Finished: More cowlses than you can shake a stick at.

It started out innocently enough... see pretty cowlses, be inspired to knit cowlses. then see a cowl knit from sock yarn... and the perfect storm of cowlses and cowlses was released upon the knitting world.


The first cowl. Otherwise known as The Cowl that Instilled the Passion For Knitting Cowls.


Finished: Watery Cowl (click link for Ravelry info)
Pattern: Gloria Cowl by Orinda5
Fiber: 1 skein of Fleece Artist Somoko in Peridot, doubled
Size: 99 stitches around
Needles: size 7 16" circular needle
Date Started: April 2008
Date Completed: two days later in April 2008


I cannot lie--this was a shameless monkey see, monkey do act of knitting.


The second cowl. Once I realized that a single skein of sock yarn could be magically transformed into a glorious neckwarmer, there was really no stopping me. I'm certainly not limited in the way of sock yarn in the stash. So, off I went, knitting cowlses.


Finished: Mineral Cowl (click link for Ravelry info)
Pattern: Gloria Cowl by Orinda5
Fiber: 1 skein of Fleece Artist Cashlana in Mineral, doubled
Size: 99 stitches around
Needles: size 7 16" circular needle
Date Started: April 2008, directly proceeding the Watery Cowl
Date Completed: a mere two days after casting on


Oh, yes. Then there's the bulky style cowl. Again, I saw and had to have.

Finished: Dolores Park the First (click link for Ravelry info)
Pattern: Dolores Park by Parikha of sixoneseven
Fiber: half skein of Schaefer Yarn Esperanza
Size: one size fits all
Needles: size 13 16" circular needle
Date Started: April 2008
Date Completed: a few hours after starting it. Quickest FO ever.


And then came the culmination of cowlses: the realization that single sock knitting could be replaced by cowl knitting. Because what is a cowl? A sock leg knit on big ol' needles. Forget about the foot and heel business. Also, there is no second sock involved. Hello, most perfect way to use up some sock yarn from the stash (to make room for more, of course)! And the discovery that one could, if one wanted, transform all of one's favorite sock patterns into cowlses. Which, if you're me, gets you the Cowl of Kindness.


Finished: Cowl of Kindness (click link for Ravelry info)
Pattern: My own, derived from Chawne's Socks of Kindness pattern. See my Ravelry link for pattern details
Fiber: 1 skein of Handmaiden Casbah in Glacier, doubled
Size: 96 stitches around
Needles: size 8 16" circular needle
Date Started: April 2008
Date Completed: April 2008


Fair warning, dear readers: this is not the last of the cowls. No, indeed. Also, can you tell I don't leave home without my trusty jean jacket?

Up next: single sock (did you REALLY think I'd give them up for the cowlses, did you?) progress for E A R T H ...

What's next for our herione, the Philistine?

Finishing my prelim exams has been such a tremendous weight off my mind, but I am now finding myself floundering a bit, asking myself, 'What next? What do I do with myself now that it isn't an absolute necessity for me to study for my exams 10 hours a day?' I'm finding it amazingly difficult to transition into the next big project: the dissertation. I'm finding it especially difficult to transition into the dissertation with the onset of spring. It just doesn't seem right to delve into this next huge undertaking at the *end* of the school year. Not... quite... yet...


Now that I've gained a bit of freedom and breathing room from my studies, I've finally taken the opportunity to expand my crafty horizons. I have been dreaming about quilting for a long, long while now. Mostly after having seen this beauty. (Ah, Maritza, my crafty muse). But it has always seemed like one of those big transitions, from knitting to quilting. I've still only recently become okay at knitting, and I haven't even knit any big lace thing yet (though, that, too, is on the horizon...)--quilting has just always seemed a bit too complicated to get involved with. I mean, you need a whole different set of tools, which I don't have. You need fabric, which I know nothing about and don't have. You need to have a clue about how to sew, which I don't have. And you need time and patience, which I haven't had much of... until recently.


