Where to begin?
Well, it’s Socktoberfest, so let’s start with the socks. I’ve just turned the heel on one of my Jaywalkers, and I have to admit that I’m a tad disappointed with them so far. Not disappointed enough to rip the things out or stop knitting them, but just not super in love with them. I am in love with the yarn. I love the bright colors (which are not showing up right in the pictures and are far prettier than the screen shows), I love the weird overtwisted single-ply, I love the slight scratchiness of the fiber (yes, I am a freak). I love the way the stripes are working out sort of diagonal, and especially how that combines with the chevron pattern. What’s left not to love? I really don’t love the weird little dimples that formed where the chevron pattern starts at the top of the toes. They are virtually impossible to see in this picture:
But they are pretty obvious in real life. I know there must be a way to avoid those freaky little bumps where the decreases start, but I didn’t figure it out in time not to do it on both of the socks. I think it would almost have to involve some short rows right in the middle of the top or something. I do not want to go there. The other thing that I’m not totally loving is the sizing. They’re a little loose around my skinny little feet, and I like snug socks. Even so, I still like them. And because I love this yarn so much, but abhor reknitting frogged yarn, I am going to keep going on them and hope that a nice little blocking does some good for those naughty puckers. (Oh, god, what kind of freaks is google going to bring me with that phrase?)
Okay, we’re going to stop for a moment with the knitting talk and switch to children. People, my barely 8-month-old is pulling up to a stand any time and every time she can. I am not ready for this yet. I want more of the stage in which she sits happily in one spot on the floor and drools all over the toys within reach. How many times do I have to catch her crawling off to the bathroom to try to eat the cap off the bolt that holds the toilet down before I am everyone in the house is fully trained in keeping the bathroom door closed? And did I mention that she has teeth now? That’s right. Two. Teeth. Bottom center. Poor thing is trying to figure out how to nurse comfortably with very sharp, ragged edges poking her in the tongue. And she’s still valiantly fighting sleep – but who can blame her with all this development going on?
As for Julie – the butter and the cooked milk went smoothly. We tried putting cheese on a couple of things this week, and that went less wonderfully. We had some night waking and crying those nights, and it’s hard to say for certain that it was the cheese, but I’m leaning in that direction. We’re taking a few days to regroup and may try some kefir in a smoothie and/or go back to the cooked milk and butter. I know I’m not ready to try cold milk yet! Someone suggested trying the allergen’s in the doctor’s office. Good idea, but Julie has delayed reactions to most things. Usually, we don’t see a problem till that night, when she wakes up screaming bloody murder. Also, her reactions are usually not life-threatening. They are just really sad and hard to deal with. I mean, who wants to wake up at 3 a.m. to an inconsolable child? I got a lovely e-mail with a link to a gluten-free recipe website. Yep. Very cute, very nice stuff there. Unfortunately, like most sites and cookbooks, totally inappropriate for multiple food allergies because they use lots of eggs, dairy and soy. In the mean time, we had some awesome chicken-wildrice soup for dinner last night, and some pretty good pork chops tonight.
Moving on, Georgia needs some more help getting going on her socks. Georgia, the most important thing to remember is to breathe, relax, and take your time. You’re not knitting a sock in one go, you’re practicing knitting socks. Sort of like how people practice yoga, maybe. Let’s look at that photo from the other day again, shall we?
There are three needles in the picture. Needle A is the one on the left, the one we are knitting stitches off of. Needle B is the one sharing a loop with Needle A, sort of below in the middle there. Needle C is the one on the top right. We can ignore C because it is simply holding the stitches at the other end of the round. Just pretend it doesn’t exist, other than to note that I usually like to come in with the empty needle (B) below needle C because it seems to help me avoid ladders. So what’s happening in this picture is that I’ve just inserted Needle B into the first loop on Needle A and am getting ready to wrap the yarn around B and fish it through to make a new loop. At that point, I will slide all the loops on A up toward the end and pop the first one, the one with the new loop through it, off the end. They are normally all a little closer to the tip of A, but I had them further back in this picture because I was trying to keep them all on the needle while stretching everything out for the picture-taking.
Another little tip that I have for someone new at the double-point knitting is that the first row or two after casting on are definitely the hardest. You have to be so careful not to twist as you’re joining the round, and there’s not much fabric to hold on to. If you’re new at all this, consider knitting a couple of rows back and forth, then joining it together once it’s established. You can either do this on a practice piece (highly recommended – it really takes away the pressure to be perfect) or on your sock and just seam it up using the loose end you have to weave in anyway.
Okay, so find a block of quality knit time when you can relax and concentrate. Sit down and remember to breathe as you just force yourself to let go of the fear and give it a try. You can do it! Also, don’t be afraid to go to your local yarn shop and ask someone to watch you doing it and tell you you got it right. Some shops have clinic hours where they have a person on staff just waiting to help you out. That’s the best I can do for you tonight. Best of luck!
One last thought – as I mentioned, my friend Kippy from middle school is scheduled to be here in the morning. It should be a lot of fun. I have some tenative plans for us, some ideas for things to do and how to manage showing her a good time while dealing with my lovely children and keeping everything copasetic. We’ll see how it all pans out. I’m happy to say that at least I managed to get most of my planned chores done before she showed up. The baby barf spots have been spot-cleaned from the hardwood floors. The sheets on the guest bed have been washed. I even took care of the necessary prep work for my knitting class on Saturday so that I wouldn’t have to worry about it while she’s here. The only thing that didn’t get done is the super-cleaning of the upstairs bathroom. The one that she will see very little of anyway, because it is on the floor where only the family bedrooms are. I’ll give it a few swipes in the morning and call it a win.
Carolyn e-mailed me to sympathize on how messy my yarn-stash/guest room must be, and I am happy to say that there is very little mess in here now. It is, in fact, quite neat. It is the way I like it to be – quite a bit of stuff around, but all pleasantly displayed in an eclectic arrangement on shelves and tables and in the closet. Definitely not the jumble I whined about a few weeks ago. I’m trying not to feel too happy with myself so as to avoid tempting fate. Anyway, like I said before, I probably won’t get a chance to post again till after she leaves, so till Saturday night or so.
In the mean time, go amuse yourselves with the story about how I almost died at the hands of a two-year-old with a Sharpie marker this time last year.
On re-knitting frogged yarn, I remember my frugal granny ripping out old sweaters, washing the yarn and winding it (usually around someone’s two, spread hands) before hanging it up to dry. This was, she told me, to remove the kinks and make it useable again.
She’s also the kind of woman who would use a teabag more than once, though, so I can’t guarantee washed frogged yarn would be satisfactory for we spoiled modern recreational knitters.
Hi, Shelly,
I am writing here because my email bounced. So, thank you so much for that nice black and fall-colors ball of yarn you sent. I am knitting it on US0000’s, so it is going pretty slowly, even though it is a tiny little bag. I like the stripes a lot.
Best wishes with everything, girls, man, food, yarn, teaching et al.