Another week gone...

I am very sad to say not much knitting or other fiber-y things have been happening since I last posted. There is another row of owls below the ones in the photo and I just started the heel flap on the first owl sock this morning. This pattern isn't a hard knit at all, just slow, very slow.

The plain sock is at 6.5" so I am just starting the gusset. I've been putting most of my time into the owls.

Yarn has arrived. A photo another day. I was bad. I was just looking at a new place I found online a few weeks back. Everything always seems out of stock so I was just nosing around to see what colors and options they offered. I wrote down a few that I liked for 'someday'. Just as I left, one on my list popped up for sale! Before I took my next breath that sucker was in my cart and paid for. Oops. Yes I was bad but the yarn has arrived and it is delightful!

Double or triple oops! Other yarn is on order from yet another company. 2 skeins this time. It's being dyed for me though so it will be several weeks before it ready. Yet another company that is always sold out. I seem to have a real knack for finding them.

After those though, I am officially done buying yarn. I'm watching out for a couple more skeins from other companies.  I'm going to try not to slip and buy....I don't need more!

Grumble, grumble

So it's been 5 days since I mentioned casting on socks. I really don't think they could go any slower. The top down owl socks...I haven't made it out of the ribbing yet! I work and work and no progress. Ridiculous! The toe up plain sock is barely 4". They are both just creeping along in slow motion.

I've noticed a pattern now. Socks drag, I want to shop! I don't need yarn, I don't need yarn, I don't need yarn....
Think that will work if I chant it constantly? Yeah, me neither.

How many socks

can I cast on in 3 days? Apparently 3. Actually knit a sock to the heel turn in sports weight. Pulled the needles out of it on day 2 and put the yarn away for frogging later. Pattern didn't work out at all. It was skewing so badly the sole was twisting to the top.

Then I cast on an owl sock in that natural yarn. Ugh, top down. As I have grumbled before, hate top down. The cuff is full of twisted stitches and KTB, with no more than 2 stitches the same. I made it through 1.5 repeats of the chart before it started annoying me. Obviously this isn't going to be a full-time sock.

So back to the yarn satchel. Emptied it completely to see if I had any bits and pieces that would add up to a pair of socks. Not enough of anything without caking a co-coordinating skein. Dragged out the worsted weight bag, nothing appealed. But oh goody! I found one skein of center pull Online sock yarn. I don't care for this brand yarn but it was either that or no more knitting*. I will just make vanilla socks to have something super simple to work on.

*Pretending I don't have a shawl on the needles too. I'm not enjoying the big needles at all.

Another week missing

Well this week blew by in a blink. Not much happening in the way of fiber-time. I'm still working on the same pair of socks. Happily though, 10 more rows of ribbing and done!

I'm not sure what I am casting on next. I only know it will be with Cascade Heritage sock yarn in natural. For the simple reason, it is the only yarn caked, ready to knit. I am insanely short on time as usual and just haven't had time to set up the swift and winder. I don't expect to have time until next week so natural yarn it is.

I like natural a lot. Just not for hand-knit socks. Over the years the sole gets too dingy and since you can't scrub it or bleach it, I tend to keep them in the drawer rather than my feet.

I'm off here to try to get through this long day. Hope your weekend is fun and sunshiny!

Easy knitting week

Absolutely insane work hours the past few weeks. I'm so far behind on everything that I have resorted to fast groceries. I am more of a 'from scratch' cook so buying tortillas, sliced deli style meats, cookies, and bread is highly unusual. It is helping keeping our tummies full, though not always happily.

Surprisingly I am almost finished with a sock. Started it March 30. I just need to finish one more round then cast off. I went with a simple design, black toe, 3 rows of colorwork, pink foot, black heel, part of a pink leg, 3 rows of colorwork then finish off with 3 inches or so of black. Since it doesn't require thought I can do half a round here and there and it is flew off the needles.

I'm trying out a new circular needle too. I ordered a red lace ChiaoGoo circular when I was ordering a tiny crochet hook for beads. It was a bit of change but overall I enjoy it. The big differences are the cable (not as floppy) and the needle isn't as slick. The former it turns out I quite like, the latter was an adjustment. The cables joins are so perfect that they are a joy.

I also slipped and ordered yarn. Oops. A lovely sock yarn called Bugga! from The Verdant Gryphon I've spent a fair amount of time, since it arrived, trying to decide on which pattern to make. The yarn was a splurge for me so I want to be sure to choose well. I have a bit of time yet as I have to finish the current socks.

Off to work for me. Best count this as a Tuesday post as I don't expect enough free time to come back by then.

Relief

I don't think I have ever been so thankful to finish a sock. I finished weaving in the ends about an hour ago. Thank goodness! I was so afraid I would not finish this sock. I have been pushing all week, using every spare second to knit at least a few stitches on it.

I had other plans for the next socks to go on the needles but after this pair, I did some plan shuffling. Time to make a pair that is barely more than plain vanilla.

Rambling Tuesday

I am beginning to think my favorite Chinese food restaurant is jinxed. I knit while I wait on my carry-out. Every single time, I have to undo every bit of what I accomplish in that restaurant. Never fails. After today I think, I will just carry a book along or simply people watch.