Slaying the Sockupine

I have an ailment. Second Sock Syndrome. I didn't start off having problems finishing a pair of socks. I used to sew up a toe and cast on the cuff of my second sock with no hesitation. Perhaps it is because I have less time for knitting lately. I think it might also have something to do with all the beautiful sock yarns that beckon me whenever I go yarn shopping. In the past couple of years sock yarns have really gotten exciting so there is always something that I want to start knitting with. With three lonely single socks and all my DPNs occupied in my knitting bag I decided I had to take some action. I got 2-At-A-Time-Socks by Melissa Morgan Oakes and promised my sweetums a pair of socks. That way I have a commitment I have to keep, ya see?

The whole process looks a lot more complicated than it is and involves a 40" circular needle. If you can conquer a Mobius this is a piece of cake. The main problem I am having is that I am using both ends from one ball of yarn so there is a nasty snarl in the middle. I think I could have probably dug up enough info online to learn the technique without the book but the pictures do help. We will see how things go when I get to the more challenging parts (turning heels, etc.). Overall this seems to be a faster way to pop out a sock and it does ensure that both socks are the just same and that you get both (or neither) done. Still, as a traditionalist I kind of miss juggling my four bamboo double points, inevitably sitting on the whole mess and stabbing myself, and searching for the lost one that the cat stole or rolled under the couch. There is just something endearing about the sockupine that I may never be able to completely give up.

The Times They Are a Changin'

It's very easy not to appreciate something (or someone) until it is no longer around. This is sadly the case with Magknits.com. After four years of operation Magknits has closed their site for good citing lack of funds, support, etc. I never really thought myself a big fan of the site until I found it had closed. The way I stumbled on it was looking through my bookmarks on my computer and trying to pull up a pattern for a scarf that caught my eye months ago. Well, along with new content the archives of past issues are goners too. Oddly, the project I was taking with me to TNK (Tuesday Night Knitting) today was my Jaywalker Socks which were a Magknits pattern.

As a sidebar, I have to post pictures of those socks cause you will love 'em!

So back to Magknits. I guess I always thought of them as Knitty.com's less sophisticated cousin and didn't give them as much credit as might have been due.

Another unfortunate discovery is the lack of free patterns that KnitPicks has been generating lately. I remember a time not so long ago when getting that catalog meant hopping online to download at least one free pattern. After their website got revamped last year I swear for a short while it said something along the lines of "patterns for you cheapskates" at the top of the free pattern section. That ticked me off a bit. Actually it really ticked me off. Because while they claim to be so affordable they are getting some real competition these days as more brands are producing nice yarns that are actually affordable. Also, when I order from KnitPicks I always do the same thing. I think,'Ah, everything is cheap so I should get 10 of them. Oh, and two of these too!' And I end up spending $50. So I'm plunking down my cash and yes, I have come to expect those couple of free patterns now and again. They did promptly remove that idiotic line from their site. I'm sure someone realized people weren't going to spend there money somewhere that insults them.
So here we are without Magknits and with KnitPicks dropping a couple of crappo patterns every six months instead of producing beauties like the Moc Croc Socks and the Candleflame Shawl. I guess the best we can do is try to let this be a lesson. Hang on to the things you hold dear. Give them the importance they deserve. Go hug a friend. Go hug your stash.

I Am the Egg Man

My brain feels fried as an egg. I haven't been writing because by the end of the day lately I just want to melt into the couch. I did get my first spring flowers planted this weekend and went on a yarn expedition with some buddies. Of course, even after all the gems I added to my stash I have still been chasing one elusive catch, Lana Grossa Royal Tweed. I want to make a sweater out of this stuff but it's apparently been discontinued. Of course, if it was just a plain old worsted I would just get something else but it's got an interesting kink to it that most reminds me of Lion Homespun (much hated or adored I know). I don't want to make the sweater out of Homespun because that stuff sheds and pills like a cat in summer. How is it that you can come across 50 year old yarn for sale but not 8 balls of a yarn from 2006? I even considered ordering it from Germany but they didn't have enough of one color. In the meantime, while digging through the annals of Lana Grossa history to find out if there was a chance of finding it I came across some of their sock yarn that I promptly added to my "Much Coveted" list. I really like it knit sideways like that and I haven't been impressed by that before. Since today was crappy and I couldn't fulfill my yearning for yarn I bought two pairs of shoes. Now I just have to find the time to actually go somewhere and wear the shoes and knit something with all this yarn.

