Bumble Bee Sock

I have had a few people come up to me while I was knitting to tell me my sock was cute! That makes me happy. The sock itself though is making me a little peeved. I had noticed, while doing the short-row toes that they seemed a little off. Like they were loose and flappy. But I finished the short rows and knit a row or two longer before going, "OK, something really is not right here." And then noticed I had picked up the wrong sized needles. I was using 2's instead of 1's, and I'm amazed at the difference in the fabric between one needle size and the other. Not wanting to re-do the short row toe (I hate doing short rows, but I do them because I think they look 100 times better than other heel or toe techniques), I just switched over to my size 1's. They started looking better immediately, the toe just looks a little funky.

Fetching

I managed to finish one of Knitty's Fetching in just a day! I did it while watching two Dirty Jobs episodes, the movie Open Season, and most of The Mummy. I really, really like the way the yarn looks knit up, although it was a monster to work with. It was so loosely spun and split all over the place, and just pulled completely apart in some spots. But, I think the finished result is worth it, although it was pretty much impossible to get a picture that looks decent. The colors don't want to show up. I'll get a better picture once I finish both Fetching, but until then, here is a blurry, bad picture to give you an idea of what it looks like:

And a better view of the stitches:

Armwarmers!

I found the yarn I want to make my armwarmers with! I had been digging around my stash trying to find something that would work, but I wasn't really liking anything I had for armwarmers. But I went to a yarn shop in Gig Harbor today, which is a bit of a drive away so I don't get to go very often, and as soon as I saw this yarn I had to buy it. It's so bright and happy!

Trendsetter Yarns Tonalita in Rio.

It is 52% wool and 48% acrylic, and is so soft! I just need to find a pattern now. I was thinking Knitty's Fetching, just without the cables. I don't think this yarn would show off cables very well.

And then here is me working on my Bumble Bee sock, wearing my Very Harlot Poncho, which is my all-time favorite knit thing to wear.

Shame on me

I promised myself I would not start a new pair of socks until I had made the match to at least one of the three lone socks I have waiting for their partners. Then I went to Renaissance Yarns, and decided to buy some Lorna's Laces. Just buy it, or course, I wouldn't knit with it until I had finished another pair of socks. But then I got it home and wanted to see what it looked like rolled into a ball. And then I cast on. Shame on me! Presenting the beginning of the Bumble Bee Socks:

And I finally finished the body of the felted bag I have been working on forever. I stuffed it in the bottom of my knitting bag after I started the flap because purling with such large needles hurt my wrists. But I finally dragged it out and finished the flap and felted it. Now I need to finish the strap and pockets.

I'm a little disappointed with how short the flap came out, but the bag itself is the perfect size for what I was shooting for.

What I learned today

Here is what I learned today:

*My photography skills suck hardcore, even after two semesters of photography class (ok, highschool photography, both taken online, no teaching whatsoever. Gotta give myself a little credit).

*I still have no idea what all the fancy options on my new camera do.

*I can't figure out how to make my camera take smaller pictures.

*Even with anti-shake technology on said new camera, my hands are so unsteady everything comes out blurry.

*I was still too lazy to drag out my tripod for a proper FO shoot.

But here you go, one Victorian Diamond Top Sock, much blurrier in photo than in real life:

On the sock blocker (cheap metal hanger)

On my foot

Trying to get the detail to show up a little better

No pictures today

I finished one of the Diamond socks, and it has finished blocking. I just bought a new camera, so once I get it all figured out, I'll post pictures.

I didn't make it to the Noro Tasting at Renessaince Yarns, which is unfortunate, but we took my mom out to Azteca for her birthday instead. That food is well worth missing a yarn fondling trip. I'll play with the Noro yarns next time I'm in the store. I can't knit it up there, but I may buy a skein just to play with (although, it's kind of pricy to buy one just to play; maybe I'll just grope the yarn in the store).

I am trying to find an armwarmer pattern to start. My hands are always cold while I'm waiting for the bus or in class. I want to keep my fingers free so I can use a pencil or knit or read. I'm considering Knitty's Fetching, which it seems that everyone else has tried and loved. I'll look around a little more, but I may stick with that.

I should have pictures of my sock tomorrow, and maybe one or two of my current projects.

Victorian Diamond Top Sock

I have gotten a lot done on my sock for not knitting much lately. My shoulders and wrists have been bothering me (I think it's from hauling around the really heavy Anatomy and Physiology books I have this quarter when I walk to the bus stop), so I have tried to limit how much I use them. But I have been doing a little knitting (and a ton of sudoku; that is how I spend my spare time, knitting and sudoku. Nerd, why yes I am), and here is the progress on the Victorian Diamond Top Sock (it is going to need some serious blocking to open up the yarn overs):

Finished with the gusset decreases

Also, Friday through Sunday my favorite yarn shop, Renaissance Yarns, is having a Noro Yarn Tasting. The idea is to come in and play with Noro yarn to see if you like the way it knits up, how it feels, etc. I have never knit with Noro before, although I do find most of their yarns very scratchy in the skeins, but I'm going to go tomorrow to see how I like knitting with it. And all Noro yarns are 10% off if you do decide to buy some, so that's a good deal. Plus, they have some new yarns and a new sock book I want to check out.