A New Way to Knit Socks

This odd-looking item is a sock, knitted from the toe up, rather than from the cuff down to the toe. Knitting from the toe up has become quite popular recently, but like many things in knitting, I doubt that it's really new. I'm sure knitters have been doing it this way for centuries. I am enjoying it so far because it seems faster (not sure why that would be), and I can try it on as I go along. I also figured out that my guage on my last few pairs of socks has been too loose, and the socks don't fit as snugly as I would like. So for these I am using smaller needles and I cast on fewer stitches than usual. So far, they are nice and snug. The yarn is a self-striping, fingering weight, wool blend called "Meilenweit Merino," and the pattern is "wendy's toe-up sock pattern," found through ravelry.

Another Stocking and a Half

The fourth installment of Sigrid's stockings has been completed, and I've got a good start on the fifth and final one. I saved the most intricate one until last, but it turns out that it isn't that difficult to knit with two colors at once (I had done a little two-color knitting years ago). I'm really looking forward to seeing all these stockings lined up on the fireplace some day!

New Year, New Projects

During these two weeks at home I had planned to get so much knitting done, but somehow, I managed to do very little. However, I do have one finished project to show off...the third of the five Christmas stockings for Sigrid has been completed! I love the colors she chose and am enjoying seeing how each different pattern works up with these colors.

On my desk below you can see my other projects that are lined up: I've started a pair of socks for me, the purple yarn that is supposed to be Fran's sweater is there, and in the bag are several balls of a super-bulky off-white wool that are waiting to be turned into I don't know what.



This reminds me of my New Year's resolution: not to have quite so many projects going at once! I'd like to limit it to two at a time (a quick one and a slow one), instead of the current 4 or 5 at a time, which inevitably leads to such a loss of interest in a couple of them that they are later frogged and turned into something else or the yarn is stashed for a good long while.

I wish you all a happy and productive New Year, and good luck with your resolutions (if you have them)!

Still Knitting

Greg took this photo of me today modeling my current WIP--I'm hiding the unfinished second sleeve. This project was started last year sometime, and I am now determined to finish it. I won't allow myself to even look at yarn (there's a lot of gorgeous wool here in Germany) until I've finished this sweater!

The yarn, called Sierra Quartro, is made by Cascade Yarns and is a worsted weight, cotton and wool blend. The pattern is from Stefanie Japel's Fitted Knits.

Late February Update

My current knitting projects are: socks on two needles, the clapotis, a baby sweater, a top-down cream-colored sweater for me, and another top-down cotton sweater in shades of orange for me started eons ago. Oh, and the pink lace scarf also started eons ago.

I am taking a sock class to master the two-needle technique, and I found that once I got the idea in the first session, I didn't really need the rest of the classes. Since I paid for it and committed to it, I will probably finish the class, but I'm rather annoyed at having to sit in a class where I already know the stuff (a good lesson for a teacher, no?!). I'm also surprised that I appear to be the youngest person there. Knitting is supposed to be so young and trendy!! Not on the north side of Spokane, I guess.

Other news: the local paper is raking the VA docs over the coals...again. It is very demoralizing for Greg and all involved because the story contains lies that Greg and the VA cannot set straight due to confidentiality laws. Also, the conversation that was reported was fabricated by the vet's family, and the reporter wrote it as though it were the truth. How do you fix that? The more you deny it, the guiltier you look. This is now the 6th or 7th time Greg and his docs have been in the paper for supposed sub-standard care issues, and each time it causes such an uproar within the VA system and mountains of work to deal with it. Greg is having trouble recruiting new docs because they don't want to end up with their names all over the local paper and strong innuendos of malpractice. One perceptive citizen wrote a letter to the editor saying that VA doctors are the latest victims and scapegoats of the Iraq war.

Here's an article in the New York Times about the difficulties faced by the humanities in this time of budget cutting. What's interesting to me about this topic is that it is really nothing new...this battle has been going on for a long time. I think we should just admit defeat and figure out ways to reinvent ourselves. I know that sounds vague...I don't have a real plan. It just seems that we are wasting a lot of energy fighting this particular battle. I have dealt with it in my own life by becoming an English instructor! Now there's a practical, useful skill!

Speaking of which, many of you already know that I am going to Munich to be a lecturer in the English department at the university. I'm leaving on March 23, so the time is getting nearer. I am excited and also anxious about this big change in our lives...excited to have a real and hopefully interesting and fulfilling job and anxious about my family here...especially the dogs! But we are all committed to working this out, so I feel very positive about it. I should have some fun blog entries in Munich.

Sleeping Dogs

Last night I noticed that our dogs Jack and Beau weren't sleeping nearby as they usually are when I am in my study. Sammie was right outside the door on the rug in the entryway, like a good girl...

