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.

Tart.

What an appropriate description of my life, these days. Tart. Not really very full of sweet, blithe, happy-go-lucky freeness that I have for so long associated with the summer months. No, these summer days are more aptly described as tart. My knitting time has plummeted to an all new record low, so I'm lucky if I even have a spare moment to glance longingly at my sock pal's half-finished sock, much less be able to knit more than one round at a time. Gee, at this rate of work and study, I may have to ditch fronting the Single Sock Liberation Movement and spearhead the Half-A-Single Sock Movement. Half a sock? I have one of those! Hope my sock pal likes anklets!


Luckily, Fiberlicious! continues to inspire me, so I may have more yarn-as-delectables to post than yarn-as-knitted-wearables to show you for the next few weeks. Though my tart mood has had me seeing reds, and I am feeling inspired lately to knit with the gorgeous merino/cashmere sock yarn that Nora so graciously and generously sent me a few weeks ago. Of course, the sheer lack of free time may inhibit actual knitting with these beautiful reds, but nevertheless, they are inspiring. I have great plans for some beautiful red Roza's socks. But for now, those reds make some nice yarn cake decoration pieces.

And thanks VERY much to all those who weighed in on the issue of awkward variegation of my sock pal's socks. The consensus, provided by those variegated-yarn lovers more qualified on the subject than I, was that the socks should go on. And so they shall. Now, where's that spare moment in which to knit them?

Finished: Rosy Baltic Socks

Despite my spearheading the Single Multiple-Women Single-Sock Liberation-Movement (thanks to these great gals for joining me!), I've managed to finish a pair! Two! A complete set!


Finished: Rosy Baltic Socks
Pattern: clementine's Baltic Socks by Di of clementine's shoes
Fiber: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock lightweight in "Rose Quartz"
Needles: size 1 DPNs
Date Started: 10 April 2007
Date Completed: 05 May 2007
Modifications: I cast on 68 stitches instead of 64 and completed 8 pattern repeats on the leg instead of the 10 called for in the pattern. I reduced the number of pattern repeats because STR does not have super-great yardage. I may have had enough yarn to do 9 pattern repeats, but definitely not 10.


The reason for my ability to finish these socks? This must easily have been my favorite sock pattern I've yet knit. What a great pattern! It is written clearly and it is super easy to memorize, making it a fun, quick knit. And the best part is that you end up with some really cute lacy socks that look somewhat complicated without the fuss of following charts.


See how cute? They go with my Birk mary-janes like nobody's business! Love!


The other reason I was able to finish these socks without procrastination is because it turns out I *am* a fan of STR... with two very important qualifications: it must be the lightweight version and it has to be the semi-solid "Shaded Solids." I love that the STR base yarn is perfectly spherical. It is sproingy and really tough (doesn't break easily, which is a characteristic I like in sock yarn). It also has great stitch definition. I will admit that even the shaded solids pool a little bit, but paired with the right patterns, like this one, it isn't incongruous and doesn't make me shriek in terror, like the pooling effects of some of the multicolors. I am no longer hesitant to openly praise STR. I like it, I like it!


Some favorite details of this pattern: I got to try out the short-row heel technique again. This time 'round was much easier, and, well, I love the short-row heel. Having done it a couple of times now, I am more able to appreciate the not having to pick up gusset stitches and try desperately to avoid gaps and holes. I also love the pattern the slightly variegated yarn makes on short-row heels.


I also love the vertical lacy-leaf pattern on the front and back of the socks. The lace panels are separated by panels of stockinette stitch on the sides, which makes the socks fit really well, as they provide a bit of stretch. You can also add or subtract stitches from these side panels to customize the fit of the sock for your leg size, too. Ingenious.


I love these socks. They may very well be my favorites that I've knit thus far. I know I will knit this pattern again, no question about it.

And now that I've finished a whole pair of socks, be prepared to see several new beginnings of socks-to-be popping up shortly!

Have a terrific Sunday and can't wait to see everyone's MDS&W Festival loot!

Spectral.

St. Peter's Cemetery :: Old City :: Philadelphia
A resting ground for some very old souls, indeed. Shades shaded by glorious rosy dogwoods, dappled and in full bloom.


yellow :: limestone
A bright tulip or two nod their heads sleepily in this placid spot.
Limestone tucked in tight under leafy bedcovers.


A very old soul rests here.
Ancient marker cracked, doubled over, sagging with the weight of age.


red tulips :: monument
In the midst of bustling streets, there are pockets of peace and quiet.


pink :: limestone
Lone beauty overseeing this sleeping place.


pink :: dogwood underside
Floral overhang, a winsome canopy for this somnolent site.

