Scylla socks

We're up early this morning getting ready for a long weekend at a friend's cottage at Lake Erie. With less than an hour of knitting left to finish my second Estonian Traveler's Sock, I decided to put it aside until I get home. I need something with several hours of knitting for the long drives there and back, as well as whatever amount of knitting time on the weekend. The second Caspian Seas sock is definitely not travel knitting, so I had a look at my queue.

Scylla Socks made my queue not just because they're attractive, but also because they're toe-up and designed for variegated yarn. Perfect for a couple of yarns in my stash that have confounded me in the search for a fitting pattern. And toe-up because these yarns are leftovers and I have less than 100 grams. With toe up I can stop the leg at half way through the yarn to avoid running out before the sock is complete. Hopefully I get something more than ankle socks!

I came across this yarn during my stash cupboard tidy up. It's Trekking Pro Natura, which is a merino and bamboo blend. I bought it a few years ago; I remember distinctly, because it was the first time I splurged on "expensive" yarn. Mom fell in love with it and knitted a pair of toddler socks from it, then the remainder came back to me when I inherited Mom's stash.

the loot bag

For every Stitch and Pitch ticket holder, there was a loot bag. Gavin gave his to me. The bag itself has a nylon shell with a waterproof lining and pockets of various sizes around the outside. I kept one and gave the other to a knitter whose friend couldn't make it to the game.

Inside was a ball of Kroy sock yarn. From my two bags I got a ball of Tangerine Jacquard and Bronzed Berry Stripes. Also in the bag? A Eucalan Wipes sample, a discount coupon for Soak and a discount coupon for the CreativFestival in October. Nice!

On the knitting front, I've been trying to get organized for Christmas knitting. Only 147 days to go! I've added a Christmas countdown to my sidebar to keep track. The Estonian Traveler's Socks are the first bit of Christmas knitting. And several more pairs of socks are planned. Better get knitting!

Stitch and Pitch

I met the Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the Yarn Harlot, before the game.
Here's about how it went:

me: I'm so pleased to meet you. I read your blog every day.
YH: Every day!? Even the days I don't blog?

me: (now flustered) Well, every day you do blog. I used to read your blog aloud to my Mom. She enjoyed it, especially about the sock scavenger hunt.
YH: That's nice to hear.

me: (taking my Traveler's sock out of my knitting bag) Can I have a picture taken with you holding my sock?
YH: (looking my sock) This sock is righteous! What's the pattern?

me: (extremely flustered now) Traveler's Socks by Nancy Bush.
YH: (holding up my sock) Oh, you can tell a Nancy Bush pattern anywhere. That's good work. You have to hold my sock for the picture. It's only fair.

me: (examining her sock): Nice ebony needles. Lantern Moons like mine?
YH: No, [names a different needle brand].

Gavin takes the picture and I return her sock to her, with thanks. Hmm, sounds innocuous enough, but I can't escape the feeling that I was awkward and nervous while she graciously admired my sock.

A loud cheer went through our section of the dome when the Yarn Harlot took to the field to throw a ceremonial pitch. Her throw was short but kudos to her for giving it her best. Imagine how nerve-wracking that must have been!

gearing up for Stitch and Pitch

I'm not much of a baseball fan. I've never attended a Stitch and Pitch event before. But when I heard that the Yarn Harlot was throwing out the first pitch at the Blue Jays game tonight it was too much to resist. This year's Stitch and Pitch seems to have generated lots of excitement here in Toronto - tickets were sold out at the first three LYS I phoned! So I'm guessing there'll be lots of familiar faces of knitters I've met at knit nights and other knitting events.

After much debate I've decided to take my Traveler's socks to knit through the game. Are they too complicated to knit through a baseball game? Not sure. Another knitter posted on Ravelry that she was going to knit lace, and if she can do that, I can knit these socks. Besides, if I meet the Yarn Harlot I want to have a knitting project in my hands that I'm proud of! Go Jays Go!

back to the travelers

With 26 little woollen hats bundled up, wrapped and posted to Ireland, it was time to get back to my second Traveler's sock. Actually, laundry, gardening and grocery shopping first, then the sock. As you can see from the picture, things are proceeding at full speed and I'm about halfway to the heel.

Sunday I ripped out some Asiatic Lilies from the front garden. They were pretty when they bloomed, but for the last few years they've been infested by bugs - a tattered mess through the summer and fall. In the back yard, I ripped out a patch of Joe Pye Weed. I planted it to attract butterflies but it quickly got out of control. Maybe next year, I'll try some Columbines and Bee Balm.

the first dozen

With a dozen hats finished, I'd guesstimate that I'm about half way through the DK scraps I have on hand. These scraps are leftover from my Mom who bought several colours of Cashmerino DK for a baby sweater for Gavin's grandson. She splurged on the yarn to make it a very special sweater. The pullover had a puppy face done in colourwork on the front and it was the favourite sweater for baby's first year. I like to think that she'd be happy with the use I've found for these scraps. Mom was always keenly interested in the fun and oddball things that knitters around the world were up to. She was particularly amused by the Yarn Harlot's sock scavenger hunt. In fact, were she alive today, I imagine she'd be knitting little woollen hats along with me.

program change

I'm interrupting my regularly scheduled knitting for something special - little woolly hats. A fruit drink company in Ireland is soliciting these little hats for their 250ml bottles; for every behatted bottle sold they'll donate 25¢ to Age Action to help seniors at risk cover their heating bills over the winter. Every year in Ireland about 2000 seniors die from cold related conditions. Remember how bad last winter was over there?

The little hats are adorable and fun to make. Not to mention, this is a great way to use up the scraps of Cashmerino DK in my stash! Each hat takes about 3 grams of yarn and each pompom takes another 4 grams. Although the fruit drink company has published patterns on their website, I've come up with my own. Finished hats must be 5-7 cm wide when laid flat and at least 3-4 cm tall, not including the pompom.

With 2.5mm dpns, cast on 32 stitches and join to work in the round.
Round 1: knit all stitches
Rounds 2 & 3: purl all stitches
Rounds 4 to 14: knit all stitches
Round 15: *knit 6, k2tog*, repeat to end of round (28 stitches remain)
Round 16: *k2tog*, repeat to end of round (14 stitches remain)
Round 17: *k2tog*, repeat to end of round (7 stitches remain)
Cut working yarn, thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight to close opening.
Make 1-1/2" pompom, attach and weave in ends.