FO: Oak ribbed socks

FOR DEB: JUST SAYIN' ;)


Yarn: 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl
Needles: US 2 set of 5 (but I only used 4) dpns - Crystal Palace
Gauge: Ummmm....I know it's bad for a sock, but I don't know
Pattern: Oak Ribbed from Knitting Vingtage Socks by Nancy Bush
Measurements: Size 9 feet according to pattern (with some adjustments)
Notes: I did everything according to plan except I made the heel flap two rows longer which led to me picking up 18 stitches instead of 16. I didn't decrease those extra stitches until the toe. I also accidentally started the toe a half inch later than I was supposed to, so I shortened the space between decreases. I also managed to pick up 19 stitches on the other sock, but I decreased them out. I have no idea why, but it works.
My only complaint is that when I picked up stitches there is a little hole on both sides right under the ankle at the join. I'm not sure if it's because of the way I picked up, the way I knitted the flap or the size of the needles, but it's slightly annoying. But only slightly - as in not enough to rip out and try again. Hopefully I can just fix it on the next socks.
Oh and I made exactly no attempt to match up the yarn. You can't really tell except for the enormous stripe on the top and bottom of both feet that are opposing colors. And you know what? I don't care. In fact, I love it. =)

More, less good pictures, for your viewing enjoyment.

Elephant peices and parts

Today, I bring you the very beginnings of the elephant that I'm knitting for my mom. Yes, I know it seems strange to knit a toy for an adult, however, it makes sense. I promise. You see, my mom loves elephants. Ever since I could remember, a large photo of elephants graced her bedroom wall and the house was brimming over with beautiful elephant figures. Ones of glass, of stone, of clay, of crystal. Little ones, big ones, ones with babies, ones that were actually tea pots. Tea pots are another thing that mom collects, but I choose not to combine two things she loves by knitting an elephant tea cozy. I have to draw the line somewhere.
So what you're seeing is the two arms and the beginning of the leg. The arms worked out perfectly in width, and I just had to keep going until the length was proportionate. You see the LMKG pattern says to use sport weight doubled, and I say why make my life harder? I prefer to work with a single yarn so as to not confuse my already inadequate counting skills. So I chose this yarn from Joann's. It's their exclusive collection and it's a wool/nylon/cotton blend. The yarn is like what I imagine would be created if someone carded up a bunch of cotton balls and spun the drafts just enough to convince them to stick together. The yarn has no spin, whatsoever, so in that, it's a little strange. I wasn't sure that this was going to work out when I first cast it on, but the more I work with it, the more fond I become of it. I'm even thinking of making some of those gloves they have on knitty. You know, the bulky ones that are seemed? I would link it for you, but I'm
a) pretty sure you know what I'm talking about
b) know that if you've never seen them before, you could find them on knitty in a flash
and
c) stuck in my post-lunch coma and litterally too lazy to go clicking around to find it.
Seriously, it's amazing that I have the energy to type right now. Damn Subway and their ridiculous bread.
Anyhow, the yarn is amazingly soft, not so unstretchy as to really strain the hands and remarkably warm but not itchy at all. Seriously, even I could make a scarf out of it and sleep in it and I wouldn't even itch. Not bad for $5.99 for a 50g ball (131,2 yards) of bulky yarn.
The only thing is that it's not exactly matching guage here, which I didn't think would be that much of a problem, but it is involving some thinking. Since the arms worked so well in width but not in length, I thought the same would apply to the legs. But, not so much. So I've already reknitted and ripped another larger version of the leg and got this far on my new version. The first was too skinny, even with stuffing, and really - what elephant has skinny legs? That's just crazy talk.
So, when I get to the rest of the pattern, it's going to be on a wing and a prayer. The body is knitted straight up from the legs (in some weird 2 circs method yet to be comprehended), so I'm not worried there, but the decreases, head, and ears are going to be interesting. I hope that there's not too much ripping back needed here because
a) the yarn can really only stand to be frogged once
b) a knitted toy for an adult shouldn't be that much work
and
c) I don't know if this post lunch coma will ever wear off

Anyhow, the knitting might be slowing for a little bit because I've got this

and I'm sooo excited to start gardening. There are some early plants that I can even get in the ground this weekend from seed and I can't wait. At first I thought that any magazine put out by a company that sells garden products would just be a big advertisement for their products, but this one isn't at all. Sure there are ads, but none of the articles push their products at all. No mention of stick Miracle gro here or fertilizer there. It's very well done, and extremely helpful. I'd highly recommend it to someone who's just getting started with vegetable growing or growing from seeds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~HOORAY FOR SPRING~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's coming....

