Bird's Nest Knits

Not so bad after blockage

I wish I was patient enough to knit longer cuffs.  I think I'll be giving these to my sister.

Holy Dyelots Batman!

So the New Year is starting off pretty well as far as knitting goes.  I've just finished Marnie's Wyvern Socks.  It was a very easy knit - the pattern was easy to memorize after a while.  My third pair of socks which I think turned out pretty well - it made for good commute knitting.  If I were to do them again there are a few things I'd change -

• Not too stripey a color of yarn - the striping of the Lorna's Laces detracted from the lovely scale design, Koigu would probably be really pretty.
• No bottom ribbing - it makes for a little too snug a fit for me, and while it does fit - when the sock is not on - the ribbing pulls the yarn in to the point where it looks extremely narrow.  It got mistaken for a willy warmer more than once.
• DOUBLE check your dye lots.  I used 1 skein of Lorna's Laces and got to about 2" from the end of the cuff on the 2nd sock when I had to break out the 2nd skein... which ended up being SIGNIFICANTLY lighter than the first skein.  *headdesk*  I was pretty sure the dye lot was the same too.  So I had two choices, frog back the first sock to a point where I could steal the yarn and even out the lengths, or suck it up and deal with a lighter cuff and knit to the same length as the first.  Guess which I chose?  The lazy way of course!  Who looks at cuffs anynow, they are usually hidden by pantleg.

• Next time - two socks on two circulars knit at the same time.  No more 2nd sock syndrome for me.
• Kitchener Bind off next time - while I like the stretchiness of the picot bind off, I hate how it rolls downward when you wear them

All in all, I love them even with the minor color issue, the pattern was well written and fun to knit up.  The color is a little blotchy cause they are slightly damp being blocked on my feet.

Pattern:    Marnie MacClean's Wyvern Socks
Yarn:  Lorna's Laces (oops threw away the band)  1.25 skeins
Needles:  Addi Turbo's Size 2
Method:  Toe up w/ Magic Loop
Toe:  Short Row
Heel: Short Row
Bind Off:  2 cast on/ 4 cast off Picot Bind Off

I've also done my swatch for the Sexy Knitters Club Picovili KAL - Knit Picks Shine in Orchid.  I really like this yarn!  Its super soft, and makes a nice tight fabric.  I got gauge with Size 4 circ's and the color is cheery and bright.

I'd not completely decided to participate until my credit card threw itself at the KnitPicks web site.  Can't beat the price either at $2.29 a ball - definately won't be finding something that nice at Michael's or Walmart. 

My contribution to JenLa's ugly avatar contest:

Would it be too gauche of me to bring knitting to Heidi's housewarming?  What if I brought booze and fried risotto balls?  (I thought of Fried Rice Balls, but I know how perverted ya'll are)

Butt Masters and Willy Warmers

Nothing like spending a few hours with friends knitting in a place that has pastries and coffee very close at hand.  I met up with Heidi and Wendy at Rebecca's Coffee Shop on the corner of 30th & Juniper in San Diego for some chat and knit (Wendy also did some spinning).  It wasn't too long before the conversation descended into quips about porn and x-rated knitted items.  (we're fun like that)  I brought my knewly (isn't that deliberate misspelling so knitter elite of me... ok nevermind)  purchased Straucht hand carders and they both helped me a bit with my hand carding technique. 

Spinning in public never fails to drum up some questions, and a gentleman entertained us for a bit with some marginally humorous anecdotes as Wendy spun up some delicious foresty green singles on her Lendrum.  Laziness kept me from bringing my own to the shop.  Come to think of it I still have to finish spinning up that thick thin single from the wooly balls I got from the Fiber Fest last month.  (There's just something fun about saying wooly balls.  Wooly balls!)

Ok... so I'm easily amused.  At least I know and admit it.

I worked on the first sock of a pair of Marnie's Wyvern socks.  Its a bit different from the other socks I've knit - the sole and back of the sock is ribbed which results in a very nice snug fit around the food and ankle.  I would suggest that you knit a size bigger than you think you need if you are going to do the ribbed version.    The combination of the rib and the pattern make it smaller than I would have expected.  On the needles, the sock width is intimidatingly narrow.  It looks more like a willy warmer than a sock, but when you try it on - magic happens and somehow it stretches to fit the foot quite nicely.   I havent walked around on the sock yet so I cant tell you how the ribbing along the sole feels.

The pattern is lovely - not too complex, but interesting enough to keep your attention.  The toe up construction is my favorite and there is no worry about running out of yarn depending on how long you make the cuff.    I wouldnt make it too long without  adding some shaping though as the narrowness of the foot could be constricting once you start going up the calf.  I'm going to make them high ankle socks I think.  With the lovely dragonscale pattern - it would look best in a solid color yarn but I actually dont have any solid sock yarn, so I did it in Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock yarn that I got from Jan Metzger on the trip up to the Village Yarn with Heidi, Wendy and Hillary.   The pattern is not easily discernable in the photos, but you can see it nicely in person.  If I were to do this again I'd probably do it in a solid color, and  I am happy to report no pooling at all.

Needles:  Addi Turbos Size 1 - 60"
Yarn:  Lorna's Laces in Happy Valley

And no.. I still haven't finished that Clapotis.  I wanted it big enough to be a wrap for my freezing office but my desire for size has made it even harder to complete.   It's been relegated to the "knitting bag"  (the Bermuda triangle of unfinished objects).  Who knows - I might finish it someday but I'm not going to worry about it.

My sister just got a puppy.  He is an American Eskimo and named Oscar.

Very very cute, but currently peeing all over her house.

MY dog however... no peeing over the house, and she is the mostest awesome dog ever.

One week and counting... Vietnam trip!

In more mundane news, I've become a Lost junkie.  Rented Season 1 on DVD and I've found myself COMPLETELY engrossed by the storyline.  I've spent past three days in a Lost marathon, up until the wee hours watching it avidly.  Every character is quite multi faceted, soon as you start liking someone you find out something that isn't so flattering and the characters you love to hate (Sawyer) actually end up having a human side. 

Except for Jack, he is hero material through and through - and a hottie to boot.  I'd polish his stethoscope any day.  Aside from Jack, I really like Locke.  He's great in that "going postal crazy" sort of way.

I highly recommend anyone who's not seen the show to go out and rent Season 1 on DVD.

In movie news,  I love me some Weasley Twins.  That is all.