Black Olive Is: In The Loop

Knitting Can Lead To Marital Strife

Another Hallmark Holiday under the knitting belt.

My Dad LOVED his socks!
(Please forgive the awful indoor sepia effect. It was later in the evening).

As you can see, they were a perfect fit. Another successful sock using The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook Measurement/Gauge chart.

I have to say, discovering the secret to perfect sock fit is what triggered my sock obsession. I now have everyone's foot measurements -- much to their dismay.

Seriously. I've been harassing everyone I know to take off their shoes and let me fondle their feet for some tape measure fun. I do this in coffee shops, parking lots and bookstores -- pretty much anywhere anyone will let me.

Can you say Sock Fetish?

Speaking of recording measurements, I've been playing around all weekend with knitting-related organization of the paperless kind and am planning a series of posts about this very topic all week -- partly to inform and partly to record my mania.

I'm on a mission, people! (Either that, or I've completely gone off the deep end with my obsessive tendencies).

On a sort-of-related-to-knitting note, I was headed downstairs to show Granny some sock progress, only to walk into a heated discussion between her and Grandpa. Butter knives were flailing from butter tubs, voices were at high decibles and doors were being closed loudly.

I asked her what was going on and, apparently, Grandpa is in a jealous rage over her backyard conversations with the 60 year-old man who is painting their house. I guess Grandma likes to stretch her legs every-so-often and offer the guys some lemonade and cookies (COOKIES people! Can Granny be any cuter?).

Hehehe.

Grandma is EIGHTY-FIVE and Grandpa is EIGHTY-SEVEN.

How is this related to knitting, you ask? Apparently, Granny was out there showing off my knitted wares and proudly going on about me and my cousins. I guess she hung out there longer than Grandpa liked. Hehehe. He accused her of flirting in a very loud way, they argued, and she's been mad ever since.

Grandpa tried to make nice-nice this morning by offering to go to Church with her, but Grandma politely declined.

Apprently, she is still pissed.

See, it just goes to show how something as innocent as knitting can lead to marital strife. And this time, it had nothing to do with bloated stashes! :-)

Blame It On The Heat

They're finished.

I was right down to the wire on these. It was 8:23 pm at the Knitting Clinic when I handed them over for steaming. Phew!

Interestingly, they softened up quite a bit after a simple steaming. So, I'm holding out hope that they'll soften up a bit more after a washing.

We'll see.

Now all I need is a tie box and some other goodies and I'm set!

Of course, I can't be content with just plowing ahead on my Cool Cagoule sleeves. I'm all about the socks this summer and I'm already planning some sock designs. I can't help it. Somehow, I've lost steam on Cool Cagoule -- which is sad, really, because I am SO CLOSE. It just seems like those sleeves will take forever and I'd really like to start working on the Subway Sweater so I can wear it to work at some point. And, it would also be nice if I could work in a tank or two before the Summer is over. In the back of my mind, I know I won't get much mileage out of Cool Cagoule until Fall and it's probably affecting my interest.

I'm fickle. What can I say?

But, I won't stop working on it. However, it will have to be a project I consider on-going.

Granny claims to not be interested in her socks until the Fall, although she is really loving them. She had been bothering me to finish them until the heat wave this past weekend, but after the sweltering weather, I don't think she can imagine wearing socks for a while. Hehehe. So, there's no time-pressure on the IK Padded Footlets anymore -- although, I do crave them and will probably continue, despite their snail's-pace pattern.

So my main focus will be some sock designs and re-working the Subway Sweater pattern. And, of course, I am weak and will most likely be lured toward some other project (I actually already have one in mind).

I think my lack of satisfaction with my knitting -- which I described in yesterday's post -- may have more to do with the fact that the projects I was working on were either; 1) not for me, or, 2) not things I could reasonably wear anytime soon. And, for me, that's all part of the excitement.

Let's face it. I was a crazy woman to actually think I could restrict myself to knitting on just one project at a time. Let's just forget about what I said yesterday and blame it on the heat. ;-)

34 Rows Left!

Just 34 rows left!

This is what it's come to: A Father's Day Finished Sock Countdown.

I've now started knitting to support the blog as opposed to blogging to support the knitting! I'm getting sick of posting progress shots of a sock -- especially since, by the second sock, they all start to look alike. However, since I'm working in bits on about three projects, instead of focusing my efforts on one, there isn't much of a difference on the other stuff either. So, I find myself trying to finish sections each time in order to have good blog content for the next day, and this is not good. Not good, people! But, it has made me aware that I'm not getting much satisfaction from knitting on all of these projects at once. So, I've decided to focus on each one until it is finished before moving on to the next.

So, I made the Father's Day Socks my main focus because tonight -- assuming I can finish them before then -- I can steam them at my Knitting Clinic. I know some of you think this is very "fancy" (you know who you are!) but it's such a nice thing to do when gifting a pair of socks to someone.

And, I am ALL ABOUT presentation.

So I'll be knitting these during lunch and finshing them during the Knitting Clinic.

And then, THEN I can focus my efforts again on ONE project so as to actually feel good and motivated and like I'm making progress on these things, since I'm boring even myself.

I think this method of working (a bit here, a bit there) was ok when I had all sorts of free time because I could devote large blocks to each project, but now that work has been injected into the mix, I think a new approach is in order. ;-)

I'm also planning some new things for the blog. So bear with me peeps...

And, did I mention HOW UNBEARABLY HOT IS!? NO?

Well, it is. :-)

"Fun" Socks

Saturday was a fun-filled, bead-filled, Kntting In Public Day with these gals.

