the Akamai Knitter

What a great weekend. I watched two great movies, went shopping, visited with Veronica, and ended it with the wildest NFL game I’ve ever seen. My team’s quarterback threw 5 interceptions yet we still won the game. Unbelievable. I’m still in shock.

Enough of that though. On to the swag!

When I said shopping, of course I meant a trip to my favorite LYS, Isle Knits. I picked up the new Evelyn A. Clark book, Knitting Lace Triangles. I have to say I wasn’t overly impressed with it at first glance. There isn’t a lot of stitch patterns given in the book so the number of designs you can make in the book are limited, especially if you don’t care for the stitch patterns in the first place. But I can see a lot of potential in what she’s written and I think you can use the book as a building block to design other shawls from stitch patterns that aren’t within the scope of the book.

While I was at the shop, I got to chatting with another of the customers and I think that I would have escaped without a single yarn purchase if it hadn’t have been for her. (We’ll just leave names out of this for now.) She generously pointed out some lovely colors of some Skacel Merino Laceweight that I hadn’t seen before. Which is how I happened to walk out with two skeins of laceweight yarn that I really didn’t need, but just couldn’t resist.

Rewinding to earlier in the week, I received a package from my friend Wendy M. In it contained a cornucopia of delights.

First off, we have a gorgeous hand turned spindle that Wendy and her husband made especially for me. The two of them usually make these pieces of functional art for their business Quantum Spindles. I feel extra special in that I got to snag one made just for me.

I have yet to spin on it because I’m so afraid I’ll somehow break it (silly, I know), but I promised Wendy that I’d try it sometime today. My spindling skills are a little rusty so wish me luck. ;-)

Next up is a gorgeous hand-sewn needlecase in a silk brocade. It’s just perfect for my sock needles. I especially love the colors. It even has little pockets to put stitch markers or my tape measure!

Another example of Wendy’s awesome sewing prowess is a darling little bag shaped like a fish. I think it will be perfect for my cell phone.

Finally, we have what is just about my favorite piece in the package, a kitty soft toy. I love the combination of pink and brown. I’ve yet to come up with a name as I can’t even decide on whether or not the cat is a boy or girl. What do you think?

A couple of things I didn’t feature here is a really handsome hand turned pen and a couple of lovely dishcloths. I truly feel spoiled by all these goodies. Thank you, Wendy!

Unfortunately, I think Quincy feels a little left out. Maybe there’ll be something for you next time, little guy.

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Once I finished the Embossed Leaves, I searched for another pattern that would capture my interest and my heart. I came upon the Rococo socks, by the indubitable Anne Hanson of Knitspot, that has been lurking on my queue for awhile now and knew that I had hit the jackpot.

Next came the search for the yarn that would compliment the pattern. I had always envisioned this pattern in some Fearless Fibers sock yarn and I had some Glorious Green in my stash, so I proceeded to cast on.

After a few repeats, I started to have misgivings. Serious misgivings. I could not see the pattern. Well, I could if I tried really hard and gave myself a case of some serious eyestrain, but that’s not the way to go.

It’s not the yarn that’s the problem. I love the yarn. I love the color. But this yarn and this pattern was just not meant to be. Do you see what I mean?

I really wanted this pattern to pop and that’s not what was happening. So I dug into my sock yarn stash in search of another yarn. I was thinking a light colored yarn would be best. The only problem was that all of my yarn was dark.

As I tossed yarn out of the bin with increasing frustration, there was nary a light color to be found. I had dark browns. I had dark greens. I had dark blues. I had nothing suitable for the lovely Rococo.

Obviously I was in a stash crisis and I needed some retail therapy to rectify the matter. I retreated to the computer in despair and started surfing the yarn shops. Nevermind that I had decided to be extra good this month due to some rather extravagant excursions to Isle Knits last month.

I started plunking sock yarn after sock yarn into my cart with wild abandon. I needed lighter colors! Brighter colors! After awhile, I began to realize that I may have been a little off my head. I decided a rational voice might be needed. I realized this might be the time for intervention. So I called my best friend Wendy M. for help.

Normally she would have urged me on in buying more yarn. She’s all about the enabling. This time I explained to her my need for the prevention of any purchases and she was more then willing to cooperate. She had me go through my yarn one more time and organize the yarn by color.

You know what? It worked! There on the bottom of the bin lurked a pair of perfectly wound balls of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in China Blue. Stash crisis averted.

I joyously cast on for the next installment of the Rococo socks and I think this is a much better pairing of pattern and yarn.

Ahhh. Much better. Onyx is equally happy now that the all commotion is over and done with.

Have a great weekend everyone and may it be filled with fibery goodness. :-)

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As predicted, my weekend was filled with leafy knitting and it carried on until I finally finished the Embossed Leaves socks yesterday.

Pattern: Embossed Leaves from Favorite Socks

Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Loden

Needles: size 1US/2.25mm (2 circs)

Started: September 26, 2007

Finished: October 2, 2007

I’m pretty sure that I did more repeats then specified in the pattern. I didn’t really keep track though. I just knit until the length of the sock was what I wanted and the same for the length of the foot. I’m just not very scientific that way. :)

I did follow the pattern for the toe to the letter though as this was a new to me type of toe. I was a little concerned that I’d get confused since the pattern is written for DPNs. Luckily the pattern indicates how many stitches are on each needle, so I put a stitch marker to help guide me. I have to admit I now feel a little silly for being so worried about such a small detail as that.

I did have some misgivings as to how these would socks would fit, but I love the fit of these socks! They’re not too snug, but they don’t exactly slouch either. They feel just right.

And I love this yarn! It’s so soft and squishy that I just like to hold the socks in my hands and squeeze them. Boy, does that sound dirty. I’m a dirty squeezer of socks.

To distract you from my perversions, I give you a Quincy shot. It’s not the best picture of him, but maybe this will help erase the mental image of my bizarre sock squeezing.

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Along with the rest of the other Second Wavers, on September 23rd I started the Clapotis. I’m using my new favorite yarn, Plymouth Boku, and size 8US/5.0mm needles.

So far I’m loving the miles and miles of stockinette stitch. The twisted stitches that are thrown in every now and then give it just the right spice.

It doesn’t look like much now, because I’ve decided to drop all the stitches down to the end all at one time.

The reason I decided to wait on dropping the stitches is that the Boku is a rather sticky yarn. So it’s a rather delicate process that takes some finesse. It seems a little ironic that just when you purposefully want to drop a stitch, it chooses to hold on.

I did do a couple of ladders and I really like the results. The picture below also shows a better representation of the yarn color.

Saving the job of creating the ladders is also a great incentive to speed up the knitting. At the same time, I’m trying not to go too fast so I can savor the joy of this soothing project.

Another thing that soothes me is the camaraderie between Quincy and Onyx. Here’s Quincy enjoying a sunbeam while Onyx has a drink of water.

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