the Akamai Knitter

First off, I want to thank all of you lovely people for being so supportive. You all are the bestest. Knitters truly rock.

I think the reason I’ve been so lethargic and whiny is because I was catching a cold. This past week has been spent getting over it and what fun it’s been! /sarcasm

Actually, I shouldn’t complain too much. Others have had it much worse off then I have and this virus has given me the opportunity to be kind to myself. Instead of spending hours at the spinning wheel and with the beads, I’ve been chilling with the needles. I managed to get the first Mingus sock done while watching season 1 of Supernatural.

I also managed to get some work done on the second sock.

I can’t remember the last time I was truly in love with a knitting project like I am with this one. I want to work on it day and night, but I promised a friend I’d make her some felted clogs.

I would have started the clogs a couple of weeks ago, except the yarn needed to be wound. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate winding yarn?

None of the furniture I have out accommodates my swift and ball winder so I have to lug out a folding table for the express purpose of winding yarn. It’s like having to take out the ironing board. No fun.

I also can’t find the joy in cranking the ball winder. Some people find it meditative, I just find it boring as all get out. Bleh.

The purpose of all this whinging is to convey the triumph I felt when I finally got all my crap out and wound the yarn for the clogs. I gave myself a huge pat on the back and started them last night.

Robin's Clogs

The size 13US needles tend to kill my hands if I work on them for very long, which is fine with me. That just means I get to switch off to another project, like my socks. I can live with that.

Another reason I took a break from the spinning is that my knee is bothering me again. It’s just being a cranky old bitch so a day of rest was in order. I’m having a hard time staying away from the wheel though.

I’m on the last bobbin of another 3ply spun from some merino by Hungry For Handspun. Here’s the first two bobbins.

Summer Meadows

Hopefully my knee will be better behaved today now that it’s had a day of rest and I’ll be able to finish the third bobbin today. I might even be able to use my nifty new chain nose pliers that I bought last week. The possibilities excite me.

It’s Friday everyone! Have a good one!

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Last night I started on the Wyvern socks by Marnie McLean. Thanks to Barbara from Acornbud’s Yarn for turning me on to such a neat pattern. This is the first toe-up pattern I’ve tried and thanks to the Tip Top Toes Feature in Knitty, I was able to breeze by the toe and the heel without a problem.

I particularly love the Koigu that I’m using and I’m thinking that I’ll have to get more of this lovely yarn. The only question is where. If anyone has any suggestions on a good place to get some online, please let me know. Either leave me a comment or email me at akamaiknitter at yahoo dot com.

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I’m wondering whether I’m a person with a strong will or a strong won’t. I refuse to start the Rose of England until I finish one of the shawls I have going. I think the best way for me to accomplish this goal is to take this beautiful cone of Sage Green Zephyr and put it away in a box until I can really pay it proper attention., because it’s too hard to resist!
So I continue to plug rather obstinately away at the Flirty Ruffles making slow but sure progress. Nothing to really write home about since you can’t really see anything new happening. I’m almost to the heel of the second Pomatomus and if my hands were feeling better I’d say the end were near.

Unfortunately, I promised myself that this time around I would not knit through the pain. Instead, I’m resting them and soothing them with gentle baths. Hopefully this will all get them back to their former working order sooner rather then later.

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Pomatomus Progress - Heels & Gussets (Sock 1)
Originally uploaded by AkamaiKnitter.

I turned the heel on my first sock of the year. I can’t really even remember the last time I last knit a sock so it’s past time I started up again.

I forgot to mention in my last post that I modified the Pomatomus pattern and did it all in k1p1 ribbing instead of the seed stitch used for part of the “circles”. I think I will knit up another pair one day and go exactly according to pattern just to see what how the two look next to each other.

The next pattern I’d really like to do though is the Baudelaire sock from the summer Knitty. It’s from the same designer that did the Pomatomus, Cookie A., her and she co-authors a blog here.

Wendi asked how my joints are doing and I have to say my wrists are much much better, though my right knee is really acting up. It’s hating stairs and I’ve got to re-schedule an appointment with my rheumotologist. The reason I haven’t gotten to that is because my mother is home recuperating from back surgery. The surgery went really well, but she is still in a lot of pain and she can’t move around very well. Still, she’s in excellent spirits!

Thanks for all the compliments on my sock. I’m so thrilled with it! I think the reason I’m zipping away on it is because I’m desperate not to get the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome. So I figure the sooner I can cast on for it, the sooner I can get it done. Hrm. I know that sounded logical in my own head….

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Shaped Triangle
Originally uploaded by AkamaiKnitter.

Here’s the easy schmeasy shawl that I’ve been working on while I talk on the phone or when I’m watching a partcularly gripping tv show. It’s the Shaped Triangle from a Gathering of Lace. I’m using Jaggerspun Zephyr in Admiral from Sarah’s Yarns.

Beware of her site because she has a sale right now on all her Zephyr cones! I’ll probably be picking up another cone to use for the Rose Of England Knitalong. I’m still trying to decide on a colour and believe me it’s not an easy task as Zephyr comes in the most amazing colours. I do know it will be in a shade of green and not a red. If I do decide to use a red, then I’ll use the Ruby that I have on hand.

For those of you wondering about whatever happened to the second Diamond Fantasy Shawl, it’s sitting and wating to be blocked. Pictures will be up as soon as i get that beast pinned out! I’m so happy that it’s finally done, but I’m so sad that I don’t get to knit with that beautiful yarn anymore. I’ll have to pick up more yarn form FurrYarns again since I loved it so much.

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