Red Knee Socks, or How I Spent My Convalescence

It's not like I am over the bug, but I did manage to get these socks knit and off the needles! And that calls for a big WHOOPEE in my book, because when you're as tall as I am, with a size 10 clodhopper and waaaaay too long from heel to knee, well, knee socks are a great investment of knitting time.

I have to apologize for the background but I knew I could not hoist my legs in the air against the usual black backdrop and make it look all nice and professional. I was doing good to get both legs off the ground for this shot! LOL!!! (and yes, there was some perspective adjustment so it would not look stranger than it does....)
I had snagged two balls of Lion Brand Yarn last year at a discount store, $1.50 per skein. It is not my favorite for socks because it pills and I like all wool, or at least mostly wool, but $3.00 for hand knit knee socks won out. Yes, it was thicker than what I like. Yes, it's really BRIGHT. But still, $3.00. So I knit.
And knit.
And knit.
And knit some more, tried them on (I do toe up so I can gauge if they are going to be knee socks or not) and discovered I had a long way to go. A very long way.
Knit, knit, knit. Knit......knit......knit........
They were beginning to look like they would serve adequately for an adult giraffe! So after one last try-on, I said to heck with it and bound off the ribbing. This is a basic lace pattern that was free online, I think it is Bell Lace and designed for the Lion Brand yarn, but I knit with about two needle sizes smaller because the first two pair I knit flopped and grew when washed.
They definitely would fit a giraffe, and they weren't even knee socks.
So now to my nice stash of merino and nylon, and the fern pattern that I have wanted to knit for a long time....except they are on size 2 needles and I'm not sure I can see what I'm doing right now.
And I'm knitting toe up, and changing a few things; they won't be the clog socks because they will have short row heels......
You know, they may look nothing like the picture I have so admired! Oh well, that is sock knitting season at Chateau Lockard! Surprises abound!
Have a safe and happy Labor Day and if you're grilling out, think of me. Oh, for a home grilled burger........ <:-( .......yum........

Pax.

P.S. Last evening I did get the toes knit for the fern pattern sock. On the size 2 needles. The knit seems looser than what I am accustomed to, so we might be going down a size. Or maybe I should wait till one row of the lace pattern and see what happens.....I don't want floppy socks, especially out of GOOD yarn!
And I still don't think it will be a studio day today, though if I have to endure one more day of TV I am sure I will lose what is left of this thing I call a mind..... ;-)

Sock-It-To-Me

FINALLY.
The Size O needle socks are DONE!!!!!
What sheer joy and relief to get these stinkers off the needles. It seems the socks I like the most are knit on miniscule needle sizes---I think there is something wrong with me. Leslie's socks on her blog are knit on
normal, human sized needles that allow quick progress.
This is the new Coats and Clarks sock yarn; I picked up three balls when I got it to have enough for knee socks. And with the length of my legs, that's a lot of yarn! Had a tiny bit left, so their measuring on the skein is pretty accurate. It knit well, seemed pretty consistent in size and while not super soft it appears to have constructed a good sock and be a good value for the money. If you don't care for stripes, you won't like this; it stripes pretty consistently.
I can't recall if this was recommended for a size 3 needle, or 2, but I would go with a 1 or O for a nice, firm sock that will hold up to wear. This was also the first toe-up I did with the slipped stich heel, which I prefer. All in all, it went okay. Was a bit confusing since I was trying to combine two patterns but each sock that I knit has some sort of lesson and imperfection in it. Also did a picot edge cast off for the top, which now needs some elastic run through it so it doesn't stick out like a ruffle...... >:( ......I did have enough sense to cast off with size 1's, for that extra bit of stretch.
The oddest thing is taking pictures of your own leg, first thing in the morning, when you can't see straight. Or hike the old gam up that high for that matter.
Now to the "Jack Sparrow" sock pattern...........
I need Pirate Socks.........
I really DO..........

In honor of the gods of Winter......

......I make this short post. We are AGAIN under the gun for crap weather---let me explain. SNOW---GOOD! ICE---BAD!!! And I have to run in to the neighboring town to deliver some hand knit felted slippers-cum-booties to a dear friend. (Lu, don't be reading this yet!) So this is a short boring post with a picture from the previous blast of arctic exasperation.

Take a guess at what this is? Grapes? Nope. And I think I will be a stinker and wait to reveal the secret.....or if someone guesses, you get added to the list of blogs I follow (Places to visit). WOW! What a prize! What an honor! (tongue firmly implanted in cheek!)

I am still working on some socks knit on I believe it is size 0 needles, and will probably have myself committed if I do that again. Of course, at some point, I will, but at the moment the slowness of the knitting is a bit discouraging. The light at the end of the tunnel is I will have a pair of superior socks when they are done; warm, gentle on the feet and a snazzy easy lace pattern. The reason I am anxious to get them off the needles is I found free on line a killer pattern for "Jack Sparrows Favorite Socks" and I'm sorry, but I am still clueless as to how to insert a hotlink into the text. So if you like skulls, you'll have to Google the name---it will be there. I splurged for the yarn, it came yesterday, and ....well....the call of new yarn is certainly a siren song! I was a good girl and hid it in the studio where it would be out of eye-range.......

Till later...I am off into the wilderness.

Print this post out if you suffer from insomnia; I am sure it could put ANYONE sound asleep......ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ......................