But once I get something into my head, there's no stopping me, really. I have certainly discovered the lure of fabric. All it took was spending a little time on the internets surfing around the fabric stores and I was hit with massive amounts of quilty inspiration. Let's just say that finding fabric I liked was about as hard as finding sock yarn I like. Amy Butler polka dots and wall flowers, Alexander Henry birds and paper cranes... the list goes on. My fear of not being inspired by fabrics like I am yarn was utterly unfounded. It didn't take me long at all to discover *exactly* which prints and designers I like most. And once I started thinking about quilting combinations, there was no stopping me.


And so dreaming up ideas for quilts has replaced knitting single socks lately. And dream up quilts I have. What has transpired in this week away from knitting is that I have planned out no less than four quilts that I want to make. F O U R. The fabric combinations above and below are the beginnings of two of them. Above is the Birds and Gnomes Quilt-to-Be and below is the Colorful Chocolate Quilt-to-Be. I am very excited about both.


This one will have more fabrics added in, but I am trying to take this fabric acquisition thing slowly. Trying, anyway. But these two quilts are all planned out and I am ready to start. Now I just need that sewing machine and all those fun quilting tools. Oh, and some books to tell me how to do it. These all seem like minor details to me, though, because, for once, I have a little bit of time for myself and a lot of inspiration, so this quilting thing might finally happen.

Stay tuned... this blog might just become the Knitting and Quilting Philistine.

Also, the single socks will recommence on April 1, with the Project Spectrum color change to E A R T H.

F I R E

First things first, for all of you who have been following my trials and tribulations of the ominous prelim exams, they are over and I passed. Thank you all for your well-wishing during the past crazy two months of studying and hating my crapademic lifestyle. What have I been up to since March 2, the last time I posted, you ask? Well, I have one word for you: socks. Okay, actually, I have two words for you: single socks. The beauty above is a Spearfish sock knit using Fleece Artist 3/6 in Beet. Such a vixen, this sock is.


Some--though I suspect not all--of you will be happy to know that the Single Sock Liberation Movement is a far cry from being just another passing fad on the knitting scene. I am currently entrenched in my latest project--Project Spectrum 3.0 The Single Sock Edition. Yes, friends, my Philistine magic can skew any interesting and well thought out project into a fun new excuse to knit a bunch of single socks with not even the slightest concern for the second sock. I am currently knitting (and will continue to knit) single socks in the colors of the Project Spectrum Elements colors. The past two months have been devoted to F I R E--pink, red, and orange.


This cable-y beauty is a Liebchen sock, knit using Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk yarn in Dusk. The alpaca and silk blend yarn is wonderful for socks; the silk makes it strong and shiny, while the alpaca makes it all fuzzy, warm and comfy. Once the mate comes along (don't hold your breath, though), these are going to make perfect bed socks!


And the ribbed back of the leg ensures a wonderful fit.


This 'un is a Sock of Kindness knit using Sundara sock yarn in Papaya over Grapefruit. I don't think I've ever made a sock that fit my foot so well. Num.


This sweet red singlet was another fun knit. It's actually knit from a pattern available at the moment only in Finnish, the Strawberry Fields Socks. Lucky for me, I happened to email Kris for some help, and, despite not being Finnish or knowing a lick of Finnish, she decided it would be fun to translate Finnish into English. Go figure, because she translated it perfectly (as Tehri, who IS Finnish, has attested to). And Tehri has contacted the designer to make the pattern available in English, which should happen sometime soon, in the event that a) you are interested in making this sock, and b) you don't speak/read a lick of Finnish.


Perhaps a closer inspection of the heel and toe will convince you that, despite not knowing Finnish, you want to knit this sock? Beautiful heel, with the garter stitch rib traveling all the way down the heel.


And the side panels of garter stitch rib travel all the way down to the tip of the toe, which I think is an amazing detail. It's what made me seek out Kris' translating skills in the first place.


And who can go wrong with the stockinette Koigu sock? I call this one the Picot + Koigu = LOVE sock. It's the first in a long, long series planned. I needed a reason to need to use lots and lots of Koigu, so I created one. A sock series. Ah, again, that Philistine magic up-to-no-goodery hard at work.


There you have it: the F I R E single socks.
E A R T H single socks will begin promptly on April 1. And I, for one, can't wait.

