Not destined to be a sock

I got 2 orders in today; the DK weight undyed yarn (which looks like fingering to me, go fig) and the yarn from my sock club shipment.

I saw the club yarn online from other members of the club and I was not too impressed with the colour not to mention it's 100% wool. I don't want to have to repair socks and I don't want to take the chance that I will have to. I'll pull out something else from my stash to make a pair of socks. I just have to sit and wait until the pattern makes its appearance on Ravelry.

I may attempt the Sproulette with it within the time frame. It would be for a gift anyways for a baby girl who is not even born yet.

I still haven't decided what colour(s) to use for the DK weight yarn. I didn't want to do the pale blue which I seem to do so often. Maybe I can try a dark blue/purple vibe and see how it turns out.

Onto the Shapely Boyfriend. I separated the sleeves from the body, or at least I reached 75% of the way before I realized I had messed up and I had to start again. I was reading for the wrong size. I was going to continue with the smaller size but that would mean having to undo 9 rows of work. If I kept it at the original planned size, I only had to undo the current row. I did manage to fix the problem. I actually knitted on the bus on the way to Hamilton and am well on my way to the body.

T, I will finish it before I have great grandchildren

There is now an on-going "joke" that my Blankie will take 50 years to finish. Especially when T found out how I wanted it to fit a Queen sized bed. If you see this update, I'm calling you out T! Lol!

And with that, I haven't worked on my Blankie since Monday...I think...

I've been enjoying knitting the Shapely Boyfriend too much. The stripping is going just the way I want it to. I think I'll hold off on any additional stripes until the body and maybe again on the hips. I'm only a few rows from separating the sleeves. I am so excited! Hopefully I'll reach to the row before it, by the time I go to bed.

Tonight I saw T was working on the most adorable baby dress by Tanis Lavallee (the wonderful indie dyer of Tanis Fibre Arts) named Sproulette. Once I saw it, I was thinking who could I make this for. Lucky for me, all my friends have just had children or they will before the year is out. So I bought it. I finally have a use for my 100% wool fingering weight. I should find a baby boy's outfit or shirt.

I didn't get my DK weight yarn today, the the Canada Post Tracking app promised. Hopefully it will be here tomorrow so I can dye a skein over the weekend. The next skein for the sock club should be arriving tomorrow or so, especially since the pattern should be coming on Monday. I really want to see what kind of socks will be available and what kind of treats B1 and I can whip up.

Funny story: B2 (who is 9), came into my room last night AFTER Arrow (smart child that she is), with a netbook showing me recipes for desserts she wants me to make. Yeah, I think that's a strong hint that she wants me to bake again.

What is done, is done

I got home to more yarn and I finished the Ernie Socks within a couple hours. I'm gifting them to my Aunt. She was grinning like a banshee when I asked her to try it on.

I'm going to cast on the Dark Isle socks, hopefully tonight after I cake them. I can't wait to get started.

Note to self: Always Check

Imagine my dismay as I'm sitting on the bus from Toronto to Hamilton, working on my Ernie's, when I look inside my sock bag and discover that I don't think I have enough yarn to finish this sock! I have 1.5 repeats before starting the toe but I think that's going to be tight.

I do have the rest of the yarn at home, in my Blankie bag waiting to be turned into a square. I'm most likely going to have to siphon some off and use it for the sock.

This is what happens when you just throw knitting projects into the backpack without checking them first.

I had a visit with an optometrist today. Haven't done that for quite sometime.. I found out that not only do I have keratoconus (yes I had to google it to spell it correctly) which I have known for quite some time, I have astigmatism in my right eye. I have to get glasses and that bothers me less than most people would think. I'm actually looking forward do it :) I got the glasses all picked out!

Just a little bit longer

I think I've done 3 repeats more on the Ernie Socks and that means just one more before the heel flap. I think once I make it to there, I'll finally feel like I'm making real progress with these socks. I don't think I'm ever going to do these ones again. While they do remind me very much of my BFF Socks, which I love very much, they are just not as interesting to me. So that now cuts out the guarantee of making both pairs for each delivery.

As for the sock yarn I was dying, step 1 was completed by this morning and looked exactly like how I wanted it to. Step 2/3 went well as well. Step 4? Not so much. It's not turning out the way I had planned, or more actually, the colour I was expecting is not what's on the yarn. I'm debating if I should try to do an over dye, or leave it as is. I'm giving it a few more hours for the rest of the dye to soak in, before I make up my mind.

Potential yarn name number 2? One in Two. Yeah, I'm not really feeling that one myself.

Snooze

I've got 4 more repeats of the Ernie Socks before I reach the heel flap. This has been a LONG process. I think the only reason I'm continuing is because I already finish the first sock and I can't just rip it out now. I'm still debating if I should hand over the finished product to my aunt who's foot is the same size as me. It depends as to if the socks will end up being disliked when finished.

It took until the afternoon

I didn't start the second sock of the Ernie Socks until like 3 this afternoon. It's like I was trying to avoid the second sock. I did 1 and a half repeats of the leg pattern. It may go faster this time around.

