leaves home.

This "first sock" took 3 weeks to crank out.  Stricken is the pattern by Cookie A from Knit, Sock, Love. Using a Trysil Garn, purchased at a little variety store in Bergen which is wool and nylon blend with almost no twist (no plies).  It's a bit fuzzy, but perfect for hiding my "forgetful" rows.

My NEED FOR BEADS... Always look to Laura Nelkin.  From her Just One More collection, I used a variation of her bead placement to make this little thing.  It's going to be cozy around the neck.  (Note to self: Get those ends woven in for May in Norway.)

Saw this fetching pattern in a pattern email...spontaneous purchase, and grabbed my Kauni from the stash.  Just wait! I'm purposely NOT giving clues.

Took 5 tries to get the drift of the brioche section!  I just couldn't make it come out right...because the pattern left out wyif in instructions.  Bad!  Luckily I remembered an Interweave Knits magazine with lovely brioche feature...so, yes, Lisa, Dianna and Kay, those magazines from Winter 2010 have a use.  Also, I had a look at some YouTube clips, but they didn't do the trick.  Three cheers for: yfsl1yo and sl1yof!  Brilliant stitch guide on page 90.

I'm back in gear!

Scotland, at Last!

Before it's 2017, I thought I should try to find time for a few blogs to finish up my trip in September.  Here's what we saw! 

Flags, chimneys, cars on the left, wonderful places!  And though the clouds were there, and we saw an abundance of rainbows, there were bright, mild days!  (That's the way I remember it...you know, how the iffy parts slide to the back of my mind.)

This is Perth:  (I learned to say it more or less properly, but you'll have to ask me in person.)

And from a little drive through, compliments to our hostess at the B&B, we realized we should be staying here for a week...

Then on to the coast, by train.

To the Ferry in Aberdeen, with harsh wind and rain.

To a cozy cabin on aboard, where I could model my finished socks (with Carol's Loopy Legend yarn).

Carol in Iceland

No Ice, just knitting.  Second sock...at N 65°. 

Remember the legend...

The Loopy Legend sock. in Pacific Sunset.

Pattern: 

Zigzagular Socks

by Susie White

from Prairie Girl Designs

Yarn:  

Loopy Legends

by The Loopy Ewe

Fingering / 4 ply

80% Merino, 20% Nylon

435 yards / 100 grams

Meanwhile, I got my fix of weaving...

Same warp, endless patterns.

Socks and more

On needles now, but fast approaching the finish.  It's a hat!  Easy-Peasy!

A repair job on my favorite sweater.  I wear this ALL the time, especially since we've had a cold snap with freezing temperatures for weeks.  It needed a wash, and I was appalled to see how long the sleeves were when I stretched it out to dry.  So, snip-snip, I removed 5" of cuff and bound off.  Wearing it now...

And remember my carry-around socks?  Finished at last...Started October 8, with left-over yarn from two other sock projects.  They are truly fraternal twins, but I love the frugality.  Finished January 26.

And immediately (January 27) started these socks called Angee by Cookie A.  The pattern is super;  interesting but memorable.  The yarn is to die for!!  It's Caper Sock yarn by String Theory!  I'm zipping through it because I just want it in my hands.  The cashmere/merino combination is scrumptious!  SCRUMPTIOUS, I say!! 

This first sock was done in 5 days.  Number two is almost to the heel...slowed in progress only because I have startitis and now have several other things to hold my attention, along with numerous piano/organ gigs coming up.

Mid-January, I saw a friend with an interesting looking hat, and she pointed out that it was a "pony-tail" hat!  What?  Two days later...  You can't see the back, but it's open with a button closure to allow for the ponytail!  Brilliant!  Two days later, my granddaughter's ponytail was cut off... but I made a bigger one for mommy.  No buttons, yet.  (Low priority.)

January, and so far, February, are just perfectly cold for knitting!

Scraps socks

What I need to carry with me for those "down" times: Waiting for appointments, in between gigs when I don't want to go home...

