Sock Frogging

So I was knitting my "mindless socks" at work today and all I could think about was- "GOD I HATE THESE SOCKS!" I'm sure the lady who wrote Crosswalkers pattern is a very nice lady, but her pattern just wasn't working for me. It could be because the yarn isn't exciting me, or it could be because the pattern wasn't exciting me, I'm not sure why- but I just wasn't feeling it. At. all.

Thus, I decided that life's too short to hate what you're knitting- and I frogged the socks and didn't even feel all that bad about it.

Before-- "meh"

During the frog process...

After... relief. I just don't have to think about knitting these anymore.

With that nightmare out of the way- on to more exciting news - I'M GOING TO THE MAKE 1 FALL FIBER ARTS RETREAT!!!!!! After some deliberating I finally decided to go and I'm SO. EXCITED. All the "knit-erati" are going to be there; the Yarn Harlot, Cookie A, Nancy Bush and Amy Singer. I signed up for the Cookie workshops, mostly because I know everyone (at least from Ravelry) and their dog is signing up for the Harlot, and since I've already had the privelge of meeting and enjoying the Harlot, I've decided to share the time with her. Plus- Cookie's socks are works of art and her designs are amazing, I'm sure that I will learn so much that my little mind is going to explode.

The retreat isn't until Nov 6-9, (which basically feels like eons from now), but I'm planning to knit socks by all three ladies, (Amy Singer excluded only because as far as I know she hasn't designed socks), to wear at the event. I was a little nervous signing up and not knowing anyone but then I remembered back to when I started this blog and I attended the "Represent!" event in NYC and I met all kinds of awesome people and lost all that shyness instantly. Knitters tend to be "good people" and I'm looking forward to meeting a bunch of local "good people".

Okay-- lots to knit before now and then so I should dash!

Sick Days

Well- it seems that my last post was also the last time I was healthy. All that joy that I experienced with my knitting time off was just too much and I got the flu. And OH MY GOD did I get the flu. My husband knew it was bad when I didn't feel like knitting. Yes, gentle reader, the sheer act of holding up the needles was just too much. Sadly this little buggy has hung on like crazy, and I'm writing this still sick.

All that time I was supposed to devote to knitting fun things and I waste it by being sick! I'm cutting myself some slack on the blanket hiatus- and extending it until I feel better. There is still very little knitting being done, but at least it's not just a big boring square! And so- I give you the progress that has been made in more than two weeks, 4 baby hats. It's not much, but it's something.

Inexplicable Knitting - Take Your Sock to Work Day

Last year I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Yarn Harlot's "Represent" event out in NYC. We "freaked out the muggles" everywhere- knitting all over the city showing folks we were proud of our skills. This year, with her new book out she'd planned another great way to freak the non-knitters out, a photo scavenger hunt with socks in progress accross Toronto.

Well, sadly, I'm not going to be in Toronto until next week, (although I'm not sad to be in Toronto when I am!), and will miss out on all the fun. Determined to do a little inexplicable knitting in my own neck of the country, I decided instead of a scavenger hunt, I'd have a special "take your sock to work" day. (Technically I take my sock everyday and knit over the lunch hour... but this time I thought I'd show the sock the rest of my office.)

I am now officially the "weirdest person in my office" - and I'm damn proud.

Brought the sock into the front entrance and showed it the fountain wall: (It may have gotten a touch wet... oops!)


While I was up at our main reception desk, I also introduced it to our office fish Brody. Now Brody is requesting a sweater...


After enough main lobby shenanigans I took it to my office and gave it a little run down about what I do everyday at my desk. (We may have checked on the Harlot flickr page like 9 zillion times today.) {Click the link to see other inexplicable knitting going on...}


After getting a feel of what I do, I decided that it needed to join the annual 9:00 am coffee sojurn, down to Second Cup. (It ordered a skinng mochaccino.)


After coffee the sock sat down with our HR department to get an orientation to the office. (The sock was very impressed and is thinking about applying for upper managment .)*


Before we knew it, lunch time rolled around and the sock joined us for our weekly Vietnamese.


