this weekend was way too short, so short in fact that I lounged around and didn't do much yesterday! mostly because I was so tired from hanging out with leah (we didn't want the fun to end! well that and I dragged the poor girl all over philly in the cold).

this is pretty much all the sock knitting I did between friday and monday, I was that close to getting another pair done for socktober. oh well, maybe I'll work on it when Angela comes to hang out. unfortch, I think I already have to undo that meager progress because maybe I kinda, sorta, perhaps picked up the wrong needles. oops

I would have those socks done if I wasn't so enamoured with this little jacket. it's a short sleeve puff sleeve blouse/cardi from stef's upcoming book - I get a little preview since a) we're good friends and b) I'm going to let her borrow it as a sample model. nope, I don't feel any pressure at all! my stitches are juuuuussst fine. this is knit on 6's (4mm) and uses about 800 yards I think - I happen to have just enough yarn I'm trying out for the store in the right weight. the yarn is a wool/cashmere/angora blend which is making a cozy knit. I was worried about the angora content, but so far so good. There's a little bit of flying angora, though nothing has been making me sneezy or itchy.

I don't know how much of the finished sweater I can show, once I get there I'll check with stef. I bet this will be a fast knit (words of doom).

another sample I'm lucky enough to play with is this pumpkin color yak. yeah.100% yak dude. it's so freaking soft, especially after you wash it. the resulting fabric is buttery with a nice drape. this knits up to worsted or aran weight (5.5mm, 4.5 spi, 100gr/165yds) and I think it's destined to become a hat (probably from lmkg). I've been helping the company with color and price suggestions, but I wanted to ask you guys what a comfortable price point would be for you. like I said, I think of this as aran weight, it comes in a 100gr hank, and it's a luxury fiber up there with cashmere - how much do you think a hank should be? here's another picture for you if that helps.

sorry this post seems to be going all over the place, but I'm currently hiding from all the kids looking for candy. I even went out to dinner tonight just to avoid them. I feel like I'm in training to be that crotchety neighbor all the kids avoid. ("that's where old bitter purl lives, I wouldn't go there!") but I'm nice to knitters...

sometimes.

think of this as my litte treat for you - or my monday give away.....on tuesday. yeah. that's it.
so if anyone would like a bunch of db yarns, just let me know in the comments. all I ask is for you to pay shipping.

and you even get a random halloween link that has nothing to do with knitting- a halloween history. I especially love 2004.

happy halloween!

Posted by bitter purl at 05:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (48)

things may seem a little too familiar, but I promise that I didn't mess with the colors to fake out a new fo. hell, the computer I'm on right now doesn't even have ps installed! (computer problems have been haunting me for the last week or two, hence the silence)

pattern:dragon skin stitch
yarn: woolarina handpaints sock (old yarn base)
needles: 2.5 mm circs (knit picks)
date started: ?
date finished: 10/24/06

I think amanda was either going to kill me or have a heartattack if I didn't post about these since they are for the toasty toes swap. yeah, you didn't know I was in it did ya? (btw, amanda, your e-mailbox is full!).

I partly didn't blog about these because progress was slow and because I think the recipient would have figured me out pretty quickly. I 'happened' to have some purple yarn in my stash that would be perfect for her and this stitch pattern makes for some nice fitting socks, another request she had.

I mailed them off this morning along with some goodies, I just hope they fit and that she doesn't mind handwashing socks! let's just say I didn't think about that part when I casted on. this is woolarina's old yarn base, I saw that now they have superwash sock yarn, which I've had for over a year I think. I love the colors and the way this stitch makes them move around. I have two complaints though, besides being handwash only, one being that the yarn was splitty and the second being that it had a weird feel to it. I'm not sure how else to explain it, other than it left my hands feeling sticky and sweaty. it might have been lanolin or maybe it was soap from the dyeing. not sure here. I gave them a bath in some hot water with soak wash and that seems to have done the trick. the water turned purple but the yarn didn't fade at all.

I must admit that while finishing these up the thought of a "sock break" crossed my mind. I think after I knit mates for the two socks I have on the needles I'll be socked-out for a while (I'm probably lying to you!). I'll be moving back to sweaters pretty soon. those sweaters are going to have to wait till after this weekend, I'll be hanging out with one of my best buds this weekend. there's a rumor a certain hipster will be joining us this saturday or sunday - we'll see if it'll actually happen (that's right, that's a challenge- we already have bets going!).

as an aside (and way more important than my socks):
I received an email from offhand designs letting me know of their wheelchair fundraiser. larisa's (the owner and designer of offhand) niece, kyann, has a form of ms and she needs a new electric chair with a power tilt seat - this will help support her upper body and take pressure off her spine periodically. insurance will only cover a portion of the $12,000 cost but maybe if we all donate a little bit they'll reach their goal (I think it's 2500 and right now they're at $850). to make it even harder to resist (you know you want to help out already!) offhand is giving everyone who donates a clutch, bag, or tote of their choice. so if you wanted to try out one of their beautiful bags anyway, this is a perfect way or maybe you can get some holiday shopping done early. really I just want them to reach their goal as soon/fast as possible, do you guys think we can do it?!