Before I start, I must confess that this here blog might turn to the garden on a semi regular basis through the summer. I adore gardening and we have a great yard, with lots of potential. Last summer was spent ripping out some serious jungle overgrowth, and this year I have high hopes for what I can do, especially in the way of vegetables. So between the knits there will likely be shots of seeds and greens - and maybe even some jarring.

Yesterday, I went to the mall (where you would have thought it was only days before Christmas, what with all the shoppers - except ofcourse they were all wearing clothes like it was mid-August.), and when I got home our yard had all these weird dark spots. When my weak little eyes finally focused, I realized that it was birds. There were no less than a hundred starlings between our yard and our neighbor to the back. They were all fascinated with eating something off the lawn. Why the lawn? I thought. There's no bird seed there. Could this be the problem?


I guess it's time to start being vigilant about the bird feeder, so they can all make more baby birdies. This makes me happy, because more birdies, means less buggies. While, as a gardener, I have nothing against many a bug, I do have something against most of the bugs that birds eat, so I'm glad to bring them to the yard. And Jordan is glad to chase them away. *sigh* At least everyone is getting their exercise.

Anyhow, ofcourse by the time I got out to the yard with my camera there were no more birds. They must have sensed that I was coming to capture them for immortality and had to all fly off so that I had no proof that they were eating our lawn. But while I was out there I took some photos to prove that despite the icky weather we've been having lately, that nature knows that spring is upon us.

One of the few flowering bulbs that the people that we bought the house from had planted, that is actually blooming. I don't think any of them bloomed last year at all.

Extreme close up of the same flower.

This is a little flower I found in the ivy. I don't know if the ivy is flowering or if it's a different plant just trying to make it, but either way it's pretty.

This is a shot of our neighbor's yard. She has a lovely garden that she cares for frequently. If look you can kind of see a duck butt above the flowers. Jordan thought the duck was real the first day it was in the garden and I had to drag a confused dog in the house that morning because she couldn't stop barking at the statue.


This is a bloom on our Magnolia tree. At the end of the season, right before it loses it's leaves it produces these funny, little fuzzy pods. And when the spring comes they open and look like this....

This tree is stunning if full bloom. Once all the pick tulip like flowers pop out of their fuzzy homes, I will take a picture of it. I love to just stare at this tree in all it's glory.

And finally the hostas are coming up all over the place. They aren't my favorite plant, but they are fun to watch grow up every year. A heartier plant, I have not met.

Tomorrow I promise pictures of knitting, and possibly the socks. They are finished and have been on my feet, but the light was awful yesterday, so no photos. I hope to get them today or tomorrow, but in the meantime I have other things to distract you with.

It's....

A sock....okay, well not quite. But it is a turned heel. And it's further along today, since this picture was taken yesterday, but there wasn't much more to show today. I'm just moving along with the decreases. As of Wed. before I started knitting this little bit was all I needed to use up before I actually got back to the point of frog, and last night I managed to do that. When I realized that I had finally, after three days, gotten back to where I started from, I was so excited. I sure hope nothing else goes wrong (knocking soundly on wood!).

This darn sock is taking forever, I tell you, and yet I can't seem to stop working on it. Last night, and the night before, I knit on it, for what seemed like hours, and feel like I've barely gotten anywhere. I suppose that's what happens when you have to redo such a large section of work. Pride goeth before the fall, and all.
I just want to get this sucker done so I can wear them while it's still winter-ish. Yes I know it's now technically Spring, which I couldn't be more grateful for, but the Mother Nature is clearly in no mood to move on with the season. Our first day of Spring was greeted with snow. Granted, it barely made it to the ground before melting, and wasn't very heavy, but I'm pretty sure there was a point trying to be proven. Clearly Mother Nature has no concern with our silly little calendar as it relates to her weather patterns. Either that, or she's waiting until the day I finish these socks to warm up, just to piss me off.
If that's what it is, so be it! It's only more inspiration to finish. I'll take warmer weather over wearing wool socks this season, any day of the week.

This post inspired by this guy. One of my absolute favorites from the show.

For the Knotty Girls

In lieu of having nothing to show you today, I have decided to do this. When I first read it, I thought the ladies were nuts, but that's what I love about Jen and La. They speak to my crazy side.
After thinking about it, I found some of the answers and decided to hunt up the rest of them. I honestly can't believe I found the other answers as fast as I did, but here they are.