After re-fueling for the day, the sock got a run down on the natural gas/crude spreads as well as fx trading. (The sock is a lot smarter than me and seemed to understand it, my eyes just glazed over and I went to my happy place... which for the record is swimming pool full of Koigu (*slobber*) that I can sink into.)

With all that number crunching, and learning about natural gas prices, the sock needed another coffee break and headed back to the lunch room for a brain break.


The sock had a big day- and even though it would have liked to have meet my boss, (I'm the assistant to the President who happens to be in Toronto on business {oh the cruel ironies}), it understands that it'll just have to come out and play next time.

All in all, I'm my co-workers maybe didn't see any inexplicable actual knitting, (they've seen me on various lunch breaks working on the recently finished Anna Socks), they did see a lot of inexplicable pictures of a sock in progress throughout the office. Either way I'm pretty certain they were scratching their heads.

*Thanks to Deanne in HR for being such a great sport!

This Entry is 100% Baby Blanket Free!

The self-imposed blanket break has been awesome. Simply awesome. Knowing that I can knit on something that has increases and decreases and complicated stitch patterns, or fine yarn, it's like I've discovered a whole new world! And not only that- but I am getting some much needed progress made!

Behold- Grandma's socks... (only 3 months late!)


Pattern: Anna's Socks from Throughtheloops
Needle Size: US size 1 (let's just resign ourselves to the fact that I'll probably never convert to mm)
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in "Spring Frost"
Thoughts: This pattern was particularly fitting given that it shares a name with the intended recipient. Not only does it share a namesock but the colors of the yarn remind my of spring frost that my grandmother would fret over every year and that would typically happen after she'd plant her famous, and massive, garden. I love the result- and will definately knit them again!

They just look so good that I can't help but show them off... enjoy a few shots! (Also take some time to "oooh and ahhh" over my new sock blockers that I got for my birthday in January. Socks just look so good on blockers!!)

I've also made quick progress on the "super top secret" project - and a have a intentionally bad teaser photo to show. I'm hoping that you still don't 'know what it is!

And- to reward myself for the progress, and the fact that I still have two weeks left of the self imposed blanket break- I also started a guilty pleasure of mine... self striping socks. (YAY! stash yarn!!!) I'm trying the recently discovered "Crosswalker" pattern, and hope that it's going to make a nifty little quick knit.


Anyways, time flies and I only have 2 weeks left on my hiatus... there's much to do between now and then! Ciao!

Knockin' Em Out of the Park

Yup! I'm knockin' em out of the park! That's two blankets in two months! Blanket #2 is done and I'm officially giddy about it!

Pattern: Sunny Cables and Crowns from Leisure Arts Baby Blanket Book

Needle Size: US size 9

Yarn: Bernat Sating in Lapis (5.1 balls)

Thoughts: While the yarn can be a little messy to work with, (leaves fuzzes on your clothes, nothing too intense mind you), the finished product is always worth it. This blanket looks outstanding- the cables pop and the blanket is one of the softest I've made yet. This pattern was great to knit- easy to memorize, yet the cabling kept it interesting and engaging. It's hard to find a pattern so short, that you repeat so often and yet don't want to gouge out your eyeballs from boredom. You'll probably being seeing more of this one.

With the blanket off my conscience, and the promise of a short blanket hiatus, I find myself pretty fired up to make something that does not resemble a long rectangle. I've promised myself a three week break from blankets- just to do something else remotely interesting and engaging. (Not too long, got another baby coming in June and we wouldn't want it to be cold!) My mind is full of things that I want to cram into this hiatus....

The hats continue at a good pace- three more for the month of March to add to the list... (Although according to the hospital they're pretty good on hats at the moment, might have to find a new hospital who wants baby hats since I don't feel like knitting the requested afgans. (I'm sure you understand why.)

And even grandma's sock if finally looking like it could be a PAIR... (I'm really hoping to finish this project while on hiatus... it's time to knit a different sock!)

