No news ...

... isn't always good news. I have no new pictures to post, and no new anecdotes or observations about knitting to relate. In fact, I haven't knitted a stitch in a couple days. Work is to blame. It's been very, very busy. Going in early, staying late, working through breaks. I shouldn't complain - many would be happy just to have work - but I'm feeling grumpy about it nonetheless. Unfortunately, the knitting outlook for tomorrow also looks bleak. Might have to reward myself on Saturday at the Knitter's Fair!

a pair of Noro socks

Although they don't match in the sense that the colour bands fall in different spots, they're still clearly a pair. And I'm happier with them than I thought I'd be. But don't get me wrong, this may have been my first and last pair of Noro socks. I still haven't got over how many snarls and how much yarn barf I had to sort out.

The pattern is my final test knit for Tabitha, and a good pattern for Noro. The pattern on the leg forms columns of knit and purl boxes, and I opted for a plain stockinette foot in the interest of comfort. The toe is worked differently than most socks I've done before - but it fits my long toes very nicely. Quite a simple sock, but comfortable. The pattern should be published in the next few days.

battle preparations

Along with the dossier containing the details of my first target for Hat Wars was a copy of the rules. Rule 9 sets out reasons a knitted hat may be disqualified from competition - a hat knit more than 1 stitch per inch off gauge, dropped stitches and/or a hat which significantly fails to follow the pattern. Hmmm. Better swatch to check gauge. If you'd asked me yesterday whether I knit to average gauge I'd have shaken my head. Looser than average I thought. But after swatching this morning, I was surprised to find the stitch gauge and the row gauge right on. Phew! Next? Knit a small swatch to wash and block ... just to be certain that it doesn't stretch or shrink.

second sock progress

On the four hour drive to Ottawa I completed 2/3rds of the leg of my second sock. On the four hour drive home, I finished the leg, the heel and got started on the gusset decreases. Not much time to knit during our visit though - too busy working with my brother on his endless to-do list. His 90 year old house has beautiful, large sunlit rooms and lots of character, but, good grief, it needs a lot of work! I don't think I'd have the energy to take on a house like that.

Once home I found a dossier for my first target in Hat Wars in my email. Now to decide on some blue worsted weight yarn for the first hat and knit a gauge swatch. The pattern posts September 18 at 12:01 am and I have to be ready. Don't want to be eliminated in the first round!

slip resistant

Puffy Paint. Yup, I did it and it works. Shake it, squeeze it, let it dry and then puff it out with a steaming iron. Granted it's not easy to lay the paint down evenly or neatly - it has a runny texture reminiscent of the royal icing Mom and I used to decorate gingerbread cookies with. And, as you may have surmised from the pictures at left, I wasn't very dexterous with a bag of icing either.

But it's the bottom of the foot, after all. Maybe it'll even out with wear? In fact, I've tried wearing them. Walked all around the laminate floors of the living room and kitchen with them on. It really does work. The paint makes the tread slip resistant, and in my limited trials, it doesn't chip off, crack, or discolour. So far so good. Remind me to check in with my sister-in-law in a few months to see how it fares over the longer term.

As for the Noro socks, the first one is done and the second is off to a good start. But clearly, there will be no matchy-matchiness here. And did you notice? On the first sock the lightest coloration landed right at the heel! Hmmm. Noro.

a Noro Adventure

The third pattern I'm test knitting is a sock pattern. When I saw it I thought, hmmm, perfect for that skein of Noro in my stash. I bought the Noro thinking how pretty it was; when I got it home, I thought, uh oh, what pattern?

The first sock is almost done and so far I'm underwhelmed by the whole Noro experience. But Gavin keeps carrying on about it, saying things like ... those colours are great.... that's the best yarn you've ever knit ... why don't you buy more of that ... you could make me a sweater out of that yarn. He usually doesn't say much about my knitting, so he must REALLY like it.

But I think Noro conflicts with my OCD. It makes me crazy when I get to sections of the yarn which are thick, unspun roving! You don't even want to know how much yarn barf I've sorted through. And I'm not at all sure I'm going to be okay with the second sock not matching the first.

*sigh * Guess I'll have relinquish control and let the Noro have its way.

Arwen Slipper Socks

The Arwen Slipper Socks pattern that I've also test knit is now available on Etsy or through Ravelry. I've helped Tabitha over the last couple of days with font selection, designs and formatting.

I knit up a pair for my sister-in-law. My brother and his family just moved into a new/old house in Ottawa, and we're headed up there this weekend to help with get them settled in. Took no time at all, and used up a leftover 3/4 skein of Briggs & Little Regal from my stash. This pair is also headed for the non-slip treatment, but I reread the instructions to find that there is a 4 hour wait between application and steam ironing to puff the paint - not feasible for a weeknight. That'll have to wait a few days yet.