Year of Project 8: Week 19

I've had lots to say about how little I'm enjoying knitting Feny Socks...

... I don't love working a long provisional cast on

... I don't love knitting flat

... I don't love reading charts back and forth rather than in the round

... I don't love that much purling

... I don't love long stretches of colour work

... I don't love grafting long seams

... I don't love picking up stitches from patterned side edges

... I don't love knitting on circular needles

... I don't love cutting yarn and restarting at a different spot over and over again

... I don't love investing that much time and effort without being able to test the fit of the sock

BUT THE SOCK FITS AND IT'S GORGEOUS!

So I will finish both socks, as painful as that may be. Admittedly I procrastinated throughout sock one but now I'm re-energized and hope to get the pair done in the next couple of weeks.

I had originally planned to knit the first sock with brown as the MC and blue as the CC, then knit sock two with the colours reversed. That way, I reasoned, I have the same amount of each colour left over to do Double Heelix Socks. Instead Gavin is laying claim to these socks, and he does NOT want opposite socks, so matching socks they will be. I'll just have to see if I have anything else in stash that will work for Double Heelix.

Last week I also cast on Bill Huggins Socks, but after working one repeat of the woven pattern at the top of the leg I decided that I wasn't loving the pattern so that's been ripped out  and the pattern removed from my list.

This morning I opened another paper bag to reveal my November Paper Bag Project - it's Songbird Yarn & Fibres Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird for Diamondback Socks. I won't cast on at least until I've finished my Feny Socks. I still have to finish my Nain socks too but there's no deadline for those!

2018 Paper Bag Project - November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

Year of Projects 8: Week 18

My focus lately has been my Feny Socks for my October 2018 Paper Bag Project, but nothing about this has been easy.

First it was the needles. The sock is knitted flat from the top of the leg to the end of the instep, working around the leg. My sock needles are not nearly long enough for that many stitches (107) so I definitely needed the recommended circular needle.

I balked at ordering the needle online - I didn't want to pay for shipping and I wanted to see and feel the needles before I shelled out for them. I checked Lens Mill Store in Port Dover but the quality of the needles put me off - I don't love knitting on circs, and I absolutely a with abhor blunt needles with clumsy joins. I struck out for the same reasons at Wal-Mart. I had high hopes at Michael's Arts and Crafts but the clerk explained that they were in the process of switching suppliers and had no sock sizes available and no sign of that changing any time soon.

After a couple of weeks wasting time on a hunt for needles I gave in and bought Addi Turbo Sock Rockets at the lys - the Needle Emporium. They were waaaaay more money than I was hoping to spend, but at least knitting with this circ is as pleasant as can be. So imagine my reaction when I reached the pattern instructions that directed me to divide the stitches, placing a number on a second circ with further instructions for the third circ. NO. Just. NO. Even if I have to use waste yarn to hold stitches here and there, I just will not shell out for 2 more circular needles. I guess I should have read the materials list more carefully. GAH!

All in all it's been a tough slog with this sock... I don't love knitting flat... I don't love reading charts back and forth rather than in the round... I don't love long stretches of colour work... and I don't love knitting on circular needles. All the while the construction of this sock makes it a complete mystery as to whether these socks will even fit.

As of this morning I'm 1/3rd of the way into the final repeat of the chart after which I graft the leg together into a tube and pick up stitches for the heel and the bottom of the foot. Which is to say, I should know soon whether the sock will fit or not. Obviously I'm hoping that the fit is perfect and that it's enough to re-energize me to complete the first sock and work the second sock. Geez, I hope so, otherwise I'm not quite sure what I'll do!

In the meantime I did finish my Christmas Monster socks using the Stash Buster Spiral Socks pattern. The Instagram KAL wraps up October 31st, so that's my final entry for #monstersockkal2018. The socks are very fun and were a great way to finish up a bunch of sock yarn scraps. You know, I think I might like scrap socks more than anything else!

And yep, Nain has still been ignored!

2018 Paper Bag Project - November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

Year of Projects 8: Week 15

This past Monday I pulled a paper bag from the diminishing pile to find the yarn for Feny Socks as my October 2018 Paper Bag Project. These socks promise to be interesting - the legs and insteps are worked flat in Mosaic colourwork starting from provisional cast ons, grafted into tubes and then joined with cuffs, heels and toes worked in the round.