Spectral, or, how I spent a glorious Saturday afternoon.
I love this old cemetery, mere blocks from my own sleeping place. It's quite a pretty place to spend a sunny moment, breathing in old history and marveling at the lovely new growth of the fresh season.

I'll be back soon with news of sock knitting that, happily, involves size 1 needles and substantial, sproingy yarn... ahhhh, frogging the two Lorna's Laces socks was vindicating! I'm enjoying my sock knitting all the more now.

Have a relaxing Sunday evening!

bloom.

I continue to have nothing of consequence to report, unless you happen to be enamored by such things as the construct of gender in ancient Egyptian art, or a surfeit of other topics I am finding particularly inane at the moment. Luckily, things of beauty are blooming around me, making my uninteresting work more bearable.


Other things continue to bud around these parts as well. I am relishing sock knitting these days. No, no, not of the absurd amazing variety, like this or this. Any project larger than a sock (of the unexceptional normal-sized variety, that is) is just too overwhelming for my distracted mind to handle at the moment, and it seems that it's all I can do to finish one sock before moving on to the next. Two of a kind? Pairs? Not so much. Singles, please. I can't be bothered right now to follow such sensible knitting rules as project monogamy and warding off single sock syndrome. Knitting is my pleasure and respite from the stresses of crapademia, and it's one of the precious areas of my life where I can do what I want when I want how I want. Who knew knitting single socks could be so liberating?

Happy Sunday!

Literary Spectrum: Greens, Yellows, Pinks Edition.

Who knew I had so few pink books? In the event that you missed the first installment of Literary Spectrum, it is here.

My week continues to be bothersome and hectic, but I'm surviving. I've gotten a few fantastic treats in the mail to keep me afloat, which I'm sure you'll hear more about soon. Have a great rest of the week!

30.

That, my friends, is how old I am today. I can't say I was very thrilled about it. That is, until I got this...


That, my friends, is something that I've needed for a very long time. Something that was always just a wee bit too expensive for me to want to fork out the cash for. Thank goodness for milestone birthdays and boyfriends who know what their girls want. He's witnessed my frustration of winding skeins of yarn off of backs of chairs and from around knees all too often. And, because he's a smart boy, he knew that 30-year olds really do need their own swifts. Beautiful wooden ones.


And because my mom and my big sister know me all too well, I also found this beauty waiting in my school mailbox for me. Wasn't I just saying something about green yarn and how it has some sort of weird magical quality? Apparently, it willed itself into my mom's and my sister's minds. They're smart cookies. They, too, know that 30-year olds can never have too much green yarn.


Never. Have. Too. Much. Oh, just look at all these cakes. Yum.

Off to have some big time birthday fun!

Renewal and Revival.

Spring has been fickle lately... one minute she's here, the next minute she's overcome once again with cold and gray. But she should be here to stay any day now, any. day. now. And with the turn of the season, a new bout of Project Spectrum colors regales us. Despite my complete and total devotion to gray (and, lately, oaty goodness) fiber, I'm happy to begin thinking afresh, in greens, yellows, and pinks.


Greens, especially. Green fiber just has this alluring, magical quality about it, no? And what a perfect color for this time of year, new shoots and all.


And, because Project Spectrum is meant to push the boundaries of tried-and-true comfort colors (ahem! gray, my dear friend! neutrals, I love thee!), I might even cautiously stick my fork into a few more colors than I might normally choose to associate myself with. I have a few things stashed away deep in the crevasses for such an occasion.


And since spring IS, after all, the season of renewal and revival, I am feeling the desire to revive a lonely, single lemongrass pomatomus who desperately needs its mate.

Greens, yellows, and pinks commence!

Literary Spectrum: Blues, Grays, Whites Edition.

Project Spectrum has inspired me to share a few glimpses of M's and my library. Libraries, like food selections in shopping carts, have this uncanny ability to divulge so much about a person. That said, I'll let you all conjecture what you will from the peeks above.

Have a sunny Friday, all, and do your darnedest to stay warm!

February Gray-Blues.

February chills are upon us here in Philly, and the February blues are as well. The blustery days are gray and cloudy and frigid. I am finding it particularly hard these days to gear myself up to make the commute into school. It seems to make so much more sense, morning after morning, to just stay in. Keep that ol' cold at bay. Have some stolid brick walls between me and the gray-blue elements. Work, however, is not so forthcoming in said confines. But access to coffee and knitting is. And, thus, my days are filled with half-read articles, half-drunk mugs of coffee, and half-knit cable-and-rib jacket back panels.



Project Spectrum has arrived. Mother Nature, it seems, is ready to participate. Grays, blues, and whites? She's all over that action.




I am ready, too.



Are you?