One down, one to go

I finally finished one sock of the Ernie socks. The second sock will be cast on tomorrow. I still don't love them like I do the Newton socks but that could also be because I got spoilt with the MCN Sock Yarn from Indigodragonfly. Despite the fact Julep has the same properties as the MCN Sock (Merino 80%/Nylon 10%/Cashmere 10%), the MCN feels so much softer. Maybe the Julep sock will feel differently once it gets washed.

On the dyeing side, for March Challenge is gradient dyeing. I'm going to use the Nekkid Muscadine from Springtree Road. I was going to save it for the Tree of Life sock but as of yet, I still haven't gotten the book and no one has replied to the email so I'm assuming I won't be able to get the book that way.

Anywho, back to the yarn. The plan so far is a multi step process:
1) dye skein in light yellow
2) cake yarn in 50g parts
3) dye outer part of yarn in orange
4) re-cake yarn
5) dye outer part in red
6) re-cake
7) using a syringe, deposit some purple in the middle of the cake.

Hopefully, all of that will create a one of a kind one way gradient. I'll use that along with another Muscadine sock yarn to do another colour work sock.

Status update on the cookies: out of 48 cookies, there are less than 10 remaining. What the heck is up with the people in my house?

Slow progress

These Ernie socks are taking such a long time. I'm still on the gusset; the same gusset as 2 days ago. I'm trying I give myself some motivation to work faster. The faster I finish these socks, the faster I can do something else like the Rick socks which I had attempted last year January. We'll see how that works.

Tomorrow's going to be a cookie day. Non pecan pecan Sandies again :)

I didn't intentionally miss 2 days

But it seems to be a pattern since I missed a day close to the end of January as well. This time, the app was refusing to publish or even save it as a draft.

Anywho, the cookies were a grand success. I came home yesterday to see my brother with a saucer, taking out some cookies. I asked how many were left, hoping that I would have some to take to the knitting circle.

He left 3 cookies.

How can your share 3 cookies for 10 people? You don't. By the time I came home from knitting circle, the plate washed, the stove was cleared and there were not even any crumbs left. So sorry to the transparent and the best friend. I'm going to make another batch next week once I get more ingredients.

The Ernie socks are definitely not going as quickly as the Newtons but I think it's an unfair comparison as it is. I've turned the heel and I'm working on the gusset so it shouldn't be too long to finish this sock.

I'm trying to breakdown a general time line for knitting socks:
- 2-3 days for the cuff and leg
- 1 day for the heel flap and turn heel
- 1 day for the gusset
- 2 days for the foot and toe

That works out to 6-7 days for 1 sock.

On another note, I got this idea running around in my head for a Sims neighbourhood. I may do an entry for it tomorrow.

Me wanted cookies so me made cookies

Let's try this again...

Still didn't make it to the heel flap but I plan to rectify thy problem tonight before going to bed.

I did however male the Non-Pecan Pecan Sandies. They turned out great for a first attempt. And despite what I previously thought, my mother's kitchen was not as much of a help as I thought it would be. Couldn't find the sugar. The eggs were nowhere to be found and searching for flour was next to impossible (although I did eventually find it by taste testing almost every white non granulated powder in her kitchen). They baked pretty quickly too. I don't know if I'm going to try the to newtons any time soon. No one in my house has any great affection for figs but everyone likes chocolate :)

Today was pretty much a bust

I didn't accomplish any of the goals I had in mind for the day. I still have half a repeat left before I reach the heel flap for the Ernie sock. In regards to the non-pecan pecan sandies, I softened the butter and discovered we have no eggs in the house. Colour me shocked and surprised.

I really didn't feel like knitting today there I didn't do as much as I wanted to accomplish. I have been knitting for almost 2 weeks straight, so I guess in the end that's not that bad.

I feel like writing though (this just happened like 5 minutes ago) it almost always works out for the best when it's about something I'm going through. There's already a tentative title called "Back-peddle". I think I'll have to go whip out the ol' netbook and have a go at it.

To bed, I said

I am so tired right now, I can barely stay awake. I did work a bit on the Ernie sock. I have two more repeats before the heel flap I believe. And I'm still on the time table to finish the flap by tomorrow night.

Tomorrow is also the big day to make the "Non-Pecan Pecan Sandies" which I have roped my cousin into helping with. As for the regular Pecan Sandies, I have a house to donate them to if I wish to make them. I haven't met a family with no allergies in so long, I forgot they existed.

I wonder how many socks I'll have by the end of the year

I guess I'm doing my entry a bit earlier today. I have the time and peace to do it now.

I worked a bit more on the Ernie sock a bit more. I calculated that I should need about 9 pattern repeats before the heel flap. I'm just past the 4th repeat. Maybe by Sunday I'll have that part done. I don't know what I'm going to do when I finish these socks. The next pattern doesn't come until April. Maybe I'll pick up the Slide pattern and do that one in the mean time.

