February 28, 2007
Well, we have a winner.
But it wasn't in the race until yesterday.
Meet Frog Tree Alpaca in fingering weight. (4ply for the Aussies). I went through the stash yesterday and found this. It was sent to me in a swap by a lovely lady, and for some reason I had it in my head that it was sportweight, which was why I hadn't considered it. But I'm very glad I found it!
I'm crossing my fingers that it's fourth time lucky. It's still a bit wider than I'd hoped, but I think it'll be closer to the finished size of 10". Mind you, I've had to go down to fingering weight on 2.75mm needles to get there!
In other news, the second Bloomin' Feet sock is on the finish line.
I've actually come quite a bit further since then. The toe is finished, and all I need to do is the dreaded kitchener. Once I got up to there, I put the sock aside, and I haven't touched it again. Give me cables, give me lace, give me tiny little yarn on tiny little needles, anything at all and I'm fine. Give me Kitchener, and I'm lost. I just can't get it.
How many pairs of socks have I knit?
I still need to go watch this video to help me graft the toe, every single time. I have no idea why, I just can't get it.
Thank heavens for the video.
In other news, it rained again today. Well, it poured. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Like every other Australian, I'm overjoyed when I see the rain. In fact, I think it's rained more in the last two weeks than it has in all of the past year.
But why does it do this just as I'm walking out the door to go pick up Emily?
Did I mention that Emily "borrowed" my umbrella last year, and it never made it home again? I was soaked through just getting to the car. But maybe it was just what I needed, I laughed for the next ten minutes.
Posted by Donna at February 28, 2007 09:32 PMComments
Now that I see this yarn, I do think the lace pattern shows up better in a solid color. Looks like a good choice.
I still get out my instructions for Kitchener, but I don't dread doing it. I do however, like to have peace and quiet, because if I get distracted, I might loose my place. I think there's more pressure to get it right when you're making socks for someone else. Good luck!
Posted by: wool winder at March 1, 2007 12:03 AMThat's the rules. It has to pour when you are going to or getting out of your car. My youngest daughter has a habit of "borrowing" umbrellas. I used her car Sunday and borrowed back 5 of them laying on the floor of the front seat.
Posted by: Diane at March 1, 2007 12:04 AMWow...that is quite the rain storm. The Frog Tree Alpaca looks simply yummy! Can't wait to watch the progress on it.
Posted by: Kimberly at March 1, 2007 12:26 AMThe green is definitely the winner.
As for kitchener, I have to look it up every time I do it too. I always think I know what I'm supposed to do but I'm never so sure that I attempt it without "cheating".
Posted by: Restless Knitter at March 1, 2007 12:42 AMGreat minds must think alike, Donna. ;) The Faina's Scarf I currently have languishing on my UFO pile is being knit with Jaeger Alpaca 4 ply yarn, but in a rich, claret colour as that was what 'The Wool Shack' had on their special page at the time.
I really should just finish it as I think it just needs to have the final pointy end section knit now -- I did a few extra pattern repeats to both compensate for the decrease in length caused by using the finer yarn and to make it a little bit longer. The prospect of the shaped, knotted fringes is freaking me out though, which I suspect is why I put it aside originally. Maybe I should put a photo of it on my blog next time I update it to give me a bit more of an incentive to finish it finally.
And I'm really relieved to hear that you survived the great downpour today -- when I saw the cars which were swept from a school car park into the storm water drains on the news, I was seriously worried.
Posted by: Pamela Lee at March 1, 2007 12:45 AMI like the green too.. altho as you might already know I'm partial to purple ;)
WOW what a down pour.. spring is just around the corner, and I'm looking forward to it.. altho I hope it doesn't rain to much like that.
I finished my first zig zag socks too.. both of them..lol.. come over and check them out!
Posted by: Vicki at March 1, 2007 12:45 AMNice to see the Frog Tree making it's grand appearance here! It looks lovely and I know it's going to be a super soft scarf and fun to knit with! Enjoy!
Posted by: Cathy at March 1, 2007 01:04 AMI really like rain, too. Summer showers are the best!
Faina really looks nice in the teal. I like it best of the options you've showed us.
Posted by: sprite at March 1, 2007 02:57 AMnow that's a downpour! You'd think you were in Washington (grin)
lovely new yarn in the scarf -
and you're done with your socks? ! wow.
That Frog Tree color is pretty. Glad to see that it's working out for Faina. Your pal is going to love her pair of socks too. Finally, I was just thinking what would Twinkie do if she was out in that downpour... ;)
=:8
Kitchener used to kick my butt too until I found the Mantra... "knit, purl. purl, knit." As long as I chant the mantra while grafting my toes I do fine. I don't remember where I stumbled across it, but it totally took the dread out of toes.
Posted by: Visionsister at March 1, 2007 05:14 AMI love the Frog Tree Alpaca! Used it for my Swallowtail shawl and it's just lovely! I saw Kitchener explaine on a blog and now I totally get it - that's why I love to read blogs. Sometimes someone says something in just the right way and for some reason it clicks.
Posted by: Evelyn at March 1, 2007 06:18 AMOh I totally have to follow Kitchener instructions every time - I've written them out in my knitting diary so I've always got them with me!
The 3rd time's the charm! That is the best yarn yet for your scarf!
Yay! for the stash......... see, I knew you had something perfect hiding away in there. :)
Glad you enjoyed the rain, and of course it always starts just as you have to go somewhere.
I think you're right. I like the green very much.
Posted by: Wanda at March 1, 2007 08:16 AMYes, it always rains at going home time. Wisdom acquired from 20 years of teaching!!! It rains hardest and fastest then!! Glad you have found the right stuff for your scarf and the sock looks so lovely!! I like grafting. I chant : knit knit, purl purl as I go, but I always like to check the set up instructions I have glued into my knitting journal before I start.
Posted by: 2paw at March 1, 2007 08:29 AMHooray for finding a suitable yarn for Faina. =) The first one looks really nice. Too bad its too wide. Its been raining everyday here too.
Posted by: Kessa at March 1, 2007 03:11 PMI like the Frog Tree Alpaca it looks lovely and it's a nice colour too. Thanks for sharing the video I never could work out how they did the Kitchener bind off and now I do. I will keep it in my bookmarks for future reference. I wish we got some rain here in Melbourne too. We've lost so many plants in our garden because of no rain and now we most probably be facing stage 4 water restrictions next month.
Once upon a time we had 79 Azelia's in our garden but now I think there's about 10.
Posted by: Helen at March 1, 2007 06:02 PMthe yarn looks fantastic, the lace devine! what a downpour, that is amazing.
Posted by: marti at March 2, 2007 01:13 AMYou like rain like we like rain/snow here in the desert Southwest/Utah. It is exciting. And the sock look great.
Posted by: Sheila at March 3, 2007 03:26 PM
You definitely have a winner! That yarn looks gorgeous!
We had a lot of rain this year, but I wouldn't mind having more of it ... with the warm weather to accompany it. I don't mind getting wet in the rain either as long as I don't have anywhere important or fancy to go. :)
Posted by: Samantha at February 28, 2007 11:18 PM