So, with the promise of spare time, and the desire to do something fun and the excitement of new! and exciting! projects- I've started something "super top secret". Ravelers can check it out on my Ravelry page- but non-Ravelers will have to wait until the super top secret project is in the hands of the desired receipient... who may or may not read this blog! Below is a little teeny clue- but you'll have to trust me... all recealed about this project in time. Stay tuned!

One Step Forward, TWO Steps Back

Good News! It's done! The Downer Blanket is complete! (AND, might I add, the final product is anything but a downer...)

Pattern: from Leisure Arts Our Best Baby Afgans "A Shower of Love" by Brooke Shellflower

Yarn: Bernat Baby Softee in "Antique White"

Needles: US size 6

Notes: This pattern, despite having a rough start for myself, was a fun knit. I rarely got bored of it, which is so often the case with baby blanket and the finished product just looks outstanding! Just look at it close up!

I can't wait to give it to the new parents!

But- just as I was able to cast one blanket off and come closer to the end of my blanket purgatory I got an email from the husband yesterday that read:

Managed to catch up with Runk, Mart-A and GPG. Runk and his wife are having a boy, expected in early June. Do you think we (read: you) can fire a blanket up for that?

It appears the end of baby blanket knitting is not so insight as I once thought. *sigh* (Although MiL's comment of "maybe he can learn to "fire up" a blankt or two" definately made me giggle.) It appears that my intended baby blanket break will be cut short with another project to cast on. I think I will still plan to take part of April as a "sanity break" and finish up some socks, but I guess it's back to the baby blanket drawing board for me.

Working Day Off

I took the day off today. I knew it had to be done to keep up to the knitting. Being away last week I knew I was going to need a day to catch up on the knitting that went undone. I set some lofty goals- and I was worried I wasn't going to be able to achieve them, but I didn't too bad!

1) Finish and or come respectably close to finishing the Downer Blanket (respectably close is 38 inches in mind- a good place to be that will allow me to finish sometime this upcoming week.)

Not bad eh? There is the downer blanket, in it's 37" glory. I know it's not 38", but after some thought I figured it was best to do the last pattern repeat here and begin the edge to cast off. According to the pattern I should only have 38" anyways, so I'm not cheating! I should hopefully have this burden off the needles by next Sunday. (squee!) I cannot even tell you how many times I've thought to myself that this should already be done- given the whole "ripping back for nothing" incident, but I choose to marvel that I'm very close to being on schedule with this blanket.

2) Get to the 10 inch mark on the new Blue Blanket of Boredom (I am currently sitting at 5")

Okay, so I'm going to be honest here. You're only looking at 8"- but I still see this as a victory. Considering the amount of knitting I did this weekend, being two inches shy on this puppy is still something to be proud of. I'm in good shape to have this done by the end of March as long as we don't hit any incidents like the downer blanket.

3) Finish Grandma's sock, cast on second sock. (I literally have not even a half hour left on sock #1, it is time to move on with this project!!)

Done! (Although it was more like an hour... but still felt good to take it off the needles!) Not only is sock #1 done and ready for the blockers, but sock #2 is cast on and half way thru the cuff.

4) Knit at least one baby hat. (Two would be dreamy, but I'm trying to be realistic here.)

YUP! Done and done and done! I still am a bit behind on the one hat a week plan, but at least I'm sort of keeping up. Once the blankets are done, I'm expecting a bit more hat knitting room.

So there you go- not too shabby on the plans. I'm pretty proud of myself for getting so much accomplished. Knowing that I've only got a month left on blanket purgatory is getting me through the long knitting days. I'm ready to move onto a new project, like socks and sweaters. I am vowing a month long blanket break once this is all done. (The break can't be too long- I want to have another set and ready for the inevitable wave of babies I constantly find myself under.)

