the Akamai Knitter

Today I had the urge to do something completely different from my usual run of the mill lace shawls, so I started knitting the Skull Illusion Scarf by Ysolda. It will be for my best friend in the whole wide world Wendy, Queen of the Yarn Porn and Ruler of Pointy Sticks. BFF, Wendy! (Yes I’m a dork of the first degree! Embrace your inner dork!)

So far this has been a great pattern to knit up. I’m using Brown Sheep’s Nature Spun worsted for the black and a Pingouin’s Fleur De Laine for the brown. Both were marinating in my stash for an abnormally long period of time, so it’s a mighty good thing that I found a use for them.

I really wish that I lived in a climate where I could use a wool scarf, because I do adore the idea of a skull scarf. But I shall make the best of my situation and simply borrow the scarf when I visit Wendy. Whenever that may be. I’m hoping to coincide a visit with Wendy, who lives in Oregon, with a fiber festival in her area. Anyone know of a kick ass fiber festival in that region?

Speaking of gifts for dear friends, I have been asked to knit a Jayne Hat and I have to tell you all that I am of the opinion that this could be one of the ugliest hats I have ever seen. Now I’m a Browncoat and I adore Firefly through and through, but this is one ugly ass hat. Not only that, I can’t stand orange and yellow together! I can hear my mother’s voice niggling in my head as I see those colours. “Asians can’t wear those colours. It will make you look like a pumpkin.” A pumpkin!

If I make this hat for my friend David then it will officially show to the world just how much I adore this man. I wonder if there’s a Hat Curse equivalent to the Sweater Curse? Or does this really only apply to boyfriend/girlfriend relationships?

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Pattern: Gentleman’s Socks

Yarn: Trekking XXL

Needles: Size 1US

Started: September 1st, 2006

Finished: October 21st, 2006

I finally finished the Gentleman’s Socks today while watching the World Series. I had a hard time finishing these socks because I got stuck on the toes. For some reason I just got sick of knitting these socks, even though I really liked the pattern and I really liked the yarn. I didn’t bother making sure that the stripes were matchy matchy and from what I understand you can’t really do that with Trekking XXL anyway.

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I’m really glad I finally did finish them though, because they fit like a dream and they feel really great on. I think I’d definitely use this pattern again, despite the fact that it felt like it took such a long time to get through these socks. I think it’s because I only worked on the sporadically while at the dentists or when I felt like it in the car.

I’m glad I joined Socktoberfest to kickstart me into finishing these socks, but when I join a knitalong I usually end up losing all enthusiasm for the project. This has proven true time and time again. The only knitalong that I’ve really stuck to has been the Diamond Fantasy Knitalong. I loved that shawl so much I even knit it twice! It’s a good thing that Socktoberfest has such loose guidelines.
I really wonder at myself though. I’ve joined some wonderful knitalongs and met some wonderful people through them. If only I could actually knit along with them! Maybe I’m just a rebel knitter at heart that has to find her own lonesome path. *smirk*

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Can ya tell I was bored? Can ya?

1. First Name? Opal
2. Were You Named After Anyone? Nope.
3. When did you last cry? This moring when I watched the season finale of Project Runway because I am that sad dork that gets really emotional when I watch the TV folks! Go Jeffrey! Go Jeffrey! You deserved that win!
4. Do you like your handwriting? Oh hell no. Not only does it hurt to write with the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I just don’t like to handwrite anything. It takes too long and I’m an impatient person.
5. What is your favorite lunchmeat Pastrami, Roast Beef, Salame. Mmm.
6. If you were another person would you be friends with you? Yes I would. I’m fun and I’m caring. So sho’ I would.
7. Do you have a journal? Yes, I have 3. I have a private journal on my laptop, I have my knitblog, and my LiveJournal (of which I will be better at posting).
8. Do you still have your tonsils? Ah yup. I sho’ do.
9. Would you bungee jump? I might. It depends on who I was with. Peer pressure is key.
10. What is your favorite cereal? I guess apple cinnamon oatmeal would be my favorite. I like to have that on cold mornings.
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Nope. Sure don’t. I’m lazy and when I get home I like them off STAT!
12. Do you think you are strong? After surviving the childhood I had, yes I sure do. It still drove me crazy, but I think it would have driven most people a lot crazier.
13. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Oh this is a hard one, because I’m a finicky picky sort of person whose tastes changes from week to week. If I had to pick one for right now, I’d say Mint Chocolate Cookie.
14. Shoe size? Size 7
15. Red or Pink? Red.
16. What is the least favorite thing about yourself? My weight.
17. Who do you miss the most? My cat Gwenna and my friend Jack.
18. Do you want everyone to send this back to you? Feel free to LJ or blog about it. So uhm.. sure.
19. What colour pants, shirt, shoes are you wearing? Eek! I’m in a nightgown! And it’s really beat up so no comment peoples. The less said the better.
20. Last thing you ate Half of a Safeway sandwich. It rocked.
21. What are you listening to right now? My dorkiness abounds. I’m listening to Grey’s Anatomy Vol 2 Soundtrack. Not only do I adore the show, but I adore their soundtrack. It’s true.
22. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be? I would be juniper green, because it’s not easy being green.
23. Favorite smell? Lavendar
24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? My best friend’s husband, since my best friend was too busy to talk to me. *sniff*
25. Do you like the person you STOLE this from? I actually don’t know the person very well. I only stumbled across her blog for the very first time. I saw this same meme at a few other places though.
26. Favorite drink? It’s a toss up between Long Island Iced Teas and Margaritas and it’s been way too long since I’ve had either.
27. Favorite sport? College basketball. Go Duke Blue Devils!
28. Eye colour? Dark dark brown. Almost black.
29. Hat size? I have no idea. I’ve never worn hats.
30. Do you wear contacts? No. I’m a glasses girl all the way.
31. Favorite food? Potato chips. They are my weakness and my downfall. Espeically the Luau BBQ or Hot and Spicy BBQ flavored chips.
32. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings
33. Summer or Winter? WINTER! So I can wear pretty sweaters and pretty socks and cuddle under pretty afghans and knit lots more of all those pretty things!
34. Hugs or Kisses? Depends on whose giving them away.
35. Favorite dessert? Flan or New York style Cheesecake.
36. Who is most likely to respond? Whoever is the most bored.
37. Least likely to respond? Whoever is the busiest.
38. What books are you reading? Diana Gabaldon’s Fiery Cross and Wendy Johnson’s Wendy Knits
39. What’s on your mouse pad? I have a lame ass cheap ass Verizon mouse pad. I am on the lookout for a cool mousepad though.
40. What did you watch on TV last night? CSI: NY and CSI: Miami. Gotta love that DVR
41. Favorite sounds: My eldest cat crying for mommy; purring cats; rain, wind rustling through leaves.
42. Rolling Stones or The Beatles? Rolling Stones. I have never been a big fan of The Beatles.
43. The furthest you’ve been from home? I lived in South Korea for 2.5 years when I was a child
44. What’s your special talent? I can knit lace. I really can.
45. Where were you born? Honolulu, Hawaii.
46. Who sent this to you? I shamelessly stole this off of Yarn Is My Metier.

