Bring On the Hand Knits!

It has been busy few weeks here at Chez Engineer. After the big Boston trip, there were many things waiting for attention. The big news is that two finished objects are now in my wardrobe.

First, we have some new socks!
Pattern: Plain 3x1 rib with 1x1 cuff.
Yarn: Fortissima Cotton Colori in some variegated colorway picked up on a $3/ball sale. Yes, $3 socks!!!
Needles: US 1 dpns
Notes: Very easy, almost mindless lunchtime knitting. The cotton is beautifully comfortable for summer and these go well with jeans. They also wash very well. Even if this hadn't been a terrific steal for the yarn, I would love these socks, but the bargain makes them even sweeter.

Next up is Aran Rose Peach. Yes, it is finished!
Pattern: Aran Rose from the Spring 2006 issue of Interweave Knits
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton DK in 13028 (tangerine/peach), approximately 15 balls (maybe a smidgen of the 16th ball was used)
Needles: US 6 Addi Turbos
Modifications: I made the body a little longer because no one wants to see my midrif and I added a bit to the sleeves because I have long arms (in retrospect, I probably shouldn't have added to the sleeves because they will probably stretch). I also added decreases to shape the neck. The model must have had decreases as well (even though they weren't in the pattern). If not, the only way to display the neckline as in the magazine would include the use of safety pins.


Notes: I love this sweater! This is the first full sweater that I have made for myself and it is so comfortable! I got 13 of the balls of this yarn on the same $3/ball sale as the sock yarn. I love Suzoo's Woolworks! The realization that I would need 2-3 more balls was a tough one to accept. This time, DreamWeaver Yarns came to my rescue. They not only had the yarn, but it was in the same dye lot! Debbie Bliss yarns must come in huge dye lots or I got really, really lucky. I didn't even think to ask about lots, but sometimes things go right.

Currently on the needles are the three pairs of socks including the first socks for Mr. Engineer. He is getting a stylish pair of grey wool socks done in the Gentleman's Sock with Lozenge Pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks. Mr. Engineer is still unconvinced about handknit socks, but he did have to admit that they are very nice at the half-way point of the first sock.

Thank you for the comments on the Trekking sock. I have now turned the heel and they look very nice. The pattern is Melanie's Twist and it works very well with the Trekking varigation. My good deed of the Boston trip was to share the pattern (with full credit to the source) with a friendly knitter on the plane home.

Trekking Along

My trekking began the first weekend of the month, but it has taken me ages to post the proof. Instead of the traditional trek in the wilds, my sock began with a trip on a plane all the way across the country. Here is my skein of #66 ready for its first trip.

We flew to Boston and I began the first sock on the plane. There was one real trek on the evening of the 6th, but sadly, the only picture is of the sock reviewing the trek on a map of the city. The trek began with a short subway ride followed by a quick trek for a subversive meeting at the Union Oyster House with none other than her infernal majesty, Sheelzebub! Since we were discussing her plans for her presidency for life, of course, no pictures were allowed. Just know that there were lobsters involved and cheesecake.

After the meeting, we went for a lovely trek to the waterfront and all over the North End. We attempted to find a spot for coffee, but Boston rolls up the sidewalks very early. We did see cows. There were lots of cows. The sock was quite curious about this, but it was much too dark to get good photos. Sophie the Flower Cow was possibly our favorite, but it was hard to choose.

From there, the sock went on about its journey and returned home safe and sound. Since then, the sock has enjoyed some smaller treks to a local park to watch happy children who just finished third grade and around town for errands.

Today, the sock is taking a break while Young Man and a friend are playing. I snapped a Saturday Sky picture for Sandy, but our sky is rather dismal today. The clouds do not mean rain and they do mean that we won't see the triple-digit temperatures that were hinted at in the weather forecast.

Post Something, Anything!

Okay, it's only a quizzy thing, but it will have to do. Thank you to Femiknit Mafia for getting me off my arse and posting something.

You Are 45% Normal (Somewhat Normal)

While some of your behavior is quite normal... Other things you do are downright strange You've got a little of your freak going on But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself

How Normal Are You?

Have You Seen My Mojo?

I'm not on vacation, but I have visions of my knitting mojo lounging on a beach, sipping mojitos, and laughing at my recent knitting attempts. You don't believe me? I have evidence.

Exhibit 1 was the Fluted Banister Socks. I like the yarn; it is soft and fun. I like the pattern; it is quick to memorize and pleasant to knit. The two together? Not so much. Busy yarn + busy pattern = too much and it all gets mashed together. The sock has been completely frogged and is now becoming a nice, plain ribbed sock.

Exhibit B was entirely the fault of The Sheared Sheep. They had a delightful sale during the first weekend of May and they had Lorna's Laces! I picked up some Gold Trail and then saw the pattern for Yukon Leaves. The two seemed like a perfect match. Well, when knit, I see less of a Yukon Trail and more of Follow the Yellow Brick Road. The swirling pools just aren't doing it for me. I see more frogging in my future.

Exhibit the third was a reaction to the two previous sock disasters. After doing serious credit card damage during The Sheared Sheep Sale Saturday (try saying that three times fast), I dove back into my stash and started the April/May Vintage Socks pattern, Fancy Silk Sock. I used Regia Cotton in black and it just isn't working. The yarn seems much rougher than the Regia Cotton I used for the Sixth Sense pattern. Besides, they are just too big! As you can see, these are ready for the frog pond.

Finally, I return to Aran Rose Peach. I started the front this week. Five rows into the ribbing I realized that I had made a dramatic error on the sleeve that I had recently finished and the entire sleeve will need to be redone. My pointy sticks just don't have the magic this week.

Ode to Mom

Whether you use your sink for dishes or cleaning out sprinkler heads, there is no one like Mom. I hope that your Mother's Day was wonderful.

Project: Ballband Dishcloth from Mason*Dixon Knitting

Yarn: Lily Sugar 'n Cream in Sage and Landscape

Needles: US7 (4.5 mm) straights

Notes: Quick, and fun, but I felt a little silly. This is my first knitted dishcloth. I don't think it will be my last (if for no other reason than I have more yarn left).