Salt Rimmed Margarita

See I really have been knitting through all the kitchen turmoil and post turmoil baking time.

D has new Gus approved socks.

These are from Mt Rutsen Studio Madison yarn in the Margarita colorway. I love how eye searing green it is. It is a bit lost in the shadows but in person the color makes your mouth pucker because to reminds you of sucking on limes. That is how saturated the color is. While I was working on them I kept holding them next to Gus's eyes. They did not really match but hints of similar colors are there. 

Ah yes the toes. They were a bit of a problem, turned experiment. You see I've learned my lesson. Experience kept yelling at me as I got close to the toe on the first sock. When I do a pattern on the leg of D's socks I tend to use just a bit too much yarn. You'd think I would make the sock just a trifle shorter but you'd be wrong. 

I weighed the yarn and found I would indeed need to find two toes worth of complimentary yarn. It was D's idea to use a creamy yarn to give the idea of salt rimmed socks. I went digging in my left overs bags and found some of my favorite Icelandic yarn. 

The toe on the left is the first toe. I knit it fine then when I got to the second toe I suspected I would have the same problem on my hands only with different yarn this time. After a bit of juggling I decided to alternate rows of yarn. Now I want to do this on all my socks. I love the way it looks. 

Now D has a new set of blindingly beautiful socks. And I know which booth I'll be going back to this fall. They also had my favorite stitch markers, you remember the ones that made sweater knitting fun again? Maybe I need a nice basket too?

More proof

Here is more proof that I truly love my husband. He has more socks on the needles than I do. Well no really they're still mine while they're on the needles but the finished objects will be his. 

First we have a bit more than a cuff on the first of these navy blue ones. You know the weird thing that I have figured out about my knitting? I can only handle ribbing for around 2 inches at a time. Most of D's previous socks had 3-4 inches of ribbing then right into the heel flap. Now I just make a longer foot on my style sock, two inches of ribbing with 3-4 inches of plain stockinette before the heel. I love stockinette going round and round like nobody's business. I have to be careful that I have enough yarn though, or else we're going to have to start dipping into the leftover balls of yarn, and coming up with some interesting toes. Aww heck that will just make him laugh.

What is that you say this one is still in the same condition it was weeks ago? Yep a saucy pair of mittens lured me away for my get-them-done projects. Well that and finishing two of three. Nothing like a sense of accomplishment and cold hands to woo a knitter. They'll get done I promise. What's that? A nice warm sweater does sound tempting now. No I must finish the mittens first, no I meant the green socks first...

Ramblings

Since I think I have figured out the formula for D's socks he is getting more pairs. Lately at least one of the socks on the needles are for him. I think we may need to assign him a new sock drawer.

So now I need a ruling, the sock above is not giving me the warm fuzzies. I think the yarn wants to be a scarf instead, or not. I am getting mixed signals. So what do you all think? My knitting group said it was fine but I'm still having doubts.

In other news we're getting pretty excited about camping season coming on. We've set up the tent and dining fly a few weeks back. They both look great even considering they've been stored for a couple of years now. The boy scout side of my husband loves putting up and taking down tents. The air mattress was tested too. Yes I know I am such a prima donna, I require an air mattress and flushing toilets. I am pretty sure I will want to shower too. Did anyone see my camping tiara? I'm sure it is around here somewhere.

We keep discussing food options and planning meals. I have checked out a couple of camping books from the library. (Have I told you recently that libraries are one of man's great inventions?) One of the books is written by a Canadian and talks about making love in a canoe. Yeah I skipped that chapter. (Yes, a whole chapter on it!?) We're going to the same campsite that I had my first and last canoe outing at (same trip). It has been a few years and the memories are starting to fade for me but D is still remembers the look of terror in my eyes from that outing. You've heard of cats in a canoe? That was me and my claws were definitely unsheathed.  I have never loved dry land quite as much as that day.

So don't forget to tell me what the yarn wants to be and I will remember to tell you any funny camping stories if they happen, all stories will need to be cleared by the Hubby though.