I didn't put any of the pictures in, since it would take awhile to get permission to borrow. So I linked to the big pictures (mostly) for all the shots.

1. A blog which you think people have not discovered.
I'm fairly certain not many folks have discovered Woolgathering. She's got a lot a thoughts on a lot of things....including knitting and design.

2. A blog whose author lives close to you physically. Just get as close as you can, it’s all relative.
Would you know it! Eunny lives close to me. I could have even gone to the Panera knitting thing, but ofcourse I noticed a day late. I'm usually a dollar short too, btw.

3. An unusual or weird animal picture.
I don't know how unusual it is, but this picture is fabulous. I love Vito's ears. He is so adorable. Plus Jo is an awesome knitter who makes loads of fabulous socks.

4. An entry that made you laugh and got you strange looks from family or co-workers. Pretty much all of Yarn Harlot's entries (that are supposed to funny) have me laughing, loudly, in my cubie no less. And yes I get strange looks. One of my favorites is on this page March 1st - the scarf heard round the world.

5. An idea you wish you’d thought of.
Martha came up with this little Home Depot idea (March 15th). It's so simple and perfect. I love Home Depot, how did I miss this??

6. Something you’d like to knit.
Something Red from Wendy. I've even bought the pattern, but not yarn for it yet, since I'm trying to save up for Maryland Sheep and Wool.

7. A picture of something you consider beautiful
I love this picture. It isn't knitting, but it's from a knitting blog =) She takes gorgeous pictures, and I love the layouts.

8. A blog whose author you’d like to one day meet in person
I'd love to meet Debi. She's been really helpful to me, and she's very sweet and freaking hilarious to boot. Ofcourse I'd have to go to Florida, because I'd need to get some Pumpkin action too!

9. A blog of someone you have already met in person.
Heather is the only knit blogger I've met in person (though this is soon to change). I'm willing to bet I've crossed paths with several knitters- somewhere along the way, because they too live close, but have never met them. Heather and I have been best friends for what will be 20 years.

So ladies, there you have it. I must say that I got hooked on a lot of these knit blogs from links from your site. Thanks for giving me more reasons to not do work at work. =)

Two of everything....nothing to show

Yesterday started out to be a very productive day, indeed. I sat down with my lovely heel flapped sock and I turned the heel. It worked out perfectly, now that I understand the concept. I didn't even have to look at what to do since it makes sense now. Great, I thought, I'll pick up the stitches then bag her up to knit while I'm at the concert (I went to a classical music concert yesterday). So I did, and I sat knitting while waiting for the concert to start, then I knit during intermission, then I knit during the talk back, and while I was doing that I saw it. One. dropped. stich. Right there at the first row of the gusset. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be a knit two together and I missed a stitch or what, but when I tried to drop a stitch down to pick it up, there was nothing to be done. I couldn't get the stitch back in the line up with out it looking seriously messy. So, I sat there in the hall ripping out all the rows back to where I picked up the stitches. It was a lot of yarn. And then, I had a very hard time trying to get the needle back into the the stitches on the top of the foot. Every time I got a stitch on the needle, then next stitch would ladder. Surely, it didn't help that I was with dark yarn in a dimly lit theatre, and then later in a moving car. But, I eventually got it back to where I started the day.
So I sat, frustrated on my couch, and turned the heel again, and picked up the stitches. Then I knit the first round of decreases and began my plain round when I saw it. I big, fat hole. Not a dropped stitch, just a nasty gap. One would think that since I had already messed up and not knit the extra rows on the heel flap and had to pick up more stitches than were slipped that there couldn't possibly be any gaps, but that one would be wrong. I managed to make a huge hole at the join, regardless. I'm supposing it's because the yarn is stressed out and the heel flap, with those angry stitches, needs to be ripped back and reknit too. I don't like this idea, but it's better than a huge hole at the join. It's not like the slipped stitches are all tight to begin with, anyway. Picking them up twisted, a la Kathy, seems to help prevent the ladder look, but I just want the slipped stitches to be tighter. Is there a way to do this?
In looking at this pattern from Wendy, it appears that she wraps her slipped stitches when she does her short row heels. Granted, this is toe up, not top down, but I wonder if that's a solution to making those slipped stitches tighter? If it might help on the flap in this case? To be honest, I'm not exactly sure what wrapping the stitch does for you, but the fact is it's going to bulk up the stitch a bit, which would help with my frustration around the looseness of the slipped stitch, but I just don't know if it works that way. So, what say you? Does it seem that if I just reknit the heel flap that it should fix my little stitch issue of them being too loose? You know, as long as I knit it the right length and only pick up the stitches once, like I was supposed to. Because before I noticed the drop stitch, it was looking pretty good. Or is there some better way of doing this, that I just don't know yet? I know there are alternatives, I just know how any of them work.

