You know, it’s amazing how much I can get done when I don’t have homework! Last night I managed to cook dinner, dye yarn and relax for a bit, all in the same evening! I could really get used to this no work after 5 PM gig. ;)
To top it off, I got to open the windows to let in the breeze from some evening rain, and witness this beautiful sunset. Isn’t it gorgeous? I looked outside and realized that the color of the sky matched my roses! These brilliant bursts of color don’t last too long, so I dashed outside to get a picture. It’s actually the 2nd night in a row we’ve had rain, which makes both my garden and me happy. Although anymore nights of rain will most likely cause the local populace to begin to go crazy from the lack of Vitamin D, so hopefully we’ll have a nice sunny day soon.
In knitting news, I finished my Broad Spiral Rib socks, and I love them ever so much. There’s just something about this yarn and the pattern that makes me want to wear them all the time. I haven’t even pulled them off my feet long enough to give them their inaugural wash! They were a blast to knit, and I couldn’t wait to finish so I could wear them. All in all, it took me a little over 3 weeks to finish them, which I think is a good pace for me. That puts me about on track for a pair a month, which I think will be my new goal. If I accomplish that, by this time next year I’ll have more handknit socks than normal socks!
- Pattern: Broad Spiral Ribbing from More Sensational Knitted Socks.
- Yarn: Austermann Step → Dark Gray/Light Gray/Turquoise (Color #21). This yarn is “enriched with Aloe and Jojoba Oils”, and although I don’t know if it really helps or not, the socks are very soft.
- Needles / Gauge: I think I got 8 stitches / inch with US #1’s. I knitted these with Magic Loop, as usual.
- Construction: I knitted these top down, with a K1, P4, K1 cuff, then the spiral ribbing on the leg. I did a slip stitch heel with garter selvedges. For the toe, I used the Round Toe, which I’m now madly in love with. It seems to be the best fitting toe for my feet that I’ve found so far!
- Completion Time: Just over 3 weeks (April 21 - May 15)
I also tried dyeing roving for the first time last night! I’ve had a sample on hand for a while, and have been meaning to dye it up. Anne graciously agreed to accept the roving as part of our hand-spun/hand-dyed trade. Now if I could only figure out how to braid it! Anyone know of a good link they want to send my way? I tried to have Scout show me a while ago, but I got lost at, “it’s just like braiding hair!” Not being a girl, or having any daughters, I have no experience in hair braiding, and am therefore inept at fiber braiding.
Anne also picked a lovely custom colorway of Dijon Yellow and Light Gray, which I dyed up in some 1500 MHz Sport Nylon for her. I really love the way these colors go together, don’t you? I can’t wait to send her this yarn and get the lovely yarn that she spun up for me!
I also dyed up a Create Your Skein order for the talented Flint Knits, who is planning to make a Chevron Scarf from these 2 skeins. Didn’t she pick great colors? I really love these skeins together and think they will look awesome as a Chevron. I hear they’re all the rage these days ;)
Lastly, speaking of things that are the rage in the knitting world today, I’m sure you’ve heard of Ravelry by now. It’s an amazing new site that Jess (of frecklegirl) and her husband Casey have been working on. It’s an online knitting notebook/community where we fiber nerds can hang out, interact with each other and geek out over yarns and patterns. I got an invite a week or so ago and have been having a total blast. I know that a lot of you are waiting to get in, and I know many people are frustrated, but I assure you that it will be worth the wait. Jess and Casey have been working hard (really really hard!) to make sure that the site is up to snuff, and that it doesn’t go down in flames when it opens. It will be ready soon though, so try to bear with it just a little longer ;)
Oh yeah, and here’s the part you were hoping would come…I have 2 Ravelry invites to give away to you, my lovely readers. In an attempt to not be stampeded on, or accused of favoritism, I will be giving away these invites to 2 random commenters. Just leave a comment on this post by tomorrow morning at 9 AM MDT, and I’ll randomly pick 2 people to send an invite to. If you currently have a Ravelry account, just be sure to let me know in the comment so I don’t pick you.
That’s it for me, so good afternoon and good luck!
I would love an invite…it will inspire me to finally log and catalogue my stash as well as take my knitting to the next step through being part of such a community. And I am loving the yarn for Anne…add that to my wish list.
Oh, pretty skeins you’ve been dyeing!!
I already have a Ravelry account, thanks. And I suspect that I shouldn’t post this as a contest on my blog tomorrow morning, right? Sounds like something for your usual suspects commenters!
The socks look fab, and very comfy!
Re: the braiding of roving: I picked up some roving braids at MDS&W, and they weren’t really braided so much as chained, like a giant crochet chain. Would that be easier?
Otherwise, check out this link: http://www.dreamweaverbraiding.com/braids/basic3.htm
Ok a) those socks look super comfy. But the real reason I am commenting is the sunset. There is a special place in my little heart for sunsets and this is too gorgeous to not note. Thank you for sharing it with me!
I would love a ravelry invite. I enjoy your posts and look forward to more yarn production for the shop!
Oh, Oh me, me!!!! Just kidding, well, sort of ;o) I’d love an invite! Glad to hear classes and exams are over, and that you have a little more time to relax!
I knew this pattern looked familiar. I’m helping one of the girls at SnB knit her first pair of socks and this is the pattern she chose. Very pretty!
I’ve been reading your blog for a while, you are so clever with the dyeing, but the Ravelry invites prompted me to post. Love the Flashdance socks :)
Well done on finishing the finals. I am procrastinating on an assignment at the moment - blogs are so much more fun!
I just bought More Sensational Knitted Socks and will definitely be checking out that pattern…and yes, Ravelry kicks major ass. It’s my new reason for living!
