FemiKnitMafia

The Upside Down Beth socks are officially finished.

I noticed recently that the two sides of my short row heels are different. After struggling to figure out short rows, I thought I was in the clear, but one side has a line that runs up the seam (seen on left) and the other has a series of teeny holes (seen on right). They’re quite functional, and since I’ve memorized the directions, I can knit these on the train (where I do 90% of my knitting). But I’m not sure that either way is “correct” (whatever that is), I visually prefer the little line (on left). Perhaps someday I’ll learn the right way, or at least a more perfect way.

Next time I knit socks, I’ll cast on a couple more stitches. These were knit on 64 stitches and while I like my socks really snug, the fabric is a bit stretched out on the foot. See …

And off the foot:

I like how the colors are clear and crisp when the fabric is relaxed.

While I like the picot edge, unless I find some really good instructions for sewing the hem facing on toe-up socks, I’ll probably just do a picot cast off from now on. I tried picking up stitches and knitting them together, but the needles are so small and the hem facing was curling and I couldn’t twist the needles around to make it work. So I did a stretchy EZ cast off and sewed the hem facing down. It was fiddly.

And finally … look how much yarn I have left!

Perhaps enough for a pair of Little Man socks, or perhaps a newborn hat and bootie set. Hmmm …

Despite the statements above, I really really love these socks. It was a million degrees on the second floor of our house last night and I still didn’t want to take them off. I can’t wait for a cold spell or a good camping trip so I can wear them.

Pattern: 64 stitch stockinette socks with the toe from Elfine, short row heels and a picot turned hem. Two socks on two circulars.
Gauge: a bit over 9 stitches per inch
Needles: Knit Picks circulars, size 0/2mm.
Materials: J. Knits Superwash Me - Light Sock yarn, Color AC #144 (a discontinued colorway), a birthday gift from Nina.
Finished Measurements: 14 1/2″ long from cuff to toe along top; 9 1/2″ from heel to toe along sole; 8 1/2″ from sole to cuff along back; 3 1/2″ across the foot.
Started: June 1, 2007
Finished: June 27, 2007
Notes: They’re a little too narrow. Next time, try 68 cast on stitches. Otherwise, pure love.

After a couple weeks off, I cast on the first sleeve of the Baby Dale.

Instead of the wide fold-back solid-color garter stitch cuff that the pattern calls for, I modified the sleeve cuff to match the bottom edge of the cardigan with these little stripes that I adore.

It feels great to be crawling toward the finish line. However, I’m knitting the sleeves using the Magic Loop method and I’m struggling with the tension at the turns. I have to stop after every turn to adjust the floats.

When those floats start to annoy me, I simply shift back to socks. Last night on the train, I decided to copy Beth’s standard sock recipe and knit a picot edge cuff on these socks. Since Beth knits cuff down and I knit toe up, these socks are officially dubbed the Upside-Down Beth Socks.

After one picot row, 6 rows of stockinette and some hem sewing, they’ll be ready to wear. Perhaps I’ll have a finished sock photo tomorrow.

*more garden photos on Flickr, including the teeeeeeniest little cucumber and zucchini you ever saw.

Every once in a while, I long for a job that requires physical labor. I dream of leaving my cushy desk job to pursue carpentry, landscaping, or my favorite fantasy job — masonry, specifically stone masonry. Perhaps it’s the quilter in me, but I love building something beautiful out of small ordinary items. I love the process of selecting the next piece, and of moving pieces around until the colors and shapes blend just right.

The problem is: while I’d love being a professional mason, the business would fail horribly. I’d spend way too much time standing back and squinting at the job, and my projects would take forever to complete. And as I discovered this weekend, I do not enjoy horizontal stone projects.

First stop — Saturday evening — the entire clan of Wifey’s gay sisters (there are now 4 out of 4 on that side of the family) plus partners (me & one other) gather to install a small flagstone patio in my step-father-in-law’s teeny Boston backyard. Yes, that makes 6 lesbians, one small urban backyard, several shovels, dirt, stones, one tamper, and several tattoos.  [stop drooling]  With little or no drama, a couple hours later, there was a patio. We still have to buy and plant a truckload of irish moss to fill in the space between the stones, but that’s a project for another weekend. Even without the moss, it’s pretty.

Next stop — Sunday — It’s 10am and I’m already bored. All spring, we’ve discussed putting a stone patio underneath our pergola, but haven’t had the time or inclination. Yesterday, for whatever reason, we decided to install the patio. I started digging and Wifey drove off in search of stones. We dug and leveled and toiled and measured and arranged and re-arranged. Many hours later, Wifey went back out for 4 more stones, and I was left to work on leveling everything. Perhaps I was sun-fried, but I could not get the stones level. Under any circumstances. It was horrible. After an hour, I nearly threw myself on the stones. Luckily Wifey came home, sent me inside with Tylenol and Diet Pepsi, and Little Man asked me to play with blocks (mainly I just laid on his bed, moaned, and encouraged his castle building). While I wallowed, Wifey finished the job. We still need to move the excess dirt and plant a flat of creeping thyme that will grow the fill the space between the stones, but for now, I keep standing back and staring.  Isn’t it pretty?