Geez, one little dropped stitch ruined my whole knitting day and got me all frustrated. Darnit! Isn't this supposed to be relaxing? Sheesh!

I must have the luck of the Irish

There isn't a drop of Irish blood in these veins, but I must be lucky today. I went surfing for a cute little pic to put on my post today, and I found this. That my friends, is a freaking pattern for a four leaf clover hat! How awesome is that? I don't know that I would ever make it, but it's so much fun that I found that. Especially while all I was looking for was a nice picture of four leaf clovers.

I have some bit of luck with four leaf clovers, actually. I find them all the time, as my friends and family can attest to. A couple of years ago, I found so many that I actually sealed them into paper and gave them out as presents. They were all from different locations, so it's not like I've got a crop of them out back. Although, that does sound like fun. =)

Anyhow, onto my knitting. I can hardly believe this happened, finally, but what you see here is an actual second sock with a completed heel flap. When I was checking the leg length against the other sock, I couldn't believe that I had actually made it. I also can't believe that I actually got to and through the heel flap. Now for the best part, turning. I was too distracted with tv last night, and didn't have enough time, so I'll get to that later. But, you know what they say, after you turn the heel the rest of the sock flies. I'm so happy, I can't wait to have this sucker finished!

Oh and just to prove this isn't just an old picture of the first sock, there's the toe of the finished first sock. =P

Wee hats for wee people

Here is my first preemie hat. It's out of Knitpicks Shine sport weight. It's awesome that I even have to say that it's their sport weight version, but that's another post ;) I did this on size 3 needles so that it would be nice and tight and warm. I fear that knitting out of cotton doesn't make for a particularly warm hat, so the tighter the better, I guess.
I have a bunch of Shine leftover from knitting the blanket, so I'm happy to use that up. I even have several full skeins left, which I've considered doing something else with, but fear that I will need more yarn and then be up the creek. This yarn was ordered in October, so the chances of the same dye lot existing anywhere are not good. I'm in no mood to take that chance.

Along with the shine I'm using two gigundo balls of yarn that I bought to make some other hats and things. The skeins are so huge, I could surely get something other than a hat out of them, but I feel that a blanket might be too time consuming. I could get so many hats made in the time it would take for one blanket. On the other hand, I could knit the blanket continental, which I can't do with the dpns. I have tried and tried, and it's nothing but messy and uncomfortable. So English it is. But, because I've been only working on these hats and the never ending sock, all I've been doing is tiny needles and throwing, and I'm staring to get a little crazy from it. Perhaps a blanket is just the thing. Hmmmm....

Bork! Bork!

You Are the Swedish Chef

"Bork! Bork! Bork!" Your happy and energetic - with borderline manic tendencies. No one really gets you. And frankly, you don't even get you. But, you sure can whip up a great chocolate mousse

The Muppet Personality Test

This must serve as my post today as it was too yucky this morning to take pictures and yesterday I woke up too late. I do have a finished preemie hat and the beginnings of another one to show. I am also working on the sock that will not grow. I knit and knit and knit on the second sock for hours and the leg isn't getting any longer. I'm not sure how this works, but I'm pretty sure there's a conspiracy going on that might involve SAS (sheep against sheering). Anyhow, if the heel turn doesn't come soon I'm going to have one short sock and one long sock. I guess that's what you get when you buy Lorna's Laces that has enough yardage to make knee socks from!
Anyhow, whilst I sit in meeting after meeting all afternoon, go forth, take the muppet test and tell me what fuzzy Jim Henson creation you are. =)

