Day: December 19, 2006

crafts · knitting · Life · yarn

As promised…

stitchywitch1 Comment

As promised, here’s a (slightly) better pic of the cable and rib socks

Apparently I live in the land of no sun, ever, so that’s the best I can do.  It is a much clearer picture of the color.  I did one less repeat than the pattern called for, since my row gauge was slightly more and I’m nervous about the amount of yarn this is using.  Thus far the pattern is really simple and clear.  I’m working the heel flap right now.

Since I’m on vacation and bored, I decided to check out the last yarn store in town I haven’t been to.  Sophie’s Fine Yarn Shoppe was much nicer than I anticipated.  It’s definitely the biggest store in town, with lots of comfy places to sit and a suprisingly wide array of yarns.  I was (of course) drawn to the sock yarn, and I couldn’t stop myself from buying these two yarns.

On the left is Austermann Step, and on the right is Mountain Colors bearfoot in Alpine.  I was drawn in by the turquoise and the self-striping of the Austermann, and the Mountain Colors yarn was just so pretty.  And yes, it is nearly the same color as my Wildfoote socks, but that’s ok.  Those socks are too big, and they’re also wanting to felt on the bottoms after only a few wearings.  Color me unimpressed with that yarn.

Sophie’s gave me a list of their January classes, and there’s a fair isle class I’d love to take.  Unfortunately, I can’t take classes at night, since that’s when I work.  And the store is a good 20-25 minutes away from me, in the far east end of the city (an area of suburban hell and congestion that I try to avoid.)  Still… it was a very nice store, and I recommend a visit!

I could have done even more damage, but I’m saving myself for the trip to Cincy next week.  There are a few shops I’m planning to visit while I’m there.

Tonight we’re planning on going to my old house and packing.  I have to be completely out by the 29th, but I want my things gone before Christmas.  In case you were wondering, I’ve been nominally paying rent there while actually living here.  Fortunately we were able to get out of our lease early, so I’ll be saving money (my share of bills/mortgage here is cheaper than my rent/bills was there.)

crafts · knitting · yarn

Bearfoot

stitchywitch2 Comments

My neighbors across the street have decided to be evil for Christmas.

Hard to see I know, but every single window in their (old, scary) three story house has a single glowing red light.  I took this from the fire escape, since I don’t really like to get that close.  This house is also the home of our resident weird old guy.  He stands out on the sidewalk in front of his house for hours, without moving.  Last week I looked out at 9, 11, and 1, and he was in the same spot all three times.  Weird.

I put away the Angel yarn until it decides to behave.  I was having a few problems.  First, the yarn would pool or spiral no matter what I did, and I also didn’t really like the yarn itself.  It was splitty, and I think I don’t like thicker socks.  I actually knew better than to buy it, since I don’t like really contrasty variegateds… but there you go.  I have one of Sweet Georgia’s superwash sock skeins too, and that yarn feels much nicer (although I haven’t knit with it yet.)

I did start another sock

This yarn, on the other hand, I’m completely in love with.  It’s Mountain Colors Bearfoot in the “Redtail hawk” colorway.  It’s much darker than it looks in the pic.  I’m making the Nancy Bush Rib and Cable socks from the Fall 05 Interweave.  The pattern is lovely but easy, and I really like the double cast on she used.  This yarn is super soft, due to the mohair content.  It really just flies off the needles.  I like it so much, in fact, that I’m willing to name it as my favorite sock yarn so far.  I promise a better picture tomorrow.