I'm eager to get started however I don't have the needles I need! My shorty sock DPNS won't cut it for this. I checked Amazon however I am loathe to pay as much as the needles are worth in shipping. Instead I'm trying to give some thought to when a purchasing opportunity may coincide with my schedule next week. There's a Lens Mill Store in Port Dover - that might be do-able as the KIA needs an oil change at the dealership in Port Dover. Also there's a Wal-Mart in Simcoe that I drive past on my drive to and from the cat rescue, so that's my back-up idea.

After knitting scraps for the last several weeks I'm also excited about casting on this gorgeous Jawoll sock yarn. I just love both these colours and I hope I love them just as much in combination. In general I have to guard against overly conservative matchy-matchy colour choices, so here I've tried to make sure I have lots of contrast.

Inspired by @danaraeknits' Christmas themed Monster Socks in greens and reds, I've pulled red, green and white yarn scraps and cast on. I'm using the pattern Stash Buster Spiral Socks, and WOW is this brilliant for using scraps! You carry three different yarns throughout the leg and instep, but each yarn is knit across a needle (or two) until you meet the next yarn - no stranding, no fuss, no bother. The result is these perfect stripes in three colours. How festive is that! I had been considering buying some Christmas themed sock yarn but these socks have entirely satisfied that urge. Who knew that such a festive pair of socks was hiding amongst my scraps?

I'm using Russian joins to connect one scrap to another so there won't be a dreadful amount of finishing at the end. I expect to squeak out a pair before running short of white and red, so these festive socks won't be repeated. After knitting the section around the heel I decided to eliminate that red yarn from the remainder of these socks... it's somewhat thicker than the other sock yarns and as a result is overwhelming the white and green that its knit with. I'm leaving it as knit - these are, after all, Monster Socks and que sera, sera.

We're headed to my sister's place later today for a Thanksgiving dinner, so I hope to complete the first sock and start the second on the car ride back and forth. I expect to be knitting these monogamously, at least until I find needles for Feny. The KAL continues until October 31st. Just pick your scraps or minis and post with the hashtag #monstersockkal2018. 

Poor Nain! Still ignored!

2018 Paper Bag Project - November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Nain - using large scraps of Stretch Bamboo in light blue
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

Year of Projects 8: Week 14

Last week I finished my Test Knit Socks, and now the pattern has been published... introducing Crossbuck Socks!

This week I finished my Autumn themed Monster Socks for the Instagram KAL #monstersockkal2018. When I started with these socks I wasn't really sure about the colours individually or in combination, but adding bright contrasting stripes has done the trick so I'm happy with them now that they're done. There's something so satisfying about using up scraps. Most of the yarns used came from scraps that were 50 grams or less. And at least three of the yarns were entirely used up with these socks. I love that!

As I mentioned last week, I was inspired by @danaraeknits' Christmas themed Monster Socks in greens and reds so I've dug through my scraps and pulled out some likely looking yarns. If you are thinking Wow, that's a lot of yarn... way more than needed for one pair of scrappy socks, you are entirely right. By weight there's enough there for about a half dozen socks, but I'm not much of one for repeating the same pattern so let's just plan on one pair for now. For these socks I'm going to use the pattern Stash Buster Spiral Socks. My plan is to cast on today and hopefully get through the cuff and into the leg patterning. 

The KAL continues until October 31st.  Just pick your scraps or minis and post with the hashtag #monstersockkal2018. That's all there is to it!

My Nain remain ignored for now. Tomorrow morning I'll be selecting and opening another bag for my 2018 Paper Bag Project. That and the Christmas Monster socks will share priority for the next couple of weeks. Poor Nain!

2018 Paper Bag Project - September, October, November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Feny Socks - using Lang Jawoll Superwash in turquoise and chocolate
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Nain - using large scraps of Stretch Bamboo in light blue
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

Year of Projects 8: Week 13

My top priority for last week was to finish my Test Knit Socks, and happily they were finished a few days before the testing period ended. I expect that the pattern will be updated and published later this week; I'll provide a link once it's "live". In the meantime I can share my finished photos. There is an interesting leg chart with slipped stitch cables in two colours and then the rest is a waffle stitch rib which makes for a very nicely fitting sock.  I'm quite happy with how they turned out, although the variegated red is a bit loud!