Tiny knitting

As I sat knitting the beginnings of this little hat last night my mind was wandering. I had been to the Preemie Project website to try and find some hat and sock patterns to make for the these wee babies fighting for their lives. I saw many things on their website and my heart went out to the babies, but what I couldn't stop thinking about is what if I had a preemie? I couldn't imagine the fear and worry that a mother must feel at having her baby so early. I felt such sadness at the thought of having to leave my baby at the hospital for weeks on end, wondering if he or she would make it. I got a lump in my throat at the sight of patterns for burial gowns - at the thought of ever needing to have one. While I know that there is a need for such a thing, I simply could not knit one. If I did, you could block it with the tears that I would weep with every stitch.
And then I thought, what if? What would I do? Where would I turn with the worry and the fear? Surely to my husband, to my mother, to my family and friends, but what if these people weren't so near by? What if we had moved away from family and friends? What if my husband was away? What if I didn't know if he was ever coming home?
I thought of all these things because I know first and second hand of some of these feelings. I know of and have lived the military life. I am an Army brat and grandaughter, a Navy neice twice over, and Marine Corps girlfriend. I know about what a woman goes through when she loves someone in the military. I have seen women raising their children wondering if their husbands are ever coming home. I have seen the strength and the courage that military wives and girlfriends display that they didn't even know they were capable of - raising families, maintaining the home, keeping the faith. They work through the fear and the loneliness, they support one another, they live on phone calls and letters and the hope that everything will be okay. Many of them have moved across the country, or across the world, so that they can be with their loved ones while they serve. They have left behind home and friends and family, and it is these women that I thought of while I knit. I thought of the guts and bravery that these women have to show just to get themselves through, let alone to have your child while your husband was so far away. My heart went out to all the women who had little ones who were fighting to survive while their husbands were fighting for their freedom. And that is what made my decision for me about where my wee hats and socks and whatnot should go. My plan is donate all that knitting to the NICU ward of the military hospitals so that these women and children know that eventhough their families and friends are far away, someone is there to support them in their time of need.

Perplexed puppy

I am smattering this post with pictures of a very perplexed puppy because I don't really have any knitting to show you. This is Jordan trying to figure out what the hell boyfriend is doing - he was playing his French horn at the time. The look of confusion that animals give to humans is one of my favorite things about owning pets. I laugh every time I see it.
Anyhow, I choose not bore you with pictures of the second sock. Imagine the pictures of the first sock. I'm past the cuff and a little into the leg of the sock. I really have no idea how long it's going to take me to finish since the first one was started way back when, and also was a huge learning process. I would like to get a good handle on how long it takes me to finish a pair. Just so I know.
Currently the sock is all I'm working on, but my mind is wandering to other things. I did buy two HUGE balls of Acryl-ick yarn yesterday for $2 each at Joanns (they're having a sale on it. Get it while you can). I would like make some baby hats and socks for 40 days for Others. I'm not really celebrating Lent, but I think it's a good time frame to work on things, and it's nice to know that you are working with other people for the greater good. I haven't signed up yet because I'd like to take a crack at baby socks or a hat to see how it will turn out. I'd like to have one thing done before I dive in, that way. I also plan to throw in the three hats that I made learning continental. So far, I have no idea where any of this would go yet, but there are many great causes. So, I've spent some time surfing for good patterns, and I've found a few. I'm trying to find patterns that work with the yarn and needles I have so that I can continue to save for Maryland Sheep & Wool. Heather and I will be attending, and I'm planning on catching up with Martha. Any other bloggers that are going to be there, send me an email at jkv78ATyahooDOTcom I'd love to rally everyone together either at the festival or after. MD is, after all, my home state ;)
So, I imagine that the photos may be pretty boring for awhile, unless I manage to knock out some fast booties or a hat or some other photo worthy thing. In the meantime, I will be loading all of my old photos onto my brand new external hard drive. That is, if Boyfriend will put it together for me (hint, hint). Just don't throw away anything, I want my rebate!

Three years and a sock

Here is one completed sock. It's mostly to the letter of the pattern, with some "alterations" in the form of mistakes. The first one is that I made the heel flap two rows too long, but that worked out great. I suppose I have a long heel or something because it works. Because it's "too long" it caused me to need to pick up two extra stitches on either side, which also worked out because I have a large circumference ball of the foot. I ended up keeping said stitches until the toe decrease. That brings me to the second alteration - the toe decreases. I made the foot a half inch too long, and decided to just take it out of the toe decreases. I could have ripped it back, but I was in no mood because I wanted to finish. It's probably not the best decision, but it worked out fine. My only small pattern gripe is with threading the needle through the last stitches to close the toe. This makes for a little knot which sits right on the end of my second toe (which is longer than my big toe. Let's not get into what that says about me). It bugs me for the first few minutes I wear them, but then I get right over it. I've looked and the toes on the other ribbed socks are all different, so I doubt I'll change any of the them. I am, however, fairly certain that if I ever see another pattern with this closure that I will change it to grafting. I like the seemless thing much better.
The second picture here is the beginnings of the second sock. I forced myself to cast it on, to prevent myself from from using the needles to start a different sock. I'm so excited about this knit socks thing that I have to rein it in a bit to get the second one done. I feared that I would start a new sock, and then have a mismatched pair that would either never get mates, or worse, get unmatched mates due to forgetting my "alterations". Ofcourse, I figured I'd forget my alterations no matter what I did , so here you see my notes, and the crazy amount of yarn that's left over from my first sock. Any ideas on what to do with this?