Perhaps I’ll stick to vertical stone masonry from now on.  Anyone need a retaining wall?

* if you’re interested in our veggie garden, there are tons of new pictures in my Flickr garden set.

This beautiful J. Knits sock yarn is well suited for a simple stockinette sock (not so suited for Elfine, unfortunately). I contemplated inserting a really simple pattern with a horizontal orientation for the leg, but why mess with perfection? I love this fabric, and since the heels are done, I’ll be knitting in the round for quite some time.

This is exactly the break I needed after finishing the body of the Dale.  I’m feeling the Dale love resurfacing though, so I’ll probably cast on for the first sleeve at some point this week.  And there’s also the upcoming Marina Piccola socks for my SockPal.  Such fun!

I’m so delighted today, I can barely contain my joy. This post will be an honorary Favorite Things Monday post, because I’m just ooozing favorite things.

1) Hooray Massachusetts. How I love thee! Thanks for allowing me to legally harass on a daily basis legally stay married to the woman I love.

2) Your comments.  Truly. Wonderful. Heartfelt. Appreciated.

3) As I mentioned about a year ago, I’m a professional fundraiser, and one of my clients is the primary force behind this victory. Simply stated: I raised a lot of money so that Arline Isaacson could eat/sleep/breath gay marriage lobbying. So this feels like a professional victory too, one that I’m very proud of. This picture (stolen from the Globe site) makes me weak with joy.

No matter what you may read, these two women are the power behind this victory. Arline Isaacson (the one who’s weeping) is the co-Director of the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus, and Norma Shapiro is the lobbyist for the Massachusetts ACLU. They’ve been lobbying on this issue together for years. In addition to the current-day consulting I’m doing, I worked very closely with them professionally about six years ago, so I know first-hand how hard they work, how powerful they are, and how much this means to them. The Globe wrote about the power of everyone who called, emailed and visited their legislators, and clearly, that won the day.  Thanks to MassEquality for that!  But I happen to know that Arline & Norma played a huge role in this victory and that they’re too humble to highlight their own impact. So I say — Thank you and Congratulations!! I’ll be calling donors tonight, and I plan to ask a particularly helpful donor to buy Arline a weekend at a spa. She really needs a weekend away.

4) In celebration, I got a wee present for myself. Additional background: I was supposed to start teaching again in 10 days, but my class was cancelled for under-enrollment. Yet, I’m teaching another summer class that starts in late July, so I have a small window of freedom. Yippee! A little freedom + a historic gay marriage decision + Little Man’s need for a quilt + my guilt about ignoring said need for a year = a little of this

a little of that,

a little of this,

and a heaping pile of that,

which will also become pj pants for me. I’ve been absolutely lusting over this Hippie Bus fabric for months.

5) Hello Yarn Adrian’s Ireland vacation photos. I’m mere moments (and a sugar mama) away from buying three plane tickets to Ireland. In the meantime … does anyone know if Ireland has a right-of-return policy*? You know … just in case another Republican wins the Presidency?

*[it does, but I miss it by one generation. hrumpf.]

6) Soulemama’s newest creation. I really want those little green trees and the plump green apples. Must find that fabric, despite it being sold out on Superbuzzy.

7) Kat’s amazing photo of the Boston Public Garden. The delight of waiting for Kate Gilbert’s Marina Piccola sock pattern, which I intend to make for my SockPal using Sophie’s Toes in the Fresh Air colorway.

See? I told you I was bursting with joy.  Have a great weekend y’all!

Thanks to everyone for the thoughts, tips, empathy and laughs about the bat in my house. Special thanks to Mel for the article on the risks. Let’s not discuss the call to the vet to ask if all the animals are up-to-date on their vaccine (they are), or to the pediatrician when I asked if Little Man was up-to-date on his vaccine - hint: there isn’t one for humans (DOH!).

Today I woke up in serious belly-pain, so I stayed home to rest on my couch. Perhaps the pending vote at the State House has filled my belly with anxiety? In any case, I’m anxiously awaiting news. The Constitutional Convention starts at 1pm. I’m nervous. Go, Arline, go!

Please don’t take away my marriage. Please.

ETA (11:50am): If you’re insane obsessive interested, Bay Windows is publishing a Con-Con blog that’s been updated every 10-15 minutes. Since I don’t have TV, this will be my news source today.

ETA (11:59am): File under WTF(!):” Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley called lawmakers this morning, leaving messages encouraging them to vote to place the referendum on the ballot.

“He’s just making some calls to legislators, leaving messages, saying it’s not a Catholic issue only, but it’s an issue of fairness for the 170,000 people who put their names on the referendum,” said O’Malley’s spokesman, Terrence C. Donilon. He declined to name the lawmakers O’Malley is calling, but said, “he’s calling people who are getting unduly pressured, and who might need some reassurance.”