Finished: Giotto-With-the-Flow Socks & Prelims 2, 3, & 4

Hello, all. Wow, do months just fly right by you before you know it when you're all stressy and preliming. I promised to show you some more finished socks long ago, and I've finally shown up to do it...


Finished: Giotto-With-the-Flow Socks
Pattern: These socks are a hybrid of of Anna Bell's Giotto Socks and Evelyn Clark's Go With the Flow Socks from IK's Favorite Socks. The idea for the hybrid was inspired by Whitney's clever machinations.
Fiber: Sundara Sock Yarn in Gray Green over Mint (one of my most favorite yarn colorways ever; that Sundara, she's a genius.)
Size: women's foot
Needles: size 1 Knit Picks circular needle
Date Started: a long time ago
Date Completed: January 2008
Modifications: No modifications from the two patterns. I knit the top section of the Giottos as written and the bottom section of the Go With the Flow pattern as written.


Love these socks. And such wonderful lounging-in-the-bed-socks.


Not that I've had much time for lounging in the bed any time recently...


Along with another pair (PAIR!) of socks, I've also finished my last three prelim written exams. If only I could say that the whole shebang was over and done. But the oral was canceled on account of a teensy bit of snow. It'll all be over soon, though. This Friday is the big day, finally. Then... maybe more time to blog? I'm hoping, anyway. I've missed you guys!

Up next: I rediscover what it's like to *not* spend twelve hours a day trying not to fail PhD preliminary exams. Also, my progress with Project Spectrum 3.0.

Finished: The Prettiest Darned Socks I've Ever Knit, If I Do Say So, Myself.

Helloooo! I'm here to deliver up my most favorite FO to date--please excuse the glut of photos, but I just couldn't help myself... And I am now utterly convinced that yellow socks make the very, very, very, very, VERY best socks.


Finished: Coziest Cable Socks Ever
Pattern: Cozy Cable Socks
Fiber: Colintette Jitterbug in Vincent's Apron (1.5 skeins)
Size: women's foot
Needles: size 1 Addi Turbo circular needle
Date Started: December 2007
Date Completed: January 2008
Modifications: Continued the cable pattern down the heel flap.


While these socks looked really difficult and tedious to make, it turns out they aren't at all! The pattern is actually very easy to follow, and once the cable pattern was established, I barely had to look at the cable charts at all. But I sure can appreciate the detailed and textured finish of the socks. They look like an impressive knit, but I'd rate them more fun than fiddly.


I did modify the heel a bit. I rarely knit heel flaps anymore, preferring the short-row heel, but I really wanted the cable pattern to continue down the heel. So, I broke down and suffered through the flap and having to pick up all those gusset stitches. Looking at the result, I'm very happy that made that mod. The heel now mirrors the pattern on top of the foot.


These socks are pure happiness. And you'd better believe I wore them while taking Prelim #2, which, I can now report is done and done. Two more to go. And the oral. Then knitting vacation, here I come! And by 'knitting vacation', I mean writing a grant proposal to fund my dissertation research with a little knitting thrown in for good measure.

P.S. I eked out ONE last finished mate from the singles collection... which I'll share next time. But since then, I've gone and cast on three, THREE new socks! More soon!

Things that make my day.

1. The Cat and Mouse Game.

Between Edwin Claudius and the computer mouse. Case in point: cat sees mouse.


Cat chases mouse.


Cat catches mouse.


2. Yellow yarn. I have it BAD for all fibers yellow right now. Maybe it's an attempt to fight the winter doldrums? Maybe it's a surefire distraction from the angst of prelim exams (is yellow supposed to be a calming color? I always thought it wasn't, but then, why was that awful soda of the 80s called 'Mellow Yellow', hmmmm?)? Whatever magic it holds, I am completely captivated by it. So much so, in fact, that I started a new Flickr group just for yellow knits. It is slowly sating my thirstiness for the yellow. If you need a swig of of the ol' Mellow Yellow, check the group out here.