My thrifty nature is satisfied:  It's called stash busting the remnants of other socks.

Combining these two yarns, randomly with purpose, colors are pleasing to me. I haven't found many remnants that I wouldn't accept in pairings. And no pattern except 2x2 ribbing, trading yarns every row or every other row.  When I get to the end of the row, I play genius and decide if I switch or continue.  Since both yarns have many colors, my mood determines what I do next.  I wonder if it will work for two socks...?

Yarns:

Jawoll Color Superwash 50g.

by Lang Yarns

Fingering / 4 ply

75% Wool, 18% Nylon, 7% Acrylic

206 yards / 50 grams

Jawoll Magic

by Lang Yarns

Fingering / 4 ply

75% Wool, 25% Nylon

437 yards / 100 grams

Sock drawer

A little (very little) housecleaning... my sock drawer (after only, no before photo...)

I counted 18 pairs. I chucked one pair beyond repair.

Not included are the many that are in a sock drawer in Norway, plus:

How can I resist? So many patterns, so many yarns...

Sole socks

My attempt at something new, which stretched into almost a year!  Sock number one finished end of August 2014.  

This is supposed to be a "removable" sole sock, to accommodate wear and tear and replacement of the sole without having to re-do the pattern.  Makes sense! And at first the pattern didn't make sense.  As in life, the second time around is always easier, or at least things are expected.  And this is no exception.  In May I picked up the yarn for sock number two, and was finished in no time!  

Pros:  I love the pattern, and they are super warm (especially now that it's 30ºC) and I appreciate that there's one layer of yarn on the sole.

Cons: I hope I can locate the heel pattern when I need to replace it.  My socks wear out only on the heel bottom.

It needs a good blocking to straighten out the pink edge stitches, but I'm planning on wearing and washing instead of blocking.  I'm a bit lazy like that.

To see the process click on THIS PREVIOUS BLOG POST.

Red sock

A fun sock, my second time with this pattern, but the tweed... Our knitting group had a laughing attack one night with pictures of knitting with dandruff.  I'm NOT laughing NOW... it looks like I dusted under the bed with this sock, so I'm hesitant to start sock number two.  

I can:

1. Hope that the color bleeds, and the white becomes less white, 

2. Pick the white pieces out (it's only laying on top of the twisted yarn, and would be easy to pull out), or

3. Frog it.  Which would mean I would have to throw it away.

Pattern:

Eunice

by Cookie A

from Sock Innovation: Knitting Techniques & Patterns for One-of-a-Kind Socks

Yarn:

Stroll Tweed, in Barn Door Heather

by Knit Picks

Fingering / 4 ply

65% Merino, 25% Nylon, 10% Other

231 yards / 50 grams

I love the pattern.  I love the yarn. Don't think I'm panning the yarn, just the color... in fact I used a Tweed previously, and it didn't offend me. And here's another link.

Tweed or?

Mixed feelings about this yarn... Stroll tweed.  I wish there wasn't so many white bits.  The black and brown and red tweed bits are fine, but the white?  It's going to make my knit buddies laugh, and remember the white pom poms referred to as "dandruff". That's all I see when I look at my sock.

The pattern is Eunice by Cookie A.  Second time for the pattern. The color is Barn Door Heather, which sounds wonderful.  The Barn Door IS nice, but the heather looks like the cotton fluff that will soon be inundating my yard.  Sigh!

Tomorrow I'm picking a few strawberries... Yes, the thunderstorms have come through here every few days, and the strawberries love it!

Happy Spring!

More leftovers, please!

Five socks have been made with the yarn from this pair.  I love what the pattern does.

A nice thick sock!  It satisfies the "hoarder" in me...

Drip Candles

by Kirsten Hall

from Think Outside the Sox

Previous socks (and others) on Ravelry:

Double Socks: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Celinas-Mor/doublefun-ankle-high

Effekt Vest: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Celinas-Mor/vest

Spiral Socks: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Celinas-Mor/anastasia-socks

Lace Socks: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Celinas-Mor/29-lace-socks

Spring Thaw Socks: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Celinas-Mor/spring-thaw-socks

If anyone is counting, the fifth sock used some of these yarns. Look for my Turkish socks.

