Le Sigh

Remember I said I was making Nagini Socks for the DD? They don't fit. I am through seven repeats out of nine on the leg, and I had her try it on. It's way too tight. Since she picked out the yarn and the pattern, I am going to have to rip it back totally, and figure out how to add repeats to the special snakeskin cable. The pattern is written toe-up, but I figured out how to do it top-down. I am getting gauge, but either I need to increase the needle size (I'm on a 2 1/2) or else I need to increase the stitches. Any ideas? Has anyone made these socks?

However, these are very very nice, and not only because they come in a pink package. So far I can only find them in single-serving size, but I'm hoping I can find the bigger bags soon.

New Convert

I got my friend Allie to start a blog, because she is probably the funniest person I know IRL.

Friday!

Except I have to work tomorrow, so that's not much fun.

So I've been learning stuff during the Summer of Socks. I've tried two different short-row heels, I've done toe-up, I've done one of the new Cat Bordhi designs (same sock, actually), I've done Jaywalkers, I've experimented with dyeing my own sock yarn, and now, just in time for the last day, I've learned not only how to cable, but cable without a needle. (I think there are far too many commas in that last sentence.)

For my final trick in SoS, I'm making the Nagini socks for my DD. I'm using the green sock yarn I bought for the VIP in Chicago. It's okay, I have more interesting stuff for him now. But I am witholding these socks until she has no more scabs on her legs. She is an incessant scab-picker and it drives me crazy! I swear, she got those mosquito bites in June.

So today is the last day of summer. I believe I will keep knitting socks though. Autumn of socks sounds just fine to me!

TLAP

Well blow me down, it's Talk Like a Pirate Day!! Or over here for those of you across the pond.

What do pirates knit with? Yarrrrrrrrrrrrrn
Where do pirates go to have fun? The Carrrrrrrrnival

Got any others?

Oh, MDK has a good post today, as well as PDF links.

Catching Up

In a random-type order, we have some catching-up to do.

This last weekend was not only my uncle's funeral, but also the Great Basin Fiber Fair. I saw my LYSO, 5 ladies from my knitting group, and Tan! I think I scared her because I recognized her on the spot, and I don't recall ever seeing a photo of her full face on any of her blogs. But we also ran into Val and Kim, so we *had* to have a group photo. I like how Tan and I coordinated our colours, but she looks better in it than I do. It matches her hair nicer. Wow, I need to go brassiere-shopping. Why didn't anyone tell me???



There were also fuzzy alpacas to be seen and petted. Wow are they ever soft! I just love those hair-dos.








And a couple of photos of my trip to Philly. Me and the VIP, and the new sock I started while there.









I caught the VIP being put to work, winding hanked sock yarn into center-pull balls. He is a fast learner, and he's so cute too!


Okay that's enough random-ness for today.

Arrivals and Departures

Departure first:
My dear uncle Richard was escorted home on Sunday morning. I will miss him, I wish he could have stayed longer. But he was so miserable at the last that I am glad for him now that he has gone. The services are Friday and Saturday, so we will go down to SLC Friday after school.

And now the trip:
I hate air travel. But so far I've never missed a flight or really had a tough time while flying. I got to Newark Friday night, where my dear VIP was waiting for me with two dozen red roses! My bags were offloaded quickly and we waded through the thick air to the car and onto the route into NYC. We wound up on the wrong tunnel, but we eventually found our way to 42nd St, and a parking garage. But then the real *fun* began. We didn't realise that Chez Josephine was literally across the street and up just a couple of doors from the parking garage, so we walked clear up to 7th, never finding what we were looking for. I called my brother who was waiting for us, and we got even more lost. Finally we decided to go back where we started from and start again. But my brother had already decided to come looking for us, and we were found! We were greeted warmly by Jean-Claude himself, and he took my roses and put them in the "refrigerateur" while we ate. We sat and ate and drank for 2 hours, and then since we still had driving to do, we parted. It was a wonderful experience, and I'd like to recommend the seafood sausage.

Saturday morning we went to Mt Holly and Woolbearers. I met Suzie, Beth, Kelly, Meghan, and Val. We stayed for probably two hours, enjoying the company, knitting, talking, eating, winding hanks of yarn into center-pull balls. I love this group already, and I feel really fortunate that I'll have a ready-made coterie once I move to PA. Suzie took our picture and blogged about us. We bought some of their lovely hand-dyed sock yarn in Midnite Sea, and I started the sock already. It is striping up wonderfully, and DD expressed interest in a pair out of this colourway as well.

After Woolbearers we went to Trader Joe's and bought a whole lot of food and goodies. I picked out some things to take back to DD, including sour Jelly Bellys, some fun tortellini and tiny ravioli, and Joe-Joes, which are like Oreos. I love this store, it is so awesome!

Sunday was church. We got there and had quite a time finding a parking space. It turned out that they were having Stake Conference, hence the parking issues. Since I haven't attended Stake Conference in years, it was interesting. There were eight speakers, four of which were recent converts. It was nice to get their perspectives and views, as well as a bit of Baptist spirit. The congregation had a few folks in it who haven't quite gotten all the "amens" out of their systems. It was really enjoyable to hear, because sometimes I think Mormons are too quiet. After church we went back to Mt Holly where we went to the farmer's market and bought some lovely German smoked meats and cheese. I cannot remember the names of them, but the cheese is incredibly wonderful. It would make awesome grilled-cheese sandwiches. (~~ETA~~ It's Cooper Sharp, and only available on the east coast.) After there, we went back to Woolbearers, because the VIP had bought me some sock yarn before I got there, but he had neglected to get it wound into center-pull ballls. I stopped in another shop quickly, and he went on ahead to get started. When I walked in, he was in the back, busy with the swift and ball-winder. We talked with Suzie for a few minutes, and then got on the road to get to IKEA before they closed.

Of course, you must eat when you're there, so we did. And then we wandered around for a long time, gathering up various and sundry necessary items. As we were exiting, my mom called me, telling me about my uncle. It was a quiet ride back home. We unloaded the car, and went for a snack at Cracker Barrel. I wasn't really hungry, but I had a salad. When we got back to the house, we started building a CD tower. We got almost finished, but were at a point where we needed to use a hammer, and it was too late at night to do that. It got finished the next morning.

Monday I had to leave. It was quite the adventure, getting all my chocolate souvenirs packed up safely. We got to the airport in plenty of time, and the security line was the shortest I've ever been in. The plane was a bit delayed but not too seriously. It was one of those new Song Airlines planes, with satellite tv. Movies and games cost money, but tv and radio were free. A cool feature was the map that showed your exact location, and minutes elasped and remaining. It also showed altitude and outside air temp. I knitted on my new sock, and I ate chocolate, and I napped a bit, and listened to podcasts.

It was a wonderful weekend, and I had so much fun. Obviously I have skipped over some stuff, but that is stuff I think I want to keep to myself for awhile.

Desperately Seeking . . . . .

. . . . Trekking XXL in colourway # 126. Yes I know it's been discontinued, which is why I'm begging for it here. I'll buy it or swap it.

On my way to Philly in the morning! Eating dinner at Chez Josephine tomorrow night.