My second priority - my Instagram KAL #monstersockkal2018. - also saw some progress. My first sock is done and I'm approaching the heel section on the second sock. Completing this pair will be my main focus for the coming week. Fortunately most of the colour changes were effected using Russian joins so there aren't many ends to weave in.

While scrolling through projects from other participants on Instagram, I came across a "Christmas" pair in greens and reds from @danaraeknits. I love this idea, so I might just make a Christmas pair of my own after this "Autumn" pair are done. If you're on instagram you're welcome to join up. The KAL continues until October 31st.  Just pick your scraps or minis and post with the hashtag #monstersockkal2018. That's all there is to it!

My Nain socks have once again been completely ignored. I'm starting to feel guilty so I hope to pay some attention to them in the coming week as well. We've shifted abruptly into fall weather so knitting wool socks rather than bamboo now holds more appeal. The Nain socks are definitely summer socks and not fall socks. Never mind though, they're pretty and they need to be finished!

And I can hardly believe that we're nearly to the end of September! Where does the time go? Come October 1st I'll be opening another bag for my 2018 Paper Bag Project. Any of the remaining three projects is more complicated than vanilla socks, so I'm looking forward to something a bit challenging.

2018 Paper Bag Project - September, October, November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Feny Socks - using Lang Jawoll Superwash in turquoise and chocolate
      Test Knit Socks - using unknown variegated red yarn
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Nain - using large scraps of Stretch Bamboo in light blue
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

Year of Project 8: Week 12

Last weekend we returned from a few days in New Hampshire, but rather than posting I spent my time on Saturday and Sunday tidying, doing laundry and catching up on work. Things have been busy   and hot to the detriment of my knitting progress.

Although I split the driving with Gavin, and I was required to pay attention to road signs and directions while in the passenger seat, I did get make some headway with the test knit socks. The first (left) sock is done and the second (right) sock is mostly done... I just need to finish the foot and work the toe. The patterning is subtly different from right sock to left sock so the designer has asked that both be knit at least past the heel turn before the end of the testing period on September 21st. I'm further than that already so my plan is to complete the pair and provide modelled photos before the end of the test period. That will be my focus over the next few days.

There's some progress too on my Instagram KAL #monstersockkal2018. Although I wasn't loving the sock when I was randomly mixing browns and bits of orange into mainly yellows, after adding a series of brighter stripes I'm happier with it now. The FLK heel has been completed and now I'm onto the leg of the first sock. This will take over as my main focus once the test knit socks are complete. If you're on instagram you're welcome to join up. Just pick your scraps or minis and post with the hashtag #monstersockkal2018. That's all there is to it!

My Nain socks have been completely ignored. They're going to remain on the back burner until the other socks are done and off the needles, after which I can give them my undivided attention.

New Hampshire was beautiful as evidenced by this drone photo Gavin took of a sunrise at the ocean. Of course he's used HDR setting and tweaked the vibrance, but lovely still. We spent most of our time in the ocean or in the pool to escape from the crazy heat. Cell coverage was sparse to non-existent and the motel's wifi was very poor, so the vacation was restful and unplugged. Unfortunately we timed things poorly and Gavin didn't get much surfing in... the storms and hurricanes were making their way up the coast after we left.

When I returned from New Hampshire I started volunteering one morning a week at a local cat shelter. It sounds more fun than it is - in my four hours a week I spend about three hours and 58 minutes scooping out cat litter boxes... sweeping, washing and disinfecting kennels... washing out and refilling food and water bowls... there's always more that needs doing, so just a scant few minutes a week are actually spent playing with cats. Still, I feel good about doing it and it's nice to get out and meet some new people, so it's well worth the time and effort as far as I'm concerned. At any given time there appear to be about 60 cats and kittens at the shelter and many more in foster care. And so far it looks like about 10 cats a week are adopted and another 10 or more are rescued or surrendered. If only more people would spay or neuter their cats!


2018 Paper Bag Project - September, October, November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Feny Socks - using Lang Jawoll Superwash in turquoise and chocolate
      Test Knit Socks - using unknown variegated red yarn
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Nain - using large scraps of Stretch Bamboo in light blue
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

Year of Projects 8 - Week 10

As planned on the first of September I pulled a paper bag for my 2018 Paper Bag Project and tore it open to find a caked skein of variegated red yarn - no surprise there.