Socks for D

D has clearly learned the awesomeness that is known in our house as hand knit socks. So after many comments of appreciation for said socks he has earned more, well that and buying me sock yarn for Christmas helps. 

First up we have socks made from the Christmas yarn Lang Yarns Jawoll Color. The lady at the yarn store asked him if he was buying it so I could make socks for him. He answered no but since his favorite pair is remarkably similar to these, I took the knitter's prerogative and decided they were indeed for him. These are color 132.0321. Don't they totally look like 132.0321? Can you tell I still have a problem with numbered colorways?

I did run into a bit of a snag though, I made the leg a bit longer than I used to and ran short on yarn. To avoid an odd ball toe like the one on his first pair of socks I got smart. When it occurred to me that I may run short while knitting the first sock I started to weigh both the sock in progress and the remaining yarn ball. I stopped the first sock at the toe with just a bit under half of the yarn used and knit the second sock to the toe also. I rummaged through my bag of leftover sock yarn and came up with a bit of Opal sock yarn I had used for another pair of D socks. Don't the toes look like they belong with these socks? I am so stinking proud of myself I may just burst. I love it when a plan comes together!

Second we move onto the funky socks. I bought this yarn on a lark at Rhinebeck, it is totally out of character for me and I love it! While I was knitting it D kept commenting the same thing I was thinking, that is a really great color. Finally I decided that while I had many socks, funky colored and not as funky colored, D had only plain manly colored socks. They are mostly blues, browns and greys. So I changed over and made these for him.

When I asked him to show them off at a Christmas party he proudly did so. And every time he puts them on he smiles a little bit more. Guess we all know who will be getting more socks out of the sock knitting machine that is my hands.

Happy socks everybody needs at least one pair. Wear them with pride Hubby because I knit them with love.

On Fire

Now what can I show you on the knitting front. I'm working on another pair of socks. Yeah I am not surprised either. 

The thing I am surprised about is, who these socks wanted to belong to. I thought they were mine but alas the more I worked on them, the more I knew they were not meant for me. D loves the color and really, I never know what color to buy for him, so when I find one he likes I try to go with it. 

I now have one sock done and I must admit that I am worried about running out of yarn. Well thats what happens when you add two inches to each sock. I did weigh the yarn and sock I am reasonably sure that I will have just enough yarn. Hey! Stop lugging, it could happen.

I went to knit night at one of the local yarn shops recently and was delighted to find she had more of my favorite needles in stock, Pony wool needles. I little part of me wishes I had gotten another pack since it has been a couple of years since I found my first set.

The eye of the needle is a soft plastic loop that flattens when pulling the yarn through the fabric. They are great when weaving in ends, much easier to pull through than a bulging hard plastic eyes of needles. 

So that is my cheap treat for myself. I do so love finding great working tools. They make my knitting time more enjoyable!

Bad Hubby Socks

Don't worry I'm not punishing the Hubby by making him wear bad socks. I have another sock tale for you.

You all know my passion for socks started with my hard to fit foot. People raved about how wonderful hand knit socks are. Once you wear hand knit socks you will not want to go back. I don't know if that is 100% true, but I know I no longer wear "normal people" socks. 

I decided to test the theory and make socks for D. I was still a relatively new sock knitter and honestly still a new knitter. I had been knitting for less than a year and D's first socks were also my 7th pair of socks...ever. Seems like such a long time ago!

I used my most useful sock book at that time, Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. I measured D's foot in 4 or 5 key areas and knit a gauge swatch. I do believe that since his foot is so much bigger than my foot his sock needed to be much bigger too. 

I was wrong. I did not understand negative ease and why it is desirable in a sock. D even likes a much closer fitting sock than me. But back to the story. I cast on a whole bunch of stitches and knit for a while. Even I realized it was too big and ripped it back. Then I cast on 102 stitches and figured it must be right, it simply must be!

I knit two socks, almost. I knit one and 3/4 socks and ran out of yarn. Now this was still the days when ripping back and starting over was like ripping out my heart, cooking it up and serving it to you on a nice platter. I had put in so much work...a whole month of my time! 

