News From the Front
Hey, so the war is on! It's all been a little confusing because a bunch of the dossiers (including mine) didn't come out when they were supposed to, but the pattern was up on the website so anyone who wanted to could go ahead and start, but there were a whole bunch of whiners making up excuses about why it wasn't fair and how they couldn't start till they knew the identity of their target yadda yadda stupid. There were topic after topic of flames on both the Sock Wars forum and in Ravelry as well. People were spending all day on the computer instead of knitting.
Finally, though, the administrator just put all the assassin/target information up on the web site so that everyone would have it. I got a nice e-mail from a lady in Chicago, who is knitting my socks (Hi, Shelley! Sorry about the size-11 feet!). I sent an e-mail to the lady for whom I'm knitting socks - she's Canadian! And in the mean time, I've been knitting as time permits. Which means not as much as I would like.
I started off yesterday morning thinking that I would take sock pictures as I dragged it around through my day. I took one picture as we were in the drive-thru line at Starbucks on our way to our park playdate, and then I forgot about the idea.
But I did take some pictures at the park.
There was much running around and business yesterday, and I had very little daytime knitting opportunities. So I knit for most of the evening, until I found my eyes closing automatically and then I dragged myself to bed.
Because today was another exciting, busy day. Today I had a class to teach at the store, and then I ran off to Shepherd's Harvest. Yay! I can't believe how big this festival is getting. The vendors are filling three barns now when it used to be just one! And they now have a couple decent food vendors besides the totally-awesome kettle-corn.
I managed to resist most of the lovely wool, although a few things followed me home. The first one I can hardly believe...
The person who bought this must have thought she had a burning desire for copious amounts of overspun thick-and-thin bulky yarn, plus the time to make it. I have no idea what I'm doing here. I do have a book, and I know a couple people who know how to spin, so maybe one day I'll figure it out. My friend Sarah also bought some wool to spin - someone gave her a drop spindle - and she said something about a video someone recommended. C-R-Z-Y crazy.
I also bought some yummy-looking homemade jam from one of my readers (Hi, Karen!!!) and some summer sausage from a guy who was handing out salti-licious samples - I figured I had to bring prizes home for the family.
And of course there was the obligatory skein of sock yarn.
This is a skein from Sandy's Palette, and it is machine washable wool/nylon singles. I knit a pair of Jaywalkers from a skein of her yarn a couple of years ago and they turned out pretty and have worn really well, so I knew I needed to get another skein from her.
And finally, a new giant project basket. This will be big enough to hold all the yarn and parts for that project that I just pulled back out of the naughty corner of the yarn closet. (Cat included for scale.) This came from Handspun by Stefania, who had lots of high-quality baskets that I wanted to buy, not to mention a ton of beautiful roving. If I hadn't already bought a giant ball of the stuff, I would have snagged some from her.
I have to show you my sock wars sock, don't I? It's pretty ugly, I'm afraid.
The sample sock for the pattern on the Sock Wars website did a nice little stripey thing. This nasty pooling does nothing for the stitch pattern, but no way am I ripping back or starting with a different yarn. The clock's a-tickin'! And speaking of which, I must go get to work.
Finally, though, the administrator just put all the assassin/target information up on the web site so that everyone would have it. I got a nice e-mail from a lady in Chicago, who is knitting my socks (Hi, Shelley! Sorry about the size-11 feet!). I sent an e-mail to the lady for whom I'm knitting socks - she's Canadian! And in the mean time, I've been knitting as time permits. Which means not as much as I would like.
I started off yesterday morning thinking that I would take sock pictures as I dragged it around through my day. I took one picture as we were in the drive-thru line at Starbucks on our way to our park playdate, and then I forgot about the idea.
But I did take some pictures at the park.
There was much running around and business yesterday, and I had very little daytime knitting opportunities. So I knit for most of the evening, until I found my eyes closing automatically and then I dragged myself to bed.
Because today was another exciting, busy day. Today I had a class to teach at the store, and then I ran off to Shepherd's Harvest. Yay! I can't believe how big this festival is getting. The vendors are filling three barns now when it used to be just one! And they now have a couple decent food vendors besides the totally-awesome kettle-corn.
I managed to resist most of the lovely wool, although a few things followed me home. The first one I can hardly believe...
The person who bought this must have thought she had a burning desire for copious amounts of overspun thick-and-thin bulky yarn, plus the time to make it. I have no idea what I'm doing here. I do have a book, and I know a couple people who know how to spin, so maybe one day I'll figure it out. My friend Sarah also bought some wool to spin - someone gave her a drop spindle - and she said something about a video someone recommended. C-R-Z-Y crazy.
I also bought some yummy-looking homemade jam from one of my readers (Hi, Karen!!!) and some summer sausage from a guy who was handing out salti-licious samples - I figured I had to bring prizes home for the family.
And of course there was the obligatory skein of sock yarn.
This is a skein from Sandy's Palette, and it is machine washable wool/nylon singles. I knit a pair of Jaywalkers from a skein of her yarn a couple of years ago and they turned out pretty and have worn really well, so I knew I needed to get another skein from her.
And finally, a new giant project basket. This will be big enough to hold all the yarn and parts for that project that I just pulled back out of the naughty corner of the yarn closet. (Cat included for scale.) This came from Handspun by Stefania, who had lots of high-quality baskets that I wanted to buy, not to mention a ton of beautiful roving. If I hadn't already bought a giant ball of the stuff, I would have snagged some from her.
I have to show you my sock wars sock, don't I? It's pretty ugly, I'm afraid.
The sample sock for the pattern on the Sock Wars website did a nice little stripey thing. This nasty pooling does nothing for the stitch pattern, but no way am I ripping back or starting with a different yarn. The clock's a-tickin'! And speaking of which, I must go get to work.
posted by Shelly Kang at 9:22 PM
12 Comments:
I see clouds over ocean waves - very artistically rendered, Shelly. That was your intent all along, right?? [nod head and smile knowingly]
I think that the socks are beautiful, too bad I'm not your target. As it is, I mailing from Sweden to Canada and my assassin is in the US.
I wonder how I could go about collecting all of the leftovers from this war for my "blankie"? I've been looking for a nice quilting pattern to make a king-size quilt for our bed and have now decided that it will be a large version of your blankie. What do you think? It'll probably take me 10 years!
I backed out of aactually joining Sock wars, could not handle any more stress plus I'm a born procrastinator and there is no way I would knit a pair of socks the night before. that is how I get reasy for everything else.
I agree with meema. Your design, perfect. Now make sure the 2nd sock matches. Love your new yarn and basket.
I was at a fiber festival yesterday also. I saw only one person knitting in their booth--but a LOT of people spinning. My son loves looking at spinning wheels and people spinning. I tried a drop spindle once--I have a friend that spins--but after the initial urge to buy it all, I went back to my knitting. I have to say, yesterday, seeing all that lovely roving/fleece and seeing all the spinners spin--I wanted to join in, but I resisted the temptation. I already have too many hobbies, and not enough time. One day though. . .
The war sock is looking good. The pooling doesn't bother me at all :)
I LOVE the way you composed the picture of Julie at the playground.
Happy Mother's Day
I am on my third attempt at my first sock.... I missed the little K1 at the end of the first line of the pattern so nothing was working out correctly. I am stressing out about being assassinated before I finish my target's socks. You are so much further along than I am. Keep up the good work!
Blogless Mary Lou
Love the basket!! Thanks for the link.
When I went to Rhinebeck, I too picked up some roving, a spindle, and a book... I still have not got that 'fire in the belly' to learn to spin... perhaps this summer the urge will hit me, I hope...
I wish you well in Sock Wars. My son (a few weeks shy of 13) was reading over my shoulder, your post about Sock Wars, and thought that it sounded so cool. He keeps teasing me about my knitting... ;) and now wants me to be a participant... ummm I'll happily watch from the comfort of my computer thankyouverymuch!
Go get 'em Shelly!
What a cute kitty!
Cat included for scale. Why haven't I thought to explain it that way? Instead of, the cat is a huge ham, but we love her anyway. That's my new story... About the sock pooling... how were you to know what the obligatory yarn would do?
Stumbled on your blog as I'm also in Sock Wars. You are really far along! I am not a fast knitter and have barely done one repeat of the pattern (had to rip out a few times). Are you still alive? I happily am still alive and can send something a little less pathetic to my assassin when they kill me.
And thanks for showing me what pooling is, I hadn't understood when people talked about pooling.
You succumbed to the roving! I have a friend who is a spinner and has sheep, that's how far over the edge she's gone. And I'm going up to visit her sheep farm next week.
I think she's rubbing her hands in delight. I keep telling her I am not touching a spinning wheel but she keeps making innocent remarks about how I "just need to try it. Once. That's all."
Ha.
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