Sockapalooza matches

I found out who I will be knitting socks for today and figured I should put something up on the ol' blog for whoever is knitting socks for me.I've had some good mail recently. I got the two magazines free from two separate knitters. I wanted knitscene for the Central Park Hoodie. The Vogue was just something up for grabs, so I grabbed it. There's one interesting-looking pattern in it, but I may pass it on to someone else. I had an extra copy of an old Interweave Knits and sent it off to a knitter in Australia. In exchange for the postage ($9.50), I got a $10 gift certificate to WEBS. Woohoo! That's it for the free stuff. I did pay for the Greenwood Fiberworks yarn, but only $12 (including shipping)--much cheaper than buying it new!

Tulip in my front yard

Taken just moments ago

Civil War socks!

On Monday's Antiques Roadshow (from Salt Lake City) there will be a pair of socks from 1861 up for appraisal. I've already watched the segment online. They're in great condition. And worth a lot!

Hurt finger

Since Monday I've had a sore joint in my left hand: the joint at the tip of my middle finger. I didn't injure it. I knit a little just to see how involved that finger is in my knitting. As I thought, not that much. But I'm still taking a rest from knitting for a while. I may have to go to the doctor even though I'm sure it's nothing serious and nothing can be done except take Advil, which I haven't been doing because it's such a small area of pain. Aren't I too young for arthritis? Phooey.

I signed up for Sockapalooza after all. I would refresh the sign-up page and feel a little sad at the thought of it coming back up with "sign-ups are now closed," so I decided to join. I'm no longer ambivalent about it!

Looks can be deceiving

So, what is the difference between the Greenwood Fiberworks (top) and the Zen Yarn Garden (bottom) cotton/lycra sock yarn? Why did the 72-stitches-around pattern that worked perfectly for the former come out huge in the latter? Let me show you something.

Both strands below were about 7 inches with no tension on them, but when pulled tight, the Greenwood about doubles in length, whereas the Zen only gets to 10 inches. So Greenwood's more elastic and contracts more after it's knit. That probably means it wears better than the Zen. I think I'm willing to keep the pink for myself and give my mom the "campfire" color if she wants.

Sockapalooza 4 signups have started. I've been ambivalent on it for a while now. I loved knitting socks for other people (I had one pal and was a sock savior for another), but the socks I received are a little too big for me. I don't have much sock yarn I'm willing to part with, and I'm trying not to buy more for now. I don't know what to do!

What a difference 4 stitches can make

60 stitches around instead of 64

This yarn might do well with size 0 needles. If I still think these socks are too loose I'll buy some.

Next time: Why is this yarn so different from Greenwood Fiberworks?

Dyeing

I dyed eggs at a friend's house the other night. I didn't make all of these, and some of the ones I did make stayed at her house. I am responsible for the marbled ones--I learned it from Martha Stewart.

Want to see my pool?

These photos are of the same sock.
I didn't see it before, but the two sides are basically negatives of the other. I suppose that makes sense. I'm not sure if the pooling is OK with the recipient. I can try casting on fewer stitches--the socks could stand to be a little tighter still. I could do that with the other ball of yarn and see how it looks without sacrificing this sock, but all my size 1s are in use. I am lazy and haven't finished the Harry Potter socks because I don't know how I want to bind them off.

I knit with someone who was knitting socks on size 0 needles, which I've never used. I asked her how many stitches around her sock was and was stunned to hear 56--or was it 52? Anyway, something in the 50s. She admits to knitting very loosely. I'll say! I've never used the yarn she was knitting with, but I would start with 68 stitches on a size 1.

Test knitting

I learned a new way to make short-row toes and heels, with double wraps a la Wendy this time (top in photo). This photo shows what I think is the uglier side of the wrapping method. The two sides of the YO method (bottom) look pretty similar to one another.

I started these socks but had to redo them because they were coming out too big (at 72 stitches cast on). So the Zen Yarn Garden cotton/lycra sock yarn is a bit thicker than the Greenwood Fiberworks. I'm trying 64 stitches now and it seems to be good. I took a photo of the new attempt but my camera ate it.