Oh, and the three years thing? Today is Boyfriend and my three year dating anniversary. We've been through so much, I can't believe it's been three years already. What a lifetime apart things are now than they were then. Amazing.

FO: Silk camisole

In which I show my face for the first time (almost) on this here blog.

Yarn: 5 or so skeins of Plymouth Wildflower DK, color Ocean. This includes the gauge swatch that I knitted (over and over).
Needles: Crystal Palace US4 26" circs.
Gauge: 6 sts per inch
Pattern: Silk Camisole from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Measurements: I made the size 36.
Notes: First let me say that I HATE this yarn. I will not use it again. In fact, I haven't even let the leftovers mingle with the stash yet. They're out in the cold on the couch. I dislike it that much. Yes it's cotton, but it has a good deal of acrylic in it, but that doesn't help in the least with the hand of the yarn. I must say that it looks nice knitted up, but it's a huge pain to work with, and did nothing but cause me physical pain and mental frustration.
About the pattern - Firstly, if you're going to knit this size, be wary of the lace edge. It's a very nice 9 stitch repeat, but she places plain stitches at the dead front and back, to make the top larger. I cannot fathom why anyone would do this, and if they did, why they wouldn't put these stitches on the side. Needless to say, I changed this pattern so that the plain parts would be on the side. If I had realized earlier what was happening, I most certainly would have simply added two lace repeats instead of those 9 plain stitches. So silly.
And secondly - I have two words for the body of this pattern - Waist Shaping. She says that there's no need for shaping, because the lace is nice and the neck is nice, and blah blah blah. Do you SEE how I look in this thing? I mean, I know I'm toting some extra winter weight, but geez, I look like a tree trunk. I can't complain, because it's my first knit and I'm happy that it goes over my head and actually fits, but for all of you knitters who've made a garment before, do some shaping, for the love of Pete. Especially if you knit this out of an unstretchy yarn like I did.
Otherwise it's a nice pattern. I hurt my brain a little trying to figure out how to divide for the v-neck, but after I had my light bulb moment, it made sense. I liked the way that it's all one peice, and that the straps are i-cords. Now I think they will be very sturdy, whereas before I knit them I worried they would stretch to no end. I liked learning to kitchener with only four stitches to work with. It looks a bit like crap, but that might have something to do with trying to learn to graft while ski jumping is on. Over all, I would probably make this again, in Knitpicks Shine or Dale Svale with the changes I stated, and be happy as a clam. Just make sure, if you knit anything from this book that you check the extensive errata.

Here's another shot. Fuzzy picture, though.


Tomorrow (or around there. Things have been crazy at work, and I can't believe it's been 6 days since I posted. I hope to keep up to date in the future, but I have no idea what the future brings around here), I show my first sock. Things might be turning strongly towards socks. I think I'm in love.

I've got the bug

Unfortunately I think this might be true in more ways then one, since I'm feeling pretty icky right now, but for purposes of this post, I mean the sock bug ;) I turned the heel on Monday and tried it on, and it's perfect. Ofcourse, last night I realized that I had added two rows to the length of the heel flap by mistake, but it turned out to be a good thing because the fit is exactly right. Ofcourse it's a little hard to tell how something fits when there's two pointy stick holding it together, but as far as I can tell it was good. When I picked up the stitches last night, I decided to go ahead and pick up the extra slipped stiches because otherwise I'd have some ugly holes. Also, this is the point where I'm thinking of making it a little wider around, anyhow. I've got to do some math and figure out if they will fit comfortably around the ball of my foot if I decrease all the way down. I seem to have an extra large football (hehe), so I think it's probably best to keep those stitches in. What's a good negative ease percentage for a sock?

I know you're waiting for the report and pictures of the cami, but you might be waiting until the weekend. I'm sure as heck not going outside to take pictures, but it would be good to get some in natural light. That, and the fact that I feel mega poopy, is not helping me want to take pictures. So I leave you with a (somewhat blurry) photo of Jordan, trying to figure out why I insist on holding that black thing up to my face and blinding her.

Little dogs with black faces are very hard to get pictures of.