Lofty Weekend Goals

As many motivational speakers will tell you, it is important to "dream big". And so in the pursuit of all things knitting- I'm dreaming a big to do list for this weekend. I am posting this for posterity- I have Monday off and in that time frame I hope to complete the following goals:

1) Finish and or come respectably close to finishing the Downer Blanket (respectably close is 38 inches in mind- a good place to be that will allow me to finish sometime this upcoming week.)

2) Get to the 10 inch mark on the new Blue Blanket of Boredom (I am currently sitting at 5")

3) Finish Grandma's sock, cast on second sock. (I literally have not even a half hour left on sock #1, it is time to move on with this project!!)

4) (oh yes... FOUR) Knit at least one baby hat. (Two would be dreamy, but I'm trying to be realistic here.)

To see where I end up- stay tuned to the blog on Monday for photographic evidence of the knitting marathon. (If I become cocky... you'll probably get short burst updates as I succeed.)

The thing is- I am sick of blankets. SICK. The weather is getting warmer and let me tell you, the last thing I want draped in my lap is a baby blanket. The sock yarn is calling to me-- begging me to sit down and play. I ACHE with my desire to knit socks right now-- but I must be strong. I must get these gifts out of the way so I can declare the summer of socks! (But will probably add another blanket deadline in there too- I have to stay better on top of the blanket demand. {I have visions of very close friends announcing next-- they absolutely must have a special blanket-- and I don't want to be ill prepared!!})

Stay tuned for all of the gory details.

I Have A Problem.

I fell off the yarn wagon in a big way when I was in NYC last weekend. Hello my name is Jen, and I bought more yarn.

It's Koigu (*slobber), if that at all explains my utter disregard for my yarn diet. I thought I was strong enough to go to a yarn store and "just look" - I guess I was wrong. Alas I didn't just buy the yarn, I also bought more needles, (for the MiL), some SOAK, (special wool wash) and Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop. (EZ, is like the ULTIMATE knitting guru, I had been wanting this book for some time but had a difficult time trying to find it, I actually have NO GUILT on the book purchase.)

I walked into Purl Soho, thinking that I would just look at their 'wall-o-Koigu'. But then the blue color, especially, popped out at me and said "BUY ME OR YOU WILL LEAD A VERY UNHAPPY LIFE". (Logic you I dare you to argue with.) Once I had the blue in hand, I remember nothing else- except leaving the store with more yarn and various other goodies. I cannot explain this compulsion to buy yarn. Except when I am there, and I see the pretty, pretty colorways and I all I know is that another person, (who must make more money than I), takes over and insists that I buy! that! yarn!. The Harlot often blames this phenomenon on "yarn fumes"- I think there's something to this logic.

Aside from totally falling off the wagon on the yarn diet, (which is SO. BACK. ON. AGAIN- seriously people I have yarn for 13 socks right now. THIRTEEN- I must. stop!!!!!!!), I've been making slow progress on the Downer Blanket. I am currently in blanket purgatory, (perhaps another explanation for the yarn buying compulsion?), knitting pattern repeat after pattern repeat without seeing or feeling there has been progress. My goal is to have 25 inches by the end of this weekend. I really am doing my best to finish this project by the first week of March.

Usually by this time I'm considering what my "reward" knitting will be for finishing my blanket, but alas, all I know is that I must cast on another blanket immediately in order to be done before the next baby arrives. I am desperate to knit something other than a baby blanket right now. Straight stocking knit stitch (the ultimate in knitting boredom) scarves for HOURS would be preferred to knitting another baby blanket.

I soldier on-- logging my sufferring for posterity. In the mean time I think I'm going to pet my new yarn and dream up projects for them, knowing that some day we'll get to play together. I have a dream! Someday I will reunite with the Koigu.

Progress Where No One Else Can See Progress

Behold- a picture of the Downer Blanket’s progress.

Those who are faithful to the blog would note that this picture looks an awfully a lot like the last picture that showed up here on this here blog of the very same Downer Blanket. (Linked here for your pleasure) To the untrained eye you would be correct, I don’t seem to have gotten much further- but for those in the know, there is in fact a lot of progress made on this blanket.