Sunday

What to do on a Sunday? Every Sunday, in fact!
A well earned snack, of hot cider and biscuit handmade by a friend. It's yummy, nutty and super thin. And a great mug! Thanks!

And to knit socks using leftover yarns.  Five leftovers.  

Little Socks

Last October, I thought I was finished with my "sweet tomato heel" socks.  Then my "sweet tomato" granddaughter arrived, and they were too small.  I had to adjust, after she wore them for a week, by undoing the toes and made the foot longer.  I'm not totally convinced that the heel is an improvement on fit.  They are, possibly, more forgiving because the exact turn of the heel is a bit undefined.
But, how can you go wrong with warm PINK socks?

Yes, I Finished!

My socks:
Diversion Socks, finished November 2, 2014, and worn and worn, and washed and worn... My FAVORITE socks for this year... All of the right colors, warm, Ahhhh, perfect.  This was my first pair with a rounded toe (instead of the wedge).  It took me quite awhile to complete since I was knitting other things, and carried these to work.  There wasn't much "down time" to knit, so often I would get pulled away, and return to my knitting without a clue where I was in the pattern.  There was a lot of "tink-ing".
But I love them!  It has a lot to do with the pattern AND the yarn:

Honk if you like:
 Regia Hand-Dye Effect

Light Fingering / 3 ply

70% Wool, 25% Nylon, 5% Acrylic

459 yards / 100 grams

Diversion Socks

OH!! 

You beautiful colors, melting into each other, soft, strong,...  Can I make you last forever?

I'm stalling so that my knit class can follow along on the heel, but, alas, knit class, you are taking your time with sweet tomato heel, and I fear you'll never try out a heel flap.  You would think that 10 hours over a month would be sufficient, but time is running out, and I can't keep these out of my hands (even though I have five other projects beckoning).  

Pattern: Diversion by Kirsten Hall from Knitty, Winter 2009

Yarn: Hand-dye Effect by Regia,Light Fingering / 3 ply, 70% Wool, 25% Nylon, 5% Acrylic, 459 yards / 100 grams

Tale of two socks

Suffering from "Distracted" syndrome...  Alas, languishing in jars, desperate for a mate.  So sad.

See "Sweet Tomato Heel" below, by Cat Bordhi.  Interesting shape.  Hope it fits a little girl!

Sock Crazies

Once upon a time, there was a sock pattern.

Maybe there were two or three, or dozens, but the construction of the sock was either toe-up or cuff-down.  Then there were holes.  Nasty feet wearing holes in the soles.  And then someone came up with an idea.  Why not knit the sock so the sole can be removed and replaced!  Yay!!  Excellent!!

I found the perfect project for a week of knitting with knitters.  Advice and encouragement, and a new technique.  Then I started:

Above:  This pattern I downloaded and it left me scratching my head.  Until I found the same pattern instructions in a book, with the design below.  It had a sentence or two extra which cleared my head-scratching, and I was on my way.  When wait!  Look at that lovely design above:  Two S's.  I thought it rather ugly, and when I looked at the photograph again, it was, indeed NOT two S's, but one S and one backwards S.  The CHART was wrong.  (I blindly followed the chart.) I couldn't stand it anymore, and even though I had knitters around me saying, "But it's so pretty!" I ripped it out, and started with the pattern in the book.

The technique?  First you knit the pink band around the foot, then you fill in the insole design. 

 Next you knit in the sole, and heel and then you start the circular part around the leg.

Not as complicated as it sounds.

I like!  I like the pattern better than the first, and I really appreciated the directions being complete.

One done.  NO rush for the second...:)

Half-Stranded Socks  by Anna Zilboorg  from Sock Knitting Master Class: Innovative Techniques & Patterns

Lament:  I'm happy with the sock, though I have yet to see a description of removing the sole to replace it.  Anyone?  Help!!