First Hand Knit Sock Casualty

I had my first hand knit sock casualty this week.

 

 

I am not sure how well you can see the mishap, but it is at the back of the leg about halfway up. The only thing I can think of is that it was a weak spot in the yarn and after wearing them and washing them a number of times it just gave way. Because I really don’t know how else that particular spot would get worn out faster than the rest.

I considered repairing them, but I have so many skeins of sock yarn to knit up for new socks that I am okay with letting this pair go to the grave. What I might do is unravel both socks and reuse the yarn in my sock yarn blanket. What better way to let the socks live on.

Simple Seed Stitch Collar

Materials:

1 skein worsted weight yarn – 220 yards
US 7 – 16″ circular needle or needle for gauge of 4 sts per 1″

Finished Measurement: 25″ circumferance

Using long-tail cast-on, CO 100 sts, join in the round.

Row 1: *k1, p1, repeat from * to end

Row 2: *p1, k1, repeat from * to end

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until desired length.

Cast-off loosely.

Major Startitis

So much for keeping my WIPs limited. I now have 10 projects on the needles with expectations to cast-on another in the next few days. I know it is a little out of control, but with Christmas knitting going on and so many things I want to knit I just couldn’t help it.

My primary project, over the last two weeks, has been my Sock Yarn Blanket. Knitting little squares, dyeing yarn, and swapping with other Blanket makers, not to mention winding all the yarns into little balls, takes a lot of time. I am very much enjoying this project though. The little squares don’t take very long to knit and I get to change yarn with every square so there is always something to look forward to. So far I have completed just under 50 squares.

I have put a both Icaras and The Beach Cover-up on hold until the Christmas knitting is complete. Both of these projects are for me and not something I need in my wardrobe right now. And although I should provide my complete attention to Christmas knitting, I just can’t seem to put down my Sock Yarn Mohair Scarf, Wicked, or my current pair of basic socks. All projects are for me but all can be used this Fall and Winter so there is a reason to get them completed. I am trying to divide my time as equally as possible to these projects and Christmas knitting, but some projects I just can’t put down as easily.

Goodreads

As I look back over the projects I have finished and started since May it baffles me that I accomplished so much. Now don’t get me wrong, I know I knit a lot, but what you probably don’t know is that during the last four months, in addition to all that knitting, I also read more than 20 books. And although I can knit and read at the same time, many of the projects didn’t lend themselves to doing that, so much for the knitting and reading were done separately. Plus, I am not a very fast reader. It amazes me that I did anything else this summer, like clean the house, which did get done on occasion. Plus, about a month ago, I was introduced to the website Goodreads and I have gone crazy adding new books to my To-Read list based on what others are reading and recommending. I don’t know what it is about summertime, but I always seem to want to read a lot.

I need your opinion.

Wow! I can’t believe it has been over three months since I last posted. As I look back at my blog since I started it, it seems that I have always been going in spurts, posting regularly for a few months, and then not posting anything for months upon months.

I would like to rectify that and post more on a year round basis, even if I only post once a week. But one of the reasons why I haven’t posted since finishing up the knitting for hire jobs, that were due the beginning of June, is because I have been trying to decide if I was actually going to keep blogging. Sometimes I wonder why people read my blog, or any blog for that matter. Is it just to see what projects I am working on, or to find any helpful tips that I might be able to pass along to other knitters. Those are reasons why I read blogs, but is that the norm, I don’t know. I guess I am just wondering what direction I want to go with this blog, because I don’t want it to be just about my knitting woes and accomplishments. 

So please let me know why you read blogs in general, knitting blogs, and this blog. Hopefully your responses will help me decide exactly what I want to do with this blog.

Knitting for Hire

I am currently in full blown knitting for hire mode. So you might no hear too much from me over the next few weeks. I can tell you that there are pros and cons to doing Knitting for Hire jobs.

I have found that there are two different categories for Knitting for Hire Jobs: Test Knitting: where you are actually testing the pattern to make sure it is clearly written and doesn’t contain mistakes; and Sample Knitting: where you are not only reviewing the pattern for clarity, but also producing a sample garment that will be returned to the designer.

For Test Knitting, there are many designers that recruit knitters to review their pattern before they publish it. A lot of these designers look for knitters who will use their own materials and don’t expect to be paid for their time or materials. I have found that it is fun to work for these types designers because you can usually get a copy of the pattern for free, both when you test the pattern and usually when the final pattern, without errors, is published. Plus, you are one of the first to knit the project. The drawback that I have found is that sometimes it is necessary to make a purchase to meet the requirements for the pattern. Typically, I will only do this type of test knitting if I have the materials already on hand.

Sample Knitting is a different ball game all together. Designers requiring Sample Knitters will provide the materials and will also pay for the knitting, usually by the yard. Now don’t think you will get paid and also get to keep the item. No sir, the designers require the items for what they call Trunk Shows. They take their garments around to different shows to sell the pattern to the wholesale market.

One of the things I love about sample knitting jobs is that I learn so much and typically, I get to use yarn that I have never used before and might not have selected on my own. Understand that sample knitting is not a huge moneymaker, but I find it fun as well as educational.