3. Awesome, awesome knitbloggers telling me that I make their day. Big, big hugs to Alice, Em, Minty, Sarah, Jennie, barefootrooster,and Katie (a new blog to me! thanks for introducing yourself, Katie!) for including me on your 'You Make My Day' lists!

And it only seems fitting that I spread the love by telling a few people that make MY day in the knitblog community that I appreciate them. So, first, I have to preface by saying that there are a few among us who pretty much make my day on a daily basis--my knitblog homies, if you will... so thank you, Ashley, Minty, Sarah, Jennie, and Pam! Be heretofore advised that you are considered my knitblog homies!

So, the 'You Make My Day' awards. Rules: Give the award to 10 people whose blogs make you feel happy about blogland, then let them know so they can pass it on. In alphabetical order:

100% Pura Lana :: Because her take on Project Spectrum last year is still blowing my mind. I am in sheer adoration of all those socks!
adamknits! :: Because YARN NERDery is the best kind of nerdery!
Black Dog Knits :: Because she is simply my favorite Aussie, that's why.
Elliphantom Knits :: Because not only are her FO shoots utterly amazing, she also can crack me up with her witty photo description tags like no other. Seriously, people. It's hard to get me to smile, much less laugh.
Mustaa villaa :: Because anyone who can crank out that many beautiful pairs of socks (PAIRS being the operative word) makes my day in a serious way.
Neither Hip Nor Funky :: Because she has a penchant for making singing bad, bad songs that should never be sung seem so hip. And funky, as it were.
Slipped Stitch :: Because just when I had given up all interest in ever knitting anything but socks again, she went and came up with the most perfect sweater pattern ever. And then published it for free, no less. Also, I live a Londoner's life vicariously through her.
s i x o n e s e v e n :: Because not only does she share awesome vegan recipes with us, but it's all I can do not to toss aside my own knitting and knit whatever she's just finished. I mean seriously, this? And this? And what about that one? Seriously, who needs to knit mates to their socks, anyway, when one can be sweater-and-mitten twinsies with Parikha instead?
s t r i k k e r :: Because she can rock the emo fringe like no other knitblogger I know. And she's as freakish as me about coveting the perfect yellow yarn.
The Daily Purl :: Because, I once dubbed her The Daily Temptation, and I wholeheartedly stand by this nickname one hundred and fifty percent. Also, have you seen this girl's weaving magic?? Utterly, mind-blowingly amazing.

Be back soon with my most favorite FO to date...

Finished: Twinkleberry Socks & Prelim 1

The throes of prelim exams require that I just poke my head into the blogosphere briefly, but after getting all that Embossed Leaves love, I couldn't resist taking a few minutes to show y'all another finished PAIR! And can I just say, WHO do I think I am, finishing things like this? I am seriously losing all my Philistine cred over this, I just know it.


Finished: Twinkleberry Socks
Pattern: Twinkleberry Socks, a free Knitzi pattern designed by Beth of good-natured ribbing
Fiber: Yarn Nerd merino/tencel blend sock yarn in denim blues
Size: women's foot
Needles: size 1 Knitpicks circular needle
Date Started: September 2007
Date Completed: January 2008
Notes: This is a really wonderful pattern--super easy pattern repeats that turn into a gorgeous lacy sock with just a hint of cables. The merino/tencel blend also made these socks especially pretty; I've got it bad for merino/tencel sock yarns right now. I'm convinced that merino/tencel + lacy sock pattern = shiny, happy socks of perfection. More to come on this combination, just you wait.


And, as of yesterday at 5:00 pm, I have another FO! Prelim exam 1 down, and 3 more to go. What a grueling experience. I typed 14 pages (single-space!) in 4 hours. Can we say OUCH?! Don't they know I use those fingers to knit? Jeez.

Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments on my Embossed Leaves socks! I appreciate them all, and I hope that as soon as these narsty prelims are over I can get back to responding to comments and... LEAVING comments. Just 3 more weeks. I swear, once the exams are over, I am going to do nothing but knit for a week (maybe two!) straight. It is going to be awesome.

P.S.--Would you believe me if I told you I have already finished yet ANOTHER pair of socks?? It's true, I swear. I'll be back very soon...