56 is my magic number

I started and completed an entire sock and knew there was no way I could wear it.



Ick.

I decided to try a plain stockinette sock using Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Basic Sock pattern which calls for a cast on of 64.



Almost as Ick as the first version. Plus it was really loose.

So I frogged again. I left the ribbing at 64 and decided to decrease 8 sts.



Look just above the ribbing. Its perfect. No pooling. I did a short row heel and still no pooling. Its perfect. I'm quite happy with it now.

Yarn Harlot

I did get to Stephanie Pearl-McPhee on Tuesday. I did forget my camera (see the post below). I did have an excellent time. I did have great company. I did complete some socks.



I did buy two skeins of yarn. The profits of which are going to a great charity as did the proceeds from her new book which I also bought.

The new socks on said yarn have frozen up though. I knit and then measured the cuff, 3", knit 10 or so more rows, 3", knit 10 more rows, 3". I think I'll just keep going for a while and put the tape measure away so I don't put them to the side. I did already break my own rules and started something before finishing something else.

I'm working on these for Mar



I've got one done and am halfway through the cuff on the second. I just needed a break though so I cast on to make myself some socks. I'll come back to hers tomorrow as she's so eager to get them!

Knitterly things

I've got all these knitterly things to say. I keep thinking of them and then forgetting. Interesting, deep, and meaningful things. But then I forget. I'm forgetting a lot of things lately. I want to be a real blogger (ala Pinocchio) but just don't know if I have the stuff for it.

I will share a few diamonds in the rough that I retained though.

Reasons Knitting is easier than parenting:

~If I yell at my knitting I don't lay awake at night worrying that I've destroyed my carefully crafted bonding.

~If I get tired of a project I can move on to a new one and no one thinks less of me.

~I can ignore knitting all day and no one gets hurt.

~Knitting never wakes me up at night.

Feel free to add your own in the comments section.

Some new projects

I finished these pants with my favorite yarn Blackberry Ridge Merino and added some stripes of PureWool to contrast and to break up the pooling.



I'm also almost done with a pair of Oak Ribbed Socks by Nancy Bush and am proud to say that I've done very few modifications. I've got issues with using other's patterns and always try to better them. This time though they are practical and logical. I made the cuff shorter because its my preference and I took out 2 rows of plain knit in the toe because I was worried they were getting too long. Both worked out splendidly on the first sock.

Here is the only photo so far



I'll be wearing them tomorrow when I got meet Stephanie Pearl-McPhee along with hundreds of Portland's other knitters.

A week or two ago I finished some baby pants as well



Hand dyed Cascade 128 and using the Perfection Pants pattern. Love them!

I did finally break Second Sock Syndrome and finished my pin stripe socks but can't seem to find a picture of them. Perhaps I'll have the H take one for me tonight as I don't think I've got any of me wearing them anyway.

I'll be back with Yarn Harlot pictures soon!

I need to go on a diet

I bought some yarn tonight. I bought some yesterday too. Its all money I have and projects are in mind. But I've got enough. I don't need to buy any more till I use up at least half of what I already have. I figure that means I don't need to buy yarn for a year. Its a commitment to me and my finances! I will stop acquiring and start make use of what I've got.

In case you were wondering I got 3 skeins of Blackberry Ridge Merino undyed and two dyed in the Tropical Fish colorway. These will be pants. Part of the undyed I'll dye for trim.

I got 2 skeins of bulky Cascade wool, its a nice 2 ply and undyed. The Purl District also had some really good prices on a merino superwash sock yarn that looks hand dyed. I got two.

I have completed some projects lately too. I lengthened the sleeves on a cardigan I made 1.5 years ago and Grey refused to wear. I made a bolero for Mar. I finished half of a vest for ds. I made the Foliage hat. I finished my reversible cable scarf too.