Birthday Booty

I was a lucky girl yesterday! I finally got Squiggly Squirrel all the way from Japan (remember her?)! Mum also sent me another Momiji called Rainbows and a pair of flip flop socks with little froggies on them. These were a hit with the knitting crew last night.

Then I decided I needed to just go ahead and splurge on the rest of the linens to match my comforter. While I was trying to make the bed I was opening packages and laying things out. I went to pick up one of the pillow shams and oddly it would not move. Well, guess who had moves in and made a little nest? Tanga was not happy when I dumped her out and replaced her with a pillow but quickly went to work burrowing around under the blanket as her next endeavor. So much for a fresh new bed.

Spawn of the Sockupine

I am trying to be good. Before diving into a new pair of socks with my precious new Regia I dumped out the sock bag and untangled the sockupine (see April post). I started knocking out the heel on one leftover second sock and turned my attention to another pair. Well, I am not sure how this happened exactly but I don't have any recollection of what pattern I was using. None at all. And the heel is done and it's not one I have done before this sock. WTF? I can remember the first yarn I ever bought. I can remember the first sock pattern I knit. But I have no idea where these socks came from. Maybe someone else worked on them and stuck them in my bag? Maybe my addled brain has taken to sleepknitting? I am not sure what to do other than flip through things I bought around that time and hope to stumble onto the pattern. Otherwise? Another pair of socks to rip out damn it! Or I could stick it back in the sock bag and get out my Regia...

One Done Two Begun

Since I have been slacking on my blog all week I decided to hit you with a big pop of three pics today. Yesterday I took the day off and dragged my buddy Dale to the yarn store. You see, I finished my Lucy bag and threw it into Dale's washer and decided that I needed to start on another one. I used Cascade Quatro which has four different colored plies twisted together instead of the "recommended" solid colored yarns in the pattern. I didn't exactly know what it would look like felted, but that's part of the fun of felting right? Dale seemed a bit skeptical when I showed him my bag with the handle that about went down to my knees and asked me if I had made it for a giant. Well, it came out great. The color is neat and marled.
So, back to the yarn store. Dale walked around with me a bit and then found a comfy seat and was very patient while I fretted and pawed around looking for the perfect Lucy II yarn. I thought of using Boku but they only had a couple of dark muddy colors and I wanted bright. I ended up with Cascade Pastaza in a kind of citron green color. My only complaint about it is that little llama bits come off when you knit it and end up in your nose and stuck to your face. I never did finish that disasterous pair of socks for mum so I peeked around the corner at the sock yarn (like I didn't have any at home) and something caught my eye. Regia apparently got color king Kaffe Fassett to whip up some sock color combos for them and they are stunning. The one I got is glorious. That's the only way to describe it. Sadly, I realized that I am not going to be able to give it away. Sorry mum. I feel bad about my selfishness but I cannot part with this yarn. Dale was entertained reading the label. It is in German and says things like "die sockenwolle". So Lucy II is on the needles (I had them with me and started at Dale's house) and I have been madly digging around looking for the perfect sock pattern. And Daisy the guinea pig is enjoying a carrot. What a good day.

I Need More Hands

No one has ever told me I looked like anyone famous before and then in the last six months three people (one a complete stranger today) told me I look like Meryl Streep. I find this very strange.
The socks have yet to be dealt with. I did go see if I could find another ball of the same yarn so I could maybe save the second mismatched sock and just make two pairs of the same color but there wasn't any more. So what do you do? Well, I got some new yarn and cast on a new cardigan of course! And started beading a necklace. And I am working on a felty custom piece too. So it's more schizocrafting as usual. Oh yes, and I am working on "spa cloths" for mum's new bathroom. When you put in a couple of hours knitting up a washrag you don't call it a "rag". It deserves a more dignified name. So this new cardigan got started because I was looking for patterns for a cardigan for my alpaca yarn from my trip and have not found a pattern for that yet but did find a pattern for a different weight yarn that I really wanted to make. This means that the alpaca is still waiting in the bag cause I haven't found the perfect pattern for it and now I have a new bag of woolies. Holy goat if there is ever an earthquake they are going to find me under a giant pile of yarn, dolls, and cat toys smothered by my own foolish vices.