Well, you know how it is. You look around at everything and suddenly it isn’t interesting any more and you want a change. I started doing the cosmetic work on the blog over the holiday break and finally finished up last night. I’m pleased with it; it’ll do for a while :)
It’s snowing again - funny because the temperatures were up in the high 50s yesterday and the day before. I was going out without a coat and yesterday, I was driving with the window down! Such is the fickle nature of the New England winter.
The Snowman Cometh
I’m hearing that this is expected to continue through late tomorrow afternoon though accumulations aren’t expected to be much more than 6 inches or so. I’m pleased to have no plans to speak of so I can just bundle down and stay put, enjoy the view out the windows and not have to worry about driving anywhere. You can believe I’m counting my blessings because I’m terrified of driving in the snow. It’s a great relief and comfort to know I don’t have to :)
I got some interesting news yesterday that I can’t share just yet - I should know for sure by Saturday and will pass it along on Monday. But, as a result of the possibility, I’m thinking about making a dressy shawl and a little formal-esque bag. Probably the blue-violet mohair blend would make a beautiful shawl (or stole - I thought I hated stoles until I had one and found it an extremely convenient and comfortable style to wear) and there’s this for the bag:
I’m thinking something vaguely Victorian…
And I got started on the Marks and Kattens Clown socks. The pattern is a combination and adaptation of the start of Wendy’s Toe-up Sock Pattern and the stitch count and needle size of Ryan’s Dublin Bay Socks. I wanted to make these toe-up so I wouldn’t have to guess about how much yarn was needed for the foot. This way I make the foot first and can then knit up the leg till the yarn runs out! I know, from having made Ryan’s Dublin Bay socks (well - embarrassed grin - from having made one of them) that 72 stitches around on size 1 (US) needles works great for my foot so I’m helping myself to that and probably also to the Eye-of-the-Partridge heel when I get there just because it’s so cool :) Sorry Ryan, I’m going to skip the lace - it would just disappear into the busy-ness of the yarn pattern anyway :(.
Socks under way
I love the colors and patterning in this yarn, but it feels a bit…I dunno…stringy? Perhaps that will wash out. As before, I’m finding that sock yarn and size 1 needles make my hands cry, so I’m taking this slowly - an inch or so at a time. They’ll get done by and by and then, swoon, there’s the Schaeffer Anne to contemplate!
Stay warm and safe - wherever you all are!
No trackbacks yet.
oh, i like the new look- umm, does that header look a bit familiar?
your sock yarn looks similar to the dgb confetti yarn which feels stringy too- sorta like knitting with kite string! i’ve made lots of socks with the dgb, but i always worry about the fiber pulling out of shape- never has happened though-
a dressy surprise event sounds like fun- hope it all comes together so you can get all spiffed up with someplace to go-
snow- sounds wonderful- i will now go and endure grey warmth for the umpteenth day in a row-
stay happy-
I forgot to tell you that after you posted about the “Christmas Sandwich,” I couldn’t stop salivating and went right out and bought all the ingredients. Who knew a tuna sandwich could taste so good?! Thanks!!!
Looking forward to seeing what you whip up for the stole and evening bag.
Love the new look!
That blue-violet yarn is SO vivid - what a color. Can’t wait to see what you do with it. The sock is looking super - I, too, have felt that some of the self-patterning yarns feel a bit “stringy” - I can only use the thicker ones or, like you, my hands refuse to cooperate! Have you seen the book “Not Just Socks” by Sandi Posner? Neat ideas for those yarns…
I’m waiting for the 7-9” we were supposed to get overnight… I think they need to put their doppler radar through the car wash because it must have buildup - it’s always wrong!
Happy New Year to you both. 
Barb - Well…erm…yes. THe header was crafted from the bit of the F&F comfort shawl that I have done so far :) Pretty sharp, girl!
Glad to hear that the stringy yarn probably doesn’t mean yucky yarn. I’m just in love with the peppermint stripes and will be very unhappy if it gets nasty.
Sorry to hear about the grey warmth. but to tell you the truth, I’m not sure the grey coolth is any better!
Marie - Oh, now you’ve done it. I’m going to have this for supper or I’ll never stop thinking about it! What a shame - LOL!
Thanks :)
Stasia - Sorry, I guess that was misleading. The blue-violet (Bucilla Melody) can be seen here:
The picture is of some Classic Elite Flash and it really is a pretty snazzy color!
Love the look! 
Lisa - Thanks. You know the old saying, “A change is as good as a rest”.
The new look definitely works for me - very nice. :) Gorgeous hot pink yarn! Can’t wait to hear what the special occasion will be.
But socks. You’re knitting socks. Sigh. Oh, well…no-one’s perfect. 
Hehehe
Bron - that yarn is really more a really perky magenta than a hot pink and, as it happens, I’ve just been doing the math for the possible project :)
As for the socks - brat! LOL! I’ll fix your little New Mexican wagon - someday I’ll make you a beautiful pair of hand knit socks and you’ll be ruined forever!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA…
“..aren’t expected to be much more than 6 inches or so.” Oh my god, if we had that here they would declare a state of emergency. No joke.
I know I said it before, but that Clown is just too fun. Sorry it’s tough on your hands.
Laura - In this town, they don’t even drag out the plows for only 6 inches. Of course we’re notorious in the state and you can tell when you enter the next town over just by looking at the road. They’ve plowed; we haven’t :)
The yarn isn’t bad itself, it’s not rough or anything. It’s just the combination of fine yarn and tiny needles - my hands can’t do it for very long.
ooh! I’ve not been here for ages… loooove the new furniture. And… and… you’re reading Hat Full of Sky! *faints with delight* Let us know how you like it, and what your favourite bits are.
:) x
Well, I wasn’t going to say anything - I thought it looked like fuchsia, but if you wanted to call it blue-violet, who was I to argue?
I now see how daft I was - the periwinkle yarn is TO DIE FOR - what a color! Did you ever luck out! And I still think the fuchsia is lovely as well! :-D
Monica - I finished it this evening and it was delightful. A bit more sober than “The Wee, Free Men” but a terrific follow up. You’ll love it :)
Stasia - You’re right, I certainly did luck into those two colors! Somebody was thinking VERY kindly of me that day. And you’ve got snow now! Is that a good thing? :)
Love the new look!
I’m currently knitting some socks out of Regia cotton and oy, not liking the experience. I had the same reaction to the Plymouth Sockotta. Loved the results, loved the socks, hated the yarn. The stringy nature of the cotton sock yarn eclipses the stringy nature of the self-patterning wool-blend sock yarns I’ve tried and I definitely agree that some of ‘em do feel rather more twine-like than is comfortable. But they self-pattern! Black magic!
(I think we’re supposed to get up to 8 in. of snow. I’m in the Monadnock region, where if everywhere else gets 2 inches, we get a foot plus because we’re just that little bit higher, lucky us. However, they plow here, for which I am very grateful.)
Melanie - The sock yarn is part cotton, part wool. I would have preferred all wool (well, except for that 15-25% nylon which keeps it from wearing to quickly) but that’s not a problem. As you said, the self-striping aspect (and those very fun colors) mosre than make up for it.
Our anticipated snowfall has been upped to a possible 10” so the plows will have to come out :) In fact, I have to go out and clean the car off.
I love the Monadnock region, but haven’t been there in a very long time :)