Without delay I cast on a test knit for a designer through The Testing Pool group on Ravelry. I've knit the cuff, the colour work/cable section that tops the leg and made a start on the waffle rib that comprises the balance of the sock. I had worried that the red would be too busy for the pattern, but I think it looks fine. The waffle rib is very simple making these socks ideal travel knitting for our road trip to New Hampshire next week. With any luck I'll have them completed by the end of next week. 10 hours there and 10 hours back in the car should give me plenty of knitting time. And nowadays the GPS takes care of the directions; I don't have to watch road signs and follow along with the map book.

On the spur of the moment I also signed up for an Instagram KAL #monstersockkal2018. I've cast on and made a start using a bunch of yellow/beige/brown/orange scraps from stash but I'm finding the combination very meh. So much for my vision of a subtle shifting autumn colour feel! Now I'm trying to decide what to do about it. This morning I pulled out some really bright orange, bright red and light natural scraps from stash with the idea that they will brighten it all up and break up the same-same yellowy-brown-ness. I'll knit another inch to introduce the new colours and then make a decision after that. If I still hate it then I'll rip it out and go with brightly coloured stripes instead. The KAL runs until Halloween (October 31st) so there's no rush.

If you're on instagram you're welcome to join up. Just pick your scraps or minis and post with the hashtag #monstersockkal2018. That's all there is to it!

My Nain socks weren't completely ignored either. I hope to finish sock one before we leave for our road trip on Tuesday morning. With a forecast of unending rain punctuated by the occasional thunderstorm I expect that lots of knitting will get done through the rest of this long weekend. Whatever happens Nain won't be coming along on the trip - it requires constant attention to the chart, and with all those yarn overs and twisted stitches I don't think it'd be very forgiving of any dropped stitches or errors from inattention. I'd better just leave that in my knitting basket until I get back!


2018 Paper Bag Project - September, October, November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Feny Socks - using Lang Jawoll Superwash in turquoise and chocolate
      Test Knit Socks - using unknown variegated red yarn
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Nain - using large scraps of Stretch Bamboo in light blue
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

Year of Projects 8 - Week 09

After ripping back and restarting the heel of the second Venetian Blinds sock, I got on a roll and finished the pair. I was able to squeak out an opposite but matching sock two with a scant few yards remaining. Although my plan involved knitting toe up so that I could weigh my starting yarn and calculate exactly where to bind off in order to maximize efficiency, that plan was derailed when I forgot to weigh the yarn at the very beginning. Luck was with me though; i wouldn't have done much better by calculation!

They are lovely finished socks, despite all those ends to weave in! A fellow Raveller remarked about the colour combo looking "beach" which I can totally see. Both are muted shades but there's still enough contrast for the graduated stripes to pop out. The Shelridge 80/20 Merino yarn is quite smooth and nicely twisted so the stitch definition is very good.

So that's my Paper Bag Project for August complete. And that's me caught up in that group too. By this time next week I'll have selected my September bag and made a plan for that. I'm tempted to cheat and make sure it's that unknown red yarn as that would suit a test knit I've signed up for. I wouldn't even have to look since the remaining bags are so differently shaped that it's not too hard to guess what's inside. The fullest bag has 4 balls of Lang Jawoll Superwash. The emptiest bag has 2 balls of CoBaSi. The flattest bag has an uncaked skein of Songbird Fibers. Yeah, I think I'm gonna select the red yarn... and now it seems almost silly to wait until August 31st but rules are rules.

With nothing left on my needles, I went ahead and cast on Nain. The plan here is to use 90-95 grams of the remaining 160 grams of Dye-Version Stretch Bamboo Sock yarn from my stash, leaving myself enough scraps to knit some very colourful ankle socks to finish it all up. I've cast on the medium size (72 sts) and am working the leg on 2.5 mm needles. Based on the suggestions in the pattern and after reviewing other projects on Ravelry, I opted for a larger needle size than my usual for the leg. This pattern definitely bunches up and the fabric is somewhat contorted, so I think the larger needles are needed for ease. Even so, the leg looks quite small and the pattern is proving to be very yarn-hungry. That's okay - these are intended for a thin-legged, tiny-footed friend. Maybe by next week I'll have a completed sock for her to try?