You see- I’m an easily excited knitter. I get a pattern, I break out the yarn and I throw myself into a project whole heartedly. Sometimes though, while knitting the pattern I will skim, rather than carefully read a pattern- only to my detriment.

The Story (for those with a strong knitting constitution only):

I thought I read the pattern correctly. (Any knitter will tell you that this is a horrible way to start a story.) The pattern, as I read it, called for me to cast on 179 stitches. So, merrily I cast on 179 stitches and then I knit the pattern over and over again until you saw the picture of last week’s progress. Right after that picture was taken, while working on the blanket, I made an error, dropped a stitch and wasn’t quite sure how to fix it. Non-plussed by this common event, I went back a row, “erased” the error and stopped to count the stitches. (You count the stitches to make sure you’re back on track!)

For some reason my stitch count was higher! 195 stitches. I thought that I was only supposed to have 179 stitches… so I went back another row, 195, and another row, 195 and another row, 195. My heart started to pound loudly in my chest. I couldn’t figure out WHY I had a 195 stitches when I was supposed to have a 179 at cast on. I went back six rows- still 195 stitches. Defeated, I decided a grievous error had been made and I made the executive decision to rip the work back and start again.

Non-knitters would ask why I chose to do this – you see to go from 179 stitches to 195 stitches means that the blanket is going to be wider- and I thought I was adding too many stitches as I went. Worried that I was going to have a blanket that was more bell shaped than rectangular, I decided to go back to where ‘all was right with the world’.

And so gentle reader, I ripped all that work back to the moss stitch border and picked the stitches back up. In a matter of minutes I ripped out about approximately 18 hours of work. Yes. That’s not an exaggeration, eighteen hours, of work. Watching 18 hours of your life and stitches disappear to a “frogged” mess is painful- and so I did not capture this carnage on film. (If you need proof that this in fact did happen, please contact my sister Crystal who was there and watched as my hard work disappeared before her very eyes.)

Determined to get back on track I picked the stitches up, counted my 179 stitches that were supposed to be there and set back to work reclaiming the blanket. I was careful this time too. After each row I decided I was going to count. I knit and paid attention to every single instruction meticulously. On row 2 I was back to the problem again – 195 stitches. I couldn’t figure out WHAT I was I doing wrong. Completely disgusted with myself I decided to investigate the pattern more closely- because clearly, in my mind, the designer was sniffing some pretty crazy stuff when she concocted this crazy pattern that made no sense.

*sigh* You must know by now what’s coming.

I dug into the pattern and began trying to figure out where I was going wrong. I noticed something at the end of Row 2’s instructions I hadn’t before…. “195 sts”. Oh yes. I WAS RIGHT THE WHOLE TIME.

And in case I have to spell it out for you…

I DIDN’T HAVE TO RIP IT BACK AT ALL! I RIPPED 18 HOURS OF MY LIFE FOR NO REASON.

It’s okay if you need to lie down. I did when I realized this. I also may have drunk a glass/bottle of wine.

You see the picture above is what I managed to accomplish on Saturday/Sunday and Monday’s knitting- I got it back to where it was. I’m trying not to think that it should actually be DOUBLE in size by now, therefore easing my impending panic attack that I won’t finish it in time.

This is life. This is a testament to how much I love this craft.

In happier news- I also knit a bunch of baby hats on Saturday, knowing that the next few weekends were probably not going to be productive on the baby hat front. So- viola, I give you 3 more baby hats for the yearly total!

Speaking of babies- I would like to thank our three friends for announcing they are expecting FOUR BABIES at the end of summer yesterday. (If that math isn’t working for you—one is expecting TWINS.) Thank you for ensuring that I will be in baby blanket purgatory for the rest of the year, at least! (Although seriously, and I can’t believe I’m saying this… I might BUY the gifts this time because I physically cannot allow myself to think about all the knitting I’d have to do to just keep up to our “rabbit-esque” friends.) STOP IT PEOPLE!