Hey everyone, thanks for all your great comments on my yarn being at The Loopy Ewe! I’m finishing up the dyeing and reskeining this weekend, so it should be off to Sheri and up at the store soon. Keep an eye out! Also, I’ll be placing an order for some 1500 MHz Sport Merino as soon as I ship off the wholesale order, so keep an eye out for that yarn at www.yarnnerd.com.
In other news, I got a new toy!
That’s right, I finally had enough money saved up to go pay off my bike and get it out of layaway. I picked it up last night, and my Dad helped me put on some clipless pedals and showed me a few things, and off I went! I was a bit worried about using the clipless pedals, but commuting these last few months has made me a lot more confident on the bike, and my fears turned out to be unfounded. The pedals are super easy to use and it’s definitely a lot more efficient than straight push pedals. My Dad was kind enough to take a picture of me riding (wow, I look like a 5 year old boy in that picture) around the neighborhood.
It feels really great to have a bike that actually fits me, and I’m really looking forward to next week’s commute now. I’m interested to see how much time I can shave off, since this bike is super fast. Oh, and it’s super light too, so it should be a bit easier to load it onto the bus to school (and hopefully it will get me less grouchy bus driver stares, since the mountain bike was a bit hard to load onto that rack).
All in all, it’s only been a few months since I started bike commuting, but it’s already drastically changed the way I look at transportation. I absolutely love my commute now, and I’m always looking for opportunities to ride instead of driving. Plus, I’m so happy to have finally found a form of exercise that I really enjoy. In the past I never found something I really loved, so it was always hard to stick to a routine. I just wish I had given cycling a serious try sooner!
I also have another pair of socks under my belt to show off. (__Two pairs in consecutive posts! What is this blog coming to?__)
Remember these?
“Jolly Good Chap” Socks
- Pattern: Gentleman’s Sock with Lozenge Pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks, by Nancy Bush.
- Yarn: Hand-Spun by Anne, received in a swap.
- Needles / Gauge: 7.5 spi on US #1’s. Knitted with Magic Loop.
- Construction: I stuck to the pattern on this one, except I used a slip stitch heel instead of a stockinette one. I also modified the lozenge pattern to be over 60 stitches, since my gauge was less than the book’s.
- Completion Time: 4 months (May - August)
I really love these socks. This was the first time (at the time of cast-on) that I had used hand-spun, and it was a very different and wonderful experience. The wool that Anne used is a bit more coarse than I was used to, but it makes a really sturdy and warm fabric. Anne’s spinning job was superb, and I know that these socks will be around for many years to come. They’re a bit slouchy around the leg, because the pattern gauge is a bit bigger than stockinette gauge, but the ribbed cuff holds them up, and I think that slouchy socks are wonderful. They’ll be perfect for cold winter evenings, to keep my feet warm while I drink coffee and knit. And the pattern gives them a very sophisticated look; so much so, that I fancy myself a Brit while wearing them. ;)
So thanks Anne, the yarn is wonderful, and the socks are even better!
Lastly, I want to leave you with a bit of a somber warning. If you are ever knitting a sweater, be sure to count the number of stitches in your gauge swatch instead of assuming. Or, if you always knit your swatches over 32 stitches, don’t make a 36 stitch swatch, and then measure your gauge thinking your swatch is 32 stitches. Cause that means all your impeccable math and perfect sizing doesn’t mean anything…, and it leads to this inevitable outcome:
Oh, and listen to that nagging voice in your head that says, “hey, maybe before you get too much farther, you should take it off the needles and try it on!” Cause it will be right. At least I was only 1 inch past the hem, so no harm no foul this time. I forge ahead, because I am determined to have a cosy sweater to go with my Englishman socks this winter.
Those socks look so good! and I know the yarn must be beautiful, because that Anne can do no wrong. Congrats on the new wheels.
Those socks are awesome! And that’s a great shot of you riding your bike too. =) WTG Dad!