The boys, on the other hand, were both on the "good" couch!

In project news, I wanted to show you how the dropped stitches on the clapotis look. Each ridged line of stitches will eventually be dropped, giving this shawl/scarf a very open and airy look. This yarn continues to be enjoyable to work with, and I'm glad I bought another skein of it (last week) in pinks to make something else.

Scarves

When I began knitting in earnest a few years ago, I must have made about a gazzilion scarves...OK, it wasn't that many, but it was a lot. I had a long commute on the bus to go to my teaching job, and I often knitted to pass the time. I gave away many of those scarves, and I unraveled some and turned them into other projects, but I still have several, and I really like to wear them. Now I don't knit (or crochet) scarves so often, but I did just finish one, and another is on the needles. The one below was a WIP (see Project Updates), and I decided to finally finish it (remember my new resolve to get my WIPS taken care of?). When I got it out and measured it, I discovered it was already long enough and only needed the fringe. That was a nice surprise!

The "clapotis" is going to be wide enough to be a scarf or a shawl. The yarn is variegated, and the colors tend to "pool" so I am alternating skeins as I knit. I switch between skeins every other row, and carry the yarn that's not being used up the side.

Knitting Time

My favorite time to knit is early in the morning, while I'm drinking my coffee. This usually only lasts for 15-20 minutes, sometimes longer on the weekends, but it has come to be a prized time for me. No one else in the house is up, and the pets have been fed and are quiet. I sit in my study and knit a bit without any distractions. I don't even do much thinking during this time, which has made me realize that it is similar to meditating, something I haven't been very successful with otherwise. It certainly relaxes me and makes me feel like I am starting my day off right. It is no wonder that knitters often joke about knitting being cheaper than therapy!

My other favorite time to knit is in the evening around 8 or 9 when Greg and I usually sit together for a while, listening to music or watching a movie.

So here are a couple of current projects! I decided I really must do something about all my WIPS, so I am diligently working on the Doris Chan crochet top I started some time ago (see Dec. 3 posting). I forgot to describe the yarn for that project in my original posting: it is a DK weight (light worsted) blend of wool and cotton by Brown Sheep Company and is called "Serendipity Tweed."

OK, I did start something new...this is for a "clapotis" scarf/shawl that I found here: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html. It is a very popular item to knit right now, as I learned on the Ravelry website. It's not a difficult pattern, but you do have to pay attention as you knit. It requires you to drop rows and rows of stitches, something I've never done before. The yarn I'm using is a variegated, wool, alpaca, and silk blend from Chile by the Araucania company called "Aysen." This is truly the softest yarn I've ever used. I'll be sure to post a picture when it's done (could be a while).

Christmas Plans and Projects

We are on pins and needles here, wondering if we will all be able to fly to Southern California to spend the holidays with Greg's parents. Greg and I leave on the 24th early in the morning, so I think we'll just make it before the coming snow storm. Chris is scheduled to leave on the 25th from Spokane, and Conrad on the same day from Seattle. I think the Seattle airport is having a harder time getting its flights out than we are because they weren't at all prepared for snow, whereas we more or less are. I hope all of us, and all of you, get to our holiday destinations!

To add a little holiday cheer, here's one of my favorite Christmas pictures of "Strohsterne," typical German tree decorations.

And now...a finished project! Here's a picture of Akiko's ballet sweater. I'll post another one later of her modeling it.

What would an entry be like without a picture of yet another WIP? I just started it yesterday, but I've had the yarn for a while. So in a way, it's not really a new project (I mean, I haven't spent money on more yarn!). It's a vest that I am knitting in the round, from the bottom up. The pattern was downloaded from http://www.tahkistacycharles.com/ and is called "Rocky Knit V-Neck Vest with Olympic Trim." The yarns are "Rocky," a thick and thin light bulky weight wool blend with bits of color blended into the main color, and "Olympic," a worsted weight wool blend. The pattern calls for knitting the front and back in two separate sections, but I decided to make it seamless, in the round. When I get to the armhole shaping, I will change to knitting each side separately. I especially like the bottom ribbing which is twisted.

We wish you all "Frohe Weihnachten!"

Early December Progress

Akiko's sweater now has sleeves, and most of the body has been knitted. I still have about an inch more to knit on the bottom, and then I will add a ribbed band and a collar. The sweater is meant to be short--it's actually more of a bolero. It's exciting to see it this far along!

Here's a picture of the crochet vest I've started from the Doris Chan book. The straps and neckline will be added after the body has been worked.

