Did You Hear That?

That's me squeaking in one pair of socks in the final moments of Socktober. Not even adult sized socks. Preschooler socks in a fairly large gauge. Seems like a copout, but here they are (these are also my October socks for SAM2): (Look, Ma! No holes!)
Knit in Cascade Fixation on size US 2s. 40 stitch sock with baby cable rib cuff.
These are my first ever shortrow heels. I used a Sherman heel and it couldn't have been easier (well, if I had the same # of sts. as the pattern, that might have made it a hiccup easier, but I'm not complainin') and there are no holes! Yeah!In the spirit of trying new things, I also brazenly stole borrowed the idea for the toe treatment (and the heel, in part) from Dave. They were a super quick knit, once I conquered the gauge issues that seem to be plaguing me of late, and Zoe has proclaimed them, "Comfturtle" asking to sleep in them for her nap. That is a huge compliment coming from my Uber sensitive daughter.

And here's a little preview of what tonight holds in store for us here Chez Bitter:
Happy Halloween from the Jack-o-Lantern and the Bat (Fwap-fwap!)

Escape From Sleeve Island

I don't normally complain about sleeves (unless I'm trying to design them). The fact is, I have come to terms with the basic facts about sleeves. These are as follows:

1. They always take longer to knit than you think.
2. They also take a helluva quite a bit more yarn than you think.
3. There are always (with some exceptions) two of them.

With these facts in hand, I often estimate that sleeves may take up to 40% of my time and yarn to complete, and I almost always knit them both at the same time, which deals with fact about sleeves #4: One sleeve quite often ends up longer than the other. Knitting them both at the same time doesn't avoid this eventuality entirely, but it makes it a rarer occurrance.

What I'm saying is, basically, I've made peace with sleeves for the most part. That is, until a very specific moment this month when I assessed my WIPs and realized that (aside from the socks, which we all know were doomed, and the shawl, which is currently still in the stockinette column phase, and therefore not highly engaging at present) barring casting on yet another project all that was left to me were sleeves! DH's Cambridge Jacket was done save for sleeves, the sample knitting needed sleeves, and Zoe's Cardi was ready to divide for, yup, you guessed it! Sleeves! That's a lot of sleeves to face down, even for me.

I am happy to report that as of today there are only one set of sleeves yet to be knit, and they're in the round with a fun lace pattern at the wrist to look forward to (Zoe's been so patient...)!

The last flight is leaving Sleeve Island. We hope you enjoyed your stay and we will see you again!!

Up next? Some holiday knitting in this:

and Log Cabin Socks version 2.0.

Oh! Before I forget! I added a button to the sidebar. It's a link to Chrissy Gardiner's new site. I know I probably don't have many knitting readers who don't already know about this, but do go check it out and buy a pattern or two! I'm very proud to say that I have been able to work as tech editor on a lot (most? perhaps all?) of these patterns! There's some cool stuff up already with more to come! Go! Now!

Cursed

Do you ever get the feeling that your knitting is cursed? In the last 48 hours, I have:

• discovered upon almost full completion of a sock knit on size 0's for a women's size 10 foot (see LL socks for Mom on the sidebar), that the sock I was knitting measured 10" around. (RRRIP!)
• been informed that the recipient of the sunburst Fun Fur hat loved it so much she literally burst through the top of said hat
• been made painfully privy to the fact that gauge swatches lie. They tell huge whoppers, in fact, and they are therefore evil.

Gauge lied on my mom's socks, and then it lied on the Log Cabin socks I had a good start on. I couldn't get the stated gauge with my yarn, so I got close, but a little big and went ahead. I could barely get the cuff on my ankle after the first set of cables were knit! Lies, all lies from those swatches. I know it is part of some bizarre conspiracy to prevent me from completing any socks during Socktober, but I will have at least one pair off the needles by Halloween. Oh, yes, I will. Just wait and see!

Be Still My Fleeting Checking Account!

Pueblo now has an honest to goodness, real life LYS! I went today with my mom and the girls (Mom's in town visiting=no blogging for me!). It is an actual yarn store! I found the perfect blues to make the DH his felted clogs and there is more I would have loved to pick up, but I can go back! It's just down the street from the Library!

So, my friends, life is good. I no longer feel quite as if I'm stuck in some dreary knitterless hole, here. (No worries, Skippy, I'm not that complacent yet, the master plan remains in effect. That goes for you, too, Lurky McLurkington. I know you're reading this, too!)

Well, more later, gotta run! Sleeve Island is calling...

Bozo Called: He Wants His Hair Back

Or: Something Fun Fur This Way Comes! A spooky Halloween tale! We had a cold snap here the last couple of days, which was just enough motivation to (finally) make that orange and yellow Fun Fur into a hat for the darling little girl who chose the yarn. It started out as could be expected, Muppet Tube.Believe me, I know a thing or two about Muppets! Then came the part where I decided to gild the lily a bit and add some fancy shortrowing that might never show up amidst all the furry fluff.I think it might have paid off.
What do you think?
The thing about these hats is that they are incredibly stretchy and therefore, tough to size, so though the thing fits me, it will most likely fit its intended as well, and bring a ray of sunshine to those cold Minnesota winter days.
On the Socktober front, Mom's socks are to the gussets, which I lost count on picking up the first one and now am stalled on whether to go back and keep track this time, or just pick up the second gusset and fudge my way through. That's the thing with knitting socks without a pattern, I always lose track at one point or another!
More non furry knitting to come!

Socktoberfest Questionnaire

• When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I started making socks shortly after my daughters were born, so about 3 years ago. The Christmas I was pregnant, my mom made socks for everyone as gifts. I thought they were really cool, and so she sent me yarn, needles and the Ann Norling basic sock pattern...
• What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time? My first pair were blue marled "ragg" socks in DK weight. I ran out of yarn and ended up having to do the toes in a different yarn. I rarely wear them, because they are so thick, and have become a bit short for my foot.
• What would you have done differently? Well, I wouldn't have run out of yarn (that's given me a bit of a complex) and I would have made them longer, or been more careful washing them (the cuff and foot have slightly felted, not so much with the toes...)
• What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? I'm using Lorna's Laces Shephard Sock for the first time for some socks for my mother, and am loving it in every aspect!
• Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? I taught myself the 2 circ method this year and am pretty sold on it. For some reason, it just goes more quickly, I think.
• Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) I'm a flapper all the way (so far...)
• How many pairs have you made? In total? I think 20... For myself? Four. I think I need to do something about that...