MUTINY!

I thought it might happen.
My knitter's intuition was in full effect.

The Spiral Boot sock is in mutiny.

All the time while working on the Spiral Boot sock, I wasn't 100% I'd have enough yarn to make knee-highs. I prepared myself by either planning on making contrasting heels and toes or procuring a second skein. But the Pollyanna in me wanted to believe I could eke two socks from a single hank.

As it stands right now, I am about an inch from starting the toe. Last night, I finally gave into the little voice that was telling me to weigh the damn thing...and guess what? I won't have enough to make two knee-high socks. No biggie, but I do have to take evasive action at this point.

So I can go with either one of my planned options...or I could frog back and make a pair of kicky leg warmers.

I know, I know, leg warmers...but I'm in LA and if I make it work anywhere, it would be here.

Until I decide, the Spiral Boot sock/leg warmer is sitting on the Naughty Bench.

So what to work on now?
Patti. I guess it's time to give Patti her fair shake.

Here she is, in her 2 1/2 inches of glory. Over the past week, it seemed I could only get through 2 rows at a time. That tends to happen when you've got 215 stitches on size 5's.

But before the excitement wanes and I have to force myself to work on it, I will give her my attention. I know once I get past the back of this sweater, it should be smooth[er] sailing. The only reason I hesitate to work on this anywhere other than home is that I'm using 16 stitch markers...I'd hate to lose one or two on the bus. Small things have a way of falling down into the cracks.

Then there's the Fall Cable KAL. Did you see our fabulous button?

Now, the plan is to make a shortened version Norah Gaughan's Cabled Coat. I was originally considering recycling some Rowan All Seasons Cotton in gray, but remembered that I've already made a gray cabled sweater.

So I did a little yarn research over at Ravelry and learned that Cascade Ecological Wool was around the same weight. I found some in Chocolate which would be a nice addition to my wardrobe. However, in context of this sweater, I felt that color would be too drab.

This coat needs something fabulous to make it pop and stand out.

So back to Ravelry I went and found another yarn that would work...and I already have some in my stash! The Debbie Bliss Merino Aran that was originally intended for Ariann [that I got bored of and frogged last year] just might work...and I have 13 balls that I really wanted to find a nice project to use it for.

It's a natural color, which would make a lovely sweater and would really showcase this particular style. And I could definitely use a natural colored sweater in my closet!

I did a bit of swatching this morning and the gauge is spot on! What a relief!

So, I will probably give Patti a little more of my time, then move on to this project next week. I'm still hesitant...in regard to the changes I want to make. I'm no Grumperina, so modifications of this magnitude are not my forte...but I'm going to do my best impression and hope that this project doesn't find a reason to mutiny too.

Cankles...or...It's A Fight In Superstarra-ville

Do these socks make my ankles look fat?

As you can see, I've made a successful heel to foot transition. Not bad, huh?

I've got big ass long feet and so it's going to be a hot second before I get to bind off for the toe.

Besides that, I think that I may try to make that damn sweater submit to my evil will work on Notorious this weekend. I need to put it to bed, once and for all. Now is the time for cute little summery tops to be put away in lieu of long sleeved, woolly goodness.

Patty has been neglected for too long and I'm itching to start the Vogue Cabled Coat [just in time for the Fall Cable KAL! Have you still not signed up? We even have the Ravelry group set up!].

So...Notorious...you know what that means.
I think you hear me knocking, Notorious. This weekend, you...and me. It's on!
OH, IT'S ON!!!

Turning A...Corner

With Notorious in the Naughty Corner, I've been focusing my attention to the Spiral Boot Socks. So far so good.

Here is where I was Sunday afternoon, when gf and I foolishly braved to 1,000,000 heat. I think I was 1/2 through the calf section.
And this is where I am this morning. Um...is that a heel flap? Why, yes it is! We'll see how successful the transition from leg to foot goes. This is where I've run into trouble. I'm remaining positive...I refuse to let any other project mutiny. But I have to get back to work...

And Poppy wants to say a few words...

*****

Hey everyone! It's been a while...I miss you guys! But, I have something exciting to share with you!

Saturday morning, Christie asked me if I'd like to take a ride and get out of the apartment for a while. It was hot as blazes, but I was going a bit stir crazy and wanted to get out for a little while.

We went by the post office, and Christie brought back a small box. I could hear something faintly scratching inside. I opened the package and guess who popped out?

Traveling Teddy!

While the girls ran the rest of their errands, we chatted. He's been all over the place! Seattle, Charlotte and Birmingham...visiting some knitting friends - and now he's here in LA, visiting me!

I think that we're going to take him around a few cool sites this week and see what trouble we can get into.


To ease TT into the LA scene, we took him over to the Larchmont Farmer's Market. He saw some hot LA chicks he wanted to talk to, but we need to work on his approach.

What we did see, is some yummy fruit, veggies and pretty flowers. TT said some of his previous hosts had shown him how to work a camera. Aren't the pictures great? More adventures to come, then TT is off to his next destination!

