Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Noro.....a Rainbow on the Needles...

......and a pip to knit, being one of their one ply types, but gosh, the color is worth the trouble. I did not even try to bother with color correcting the pics; the shades are so luminous that I don't know where to start. Truly, the color is much more intense than pictured. The yarn is beautiful in person.....no other company can compete with it. I have lusted after their yarns for ages, but cost always held me back. It is not inexpensive.
I remember the first article I read about it, the photos of the fibers being readied for carding, the Japanese asthetic in color blending. I was in love; L-U-V!!!
And fairly broke, so, no Noro for me.
However......finally, years later, Simply Socks has a SALE (the magic words for any woman!). And Noro was on SALE.
Okay, fess up time. I bought this at half price, have two other balls in different colors, will no doubt use them for socks too....just not now. I want to see how these wear. I chose ribbing for the back panel and kept the lace on the front; I wasn't sure about long term strength. And the lace has a lot of yarn overs, which are thin is some areas......me visualizing the worst, a thread breaks.....things unravel...I unravel!
Spinners know the travails of one ply; it twists back upon itself in thin areas. When I spun, mine was always over twisted and I had all these little knotty messes. I only had a few with the commercial yarn but you still can't be harsh--it has to be handled carefully. I think, though, after a good wash that they should be fine. 100% wool, so minor felting should occur, thus locking the fibers. (just nod your head *yes* and agree with the crazy lady with the sharp needles)
I have a bamboo blend yarn on the needles now and it has NO give what so ever. All I can say is it is soft. Have doubts about the amount of ease when finished.
This is my "sitting on the couch behaving" work. By December, I should have enough socks knit for ten centipedes. Even centipedes with my size feet...nervous energy put to good use. And the stash diminishing. Well, not that much but I can see yarn I forgot I bought, and now wonder WHY.......
The best part is when I get to knit socks from the leftovers. I like those the best--all mixed colors and solids and quirky! Like I need help in that department. HA!
So that's my contribution to the creative end of the gene-pool today; at least for the most part my legs didn't show...... ;-) Thank heaven I didn't have to post the "pasty leg alert" this time!
Have a good one and someday maybe I'll share my little cussing-fit story of doing that picot edge from the toe up. (totally backwards---it is much easier when doing cuff down! like you're supposed to)
I bid you warmth, good yarn, and above all else....

Pax.

A link for mini Christmas ornament stockings:

http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/free_knitting_patterns/2007/06/knitted_mini_ch.html

An easy way to learn without lots of committment of money and time......

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Boy Anne!!
That sock yarn is sensational!! I am only lusting now for expensive yarn ... My dream is to become so good at sock knitting that I would not hesitate buying expensive yarn because I would know I could do it!!
You have set the bar so high for me....
Know what???? I woke up this morning thinking about doing the socks!! WOW... how is that for being obsessed??
Stay tuned to the other lady who lives on the hill with all the sharp pointy needles!!
Have a wonderful day....
Love,
Marilyn

di from di-did-it said...

You crack me up... what a joy to have found you and your blog. Thanks for a peachy (and colorful) start to my day!

Hugs,
Di

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Marilyn---
Sock knitting is incredibly addictive! I could forget everything else and just KNIT. I have worked in a range of yarns, and sadly, the more expensive ones hold up longer, at least what I have used so far.
Elaan has an on line catalog; they have great yarn at good prices---I go there for solids. Also Knit Picks and Simply Socks.
Not to tmpt you or anything....we all need a good stash before winter sets in! (though I am pretty sure with mine I could survive Nuclear Winter.....)
Can't wait!

XXOO!!!
Sock Lady

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Di!

As I was writing this last evening, my brain was numb from losing a distant family member. Writing seems to take over and make everything okay. Wrote it once....so-so. then I started adding in more comments about the real process....and finding the yarn on sale propeled me into outter space!
Sometimes you just have to let out the funny stuff......and no pasty legs! (I should put on black tights like I used to for shooting, but I seem to have lost them among other things....

XXOO!!
Anne

Ces Adorio said...

You mean, you knitted this? Well, it is very colorful and up north I think it will look beautiful especially in cold winter nights. Are they really different from store-bought socks - did I just utter a blasphemy? I don't knit, so please pardon me. I did keep several knitting needles from my MIL just because I know she touched them when she was alive.

yoborobo said...

Anne - see? I am nodding my head and staying away from the crazy lady with the sharp needles. LOL!!!! You seriously crack me up! Love these socks - these are my colors! xox Pam

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Ces,

I admit it---I am a hand knit sock junkie. Yes, they are much different than store bought (after you learn to knit them well---I made some monsters when I first started!) and once you wear them, you never want to go back to the store bought. I knit from the toe up, so I can try it on for size as I go. They are wonderful in that I can get a foot length that is *right*.
Sock yarn is HORRIBLY ADDICTIVE----like art supplies. (yes, you understand that one! we both do!) It comes in every color and fiber content and you end up with baskets of the stuff threatening to crawl out and take over the house, fighting it out with the dust bunnies!
And they make cotton yarn with some lycra for southern climates too.......just in case you need ONE MORE thing to think about!!!! ;) LOL!!!
You've not uttered blasphemy because you don;t knit; you're safe!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Pam,

Yes, this is probably a good time of year to stay away from the crazy lady with the sharp needles. Tried to start knitting the pattern part of my socks I'm currently working on last night and discovered there is a mistake as I have 2 too many stitches on each needle.......grrrrrrr.....
I'll think about hat tomorrow...at Tara......(or tonight on the couch, maybe)

XXOO!!
Anne

Bunny said...