Oooh, you measure the final dimension of the swatch and not inside the swatch for your stitch gauge? Yeah. If I did that I’d surely screw something up.
veddy veddy nice! they do look cozy and warm. after a washing or two they will soften up. that type of wool is less fun to knit with but socks like that always end up being my faves!
Cool bike! Ahh handspun and handknit socks! Lucky feet ;) Bummer on the sweater! Hoping you have a bit more of that Mustard Wine colorway I’ve been seeing around! hint, hint ;)
That picture of you on the bike is priceless!!
Nice bike - put on a helmet! Nice socks too. 1500 MHz - my favorite. :)
Nice bike! I think it’s great that you’re using alternate transportation to get around. I know that in the US, using public transportation is really difficult and inconvenient, but it seems like you’ve really made it work for you.
I love the new socks. Handknit socks are always great, but when they’re knit with handspun yarn, that makes them even more special (and if you ever need more handspun, let me know:)). Also, I missed your last post, so I’ll send a late congratulations for your Loopy Ewe wholesale order! What a fantastic way to get your name and product out there.
Yeah! Now to name her.
We just got Z his first bike yesterday. His pics are v. similar to your! And he’s 3.5. :-)
Yay, new bike! And HA! love the Threadless shirt… it’s one of my all time faves. Congrats on the big ol’ Loopy Ewe order… that stuff will fly off the shelves, I’m sure! As for me, I’m already reveling in my merino/tencel… couldn’t help but start a new sock!
Congrats on your new ride! (do you have a helmet for real commuting? cars around here are NOT cautious of bicyclers!) That’s a funny pic because you do look small, some odd foreshortening or something. I still love the color of that handspun…and funny about your sweater, but glad you weren’t too far into it.
Yay for the new bike! I love it–hope you come up with a wonderful name for her/him. I love my mt bike, but you’re right, they are a little harder to load on the bus racks. Hopefully this lighter ride will score you some points with the bus drivers:)
i know i commented on flickr, but i love the picture of you on your bike. it just really captures you’re joy! sorry to hear about the sweater guage. totally something i would do so i can emphathize. happy knitting!
oops! i meant “your joy.”
nice bike!! awesome socks. :)
Ugh. Sorry about the ripping. But that photo of you on the bike! Pure joy!!
Congrats on the new bike! I’m a big fan of toeclips (no special shoes needed), but they took some practice. The socks turned out great! I wonder why we knitters ignore that nagging little voice so often…
You look great Adam on your bike! Who doesn’t feel like a 5 year old when riding? I still do! The socks turned out great!
the socks came out great! I love that green “tree scum” color!
congrats on the new bike!!!!
Your bike looks great…and the socks look even better!
Cool bike! I think it’s wonderful that you’ve found such a great way to commute and exercise all at the same time.
Love the socks. The yarn is magnifico!
Nice bike! Beautiful Socks! Now in an admonishing tone…where’s your helmet mister?
Hmm, finishing socks left and right. I need your knitting mojo right now…haven’t knit a stitch over the past couple of days.
Sorry about your miscalculations, but I love how the brown and russet go together. Kinda like one of those chili-chocolate bars…Dagoba is the brand, I think. I’ve never had one, though, so I have no idea.
I love the color of the sweater. It won’t be too cold for a while, so you have time to finish before you really need it. The picture of you riding the bike is very nice. Looks like you are having fun!
Congratulations on your new bike!
Oh my you have schnauzers, knit, and have a good bike. Not to mention the impeccable fiber choices. Bookmarking blog now. : )
What a great photo…you do look like a kid on his first bike! Glad you are having so much fun on your shiny new toy!!! Glad you finished your socks…how’s my shawl coming? It is September and the cool fall weather is just around the corner! I don’t want to wait until Christmas ya know!!!
Love ya MOM
What a great picture of you on your bike! I think that smile is contagious. I had the same one when I got on mine the first time too..
yeah for dad! i love that picture of you cruising on your new bike =)