Don’t get me wrong, there are the drawbacks as well. For starters, when I am in a time crunch to get a project completed for a designer I get little, if any, work done on my own personal projects. This makes it very difficult to knit up my stash, but I have found the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in this case.  Because it also means I am less likely to want to purchase more yarn.

KAL Update

Here is a progress picture of my KAL sock for the Sock Knitters Anonymous April Sockdown. At first I really didn’t like the pattern, but once I was able to try them on and spread out the lace pattern I found I really do love the pattern. It is a simple pattern to follow so I don’t need to drag the written pattern around with me.

Earlier this week I completed the short-row heels on both socks and when I tried them on I was a little nervous that they would be too short. But instead of frogging back and adding some length I proceeded forward.

Today, after working about 1½” up the leg of one sock I tried it on again and could barely get it over my heel. Once, I got it over my heel I realized that it was in fact too short, and also very tight around my ankle. So both socks have been frogged back to just before the short-row heel. I think I will change the needle size to 2.25 to make them a little looser. Unfortunately, I only have a 2.25 in the Harmony needles and I so much prefer the Nickel plated, so I just placed an order with Knit Picks and will be able to continue with my socks later this week.

Until then I leave you with some additional pictures of this project. Not the best pictures I have taken, but all I have right now.

 

Speech Recognition

Over the last few weeks, my boss has been dictating a lot of emails to me.  All that typing, on top of  knitting, has really aggravated the tendinitis in my left wrist. This has been quite a frustrating especially when I want to knit.  So recently, when I saw a speech recognition software on sale I decided to buy it.  After installing it at work and using it a few times I couldn’t believe how accurate it was. My boss, who was very skeptical, was even impressed.

I tried to install the same software on my personal computer but because I am running a 64 bit operating system the software was not compatible.  I was totally bummed, because I thought speech recognition software would be so helpful for emails and blog posts, and to save my hand from the excessive of typing.

After doing some research, to try to figure out a way to get the software to work on my computer I found that Microsoft Windows Vista comes fully equipped with speech recognition software.  After doing a short tutorial, my computer was ready for me to start dictating to it.  With any speech recognition software, there have been a few difficult stumbling blocks along the way, but as I continue to use the software the computer get smarter and understands what I say better each time.

It is actually quite fun speaking to the computer rather than having to type every single word.  I think it will be harder for me to learn all the commands that are required for editing then it will be for the computer to get better at understanding what I say.

This blog post was almost entirely dictated with only a few keystrokes along the way.  I know overtime, as I learn all the commands, and as the computer better understands what I say, dictating blog posts and emails will become a standard in my world.

Which means my wrist and hands will have more rest time and I will be able to knit more.  For that matter, I can knit while I dictate a blog post.

My First KAL

I started my first KAL today. I joined the Sock Knitters Anonymous Group’s Sockdown for April. I typically don’t join in on KALs because usually I find out about them way after they have started and usually don’t have the time to catch up.

What is nice about this KAL is that it is ongoing and starts every month. I probably wouldn’t have joined it except that I have been spending way to much time on the Ravelry Forums and I have had loads of fun reading about the February and March Sockdown, so I decided to join the fun for April

One of the requirements is that you have to cast on between April 1 and April 30. This was rather difficult for me because I did my swatch over the weekend and I have wanted to cast on ever since. Here is my swatch. I just love the way the colors are blending.

Therefore, this morning, bright and early, 7:20 am to be exact, I cast on my first sock. I had under an hour before I had to leave for work, but I did get a few rows done.

It has been somewhat of a crazy morning at work, first thing this morning my boss comes in and tells me about some god-awful virus that was to be released today and I had to stop everything and download the patch to make sure we were covered. Not exactly what I had planned to do this morning, but it turned out to be an exciting little twist to my day.

 

Because, while I was watching the progress meter go by I got to knit. I did get a few things accomplished that didn’t require the computer, but as you can see at this moment I took the picture it had been over an hour and a half that it had been running. And since most of my job involves the computer I was just about at a standstill so I picked up my knitting and got a few more rows done.

Even though at 1 hour 33 minutes the progress meter showed that it was nearly complete, it actually took over 2 hours before it was finally finished scanning. Nevertheless, once the scan was done I had to get back to work. I can’t wait to get home this evening to continue knitting on my socks.

Knitting Limbo

For the past few days, I have sort of been in a knitting limbo. I am waiting to start my April Sockdown Socks tomorrow, and I am also expecting some yarn for a new test/sample knit in the next few days. In an effort to keep the WIPs to a minimum, two or under, I didn’t want to start any major projects that wouldn’t get completed before the Test/Sample knitting started. So I have been spending my time working on the swatches for the Basics, Basics, Basics Workshop as well as the Mobius Collar, which isn’t a mobius any more.

I don’t know why I have been dragging my feet on getting the swatches done for the Basics, Basics, Basics Workshop, because they have been quite easy. I whipped out the first two yesterday in addition to knitting on the collar. My plan is to have the other three swatches completed by the end of the week. That is if I can keep my hands off the Sockdown Socks once I get them started tomorrow.

Here is a picture of the collar as it stands right now. I plan on writing up this pattern and posting it on this blog for free in the next few days. You can read more about this project on Ravelry.

Enjoy!