Then I remembered that I had a bit of yarn left over from the same manufacturer. (Oddly enough I still have a hard time mixing yarns from different makers.) The only difference was the color.

So that is how D got Bad Hubby Socks. He even wore them when he was flying one business the next week. You know you have to take your shoes off to go through security. Everyone was going to see that "design element." He still wore them with pride.

They are his least favorite socks because I was still getting my sock knitting mojo working. They are big and baggy not exactly the makings of a favorite sock. I have tweaked my knitting numbers and can now make him acceptable socks. Oddly enough I use the same number of stitches for his socks as I do mine.

So that is my not quite a fail, but close story. Poor Hubby looks like he dipped one toe in ink.

3 socks and a hat

I started a hat out of Woolease bulky yarn I bought when I first started knitting. Seems like bigger yarn and needles would be easier to work with when you're starting out. Keep in mind my hands are a lot like my feet, short and wide. Now small yarn and needles seem the most natural to me.

Gus was so happy to come out and tip-toe through the grass with me. As always with Gus what he thinks is his best side and what I think is his best side differ. He is always showing off his butt, and now you all get to take a gander at it too.

I frogged that hat shortly after. It had to be at least 2-3 inches to big. I'm planning to re-cast on but work has been busy so I stayed with D's simple socks.

He is even closer to a new pair than when that picture was taken. You know he is not as excited about new wool socks in the summer as much as he was in the winter, wonder why?

My first Celebrate Spring sock by Ann Budd is looking faboulus if I do say so my self. I am curious how this yarn will hold up. It is 50% Merino wool and 50% Tencel (a fiber made from wood pulp). It has a beautiful sheen to it that I am wondering if it will change.

I finished my Auburn Essentials socks. They are a cabling of my own devising. I like them but I think the space between the cables is too big so I will change it next time.

I finished these while we were back in SD for my nephew's graduation. I even wore them to the graduation. I gave all my new sock vibes to him. That does not make me weird does it? No wait I was weird to begin with that just makes me weirder.

So there ends my June Sockapaloosa. Let's say we meet back here and I will show you the others when they are done.

Comparing

On recent photo shoot in the front yard I thought it would be funny to see how a sock for D compares to a sock for me.

The difference is not as noticeable as I thought it would be. It is quite a difference when you compare our shoes.

I do find that I use the same number of stitches for both of our socks. So the circumference is similar but the length is less.

I am also finding that I now have a set pattern for D's socks that I tend to use. He likes his socks a bit shorter than I would like so I make a 3 inch 2x2 ribbed cuff then go straight into the heel flap. I think the ribbing is stretchy for him but does not seem to bag like plain stockinette does for him. He has not mentioned any issues with the socks I've made like this so far. Previous socks have drawn comments like it could be a bit taller or less baggy. My first pair for him was too big. I used 100 stitches then and commonly use 80 now. No wonder they don't fit right. I do notice once I figured that out he seems to like and wear my socks more. I guess it is easier when they're not falling off your feet.

Ah the lessons knitting teaches us. I should probably rip them out and reknit them but you see I have all this yarn just waiting for me to use it.

I'm on a roll

Finished sweater with a picture to boot. Hubby is wearing if for the second time this week. Funny thing about knit items once you finally finish them they're the only thing you want to wear, even if you did not knit it. Hubby seems pretty happy about it. I think this is the same color as my car. Hmm.

I even started a new sock for him too. I think my plan to cover him in wooly goodness is moving along nicely. See the more finished items he sees the less he will notice new yarn walking in the front door with me.

What do you mean he reads this blog and is on to my plan? Well that is poor planning on my part. A distraction I need a Hubby distraction.....

Look Honey, Scones you like scones.

Note to anyone who reads this, pineapple scones are not as good as you hope they will be. Not bad just not as good as cherry scones. Next week we will try plain old apple scones. I will let you know how we feel about those. Tomorrow we will return to a proven scone taste, either blueberry or cranberry. I'm only up for experimentation one day of the week if it turns out an "meehh" product.