Tax exempt, huh?

ETA (12:23pm): Who knew the House had a webcast? It’s so very 21st c. If you want gavel to gavel coverage, go here and click on the “Click Here” on the right sidebar to open your media player. For the other Mac users out there, you’ll need to download the Flip4Mac tool in order to watch it.

ETA (1:23pm): WE WON!!!!!!!  IT’S DEAD!

It wouldn’t be fair to tell this story without starting with one simple fact — I am absolutely terrified of spiders and Wifey always kills them for me.

Okay, with that out of the way, Wifey discovered her own phobia tonight: she’s terrified of bats. The scream that came out of this woman’s mouth was un-freakin-believable. Poor Little Man was just finishing a long sit on the toilet too, so he jumped up with his jammies around his ankles. Wifey was practically crawling up the wall.

[ insert hero music here ]

Mafia to the rescue!

*yes, I wear men’s boxer shorts to bed. shut-up.

Of course, I had to take a close-up before the terrified little creature of the night flew away. Thankfully little Batilda held still for her centerfold shot.  Isn’t she cute?

I can’t say for sure, but there may have been one or two “I vaaant to suck your blood” jokes tonight.

With such an accomplishment, the choice for Favorite Things Monday was an easy one. Very easy.

Yesterday, while Little Man took a rare afternoon nap (3 hours!) and Wifey took the dog for a ride to Target, I spun a bit more of the mystery practice fiber (that Cheryl gave me) onto a new bobbin so I could try a 2-ply on the wheel without dealing with andean plying preparation. With two thick-n-thin singles on separate bobbins, a lazy kate, and some alone time, I started. I have no idea if I did it properly, but I’m ridiculously proud of it nonetheless. It’s about 58 yards of worsted (heavy worsted weight?)*.

When Wifey returned, we started a new family tradition: spending Sunday evenings with a picnic dinner at the beach.

*Yes, Beth, I brought it with me so you can fondle it on the train.

ETA:  She did it!  You did it!  I’m so excited!  Thanks!  Now we get to see her DH’s apologies.  Fun times.

I usually don’t fundraise on the blog, but Dorothy is SO close to her goal, and her deadline is tomorrow.

She started raising money in early May, boosted by her DH’s skepticism that she could raise $2000, so let’s prove him wrong. A couple days later he pledged to publicly apologize on the blog if she meets her goal. Let’s show him!

And did I mention that there are tons of prizes, with photos and generous donations peppered in her posts over the last two months.

Fleece Artist.
Warshrag cotton.
A book.
Wool/cashmere.
Dorchester Farms sock yarn.
Sheep Shop One.
Rabbitch hand dyed.
Misti cotton.
Photos.
Noro Silk Garden.
Lorna’s Laces.
Socks That Rock. etc.

I donated. Can you help? We only need another $200ish. Let’s prove her DH wrong. We’re so close!

Although I suspected it in the first repeat of the lace pattern, it was confirmed last night. This yarn and the Elfine pattern were not meant to be. The lace muddied the colors and made the fabric look a bit like baby shit. The first clue was my “mmeeeehhhhh” at the colors in the lacework

and the joy I felt everytime I flipped over to the sole stitches.

So I ripped it back to the toe this morning and I’ll be making a simple stockinette fabric to allow to colors to pirouette at center stage. I love the Elfine pattern, so this is going back on my to-do list, only in a semi-solid colorway.

Have I mentioned my recent obsession with Lucy / Mind’s Eye Yarns? It all started with a trip a few weeks ago. Then I got sucked into the spinning vortex and made haste to visit Lucy for a lesson (last Friday). The lesson was awesome. She’s a great teacher. I’ll be going back for more. But with her big sale this week, the free drop spindle give-away, and the drawing for a gorgeous spinning wheel, another visit this week was a high priority. Also, after reading Amy-Knitty’s piece on spinning silk hankies, I was jonesin’ to try it. Then Haddy admitted that she’d never been to Mind’s Eye, so Danielle, Haddy and I made the pilgrimage during lunch yesterday.

I grabbed a silk cap, traded my wine colored sock yarn for a blue (Wifey’s request) and bought an additional skein of blue for this pending Wifey shawl/scarf project.

I was so jazzed with the silk, I spun an entire layer on the way home. Yes, on the train.* Thank god/Lucy for that free spindle!

Brian (my train conductor) was highly amused. Or perhaps he thought I was crazy? In any case, he took one look and said, “what are you doing now?? oh …. you’re spindling, er … spinning.” I was pretty impressed that he knows what a spindle is. Clearly there’s a fiber person in his past. One day I’ll get that story.

*I tried to take a picture on the train, but the damned camera battery died. grr argh

P.S. For those who are waiting for interview questions, I didn’t forget.  I’m being lazy, but I’ll get motivated soon, I promise.  There’s some pressure to create wacky questions, and I hate pressure.  Perhaps now that I’ve admitted to it, I’ll get off my ass.  ??