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I woke up on Sunday with my house shaking around me like a leaf. The next thing I know the power went out. Other then the fact that I didn’t have power until around midnight, I suffered no damage to my property or to my family. So I realize how very lucky I am as reports from the Big Island have not been nearly so good. For those who don’t know, I live on Oahu in a suburb of Honolulu and the Big Island is about 150 miles south of us. At least I think it is, please correct me if I got that wrong. :-)

Since there was a storm system moving over the island, I didn’t have much light to work with, but I did manage to work on the Hidcote Garden. I’m sorry the picture doesn’t have much detail, but like I said, the lighting wasn’t very good and I’ve been too lazy busy to take another one.

I’m really enjoying this pattern. It’s easy to follow and easy to memorize. I’ve eschewed the use of stitch markers as they usually end up being more of a nuisance since they end up having to be moved to accomadate double decreases.

Unfortunately, I have to put the Hidcote Garden away now that the power is back on and work on the Shaped Triangle again. I’m using a dark navy blue yarn for that one, which is why I didn’t work on it during the power outage. But it was great company for me while I tried to find out more about what was going on. For some reason I could only catch Maui stations for most of the day and when I finally got an Oahu station they didn’t have much news.

But through it all I was reminded that none of it really mattered, since all my loved ones were safe and sound.

P.S. Thank you for all the voicemails, emails, and comments. I appreciate all the outpouring of concern you all showed for me! Thank you so much!

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I have joined the legions of Socktoberfests Meme participants! Thanks to Lolly for her wonderful questions.

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I started making socks in the late 90’s. I taught myself from the pattern and I used DPN’s.

What was your first pair? How have they “held up” over time?

My very first pair of socks were knit in Lion Brand Wool-Ease using Joan’s Sock pattern back when it was available through The Original Knit List. They were sloppy and they were slouchy and barely wearable but wear them I did until I finally had to throw them out.

What would you have done differently?

I would have used smaller needles to get a tighter fabric. My first socks were very loosey goosey which made them wear out much sooner. I also would have tried them on while I was working on them as I later started to do so that they would have fit better.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I have only recently gotten back into sock knitting so I haven’t tried all there is out there, but I have particularly enjoyed Koigu KPPPM and Opal yarns. I really like the Trekking XXL that I’m working with now as well. I think it’s just to hard to choose a single sock yarn that I love because there are so many good yarns out there.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I’ve never crocheted socks and I don’t think I ever will. I think the resulting fabric would be too thick for my liking. I do prefer to use 2 circular needles when knitting socks. I would like to try the Magic Loop one day though. I’m not in a particular rush though as the 2 circulars works really well for me.

I used to adore DPN’s but when I started knitting on the bus it became too much of an ordeal to hunt down the dropped DPN as it rolled around. It’s really embarrassing running up and down a moving bus trying to get that one needle!

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

I prefer the fit of a flap but I do like knitting the short row. I’m not really a fan of picking up gusset stitches, but I do it anyway since I enjoy the fit so much better.

How many pairs have you made?

I honestly don’t know. If I were to count from this year alone I have 3 completed pairs, but I can’t remember how many I finished before this year. I would definitely say under 10 though. It wasn’t until this year that I became a really prolific knitter.

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