Band-aids/Knitter's Stigmata

So, I finally ventured to the Broadripple pattern for socks. I am knitting it up with my spiffy new knit picks needles and my pretty cascade yarn. I am in love with this pattern! For more experienced knitters, it may be a different experience, but for me - what’s happening with my yarn is something miraculous. There’s angling, rippling, darling little dots! I love, love it. My new favorite sock. If Rob Matsyka was here, I’d kiss him full on the lips.

About an hour or so ago (knitter's time, where does it go?), I noted that it was becoming painful to give the needle tip the little tap to go through. I remember reading somewhere someone asking about a type of thimble for knitters. I don't recall the message board, but there was an impressive array of suggestions for the original poster seeking a knitter's thimble-type thing. Band-aids were oft mentioned and I have them handy, so on they went. One on each index fingertip - right were I noticed I had developed a dark indentation.

Once adjusted to the weird numb effect, I have been happily moving along on the sock. I've been feeling pleased as punch that I was now able to give both needles a little tap when needed, without pain. It occurred to me the slight adjustment I'd made because of the pain in my near-to-punctured fingertips had been slowing me down considerably and I am tickled not to be hindered any longer.

Then the "I wonder" set it...

I wonder if coming *this* close to actual puncture points in my fingertips might be a sign I need a knitting break?

Conversely, I wonder if anyone who thinks so can possibly understand what it's like to be utterly in love with a yarn and pattern, and to be so committed to the magical outcome of these that knitter-stigmata seems a small price to pay?

Blue Magic

Secret person's socks...

? admired the yarn yesterday and I wanted to give the new needles a full-on spin, so I cast these on. The yarn has a roughish texture I’m not in love with but the needles are a dream! Cast on with US2 needles at first, but felt it was coming out too big, so I frogged it and re-started on US1.5 needles.

6/28 - I am in love with my knit picks needles! Truly. Finished the first sock.

Mom's Crazy Socks

Mom was impressed with my sock frenzy, so I offered her my first completed pair. We headed out to WoolWinders (great shop!) and she picked out the yarn she wanted. I tend toward sedate colors (okay, boring), but mom is a bold, colorful woman. She declared she wanted “fun socks” and selected a yarn to match her bold and colorful self.

I was a little scared…

Sadly, the first sock had to be frogged and re-knit as I was displeased with the color pooling after the second sock turned out such happy-making stripes. Mom insists she likes the mismatch, but I didn’t know if I could live with it.

It doesn’t show in the pictures, but I really like the rotating rib pattern I threw in. You know, cause the colors weren’t bright enough

I really tried to love the first round, but the pooling on the leg was driving me bonkers. I was ever so disinclined to frog the whole thing and tried any number of ideas to redo the leg only. But, socks are still new and mysterious to me. I wasn’t sure what to do.

Eventually, frustrated and tired and with nothing to lose except re-knitting the whole thing, I boldly took scissors to it. I cut the most offensive of the pooling away and knit up from there, making adjustments to the yarn every so often to ensure some type of stripes. There’s still two blotches, but I am learning to make peace with them (and well, they’re in the heel/gusset area, for pete’s sake - I’m not touching that).

So, it seemed like time for a fun little pattern , right?

6/16 - found the pattern. drop everything. cast on.

6/17 - 1st sock done. think i’m in love a little bit.

6/26 - my super fun nickel plated needles came in. they’re so shiny and pretty. cast on second sock immediately. probably unwise to change needles, but i can’t resist them…

6/28 - the new needles rock! can't wait to full on give them a go. i got side-tracked by blue socks, but completed this project tonight.

It is 4:08 am. I cannot stop knitting.

Actual email sent to my coworker/friends:

Dear coworker/friend,

It is 4:08 am.
I cannot stop knitting.

The mummy-sheet* has been calling from the other room for hours and hours, warning of bugs if I don't stop and wrap myself immediately. I've been unable to heed these warnings. I haven't eaten. I am literally weak with hunger. My hands are shaking from low blood sugar.

But still, I knit.

I haven't sipped my drink. I am dehydrated. Every now and again, I gasp in an attempt to suck moisture from the air. This has proven futile.

But still, I knit.

I have given in to the reality that I cannot smoke and knit simultaneously.
The surgeon general is pleased.

About an hour ago, I pondered how useful an adult diaper would be so I wouldn't have to keep getting up to pee.

On my last trip to the bathroom I did, in fact, bring my knitting. To pee. (Think I got four stitches in while I did this. They were clearly VERY IMPORTANT stitches.)
I was annoyed that I had to pause to engage in proper post-urinatory hygiene (i.e., wipe).

If/when you see me at the office later, please be kind.


But. I did finish the sock...



* oh, this needs its own post...explanation forthcoming.

Next!

So, after drooling over all the pictures of socks, I wanted stripes. But, I'm the shy sort. I thought I'd start kinda subtle-like...

6/12 - yarn arrives. drop everything and cast on.

6/15 - 1st sock done. I think i want to try nickel plated needles. These tiny woods needles feel like toothpicks.

First Socks Ever

1st sock done. And HUGE.

It’s not for me, though (thank goodness). I don’t think I’ve ever ripped back so much in my life. I think I re-knit it at least 5 times.

Apparently, I cannot count and heels are a mysterious & confounding thing.


Here is was in the beginning. Such a sweet lil thing. But look at all those needles! Hot dang!
Wow, all the knitting and I'm finally approaching the dreaded heel. Now, the nice lady at the Knittin' Kitten said most people knit to this point...

...and then come on for help. But, it's 2am and I don't think I'm capable of stopping...

Look mom! I made a heel! (and it ain't half bad, says...well, me..)


Finished! And egad, but that's a mighty big sock!

2nd sock finished 7/1. and yes...I made a bloody slide show. Of. The. Sock. Project... Somebody send help. Please.

Succumbing...

I’ve been knitting along ever so casually off and on for decades. But socks…? Well, socks have scared the dickens out of me. Cautionary tales of heel problems! Kitchener stitches! And all those needles! I barely manage two needles - never mind four or five! But, seduced by photos from Emma (best friend from grade school) and Stephanie McPhee, I found myself actually dreaming of socks about a week and a half ago. And so, i succumbed. With trepidation…

In The Beginning

Hmmm...okay, I've nothing really to say except that I've been bitten by the freakin' sock-knitting-bug. Argh!!! And it has taken me to a new world of wonderful bloggers, stash building and of course, sock knitting. So this will be my just-for-me space to record the madness I think is going to ensue...

Massive confession/reminder: I taught myself to knit 20 years ago for a boy! I was convinced he would make an ideal “2nd husband” at some point and thought knitting him a sweater was a surefire way to guarantee our future happiness.

Clearly, I hadn’t heard of The Curse.

But yeah, there it is: I taught myself to knit to impress a boy. I made him a cardigan. Since then, I have almost exclusively knit sweaters and almost always as gifts for people. In twenty years, I think there have been 15 sweaters, with maybe 1/2 dozen other projects tossed in. That is a pretty casual knitting life.

And then I was seduced by socks. I woke up one day determined to conquer my fear of socks. Suddenly, I am growing a stash. Who knows where this will lead?

ps. the boy in question did, in fact, grow into a wonderful man. a happily married - to someone else, no less - man. we are still friends.