Wrapping

So last night, after I posted about switching the Spiral pattern from k2tog, k2, yo, k4 to slip1, k1, psso, knit 4, yo k2, I gave it a try. The resulting pattern came out perfectly! However, rather then adjusting the stitches to spiral the pattern, the stitches remained and the pattern adjusted around. I know, it doesn't make sense.

But trust me, something wonky was going on.

So, in true Knitting Sisyphus Style, I frogged back the 10+ rounds I did last night and decided to go back the pattern as written. On the bus this morning, I found the solution to my problem. I'm sure for some of you, this is an obvious fix, but for those of us who don't know, I've take made a little slide show of my solution. DIM THE LIGHTS!

Wrap Over

This is how I've been wrapping my knit stitches. From the back, the yarn wraps over the top of the needle, down and around to the back.

This is the resulting stitch. Now, the stitch facing this way is fine if on the next row it would be knit or slipped. However, when k2tog....

...it results in a twisted stitch. This is unacceptable! There is a way to get the an untwisted k2tog when the stitches are facing that way.

Slip the two stitches to the left needle [I'm left handed, btw].

Then slip them back to the right needle, so they were facing the correct way to result in an untwisted k2tog.

Now doing this isn't that big of a deal, but it was getting pretty tedious in the context of size 2 needles, fingering weight yarn, knee high socks and 10 k2tog's every other round. Not a happy girl was I.

The Remedy

Rather than wrapping the yarn over the needle, I tried wrapping it under then up and over.
I normally wrap this way after a yarn over and have noticed that the stitch after the yo always faced the opposite way of the other knit stitches.

So I gave it a whirl, and this little adjustment resulted in a perfectly untwisted k2tog without the hassle of slipping because the stitches are already faced in the right direction! Whoo Hoo!

I can learn! I can learn!

Now, of course, this results in my spirals going to the right, rather than the left in the original pattern. I'm okay with that.

And a final close-up. I really must say this yarn is great. I've frogged back the same section about 4 times and it's not even getting crazy fuzzy. So happy about that! Nothing more I hate than wasting yarn because I can't get my act together!

Knitting Sisyphus Style

Tuesday night I finished the front of Notorious. I had a few mishaps and felt like I was constantly frogging what I was knitting - never getting ahead of when I started. Shall we call it Knitting Sisyphus Style [KSS]? But eventually I bound off and things were looking up.

Then I tried it on.

Well I can wear all those full coverage Cross Your Heart bras that I don't own with it. And sure it makes my bust look 15 times bigger than it is. Um ... this is not the naughty, saucy little knit I had hoped for. So, I frogged back two inches and it was perfect. Demi cup only!

On to the sleeve. I picked up, casted on and picked up. By then it was around midnight [way past my bedtime] and short rows and fuzzy contacts don't equal pleasant results. So I frogged back and threw Notorious under the side table. I think I need a break.

What to do, what to do? What's this? A green cake of sock yarn!!!

Ah! The Spiral Boot sock! I picked it up and cast on. Now, I'm a left hander but is knitting in the round as challenging for right handers? There was a lot of KSS going on, but I think I've worked it out. The only other issue is, there are a lot of k2togs, which mean I have to switch those stitches around on the needles just so the resulting decrease will face the right way. I'm contemplating a way of getting the spiral to twist the other way so I can do the slip stitch thing and not have to twist everything around.

So...if the written pattern is k2tog, k2, yo, k4....couldn't I just slip1, k1, psso, knit 4, yo k2?
I'm going to have to try it.

Unphased. Nonplussed.

Yes. Two posts in one day. You deserve the very best.

So, about two hours ago, I'm sitting at my desk looking busy, as I am known to do, and I started fiddling with Notorious. Not knitting. Fiddling. Now, these size 6 needles I have are 29" long, and this project is in the round. I was trying to magic loop it, but it was getting a little cumbersome. I decided that I would try to get some 24" size 6's later to ease my pain.

Then I saw it. I laid it down flat. I twisted. I turned. I stretched. I pleaded.

What a lovely ribbed moebius I've knitted!

And you know what, I'm not in agony. I'm not crying. I'm not upset that in the first time in 4 years I've twisted my knitting. No biggie. I'll just start again.

So this is the state of things. I remember now that I actually have some 24" size 6's at home. So I will start again after dinner...at which I will have a stiff drink. And after which I will see a movie...at which I will laugh like I have nary a care in the world.

On the sunny side, I put a copy of Romantic Hand Knits on hold at Barnes and Noble, which I will pick up before dinner. I wonder if were I call ahead to the restaurant would they put a stiff drink on hold for me?

And don't worry. I won't do any knitting until the drunk has worn off. Some time Monday.

Well, it's time to go. I'm glad I brought the Spiral Boot sock along with me. Although I might have to fight this little bugger for it.

Gf and I are driving down to San Diego this weekend...my cousin's wedding. Should be fun. I'll look cute...in my Blue Curacao Shawl and crown shoes, of course.

Have a great weekend, one and all!