2018 Paper Bag Project - September, October, November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Feny Socks - using Lang Jawoll Superwash in turquoise and chocolate
      Pattern TBD - using unknown variegated red yarn
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Nain - using large scraps of Stretch Bamboo in light blue
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

Year of Projects 8 - Week 08

... sock two should be easy enough with sock one under my belt

Yeah, I said that last week, as if to jinx myself. I was making good progress on my second Venetian Blinds sock until I looked more closely at the heel cap and noticed that I was one stitch off across the left side resulting in an eye of partridge look rather than slipstitch rib look. I tried tinking back but it was so many rows back that it was just painful. So I tried to drop back on just those stitches without much luck. Next I tried to just rip back to the error, but I wasn't able to cleanly pick up and re-wrap the short row wraps. Splitty yarn, remember? That sock was then thrown into a corner while I tried to convince myself that I could live with some untidiness at the heel.

Nope. I cannot live with untidiness at the heel. This morning I ripped all the way back to the gusset and started again.

Honestly, I didn't have a very successful day yesterday.

A few weeks ago at the local farmer's market I saw a woman selling Microwave Bowl Pot Holders. When I cook, I usually cook in quantities and then we microwave leftovers for days. And when we microwave the Corelle dishes even for a minute or two those dishes are crazy hot. We usually have to put a cold plate from the cupboard under our bowls to keep from burning ourselves. Microwave Bowl Pot Holders? That seems like a good idea to me.

I could make those, I said to myself. I have a sewing machine and enough scraps of fabric to throw a couple together. After all, the instructions do say they are "easy to make".

I'll give my results a C-. They get a C because they are complete and functional. Also, I learned something that saved me from hacking apart my sewing machine with an axe - jammed bobbins are usually result from trouble in the upper threading of the machine. I can't tell you how much time I lost opening the bobbin area, cleaning everything out, dusting, meticulously rethreading the bobbin, only to finally google it, rethread the upper section and have the problem solved.

To be fair I am not an experienced sewer. I had hoped that some of my knitting skills would be transferrable... I was more careful in measuring, marking and pinning than I used to be. I am more circumspect in following instructions rather than winging it the way I used to. And I am more inclined to rip out a seam I'm not happy with to do it again.

On the other hand, my seams are not very straight. My thread tension needs adjustment since my stitches aren't perfectly smooth. My corners don't line up perfectly. And my top-stitching looks drunken.

All in all, the project took me more than two hours and ended up quite frustrating, so buying them at the market might have been the better solution. Let's chalk this up as a good practice at my sewing machine. I really need to take some lessons and get a firm grounding.

I also made Salsa Verde. From Friday am to Saturday noon we had over 120mm of rain, with one particularly violent storm accompanied by heavy pounding rain that shredded my tomatillo plant. Rather than let the not-quite-ripe fruit go to waste, I decided to collect up all the fallen fruit to make a batch of Salsa Verde. It's not very good. Honestly it tastes more like cucumber relish than salsa. I didn't have enough tomatillos and they weren't ripe. I didn't have any jalapeños so I substituted with cherry bomb peppers. I didn't have any fresh cilantro so I substituted with those freezer cubes. There's no sugar at all in it, but it tastes sweet with a slightly hot aftertaste. Oh well. I like cucumber relish so I'll use up the three small bottles I made. Maybe it will be nice mixed with regular store-bought salsa?

I did enjoy at least one success last week. I successfully scrubbed an upholstered chair that had been horribly stained with cat sick. Spot cleaning had failed and the chair looked appalling, so nothing ventured, nothing gained... I mixed a pail of dilute carpet cleaner, pulled on some rubber gloves and scrubbed from top to bottom. It looks like new!

And Gavin made this gorgeous Tic Tac Toe game with a small piece of live edge Black Olive Wood that I had impulsively purchased at a reclaimed wood shop's open house. We've finished it with Tung Oil - sealing and hopefully preserving the live edge - and affixed a cork mat to the bottom. It looks really nice! A few more projects are in progress with the remaining wood. so I'm glad we've put it to use.

The plan for this week is the same as last week: finish the Venetian Blinds Socks and start Nain.