I'm already planning for April. The plan is to use the club yarn for the first pair and perhaps finally use a skein of Tanis Blue. I guess now that it's not taking me as long to make a pair of socks, I can use my stash yarn.

It is finished!

I couldn't stay up last night to finish the toe of the Newtons. I picked them up first thing this morning and finished it up in no time flat. I put them on my sock blockers, took a few pictures and sent them to be washed. They are currently drying right now and look lovely. I can't wait to wear them.

I caked the the Julep sock yarn from Springtree Road, printed off the pattern for the Ernie and casted on. I've read that others say the Ernie pattern is easier; or more like easier to memorize and I think in time it will be. It's only an 8 row repeat as opposed to the Newton pattern which is 24. It's coming along nicely.

Since I've been working again with DPNs, I have been wanting to purchase more but I have requirements:
1) no metal or plastic
2) no bamboo
3) 5" long

Right now, that's leaving me with either the Harmony needles or or something else. I've been looking at the Dyak needles. Right now, the only thing I'm not liking is that wait time. Four to six months? I guess I could do it like an investment and get them in the mail, forgetting that I even ordered them.

Almost done

I think I'm going to finish the Newtons. I just have the toe to finish and I may or may not finish it tonight. I'll definitely be starting the Ernie's tomorrow.

Today I randomly decided to dye another skein of yarn in my new crock pot. It turned out really nice. I used a Superwash skein of BFL. I'm not sure what I'll knit with it but I will do it soon. I really wonder how the yarn would have turned out of it had some silk it it. The colour is already has an iridescent look to it. Someone named it for me. It is now called Peacock Fury. If only I had kept notes as to what I did so I can at the very least attempt to repeat it.

Progress has been made

Just like I said last night, I finished the first sock for the Newton. I casted on the second sock this morning. I finished the cuff and I'm almost finished the first repeat. I don't have anywhere to go tomorrow except the gym and then knitting circle tomorrow evening. I'm hoping I can reach to the heel flap by the time Knitting Circle comes around so I can show someone how to do the heel flap.

I am still amazed the the speed I'm getting through these socks. At the rate I'm seem to be going, I should finish the second sock this week and be ready to cast on the Ernie socks.

On another note of the other portion of Cookie A's Sock Club, I still have a batch of cookies to make. I wasn't sure if I was going to make them. One of the recipes is a Pecan Sandies. Just based on the name, it means pecans are pretty much required. I can't eat pecans and my brother has nut allergies so that's pretty much a no-no. Someone on the forum replaced the pecans with white chocolate chips. Now that's doable.

What What!

I cannot believe it!  I am almost finished the first sock of the Newton pattern.  I just have a couple more rows to go before closing up the toe.  It's been pretty much a week since I got the pattern as was able to start Monday night. I don't know (but I most likely will) if I will cast on the second sock tonight.  I am on such a good roll that I think I want to keep it going.  I cannot wait to have the finished pair of socks.  I'll take a better picture of the sock once this one is complete.

After this, it will be the Ernie.  I am quite certain that I am going to do them both.  It will be interesting to see how many socks I will do this year.

I watched 3 more episodes of Downton Abbey.  I only have another 2 episodes to go before I finish Series 2 and one of them is a Christmas special so I don't know how vital it is for me to watch that episode.  I had to stop myself from going further tonight.  It was almost 9:30 when the episode finished and if I started another one, I have no idea what time I'd be going to my bed tonight.

I am still in shock

I have been doing wonderful progress on my Newton socks. I'm almost finished the heel flap and plan to turn the heel before I go to bed. I always peruse the sock club forum on Ravelry. Someone posted that they'd finished one sock of the Newtons. I'm like "wow!" At this point I was still in the middle of a repeat. And then the craziest thing; someone finished the pair. We just got the pattern on Monday. That's 4 days if I'm being generous.. I'll be glad if I can finish 1 sock within 2 weeks.

Suffice it to say, I think I may finish these socks much more quickly than I anticipated. I think I'll do the Ernie's afterwards with the Springtree Road Julep sock yarn in the colour Calends. I've been holding on to it for awhile, trying to decide what to do with it but now that I've been spoiled with Cashmere in the sock yarn from the Indigodragonfly MCN sock yarn that I got, I want to use more cashmere induced sock yarn. Just got to hurry and finish the Newtons.

Anklet Plans

I washed the anklet socks I made last January. I had always found that they were loose around the ankles. This time, I decided to throw them in the dryer. This is what happens when you just can't be bothered to separate the hand made socks from the rest of the clothes. Surprisingly, when I put them on this morning, they were perfect for my feet.

This gave me the idea that if I have time before the next sock patterns come from the Sock Club, I can try to make anklet versions of the alternative patterns. Depending on how much yarn I have left over, I may use that or other commercial yarns that I have left in my stash.

These Newton socks are coming along very nicely. I've finished 2 pattern repeats and I'm pretty sure by the time I finish the 3rd, it will be time to do the heel flap. I'm actually looking forward to it.