Posted by bitter purl at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (26)

I love schedules and organization, so I can't tell you how happy I am that lolly is taking care of socktoberfest. I mean, she got me to post twice in a month, that's a feat right? (nevermind this is the second time I write this post...stupid computer)

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I actually started about a year ago, right before the first socktoberfest. Jen, my sp that summer, had sent me a skein of claudia handpainted and I figured, hey, what the hell! I just picked a pattern online and asked questions on the blog when I was lost. (thanks by the way!)

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?
my first pair were from spun's summer collection (btw, what happened to spun mag?). I figured with one skein that anklets would be the perfect thing and let's not forget fast.

it's almost embarrassing to look at these. I haven't worn them since they sorta like maybe not fit. I'm not sure how neither sock is the right size and let's not even talk about that hideous ribbing. the kicker? I found two dropped stitches on one of the toes. ouch! even without wearing these I can see some pilling (see below).

What would you have done differently?
not use dpns! uhh I mean, I would have used smaller needles, I used 2.75mm which is way too loose. I like knitting louets with 2.25mm for a nice squishy fabric.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
yarntini, yarn pirate, tess, sock hop, and, after much bitching while knitting with it, str lightweight. I'll admit it, I love my finished socks...there damnit!

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
you really don't want to see me with a hook. magic loop all the way, though I'll use dpns....if all my other needles are "busy".

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
either really, depends if I think about it while I'm knitting. short row heels are nice on the go since I don't really have to think about it.

How many pairs have you made?
9 for me, 1 for sockpal, 1/2 a pair for a swap, and 2 on the needles. for some reason I feel like I've knitted more.

Posted by bitter purl at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

I swear I had planned to post last week, I had even started writing!, but when a friend is heartbroken I rather hang out with them than to sit in front of a computer (though there's always a ton of that). wouldn't you?

so where were we? something with socks would be fitting...

joelene claims to have told me her short row trick a long time ago, but we have yet to find any concrete proof of this so I'm going to stick with my claim 'no you didn't!" claim. the top pics show the way I was doing my short rows before, with some teasing out of wraps and maybe some k3tog's (tbl) and p3tog's thrown in. umm, yeah, I still wasn't getting them to match and I can still see some holes in it. the bottom pics show jo's way which is so. much. better! on my hands and my soul. ahhh, no holes!

woolarina sock yarn

I'll have to redo the heel on this poor sock, but I'm having fun knitting another dragon set. I need hurry though since this one isn't for me.

fun with dye

another quickie sock, this time with a picot cuff. I'm already at the toes, been there for weeks actually, but I can't decide what kind of toe to do. this seems to happen to me every time, I suck at making easy decisions. I'll just have to look at one of my books and see what works with the stitch count.

omg it's not a sock!

calm down, I know! it's crazy that I'm actually knitting something that isn't a sock (and taking a picture of myself that doesn't include my feet!), but I started this poor sweater (simple knitted bodice) labor day weekend while the bf drove us to his parents' house. I often get these grand plans that I'll sit and knit on a long weekend and end up with a sweater. I never factor in other people and their plans for my time. needless to say I didn't pick up my needles that whole weekend. I finally started working on it two weeks ago when a certain somebody started, um, "reminding" me about it....every day : )

this was my progress at the beginning of last week, I've managed to finish both sleeves since then. all I have to do is pick up the neck stitches and I should have a finished sweater that's perfect for this lovely mild weather we're having (these sunny fall days are my favorite). I chose to knit it with a cotton (kona bay pima cotton) for a more casual look and feel. this is my first time knitting a cotton sweater and people started freaking me out , warning me on how heavy it would be. nope, not with this yarn. it's actually pretty light, though I imagine it will stretch out a little like any cotton would. I'll see how it goes once I'm actually done and wearing it around town. knitting it has been great, just the speed I needed right now, the fit is right on, and the cotton has a cool, silky hand to it.

< the back, because there's always somebody that asks about the back

I wish I had posted sooner, there were all these things I wanted to link to and show ya, but right now I don't remember any of it. once it comes to me again I'll post -I'm not going to say when though since certain smart asses start messaging me about it!

vintage floral - mottled

before I go, a little extra yarn porn for socktoberfest. my order from piece of beauty arrived the day after I posted about it. I've been good about not casting on right away - I don't know how much longer I can hold out for. the yarn is really soft, with a beautiful ply. and the colors, well the image speaks for itself I think.

Posted by bitter purl at 04:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (29)