I just got back from meeting my good friend Larayne (from our Montana days) in Coeur d'Alene. We haven't seen each other in several years, and we had a lot of news to catch up on. We also happened to find a yarn store, and, well, you know how that goes...I now have some beautiful gold yarn in my stash! Here are the details: it's made by Cascade Yarns, is called "Lana Grande," and is 100 % wool. It's a bulky-weight yarn that knits up at 2 stiches to the inch, so my project will go fast, once I get started.

It's Taking Shape!

Akiko's ballet sweater now has the sleeve stitches on pieces of scrap yarn so that I can finish working the body of the sweater. Then I'll go back and knit the sleeves in the round and add a collar.

I should be farther along on this, but I have gotten distracted, as usual. I ordered the book by Doris Chan called Everyday Crochet and have been trying to make a vest in it. Chan's sweaters are absolutely stunning, but her patterns are very difficult to read. Reading knitting and crochet patterns is a little like reading a foreign language; I would say that Chan writes her patterns in her own special crochet dialect. Anyway, I got pretty far along on the vest and had to completely unravel it. This wasn't only because the pattern was hard to figure out--my guage was off. I knew it was all along, but I thought I could compensate for it. I should have known better!

Ballet Sweater Beginning

The adult ballet-style sweater for Akiko is currently on the needles! The yarn is wonderful to work with--I'll definitely use it for other projects in the future. Maybe I need a ballet sweater too?...

You can see how this sweater is constructed--it is knit all in one piece on one circular needle. Soon I will work on the sleeves (on the left and right sides of the piece) separately, and then I'll continue with the body. It's kind of hard to explain, but the pictures will make it clear, I think.

And the second sock is progressing, although now I'm completely obsessed with the ballet sweater, so it may not progress very quickly. In the picture you can see that I've worked and "turned" the heel. The turning of the heel of a sock is an almost miraculous process, not difficult to do, but nevertheless astounding. After the heel is turned, there's only a little shaping left to do, and lots of knitting round and round, so the sock is soon finished--provided one works on it!

Project Updates

Yesterday I bought a navy blue turtleneck top to go under the little boy vest; now I'm ready to give Tracey and the baby their present!

I also started the cuff on the second sock.

And here's yet another WIP (embarrassing, how many of these I have--must change my ways!). This is a crocheted scarf using a pattern from Margaret Hubert's Hooked Scarves and a Patons yarn called "Soy Wool Stripes." I love the way this yarn forms stripes as you crochet, but it's not quite as soft a yarn as I would have liked. Still the colors are very vibrant. I have a crocheted hat I wear a lot made out of this yarn.

One Sock Syndrome

I recently discovered that my habit of knitting a sock and then getting bored and never knitting the second one is called "One Sock Syndrome." The cure for this syndrome is to knit both socks together. There is a way to do this on circular needles, or you can knit the cuff of one sock and right away knit the cuff of the second one. Then you knit the heel of one, the heel of the other, and so on. Now this blog has inspired me to try to finish some of my UFOs (Unfinished Objects), and in the future when I make socks, I'll try the method of knitting them together. Here's my current one sock project:

And here's the little boy vest! It was exciting to knit because I knew it would go fast:

I got the yarn for Akiko's sweater wound into balls, so I should be able to start on it soon:

More Projects

Akiko really liked the pink ballet sweater, so I offered to make one for her too. The problem is that I couldn't find an adult pattern that was similar to the child's sweater, and I'm not very good at figuring out how to knit things without a pattern (although I'd like to learn how to do that at some point). But then we realized that Akiko is so small--maybe a size 0 or 2--that we could use the large size on the child's pattern. So that's the plan! I could probably figure out how to lengthen the body or sleeves a bit if needed. Here's a picture of the yarn I bought for Akiko's sweater:

It's a worsted weight 100% wool called "Cascade 220." It's very soft to the touch, and the pink is absolutely luscious.

Like any good knitter, I have several WIPs (Works In Progress) to show as well. I wonder how bad I am about starting a new project before I've finished the last one--I usually have 3-4 going at once. That's why I don't finish my projects very quickly I suppose, but it keeps it interesting for me. I wonder what the average number of WIPs is for knitters...

Below is a recently started vest for a little boy (Tracey, this one's for you). I'm making the smallest size, which looks like it would fit a 2 year old. I like to give baby gifts that the kid can grow into, so this would qualify since the baby is only 3 months old right now! The yarn is a softly variegated worsted weight wool made in Italy called "Vero." It's fun to knit with because you can see the stripe pattern develop as you go, and this yarn feels marvellous--soft, yet substantial. The pattern is from Naturally Fashion Collection #FC21.

Finally, here's a picture of a lace scarf I started during the summer. The yarn is a wool and silk blend 2 ply from Naturally called "Dawn." I've never knit a lace pattern before so I chose this very easy one to start with. The pattern is also from Naturally, #N1089.

I'll save my other WIPs for a later blog (yes, there are more).