for a really cute turtleneck sweater for a hot water bottle.

[ Posted by Willa at 9:50 AM ] link me

Thursday, October 24, 2002:

Seems like I can't make anything lately without ripping it out two or three times. I'd like to think it's because I'm doing more complicated things, but generally it's because I fail to either a) swatch or b) measure.

I tried on the sock (with the needles in--I should have taken a picture) and it was just way too big, well, it fit, but it was sloppy. My fault, totally, because since I have somewhat fat ankles, I added four stitches to the CO, and didn't swatch it. I was just slightly off on the gauge (it was supposed to be 7-1/2 stitches to the inch, and I was at 6), but I guess on a sock, it makes more difference than it would on something larger. So between the stitch and a half off on the gauge, and the added four stitches, even though the pattern says it's for a Women's Small, and at Size 8-1/2 shoes, I'm definitely not a Small, well, oh well, I ripped it out and started over on smaller needles (Size 3) and following the pattern (CO 60). I didn't do a gauge swatch, figuring I'd just do an inch or so of the sock and then measure, and if I'm still off, I'll just rip it out again.

I'm going to keep trying until I get it right, because I really want some cotton Fixation socks.

[ Posted by Willa at 11:14 AM ] link me

Wednesday, October 23, 2002:

I continue to learn on the sock. I kept working on the gusset, but the way the SSK was described in the book I had just didn't make sense to me. I knew I was doing it wrong, but none of the books I had explained it. Oh, well, I didn't look at all of them. I bet Knitting in Plain English described it . . . Anyway, I finally thought to search on the web, and found it, and now it makes sense. Slip slip knit (ssk)

I decided not to rip it out and do it over, but to continue on so that I can try the sock on and see if it fits. If it doesn't look too dumb, and it fits, well, I'll decide then.

[ Posted by Willa at 1:45 PM ] link me

Tuesday, October 22, 2002:

Here's the scarf, an anniversary gift for my husband--our 26th anniversary is Friday.

I'm about 99% certain he doesn't read here . . . Thanks to Katherine, who supplied the Al-Pa-Ka when I would have run out, I was able to finish it in time!

[ Posted by Willa at 7:58 AM ] link me

I'm still loving the Fixation socks, despite a mishap last night. I was arranging the stitches on the needles to start working the heel. Counting, I ended up with one too few stitches. I counted again. Still missing one. I found it, dropped, about twenty rows back. I ripped, then stayed up late to get back to the point where I had stopped before. This morning I started working the heel. I really hope these fit; I plan on buying just about every color they make, I think.

[ Posted by Willa at 7:56 AM ] link me

Monday, October 21, 2002:

I finished the seaman's scarf yesterday while watching television (the last part of It Could Happen to You and the first part of Tin Cup) (it's going to be my anniversary gift to Bob on Thursday), and started the Fixation socks.

I'm making the "retro anklet" pattern from Socks, Socks, Socks; it remains to be seen whether it will fit my foot or not, but I have high hopes. I love working with the Fixation yarn. I think next weekend I'm going to return the wool I bought on Saturday and buy more Fixation.

[ Posted by Willa at 10:40 AM ] link me

Sunday, October 20, 2002:

Another color chart says the yarn I bought is called "Italian Ices." Yum.

[ Posted by Willa at 12:13 PM ] link me

I made the pilgrimage to the yarn store yesterday to look for sock yarn. I ended up buying two balls of Rowan 4-ply in "Toffee Apple" (at least that's what my receipt says--it's a pretty, softly muted orange--Halloween socks!!) and three balls of Fixation--two in a variegated multicolor (Color 9955, in real life it's much more vibrant) and one a medium blue (Color 2550) for the toe and heel. I'm looking forward to trying it.

[ Posted by Willa at 12:08 PM ] link me