Baby Cable Sock WIP

Remember that post from the other day? The one about the maths? Here's proof of my complete ineptitude...


But it fits! I swear!


This is probably my favorite sock to date. The pattern is simple enough that I don't have to concentrate and knits up quickly. I'm already past the heel and finished with the gusset decreases so it should be finished in just a few days (assuming I don't get bogged down with foreign movies on the NetFlix). The pattern is Baby Cable from Sensational Knitted Socks using KnitPicks Essential in Grass (same as my Kew socks).

This sock also double as a convenient beer cozy!

On maths and simple addition

So, there was this one time, when this girl was knitting a sock. And it was a delightful little sock. And she tried it on. The sock was snug even though the previous sock, made with the same number of stitches, the same yarn and the same exact needles was super loose. And the girl thought whatever, it fits good enough. So this girl kept on knitting and knitting and tried the sock on again. Still tight but still fits okay. When she rearranged the stitches to continue knitting she counted. And she counted again. And she realized the sock was actually eight stitches smaller than the previous sock. Eight! And then the girl remembered casting on for this sock, counting the stitches, and dropping eight stitches from the needles because she had cast on eight too many. Turns out she counted eight too many but the number was really right on.

So there's this girl who can't count to 72 and doesn't notice glaring errors until a full 5 inches into the cuff of a sock. I blame play-off football.

The sock fits just fine anyway.

Because I totally have time for another hobby.

It's here! Last weekend my parents were kind enough to drive the sewing machine out to my apartment and today I finally had a chance to snap a few pictures.


Doesn't it look like a UFO? I think so.


No bells & whistles on this baby; everything is analog.

Sorry for the lack of content lately (yes, Sam, I do read your comments). I'm writing dissertation from my last 7 years worth of research and the final product is due sooner than I care to think about. Thank goodness for double spacing and enormous margins. You'd be surprised how quickly the pages add up.

Sock knitting is proceeding as usual but I ripped out the green Jaywalkers. What can I say? I'm fickle these days. I started the Pomatomus socks from Knitty but they look awful. Why on earth would someone put yarn-overs at the join between needles? I have huge gaping spaces at the joins. Other than that, the sock is gorgeous. Of course, it will be ripped out as well and possibly restarted by Magic Loop, once I have US2 circs that are bendy enough. Yet another sock has been turned at the heel and the gusset decreases finished. Stay tuned.

Baby's First KAL

After the failed projects of late I was feeling low and dejected. Oh woe was me. But then I came across a Knitalong that totally suits my needs and desires. The Green Sock-a-Long! I just happen to have green sock yarn sitting around, waiting for a project (some left-over from the Kew lace socks plus an extra ball). Just the other day I cast(ed?) on for a pair of Jaywalkers using magical Magic Loop. The socks I started the other day are tragically too small (no, I don't want to talk about it) but I've already tried this pair on and everything is go, so far.


Yes, it's another Jaywalker. Sue me.

Check out the flickr page for green socky goodness.

Who said you can't get nothing for free?

Last year (heh heh) I made a comment on Sweet Georgia and somehow won a contest! Imagine my surprise! The day after Christmas a package arrived in the mail and I opened it to find the most gorgeous hand dyed superwash merino sock yarn in a delightful blue colorway (Marina). How did she know blue is my most favorite color?!


This picture does not remotely do the yarn justice.
It is truly stunning.

It feels so delicious and squishy. I really can't wait to knit up a beautiful new pair of socks!

Heed. Pants. Now!

Remember the movie So I Married an Axe Murderer, when Mike Myers played the crotchety old Scottish dad who constantly referred to his son's giant head? Yeah. That's kind of how I feel today. I managed to knit almost an entire hat during the Patriots game. I tried it on before starting the decreases but had no idea just how fast the decreasing round would go.

Let's all keep in mind this was my first hat ever.
What the heck did I know?

It might fit my teddy bear. Or my fat cat.

I knew it. I just knew it would be too short. So I ripped it out; carefully at first, with the intent of adding a few pattern repeats to make it taller. But then I thought, eff it, and tore the offending thing apart.

Stupid giant head. At least the Patriots had a good day.

Bring it on

It's official, I can Magic Loop!



One quick look at the knittinghelp.com video and I as ready to give it a shot. I'm using an old ball of KnitPicks self-striping sock yarn that was originally purchased for a baby sweater. The sweater was a big fat loser so the yarn will now become a sock. I'm not a fan of the colorway or stripey socks but I did not want to use 'good' yarn, just in case I screwed it up. But magic loop so easy! It's less fiddly and transportable. Plus, my hands aren't feeling as crampy and sore after a stretch of knitting.

The pattern is Jaywalker by Grumperina. I substituted a garter stitch top instead of the ribbing because I think it suits the pattern better (and I hate doing ribbing).

Knitting for the new year

My personal resolutions are written down elsewhere but I do have knitting-specific goals for the new year:

1. Learn color knitting. Specifically, I really want to make a pair of colorwork mittens a la Hello Yarn and Eunny Jang. These will also be my first pair of mittens. I made a pair of Fetching mitts some time ago but I just don't like them.

2. Learn magic loop and apply the technique to sock knitting and hats. I haven't even tried this yet but I think it will help me out a whole lot. I don't have a large collection of dpns and the circular needle set I just bought this weekend doesn't include cables short enough for hat knitting. Thus, magic loop! This goal includes knitting my first hat. For some reason I just haven't made one yet, despite my desperate need for a new one! The hat I've been wearing is borderline embarrassing and I actually found it on the ground somewhere. Funny, I have two hats that were found on the ground or in a women's bathroom. Nasty!

3. The real resolution is to carefully think about projects before beginning. Yarn, pattern, guage, and the big one... WILL I (or the giftee) ACTUALLY WEAR IT? I already have far too many finished projects sitting around that are never used or worn. They're just cluttering up my tiny little apartment and making me feel like a big fat failure. Let's not talk about the felted bags waiting for a lining (I even have the fabric and thread).

4. Not knitting related but I received my great grandmother's sewing machine for Christmas so I guess I should go ahead and learn how to sew. Pictures to follow when I lug the thing back to my apartment. It's one of the old school machines in a big table. Thing weighs about 100 pounds. No joke!