Tuesday, May 26, 2009

So Many Choices

Knitting socks is fun. I don't know why I like to knit socks, and I don't want to figure it out.

You can knit socks:
  • Cuff-down - starting at the top and working to the toe
  • Toe-up - starting at the toe and working to the cuff
  • Vertically - side to side
You can knit socks using:
  • 4 Double Pointed Needles (DPNs)
  • 5 Double Pointed Needles
  • One Long Circular - 36'-40' long circular (also known as Magic Loop)
  • Two Circulars - usually 2 24" circulars or a 24" and a 16" circulars
  • One Long Circular to knit 2 socks at once
  • Two Circulars to knit a pair at the same time
Which way is the best? Ask a practitioner of the various needles categories and you guessed it you will get 7 different answers. Oh, you noticed that I listed 6 needle choices? The 7th person is the one who has never cast-on a sock, nor ever wanted to but as an accomplished sweater knitter feels free to voice an opinion. Feel free to go to a knitting group as a newbie and ask innocently which way should a beginner choose to knit socks. Be forewarned; it's like asking if you should block your knitting before making it up.

I've read about Magic Loop, Two Circulars and two socks at the same time, toe-up, cuff-down (which is the way most of my favorite sock patterns are made). I learned on DPNs.

Hmmm...I have decided to try:
  • 2 socks on 2 circulars - a cuff down pattern
  • a pair that is knit on my fav DPNs - cuff-down -( have the 1st set of bamboo, size 3 DPNs that I love to knit socks with. Used to have 5 in the set...sadly hubby stepped on one and it cracked)
  • Magic loop one sock - toe-up - having a problem on the two socks with this method (a how-to in front of me would certainly help)
I'm going to go knit one of these socks now. Planning on knitting the three ways I've listed each day. I'm curious to find out which way will be my favorite - If I have a favorite at all.

Here socky, socky.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

The Vulture Habit

It was just a few skeins waiting patiently to be knit up, bought for a particular project.

I like to buy on sale, so I keep a knitting journal with ideas, patterns and where to find them, yarn specifications, and needle sizes. Then, I keep an eye open for sales and then pounce! The sock yarn I bought at 30% off three weeks ago, hit the clearance section for 1/2 off...snap - another skein of yarn was attached to my hand and I couldn't shake the dang thing off. It came home with me. It's sitting it the basket with the other sock yarn - 7 skeins total...happy to have been bought and dreaming of the pattern it will become.

Really it's only 7 skeins of sock yarn. It's not like they're rabbits and go making baby skeins! The color combos would be very interesting to say the least!

Working happily on the Felted Backpack for Potluck Yarns I thought I felt a shift in the yarn force. Ever so subtle but still felt it. Continued on the Backpack - it's finally dry and ready to ship! Started to clean up my yarn drawer in the living room. One drawer in the dresser that serves as a critter stand is for current projects, patterns, magazines and such. The shift happened again. Putting stuff where it goes..like a bookcase - who knew?

Entered the craft/business room upstairs I saw it. It looked innocent enough...hiding behind the skein of variegated blue sock yarn. Yarn in rectangle storage containers. The big ones that can hold a skein on end - if it's a small length one. Bigger skeins have to be placed on their sides. Have two of those containers. I can open them up, see what's there - no buried yarn. Plus various other holders, plastic bags with zippers hold projects waiting around but nice and safe of crawlies.

Then it happened........I touched the sock yarn....BANG...the yarn force shifted hard! Like magic all this yarn was sitting there. More than I remembered. Honest...never saw it coming! It's only bought on sale...I can't remember when I paid full price for a skein of yarn. There's the yarn for a felted bag. The silk that is going to be a tank top of sorts. The alpaca that is going to be a loose fitting cardigan. The dang fun fur of various colors and other small balls of acrylics waiting to be Gnomes. The cotton that is going to be a lace cardigan. Another set of cotton that is being made in to top. The rust color yarn that is going to be gingerbread men. The Noro that was one sweater that is frogged back to skeins to be another sweater. The mohair that was becoming a sleeved wrap but is becoming a hoodie. It fits on a set of metal shelves in containers, plastic bags, in baskets and the few rebels who sit mocking me on the shelf.

I have vultured myself into a stash mountain. At least by my standards! It's still only one metal shelf unit but for me - the amount I have is huge! DD#2 asks "Mom, could you make something white for Sophie to wear? You have enough yarn you should be able to do that." Funny...I only buy yarn when it's one sale. I don't buy just because I may one day use it. Except for the few wayward skeins of acrylic that was donated to me, the yarn is meant for something specific.

Touching that one skein of sock yarn caused the mole hill to become a mountain on by my standards. (I've seen the stash pictures of some ravelry members...mini stores! Whole rooms just for their stash.) I'm stuck in my stash and I have to knit my way out! I'll be here for a few months. Send food, water and lots of chocolate. This is gonna take awhile!