Status report

Opal Chameleon socks
Originally uploaded by shesitsandknits.

I finished the Chameleon socks. Uncharacteristically I consciously made them identical as the stripes were so wide I didn't think a fraternal pair would look right. I still have almost half a ball left and might be able to squeak out a complete second pair, but I think what I'll do instead is use some leftover off-white for the heels and toes. If second sock syndrome is a problem, I imagine third and fourth identical socks might be lethal.

Have had a fun couple of days collecting the mail. Yesterday I received this month's sock from Red Bird Knits, which may have motivated me just a bit to get those Opal socks off the needles. The pattern is beautiful but the colour I got, raspberry, would not have been my first choice. Oh well, it's tolerable and it's nice to have something different. And today I got my free sample of Disco (AKA muppet pelt) which went straight into a bag in the basement. Perhaps I'll come up with something to do with it some day. I expect they hope we'll all go out and buy two more balls to make a larger project (I notice the patterns they include cannot be made with only one ball...) but I will thwart them and use it for mitten trim or something.

I'm finally past the heel on the Istanbul sock from September and have encountered a couple of, shall we say, quirks in the pattern. I hesitate to call them errors because my first assumption is always that I have managed to read the pattern wrong. But I have muddled through and it's looking approximately as it should. I look forward to finishing the gusset because I'm really not enjoying integrating the decreases into the pattern.

And I have also cast on the Heartstrings Faroese shawl again. I ripped it out a couple of months ago because of two utterly invisible errors that were making me nuts.

My next conundrum is to come up with one more project that is relatively mindless now that gymnastics season is cranking up again. DD#1's first meet is in less than two weeks and I'm going to need some valium-type knitting. Last year at Provincials I worked on a back-of-the-label scarf pattern in Moonlight Mohair, and the scarf turned out so ridiculously small that I donated it to the daughter who was competing. But it helped keep me sane. Perhaps it would be a nice tradition to work on a gift for whichever kid is competing that day. Will mull that over.

What we have here is a sock and a hat.

Opal sock, Silk Garden hat
Originally uploaded by shesitsandknits.

As promised, the Noro Silk Garden hat and a solitary Opal Chameleon sock. The second sock is on the needles as we speak. I didn't use any real patterns for these, as you might have guessed by their uncomplicated nature, just the basic construction info from Ann Budd's fabulous Book of Patterns. I prefer plain knitting and simple patterns with fancy yarns.

I just checked out the November sock of the month at Red Bird Knits and can't wait to get started on it. I still haven't done the September sock yet -- got sulky after having to frog it for a gauge problem -- but if I don't get September done before November arrives I am going to permit myself to do them out of order. I, after all, am the boss of my knitting.

Last picture of Creatures of the Reef, I promise

reef shawl final blocking
Originally uploaded by shesitsandknits.

I've finally got it blocked more or less the way I want it, though it appears to have shrunk back a bit while sitting in the closet. But I pinned out the scalloped sides one at a time (as your perpetually ill-equipped reporter still only has enough pins to do one side), and then I borrowed Stitchingirl's excellent suggestion about using crochet cotton in lieu of blocking wires to straighten the top. I'm pronouncing it finished.

I also finished my rather unexciting Silk Garden hat but it hasn't found itself in close proximity to my camera yet. One of these days I'll take its picture. For now please envison a stockinette stitch hat with a ribbed brim. Yes, it is that original.

And have just cast on the second Opal sock. The first one is just a titch too small so am practising curling my toes.

as expected, I am blocking-impaired

reef shawl post-blocking II
Originally uploaded by shesitsandknits.

Due to my lack of wires, shortage of pins and overall ineptitude, the blocking process did not go smoothly and I am less than thrilled with the results. Not only do I have three (3) broken pin ends stuck in my bed somewhere, but the top edge of my shawl is wavy and my scallops are pointy (I was limited to one pin per scallop). Otherwise it looks pretty good. Why, you ask, did I not run out and buy the proper supplies before messing up several months' work? I answer: Because I am a dolt. I plan to get some wires and proper pins before attempting this again.

Meanwhile, I am left wondering whether the edges can be reblocked. And whether it's worth trying.