Chevron Socks

6,386 miles, 3 countries, and 31 days. That's what these Chevron Socks and I went through together. But now they're finished, and ready to go to their new owner. I know they'll be going to a good home, but it's hard to give them up. Good thing I have more yarn!

Finishing Projects

No pictures yet, but last week I finished the Chevron Socks for my River Knits Sock Pal. Now I can go back to the 5 other pairs of socks-in-progress.

I also finished the projects for the charity auction. What a waste of time. My 2-pouch set (completed so last-minute that I didn't have time to take pictures before I gave it away) raised just $5.00. It's kind of strange that remainder-table books will sell for more than the cover price, but this didn't even cover the cost of what I bought (and I pulled a lot of materials from my stash)! I'm trying very hard not to be too bitter and disappointed, but I really do think my hard work could have raised more. I'll definitely rethink any further contributions.

Finishing socks is on hold right now, as I try to make a pair of Icelandic "Building Blocks" slippers (from Socks Socks Socks) as a get-well gift for my sister-in-law. Hope to have those done - and pictures posted - tonight or tomorrow.

Nice Nautie!

The newest issue of Knitty has re-arranged the "can't wait to start" list with this pattern for Knitted Nautiloids (which is fun to say out loud). As a lover of all things fishy (but NOT eating seafood!!!!), Nautiloids fit right in to the collection. Of course, that means I'll also have to look for some more stuffed sea life.

I really hope my secret pal likes fish. That would give me a great excuse to make more of these things.

Too Many Deadlines

According to the Secret Pal 8 rules, I'm supposed to post to this fairly regularly - which should be a good alternative to getting actual work done.

The past week or so hasn't been too good for knitting, with THREE papers due on the same day. I realize reviewing drafts is an important part of the writing process, but it really does cut in to my procrastinating lifestyle. At least one is really done, one is easy (a mock syllabus), and the third is fun - I'm studying Lafayette's Jewish community, so there are all sorts of fun stories out there. I'll probably have to make a research trip to the cemetery soon - I'll feel like I'm visiting old friends.

On the craft front, I need to get busy and make something to donate for my friend Karen's "Silvija the Landlady Memorial Scholarship Auction," to be held at this weekend's SCA event. Silvija was a professor at Purdue, and a dear friend, who moved away some years ago to Florida State Universtity. She died very suddenly in 1999. I still miss her. FSU opened a scholarship fund in her name, so every year we have an auction of neat SCA stuff to raise money for the endowment - some years have done really well.

Once that's done, I'll be finishing my Secret Pal Socks, and probably spend Saturday working on the tiny knitted reliquary bag that I've been carrying around as an event project for years.

Secret Pals!

I've taken the plunge and signed up for Secret Pal 8! This is my first mega-Secret-Pal exchange, although I've very happily participated in both years at River Knits. Now it's an excerise in patience, as I wait for the end of the month to find out who I'll be spoiling. Wish I'd picked up more cool yarn in Germany!

Sock Pals, Continued

I've been making good progress on my Sock Pal's Chevron Socks (picture to appear soon). I'm nearly done with the second leg, so then it's just a heel and a foot, and then back to some other sock-in-progress (I currently have 6 pairs OTN).

Knitting for somebody else turns out to be weird. I never pay much attention to measurements - I just try the sock on as I go (of course, this didn't work very well for Fidalgo Feet). My sock pal and I don't have the same foot measurements, so I've been looking for sock models. I feel like I'm hunting for Cinderella - who will the sock fit? Or maybe only my sock pal can wear her sock - that's how we'll all know who she is!

Even More Socks

I'm nearly finished with my first "Fidalgo Feet" sock for this month's River Knits sock club. The Fidalgo Foot is a lovely sock, although since I've made it in pale yellow Gems I'm not sure the design is recognizable as pine trees.

I must have abnormally short feet, or else I knit very loosely. I moved the pine tree on the top of the foot up half an inch, and I'm knitting on size 0 instead of size 1 needles, and I still have the tree touching my toes, which means it won't show up very well under my Birkenstocks.

I'll add here that I absolutely love my Crystal Palace needles! It's so nice to have skinny wooden needles that don't feel like they're getting ready to break with every stitch. I'll never buy Brittanys again - unless I can't wait any longer for River Knits to restock!