I am so excited about Ravelry! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I get randomly picked. As usual, the yarn you’re dying is absolutely stunning. Oh, and if you need help with the basics of braiding, I can email you my number and try to walk you through it! Local call and all…
I love those socks. They are awesome. I am so excited because my More Sensational Knitted Sock book is on its way. I am going to have to make that pattern. I also love the yarns that you dye. Congrats on finishing the semester.
I totally feel you on actually having time to do things now that school is over. I keep sitting around thinking I should be working on a paper or something. Congrats on making it through the year!
And yay ravelry! I’ve been obsessively checking my inbox hoping I got an invite, but nothing yet. I can’t wait until I can join!
I’ll comment for a ravelry invite! (And for those awesome socks that I’ve loved since you started blogging about them!) It’s pouring rain here now, but I don’t think we’ve got such a promise for a sunset tonight…gorgeous picture!
The socks look great! Would love to have an invite to ravelry…
Gorgeous pic! Then again I always love the color combos of an evening sunset. Your garden is lookin’ fab. One of these days I need to start up a garden of my own. Oh and the socks look great! Is the aqua as bright in real life as in the pic?
You of all people should know to just Google “how to briad roving”!!!!
Or even BRAID!
Cool socks Adam! Glad you get time to play!
Great yarn! I just got my Ravelry invite today, so I don’t need one, but it is AWESOME! I have been playing around on the site since I got home.
Delurking for a chance at a Ravelry invite! =)
I like how the stripes on the socks are so broad that that pattern isn’t obscured as it would be in, say, a hand painted yarn. Very nice.
The socks look great, and it sounds like you could definitely use more! I’m glad you’re enjoying the break from homework; I can always tell the semester is over when friends start popping out of the woodwork. It looks like you’ve made pretty good use of your time off, though. All of the hand dyed yarns are absolutely gorgeous!
And also, I’d love a Ravelry invite. I can’t imagine how huge the wait list must be right now!
Would love to have an invite . . . I love looking at your dyed yarn and hope someday to e as good as you are!
Don’t bother with a braid. Do something yarn nerdy. There’s gotta be a circuit board part you can replicate with the way you present it. Geek out and go for it.
I’m so freakin’ jealous of all you cool kids with a Ravelry account! I’m trying to be patient as I wait for my invite. I swear I’m trying to be patient!
i’m lucky enough to be in ravelry, so i don’t need an invite, but i DO want you to you make Anne’s custom colorway not-custom! :)
OH PIck me!!! I’ve been dieing to try out Ravelry!!!! All my friends are doing it and no one has invited me!!!!
Don’t have any idea what Ravelry is, or why you have to be invited???? Loved the sunset photo, and the socks are amazing! How’s the shawl coming??? Hint hint. On a sad note, I can’t believe Melinda got voted off American Idol…What a travesty…I’m done watching because it is no longer a singing contest, it has become a popularity contest. Ok enough of my problems, love ya and I hope you have a great day!
Me, me! I want a Ravelry account! Come on, random picking thingie! :)
Nice socks, by the way!
so does this mean you will be updating the yarn nerd store? =D
I followed to your blog from your post on Grumperina’s blog…
That said - all the numbers have personalities in my head, too!! I didn’t know other people did that! I always felt that 5 is much more elegant and aristocratic than the mundane 4.
Talk about weird things our heads do when left to their own devices…
No need for the Ravelry invite for me, so you can scrap my name :-p
But….
….you don’t know how to braid?!
Anyway, if I can stop being broke long enough (because of all the gorgeous yarn out there), I might place an order for dye-your-own-skein. ;-)
i have a ravelry account. i just wish i had more time to play with it.
braiding roving is easy, but it’s a pain in the butt. so here’s what i do: take 1 end of the roving and hold it in my left hand. then, i pull up a section from somewhere in the middle and put that in my left hand. so now you should have 3 “ends” in your left hand: the actual end of the roving and the looped over section you picked up. make sure they are all the same length. i tuck the ends under my chin and start braiding, but you could probably stick them under someting heavy and hold them that way. yeah. that sounds like a much better idea, come to think of it. as far as the braiding goes…don’t know how to explain that to you. i’m pretty sure all women are born knowing how to braid. i bet you could google it. practice with some yarn scraps. or go to the goodwill and get yourself a My Little Pony. that’s how i became so adept at braiding ;).
oh wait, i have to say i totally agree with your mom about american idol. i have banned it from the house for eternity. i loved melinda!! blake sucks, and he’s from bothell. bothell sucks too!!!
Oh poop. I am totally jonesing for a ravelry invite and I think I might be commenting too late. Need… invite… must… try.. anyway….
Plus that teal and orange yarn is gorgeous. You should make more!!
This is the first time in a week I’ve had time to read anything. I keep hearing about Ravelry, but you can take me out of the running for an invite. Give it to someone who has time to enjoy … whatever it is.
Mostly just posting a comment because i’m green with envy that you have your life back. I can see a light at the end of my tunnel, but i’m still not positive that it isn’t an oncoming train! Howz your workout plan coming? Told ya I’d pester you! :) a
Ooh, ooh, pick me, pick me! I can’t wait until the Raverly site is up. It will be one of my everyday visits, I’m sure. And not to sway you (bawhahahaha!!!), your socks are fab. I love the colorway and the pattern. That’s one more sock book I will add to my list now.
Oooh! I hope it’s not too late! Pick me!
oh i LOVE the way the dallas came out! hahaha 1 and you know what? when i picked the colors for the yarn, i assumed that one skein would be gray and one would be mustard; it never ocurred to me to mix them! but i love them, so no worries. now david and i can have matching sox. no, maybe not; maybe david and my brother should have matching sox . . .