Victorian Musings

Keets at Christmas

2010-12-24T20:16:00.000-08:00

What is it about winter and sock-knitting?

2009-11-01T08:19:00.000-08:00

As the days get cooler, I'm enjoying curling up with good books (Uncle Silas and Man and Wife currently in progress). My passion for sock-knitting also ramps up when it's a little chilly out.

There are two pairs on my needles right now, both Christmas gifts for the DH. He chose the pattern and yarn for one pair, but the other is a surprise. I'm using Rebecca Mercier's Rhythm Man pattern, and voila! A little rhythm for the soul man!

His yarn selection for the other pair has surprised me: I would never have expected him to choose a cashmere blend! Meanwhile, both patterns call for short-row heels, but I think they'll be too loose for DH's feet. In fact, I knitted the called-for heel on the first cashmere sock and then frogged it in favor of eye-of-partridge construction. Although I haven't taken a recent photo, I hope the first shot will convey something of the yarn's luscious quality.

Although I have several other Christmas socks on my list, I have finished the Son's Pair No. 1. As mentioned, the dye gave me fits while the socks were in progress; but I'm very happy with the finished product. He'll just have to live with the blue and green variegation!

Endings and Beginnings

2009-10-16T14:50:00.001-07:00

Blocking seems to have left the fabulous Pseudo Socks even softer than before! I love the variegation effects and the squishiness of the finished pair. So does DH...in fact, that he has been agitating for a sweater out of the same yarn! Apparently, no visions of wild, unfortuate pooling trouble his dreams. I ordered the yarn with great misgivings; and to my surprise, he has agreed to a sweater-vest instead.

So I've been swatching during breaks from current projects and Man and Wife, and I have discovered I like the vivid colors in this yarn with certain solids better than with others. Currently under consideration: narrow vertical stripes using the knit-one-below technique, a method which also brings the finished product closer to DK weight.

And another thing....

2009-10-08T19:03:00.001-07:00

....I hate blocking!

Not So Boring in Black

2009-10-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

The son wants me to knit him some "plain black socks without much design in them" for Christmas. How boring is that?? I dutifully cast on.....and the wool promptly dyed my 5" #1 Brittany Birch needles black and temporarily branded me as a Continental-style knitter!! So I'm working on a little creative revenge!

Tarts and TART

2009-10-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

Reading about Victorian tarts and murderesses really makes me long for some Madelinetosh TART...all weights of which Eat.Sleep.Knit uncooperatively keeps selling before I can lay hands on it!!

Here's to Autumn...and KARI WELSH!

2009-09-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I finished the behatred Can You Forgive Her? AND finally blocked my Texas Red Oak (aka Nikol Lohr's Woodland Shawl).

Today I finished the beloved Woman in White (along with other stuff), got an inch closer to the end of Fashion Police's shawl, AND started Lulu's second Pseudo Sock (aka Redscot's Traffic Island socks). Soon I can cast on No. 1 Grandson's hat.

But it gets even better: tonight the fabulous, the wonderful, the completely awesome Kari Welsh made me a custom peacock nostepinde!! Knitters and lovers of fine woods, you must see this lovely creation!

I'm so glad autum is finally here...

Trying to please the Fashion Police...

2009-09-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

...a/k/a my second daughter. Now in her mid-20s, LK still changes her clothes several times daily and is gravely offended by others’ fashion faux pas. Especially mine.

She wants a shawl for Christmas, she says, a practical one just for snuggling on the couch. I haven’t knitted anything for her since beginning doctoral studies two years ago, and she feels neglected. How about this pattern, or this, or this? I ask. Too frumpy, too blah, too humiliating, she replies. How about checking the Ravelry site and finding something you like, I suggest weakly. As expected, "practical" in FP speak means “beautiful and delicate.” The verdict: it must be the Aeolian. But no beads. “Charcoal.”

Oh, right! I'm not falling for that one--I have spent many hours shopping and arguing color with FP, and I'm not about to guess about which color carried by an on-line vendor is FP-worthy "charcoal." So I begin forwarding her photos of yarn options. She pronounces “the third one the hottest.” But what’s the NAME OF THE YARN, I ask, because heaven knows which she opened third. Could I send them again? She had already deleted the prior messages.

And so begins the saga of the Fashion Police Shawl….

Perdition!

2009-08-26T12:37:00.001-07:00

My new Sea Silk--Peridot and Ebony colorways--has arrived. This stuff is absolutely gorgeous! Must resist temptation to boot a current project to "hibernation" status...

Challenges du jour

2009-08-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

Still struggling with Can You Forgive Her?, otherwise known as Can Cathy Finish It?, and hoping that forgiveness AND completion are both possible.

During reading breaks, I'm working on my first toe-up socks!