sock porn for knitting voyeurs.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

closer

and not in that nin way, except for you ;) yes you.

I've been working on getting ready for this weekend... every year my dad's side of the family has this huge christmas party, lots of food and a crazy $5 gift swap that was more fun when my cousins were younger (drunk uncles would play, "how soon can we make the kids cry" when making them trade their $5 gifts for something they hated). This was actually the only time I used to see my dad's side of the family, including my dad, every year. I grew up with my mom and sister not 2 hours from them, and not 3 from my dad, but til I graduated high school I didn't see much of them and haven't for the past few years, either. I know them well now and have missed them, but i'm nervous... trying to get things done is how I'm coping with the anticipation/fear.

fuzzy2
(unfelted) Fuzzy Feet from Winter Knitty 2002
Started: November 28, 2oo6
Finished: November 29, 2006
Patons SWS (soy wool stripes), Natural Navy color... just over 2 sk
US 10.5 (6.5mm) 16" circular, Susan Bates and Clover dpns, 4

Bigger this time than last, 4" cuff, 48 sts CO & around the foot and definitely longer. I used just over 2 sk, didn't use all of the leftovers from my previous pair. Knitting them as written (not as wide) would use up 2 skeins, not more. This time I worked them til 2" shy of the length (I think they ended up 13.5-14"?) and used flat toe decreases every round (for top/bottom: k1, ssk, k to 3 sts to end of needle, k2tog, k1; skipped the plain round) til 24 sts total, then kitchenered closed. I'm thinking the toes will look more rounded when felted up, we'll see. I'm taking these w/ me this weekend, so dad can felt them and I can have a private, knitter chuckle when he unwraps these giant socks and thinks I've officially lost my mind.

I am packing too (only a day and a half trip, but packing for my toddler is like the ark... 2 of everything so I'm starting early. I need to wrap grandma's afghan, and was trying to figure out exactly how to present the "care" part of it (handwashing, etc). I think I came up with a pretty solution. I bought some stamps from Kaspareks-- they have great customer service and shipped the next day. I've been wanting these for a while, this was a good excuse!

stamps
Ho Tai, Dragon with Spinning Wheel (trek, i thought of you when i saw this one), and Unravelled

and printed one of the Lizard Ridge photos, mounted it with photo mounts onto a plain paper card...

card

and wrote out a little note and care directions inside the card.

card2

I figured this wouldn't get lost like a smaller tag card may, and was a nice compliment to the present. I'm going to do this for all the knit gifts this year, I think-- its easy and feels craftier than I am.

Non-segue before I go, the mailman just dropped this off and its too beautiful not to share...

silk
Lace weight 100% silk from Colourmart UK (ebay), anthracite

Beauty beauty. Cheap cheap too, $15 shipped from the UK. They sell "laceweight" silk (2500 yd/5 oz cone), but will double/triple/4x strand it for you for free (even if you buy just one). I had them double strand this and now it looks to be the lace weight I'm used to seeing-- so about 1,250 yd/5 oz. They're known for their inexpensive cashmere (Cookie posted pics of the sample cards/skeins they sent her, along with a quick review), but this silk is nice. Suggestions for it? I was thinking Sarcelle, or maybe a rectangle from JennyRaye's humongo list of rectangular shawls. (who am i kidding? knit lace? oy...)

Alrite, Sherwood needs a sleeve and a half, and my kid needs more juice... seeyou soon (hopefully with a completed kid's sweater!)

20 comments:

lexa said...

I'm going to have to do something like that with some of my knit gifts -- the cards with washing instructions, I mean. I can see the MIL machine washing and drying the felted clogs, heaven knows what she'd end up with.

Looking forward to seeing the finished Sherwood since it's on my list to do, twice.

sheep#100 said...

Very cool dragon spinning!

m. said...

A - I love the card idea. I have some that I made up with a splash of glitter and all the details, but this is a great idea for such a great project. :)

insaknitty said...

love the card! :) I just bought some colourmart cashmere - for gloves. how's the silk? I also bought their sampler thingy and it was super generous, complete with 250yd of their cashmere in a tweedy deep red and their "aran" weight, which I personally think is more of a sport weight... anyway. hope you have a great trip! I don't even want to start thinking about packing for my toddler for this weekend...

Hazy said...

I really love the stamps and the card idea. I'm off to look at the stamps now!

Jennifer said...

Oh, I want some of those stamps...

HPNY KNITS said...

the card is a great touch. I love the little stamps.
family can be great, but- sometimes a lot to deal with.
I know about toddler packing...
have a good time!
:-)

Anonymous said...

I love the stamps- thanks for posting the link. the card idea is great.

Anonymous said...

I think Sarcelle would look fantastic using the silk yarn (which is so pretty! I looove ColourMart). And lace really isn't bad, it's fun. The card is a really great idea - useful if I ever gifted anyone with presents that weren't machine-washable...

Anonymous said...

Oh what a GREAT idea for the card, I love it!!! I hope you have a good time with your dad and I know your grandma will LOVE her afghan! Have a fun and relaxing trip.

Stacey said...

I'd love to see your dad's face when he opens the socks! Great idea to felt them there....

I have been lurking around Colourmart's site for a while now. Such pretty stuff and so economical!

Sarah said...

I'm late commenting, but your Lizard Ridge is awesome.

And the FF look really cool! Can't wait to see them felted!

Karen said...

Cool stamps! Your dad should have fun felting his fuzzy feet (neat idea). Have a great weekend!

AEBL said...

I really like the stamps, and your knitting is excellent too! :D That's an awesome way to present the washing instructions.
Good luck with the packing and the visiting. I never liked packing just for myself, and now I have to pack for my daughter too, parenting perks, eh? (I'm semi dreading our annual trip to visit the in-laws and home already.)

Taphophile said...

Your afghan is so beautiful and I love the note card you made to go with it. I'm sure your grandmother will love both. Of course now I want those stamps! Thanks for commenting on Vague-Magazine.

FairyGodKnitter said...

Have a wonderful weekend. You've given me such a great idea with the pre felted socks. I can give them to the boys and have an activity to do with them when they are bored with the initial flush of gifts. Your card idea is great, I often worry about how my stuff gets handled once I've gifted it.

Rachel said...

Cute stamps! I hadn't seen that store before, now I want all of them. I especially like the little unrolling ball of yarn.

Acornbud said...

I love your card with the Lizard Ridge. What a great idea.

Sonya said...

The cards are a great idea! I'm a bit behind, but your Lizard Ridge is amazing. Hope you have a great time.

Rhonda the Stitchingnut said...

Whoa, I can picture someone's face when they open a present with great big socks. LOL, too funny

And I love the stamps!

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