What great socks, I love the colours just beautiful. What fun to read your post.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Thanks Bunny,

I try and keep it entertaining.....I know not evenryone is a sock-a-holic like me. But all it takes is that first pair......>:)
and yes, the colors are unbelievable!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anonymous said...

OMG!...these are soooo yummy, Anne! Coming from one who knits scarves only..I am IMPRESSED!...
I can see a vast difference from
"store bought" socks!...they must be so nice to wear....soft and cuddly..beautiful job!
gypsy

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Well, as I've said, I've knit some butt-ugly ones, and they are basically house socks over thin cotton ones for winter, which is okay too. I finally have progressed to better yarns, and some of it is now there are more places to get wool. When I started it was almosy all acrylic, unless I wanted to buy uber-expensive yarn at the one and only LYS and they SMOKE in there, so I'd have to air the yarn......
I just love Noros colors....nothing else like it!

XXOO!!
Anne

Deborah said...

Okay, you may put down the sharp needles now that everyone is nodding YES!!! What a delight you are, and the sock are stunning! I am just starting to crochet again, but I have not gotten far in knitting...hmmmmmm. These interest me. **blows kisses** Deb

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Deborah,

I used to crochet but the hands say NO firmly. Odd that the difference in the motion makes it a yes or no thing! (used to do crocheted lace, fine, fine needles and thread)
socks are fun; there is a pattern on line for a tiny sock ornament and it is the best thing to try. You work all through the actual maneuvers of a sock, but it's little and requires cheap yarn and almost no time.
I'll see if I can find the link and post it here....

XXOO!!!
Anne....needles down....

Georgina said...

I've never learned how to knit...I'd probably poke someone's eye out after a BIG cursing fest out of frustration. Well, lady, they are very, very kewel!!! I love those socks!!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Georgina,

Do you think there aren't cursing fests here???? That's half the fun! (well, sometimes not....)
I always have some trouble that results in words flying.....but kind of spills over into the rest of my life as well!
LOL!!!

XXOO!!!
Anne

Leslie said...

Awesome yarnie goodness! Wowser!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Just for you Leslie.....sock porn! LOL!!!!!
Sorry, it's been a long day! <:)

XXOO!!!
Anne

audrey said...

WOW! LOVE the colors!! These socks are great, Anne.
Anne Huskey-Lockard, MKL


(mad knitting lady)
(:

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Audrey----LOL!!!!
You got it....that's what I am.
I'm mad at the moment trying to get a dispute settled with my CC company ove fabric that was returned to the vendor in SEPTEMBER. Over $100s worth. I just seem to have one lovely thing after another! GEEZ!!!!
XXOO!!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard MKL

Jan said...

I truly do not know how you can make these so fast. I am almost finished with mine but won't be posting them on my blog. Yours are gorgeous.

from Jan, the slowest knitter in the world

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Mmmm...such wonderful colours! Noting Jan's comment about being the slowest knitter in the world, I must say that I am in the same club. Many moons ago I undertook to knit my DH a pair of socks, having been gullible enough to actually believe the yarn shop owner who said they were 'easy' and 'quick'. I was starting them in Sept, so it would be a piece of cake to have them finished by Christmas? Right? Well, I knitted, and I knitted, and I knitted and I knitted (and started to cuss), and knitted and cussed some more. That darned sock absolutely refused to grow, no matter what I did. Come Christmas, he got one sock and the other was included in the gift...as needles and yarn. After Christmas I knitted, and I knitted, and I knitted (and did some more cussing) and finally finished the other one about March or April. And......
you guessed it..........
THEY DIDN'T FIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My knitting career very nearly came to a screeching halt at that point and it was a number of years before I picked up the needles again. I'm still painfully slow, but I get there (eventually).

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Jan....what this boils down to is I have no night life......
I knit.
Then I sleep.
End of story....LOL!!!!

XXOO!!
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I'm not at ALL laughing about the first pair of socks and the *not fitting*. I got this whiz-bang idea years ago I was SOOOOO good I could knit argyles, so I started.
And knit.
And knit.
And knit, knit, knit, knit...cusscusscuss.....
I put it away a while.
Got it out; it was pure wool and the moths had gotten into it. That was when the nuclear eruption hit!
I've never tried an argyle again.
Regular socks are JUST FINE..... >:\
LOL!!!
I have a hard time keeping track of patterns, thus the same thing over and over.....mental block or something...

XXOO!!!
Anne

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Hey, it's perfectly okay to laugh! I got a nice pair of socks out of the deal so it wasn't a total loss...LOL.
MA

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

How about...... :) At least you got socks, not moth holes!

XXOO!!
Anne

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