It was a HOT, HOT day -- the kind of day that typically makes me a massive crankypants -- but somehow, I didn't mind so much because I was in such good company.

You can see some of my booty above (my stash, my loot...not my butt...hehe).

These vials of beady goodness are destined for a secret project to be announced soon. For now, you'll just have to wonder...

While knitting and chatting, I managed to plow through the entire leg of the second Father's Day sock. Then, on the train home from Boston, I was able to finish the heel. So, really, there is only about half a sock left before Tuesday's Knitting Clinic where I can hopefully get them steamed and packaged for my Dad's gift.

I'm a little worried, though, because so far, most of the guys I've polled -- admittedly all in their 20's-30's, have said they didn't think this sock was what they would consider "manly." Instead, they described it as "fun." Clearly, my idea of a fun sock is wildly different. I'm just hoping my Dad likes them.

Progress continues on the IK Padded Footlet. It is fairly slow-going, so I won't take a photo until there is a drastic change in appearance.

Progress also continues on the Cool cagoule sleeves.

Tomorrow is scheduled to begin a new work week/blog posting schedule. Hopefully I can start to find my posting groove again.

She's Sneaky And She Steals Apples

Meet Ginger.

She is PISSED.

It took about a week or so for her to get over the trauma of being photographed. Hehehe.

Sadly, I'm not her Human. My friends Dan and Karen -- who are blogless, otherwise I'd link them -- are her Humans. And, let me tell you, she is HIGH maintenance! But very loveable. Hehe.

As you might've guessed, there is still no established posting/photographing method, which is why Ginger is filling in for today (she's fiber-based, just not all spun and dyed). However, I just found out that we get these 15 min. breaks at 10am and 3pm at work (a RI thing and a remnant of an old factory/mill town mentality-- but I am SO not complaining!), and I also found a GREAT spot out of the sun to photograph my knitted goodies. So...

For now, however, Ginger and my word will have to do.

The Father's Day Socks chug along on schedule. I finished the first one and promptly cast on for the second.

I also made some progress on the IK Padded Footlet. The gusset decreases are VERY slow-moving. The decreases only happen once every fourth row. Between that, the lace pattern and the finicky (Hey Kathy, new word!) back-and-forth of the sole stitches with it's slips and double-knits and dropping of the strands only to pick them up again at different spots...I don't think these will be done anytime soon.

I have to say, though, I love the tiny dpns and the Rowan 4-ply Soft. And, I even love the lace pattern. I thought I hated lace after my experiment with Rowan Kidsilk. But, that was mainly because it was impossible to knit with the Addis and I just don't think lace weight is for me. Now, a lace pattern in this gauge is WAY better and quite enjoyable.

I also managed a few rows on the Cool Cagoule cabled sleeve.

It's all bits-and-pieces knitting until I get a large block of time again (hopefully this weekend and next week).

So, stay tuned. Hopefully, I'll be able to post some pics today. In the meantime, enjoy Ginger The Cutie Pie. She's sneaky and steals apples. Hehehe.

Disorientation

One almost down, and one to go...

Forgive my meager post, but I'm trying to get used to a brand new posting/photographing schedule. This work thing really cramps my blogging style. Hehe.

There was some excitement last night (although no pictures) when my friend Kristin joined me for A Stitch Above's Knitting Clinic.

It's fun to watch another person get slowly sucked in to The Knitting Realm. Mwahaha!

She purchased some scrumptuous Lana Grossa for a baby blanket in some gorgeous colors. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Maybe next week, I'll actually take some pictures of her progress. ;-)

Afterward we went for sushi. The sushi place is practically next door. Who could resist? That was a stroke of genius I tell ya...putting a sushi place next door to my little yarn shop. Ahhhh.

Tonight, I'll hopefull begin The Maths for The Subway Sweater. I know I keep saying that, but it's been a busy week -- what with a new job and a new schedule -- so bear with me, peeps.

My Name Is Black Olive And I'm a Sock Start-a-holic

I cast on for the Interweave Knits Padded Footlets -- found in the bowels of the current issue -- using Rowan 4-ply Soft in Splash (Turquoise) and Expresso (Chocolate).

I cast on for these a few days ago. I was just too ashamed to admit it. Isn't that silly? So, in order to make myself feel better, I rationalized that since these socks were lacey and involved focusing the attention -- they were justified. I'd have one mindless sock and one complex sock going at once.

See how nifty rationalization can be?

I then realized how close Father's Day is and remembered my Dad's request for a pair of socks. There was nothing else to do but to promptly cast on for yet another pair using Lana Grossa Meilenweit Multiringel (I have no idea what that means, but I'm guessing it means self-striping, because that's what they do). I've never used this Lana Grossa before. It's 80% New Wool and 20% Polyamid. They're a bit scratchy, but I knew my Dad wouldn't like the craziness of the Koigu, so I branched out for a more "manly" sock. I plan to do a pre-wash, and hopefully they'll soften-up a bit.

Now, in my defense, I did finish the Surf Socks -- not BEFORE casting on for the other two (so technically I did have three socks going at once for about one day) but soon after.

I love the surf socks. Very comfy and just the right height.

I'm calling this my Summer of Socks. Since, for whatever reason, I have a few sock designs in mind for Sockapal-2-za and for my own amusement. So, I probably should just admit right now, that there will always be multiple socks on the needles while I work on the other non-sock projects.*

*That's how I refer to my projects now -- they're either, Sock Projects or Non-sock Projects -- because somehow, socks are excused from the overrall project count in my mind.

I told you people I was a little nuts.

(I have much to say about the Interweave Padded Footlet, but I'll save it for another post).