Not much new

About all I have been doing lately is knitting on Bigfoot's socks. No weaving, no spinning, no dyeing, just knitting. And yet, the Lempi sweater is being ignored.

Part of the problem is life intervenes. (How can I be so busy when I am retired?!?) Part of the problem is things just seem so disorganized.

For example: I started weaving a rug on my 24" rigid heddle loom. It's clamped to a table in the studio, about the only place it can go because of the Freedom Roller. But there is something off-putting about that room.

Rug in progress...

Zooming out...

Ugh

And that is not all of my fiber and fiber equipment! When I walk in there, I just want to turn around and close the door. I keep rearranging things, but there is simply too much stuff.

Knitting: Almost to the heels on my son's socks.

I skipped the last spinning guild meeting because they did not have the program that was scheduled (for the second time in a row). Instead, they wanted to talk about nominating officers and what programs to have next year. The meetings are recorded on FB, and I tried watching later, but could not hear most of what was being said. I admit I'm a bit jaded about that guild right now. We'll see what the coming year will bring.

Timberlane Cowl

This example of colorwork uses a technique I have not encountered before. Instead of working two colors in one row, the knitter knits one color, slipping the stitches that are reserved for the other color; then knits the other color, slipping the first color's stitches. So one knits each round twice? That's how it felt. That method was easier than holding a yarn in each hand and working them both at once, but I'm not sure it's better.

Initially, knitting with my usual hybrid method (yarn held in my right hand) produced a fabric that was too tight, so I switched to continental knitting, holding the yarn in my left hand - I can't maintain tension knitting this way, so the stitches were looser.

Pattern: Timberlane Cowl by Eileen Lee
Yarn: sport weight merino from Wabash Woollen Works
Needles: US4
Modifications: None to speak of

For some reason, both the beginning and the end of the project have jogs in them. Usually, weaving in ends eliminates these, so I'm not sure what I did wrong. They aren't too noticable, are they?

After knitting but before soaking, I tried on the cowl. It was very snug, reminding me why I no longer wear turtleneck tops. After a good soak, the stitches relaxed somewhat, so it was more comfortable. It's short enough that it could serve as a "dickie".

If I were to knit this pattern again, I might try working both colors at once. Also, I would go up a needle size, at least for the body. And make it longer, so it can cover one's nose.

Sock math

Most sock patterns indicate how many inches one is to knit the foot and/or leg. I usually have to knit larger socks, so I had everyone I knit socks for record the length of their feet, heel to toe. Then I used a ruler, a sock measuring tool, or my eyeballs to figure out when to stop.

Recently, it occurred to me that there was a logical relationship between the number of stitches cast on and the number of rows for the foot and the leg. Hence, my latest theory on sock knitting:

• If you cast on 64 stitches, knit 64 rows for the foot and 64 rows for the leg (not counting toes, heels, or cuffs)
• Ditto 72 stitches/rows
• Ditto 80 stitches/rows

If you try this out, let me know if it works for you.

Knitting: Finished the Timberlane cowl, just need to give it a bath (separate post to follow). Continuing with the Trekking socks. The Lempi sweater is stalled, but I hope to get back to it this week.

Lately, my spinning and weaving mojo appears to have left the premises. I think some new medication I started in August is to blame. Initially, it caused muscle cramps, so (with doctor approval) I cut back to taking it every other day. After a while, I began to have trouble with dry eyes. I discontinued the med to see if that helped (it did), but that is also when I realized how listless I had felt lately. At first, I did not want to do some of my hobbies, then I didn't want to do any of my hobbies (not even knitting), then I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning, which is not like me at all. I don't have much luck with prescription meds because of side effects.

Speaking of side effects, on Friday I received four vaccinations: Covid, flu, RSV, and TDAP. Ordinarily, I don't react to vaccines, but four at one time was a bit much, even for me. Saturday was a couch day, but I did get some knitting and reading done.

Clover redux

I knit a pair of socks for a friend back in 2017. When I saw them on her, my first thought was "Too small!" But she insisted they fit "perfectly". Well, they wore out rather quickly. I took them back to repair, but repair seemed pointless because there would still be too much stress on the fabric.

The yarn had been discontinued (at least, in that colorway), but I was able to find some on Ravelry. I reknit the socks from scratch, substituting a different yarn for the toes, heels, and part of the cuff, because I knew I would not have enough of the main colorway. The feet are knit with the fresh yarn; I reused the leg yarn for the legs. And I think they turned out pretty good.

Pattern: Short-row Toes and Heels, by Wendy D. Johnson
Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks FX, colorway 'Clover Colors' and Simply Socks Sock Yarn (I think) in 'Natural'
Needles: US1
Modifications: None to speak of

The reason the cuffs are part 'Clover', part 'Natural' is I was also running out of the 'Natural' yarn as well. When finished, there was just a bit leftover from each.

For the original socks, I cast on 64 stitches. For these, 72 stitches. It seems most people I knit socks for need the latter, yet most yarn patterns call for the former. Go figure.

Correction

Last week's brain fart was a false alarm. Both skeins of the Trekking yarn I purchased are fingering weight. They labeled the one "Sport" when they should have labeled it "Solid". So I can continue with my original plan. People.

Yesterday's Spinning and Weaving Week event at the downtown library was a success. Only half the spinners and weavers who signed up actually showed, which was a disappointment, but there is more foot traffic on a Sunday afternoon than a Tuesday evening, so we had more interaction with the public. Several people even expressed interest in one guild or another, so maybe we will gain some new members. I'm glad that it is over, though - I find organizing these things to be somewhat stressful. It is my little way of contributing to the guilds.

Knitting: I finally finished the socks - separate post to follow. And I started the pair for my son, a.k.a. Bigfoot.

Weaving: For the library event, I warped the frame loom and prepped that in case I could talk any of the passersby into actually weaving on it, but no one was brave enough.

At the weaving guild meeting this past week, a newbie sat beside me. We started chatting, and she told me a neighbor had given her a knitting kit, so she taught herself how to knit so that she could use the kit. She showed me a photo of the finished project. I expected to see a scarf or something, but it was a whole g-d sweater! With colorwork! OMG, I hate her already. (jk) She has a spinning wheel and is teaching herself how to spin. She ordered a rigid heddle loom, but while waiting on that, she 3-D printed one. Who does that?!? She came to the library event on Sunday and chatted everyone up, so I hope she becomes an active member in both guilds. We need fresh blood like hers.

A sad day

I dropped by Simply Socks Yarn Company the other day to buy some sock yarn (of course). My favorite is their Poste yarn, made from a Corriedale base, hand dyed by one of their staff members. It wears extremely well and doesn't pill. Alas, they discontinued it. I was very disappointed.

So disappointed that I had a brain fart and purchased two different weights of Trekking yarn, Sport and XXL. My original plan was to knit one pair using the gray for toes, heels, and cuff and the variegated for the foot and leg, then reverse the colorways for a second pair. Now I will have to rethink that strategy. SSYC does most of their business online, but the store is open about four times a month. I'll ponder that predicament.

Knitting: I am ready to bind off the current sock project.

One of my fiber friends told me that the school where she teaches has a knitting and crocheting club. I donated my duplicate crochet hooks, then rummage through my stash for worsted weight cotton and superwash wool I was ready to part with. The result was a fairly large bag of yarn, and yet it barely made a dent in the stash. Too much fiber!