2018 Paper Bag Project - August, September, October, November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Feny Socks - using Lang Jawoll Superwash in turquoise and chocolate
      Pattern TBD - using unknown variegated red yarn
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird
      Venetian Blinds Socks - using Shelridge Yarns 80/20 Merino in Mint and Linen

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Nain - using large scraps of Stretch Bamboo in light blue
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

Year of Projects 8: Week 07

I'm having a love/hate relationship with the Venetian Blinds pattern....

I had a rocky start, first with the "Magical" cast on for toe-up socks on DPNs. It's just so fiddly. I find a Turkish cast on easier and tidier. So I tried it as written, got annoyed and ripped back to restart.

Next up were the toe increases which are written as lifted increases. Again, I found this very fiddly especially in my first few rounds with somewhat splitty yarn, so I tried it as written, got annoyed and ripped back to redo them as M1s.

On the other hand the gusset, the heel "cap" and the heel are fun as written and quite different than anything I've done before. I was also very relieved to find them all charted, because at 16 pages long the pattern is kind of tiring. The heel architecture is inspired by Cat Bordhi from her "New Pathways for Sock Knitters". I HAVE this book and haven't knit a single thing from it, so I'd better start thinking about that too.

A 16 page sock pattern?!?!? Yeah, it caters to beginners with lots of tips and tutorials but my goodness there's a lot to wade through just to get at the actual pattern. And even when you find the pattern, the instructions for different sizes are written out in separate boxes rather than standard form of indicating sizes by parentheses.  If it were up to me the instructions would be much simplified and abbreviated; the rest would be shifted into an optional "tips, tutorials and tricks" download.

Ah well, I'm more than half way through sock one, and sock two should be easy enough with sock one under my belt. Aside from the gusset and heel it's a pretty vanilla pattern which knits up pretty quickly. Seems to me that I may just be able to finish this August project within the targeted calendar month! Even better if I manage them a bit quicker, because Nain awaits!

2018 Paper Bag Project - August, September, October, November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Feny Socks - using Lang Jawoll Superwash in turquoise and chocolate
      Pattern TBD - using unknown variegated red yarn
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird
      Venetian Blinds Socks - using Shelridge Yarns 80/20 Merino in Mint and Linen

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Nain - using large scraps of Stretch Bamboo in light blue
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

Year of Projects 8 - Week 06

I'm very late in posting today. What can I say; the day got away from me! Maybe because it's a holiday weekend here in Ontario, I'm all off schedule?

My knitting, on the other hand, is right on schedule! I finished my July Paper Bag Project: Gladys in Painted Fleece Merino/Silk/Cashmere. It's a very nice looking sock but all that seed stitch is a slog. Seriously, I had to really push myself to finish it.

The only thing that got me through was the urge to cast on the next pair of socks. On Wednesday I opened a new Paper Bag for August to discover two 50 gram skeins of Shelridge Yarns 80/20 Merino. SURPRISE. That wasn't on the list; I didn't even remember them! Of course it makes sense in retrospect that there couldn't be one bag with Lang Jawoll Superwash and a second with leftovers of the same! Where's my brain?! I amended my lists below.

But what pattern to knit? Colourwork for sure. And opposite socks to use it all up. Toe-up would help too! Time to dive into an advanced pattern search in Ravelry. And there it is... Venetian Blinds socks. All the boxes checked! I'll cast those on tomorrow.

As well, I've been pondering what to do about 150 grams or so of Stretch Bamboo leftovers, and I think I have a plan. The lion share of that is a similar shade of blue (90 grams or so) so I'll use that to knit Nain in the smallest size written. Seems to me that pattern would benefit from stretchy yarn. And then I'll use up the leftovers knitting ankle socks - Jelly Rolls, maybe? BUST ALL THE STASH!

So yeah, I finished a pair of socks and despite that my lists got longer. SIGH.


2018 Paper Bag Project - August, September, October, November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Feny Socks - using Lang Jawoll Superwash in turquoise and chocolate
      Pattern TBD - using unknown variegated red yarn
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird
      Venetian Blinds Socks - using Shelridge Yarns 80/20 Merino in Mint and Linen

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Nain - using large scraps of Stretch Bamboo in light blue
      Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours