Plath’s Adventures

One done, one to go!
Originally uploaded by plath.

One sock finished, and the match on it’s way! I promise to take a good, well lit picture once both socks are finished. The flash really washed out the colors this morning, but that’s what you get when you take a picture at 6:30 am.

This is review week for Socktoberfest, and I already started a thread on the Flickr Group about favorite sock books, but I figured I’d offer a little yarn review on the Socks that Rock yarn I’m currently using. When I first balled up my yarn, I fell in love with the squishyness and the wonderful super-saturated colors. I’ve never been a fan of pastels, and almost all the socks that rock colorways have turned me on (as Vincent would say LOL– pardon me if you don’t watch Project Runway). Once I began to knit with it, the love only grew stronger, until… the second night I was working on these socks, my fingers turned blue-ish purple. Eeek! My love was definitely questioned. However, I haven’t noticed any dye transfer since. I don’t know if there was just something particularly sweaty about my hands that night or what, but I’ll make sure and soak them well after I bind off. In fact, I love the yarn so much that I just purchased another skein of Socks that Rock in the Farmhouse colorway.

In other fiber related news, Brenda Dayne’s adventures in natural dying as of late, as well as Lime n Violet’s recent mention of it had me intrigued, so I decided I needed to dabble in it as well. I’ve had a hank of Knitpicks Dye Your Own sock yarn hanging around, and a yard full of black walnuts, so I put two and two together and decided to try dyeing with black walnuts. I found this great resource online, so I stuffed a dozen black walnuts (in their green husks) into the legs of an old pair of nylons, and then put them in a big pot with water to soak. I also added a handful of old rusty nails, as I read that iron makes the color deeper, even though black walnuts are so acidic they don’t really need a mordant. Our water is a tad rusty as well, since our water softener is currently low on salt. I’m going to let them soak for a few days and then I’ll boil the whole mixture, strain it, and then attempt the actual dyeing.

Freaky magnolia tree seed pod
Originally uploaded by plath.

I leave you with a very creepy picture of a seed pod on our magnolia tree. It scares Jason and I to death– we envision it sneaking into our house at night to attack us.

Yarn Aboard Sock package
Originally uploaded by plath.

I received my awesome Yarn Aboard Sock package! Thank you so much Michelle. Dh and I have already devoured the delicious chocolate, and I can’t wait to drink the decaf Caribou. I’ve added the yummy Cherry Tree hill sock yarn to my waiting to be knit pile, and I think I’m going to knit dh a pair of fingerless gloves with the great brown tweed sock yarn.

The Francis Drake box will be on it’s way to it’s next recipient tomorrow!

Socktoberfest
Originally uploaded by plath.

Here is the progress on my Socktoberfest sock. I poured a glass of wine (not from Shelton Vineyards, although dh is going there again next weekend to buy us another case), and knit away. I’m actually quite a bit farther, I’m going to start the toe decreases when I get home from work, and hopefully cast on for the second sock! Stay tuned

Socktoberfest Questions

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I taught myself using the Lion Brand basic pattern.

What was your first pair? How have they “held up” over time?
My first pair was this pair out of Magic Stripes yarn in Jellybean. I
still wear them, and they’re one of my favorites. I kitchenered one of the toes inside out (don’t know how), so they’re far from perfect, but they fit great, and are so durable.

What would you have done differently?
My first few pairs, with the exception of the Magic Stripe, should have been knit on a smaller needle. They’re a little floppy and not as tightly knit as they should be.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
My favorites are Socks that Rock, Cherry Tree Hill and Regia. I just recently purchased some Vesper sock yarn, though, and I have a feeling it’s going to be one of my favorites, too.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
Definitely dpns, knit only (I don’t know how to crochet). I love my bryspun dpns. I tried the magic loop method once upon a time and kept ending up with the stitches all on one circ. So frustrating!

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
Flap–usually the eye of partridge for durability, and I like the way it hugs my heel, but I’ve been wanting to try a short row again. My one attempt was not so great.

How many pairs have you made?
Between 10-15. Not so many. I’ve been on a sweater kick up until now

Coffee Crisp
Originally uploaded by plath.

Did you know these were available in the US now? They used to be only available in Canada, but not anymore!
(picture taken on my camera phone)

Thank you so much to everyone who left a comment about my doctor appointment. They are going to run a few tests, and if everything comes back ok, I’m going to be placed on clomid. I have my fingers crossed so hard that everything comes back ok.

My socktoberfest socks are coming along nicely.

Socktober Progress
Originally uploaded by plath.

Just finished the heel flap, and should be picking up stitches and cruising along the gusset tonight! I always make sure to catch up on housework on Thursday nights, so Fridays are my nights to sit back and relax. We have 3 dvds full of last season’s Nip/Tuck to get through sometime this weekend.
Weekend plans are boring. We went to the apple orchard last weekend, so I have laundry and other mindless things to catch up on this weekend.

Socktober Start
Originally uploaded by plath.

Here is the start of my socks for Soctoberfest. I’m using the RPM pattern from Knitty, and STR in the Seal Rock colorway. This yarn is truly amazing. As soon as I wound it up into its squishy little ball, I knew I was hooked. I’m already having to restrain myself from buying more.

~personal information/rant below~~you’ve been warned

In other news, I have a doctor appointment today to hopefully start us on the path to our family. It’s been almost a year since we started trying, and although we were able to get pregnant but couldn’t get him/her to stick, something is not right if it’s taking us this long, especially since I’m charting and know when I’m ovulating. It almost seems silly–all those years of using birth control. What a waste. You always hear about infertile people, but you never align yourself with them. Never think for a minute that you could be included in that group. It’s hard when you finally come to terms with the fact that you *could* be in that group. It’s terrifying. I’ve wanted two things out of my life ever since I could remember. To be a teacher, and to be a mother. Currently, I’m neither. Teaching jobs are next to impossible to find up here, especially if you didn’t go to a Michigan college, so I took a job out of my field–an entry-level crappy job, taking comfort in the fact that one day soon, I would quit anyway, and become the full-time mom I’ve wanted to be when my kids were young. Ha. Kind of funny that now we’re having issues in that department. Not really funny though. Sometimes I feel as though my life is running away without me.

Socktober yarns
Originally uploaded by plath.

Well, it is officially socktober! Here are my recently acquired yarns, just for Socktoberfest. One skein of Cherry Tree Hill in dusk, two skeins of sock yarn from this Ebay seller: robbin7880, and my first ever skein of Socks that Rock in the medium weight of the Seal Rock colorway. Yummy!!!

Now I just need to find the perfect pattern for the STR. Any recommendations?