One Sock, No Scarf

This was a little surprising to me, but I didn’t have much time to knit while I was in Portland – either in the tourist-y part of the trip or while at Sock Summit.  The bulk of my knitting was completed on the plane.

On the way home yesterday, I finished the first sock of the pair I started just before I left:I think it will look a little nicer after blocking.  The dropped stitch sections (the part with ladders) are a little sloppy, but I expect the yarn to settle down a bit after a bath.  Then again, this 100% superwash BFL is quite lively and springy as it is.  Maybe the floats WON’T settle down.  We shall see.

I decided to discontinue the dropped stitch pattern partway down the instep because those sections are going to be weaker than anyplace else.  I figure there’s no reason to subject them to the friction of a shoe.  I kept going long enough that you’ll be able to see the pattern through a Mary Jane strap, but not all the way to the toe decrease.

Also on this trip, I learned that I really don’t care for knitting laceweight yarn.  I spent the longest time getting through one repeat of this lace pattern, and I just don’t like it! There’s nothing wrong with the pattern and the scarf will be lovely (the yarn is 100% cashmere), but I don’t like knitting it.  Does anyone else want to finish it?  I’ll give you the yarn if you take this project off my hands!  I think I would happily knit the pattern on heavier yarn, but not this thin stuff.  Look how thick it is next to my lifeline (which is dental floss).  It’s super thin.

I know I still need to show you the goodies I got at the Sock Summit marketplace… but I haven’t photographed them yet.  This is just a quick update.  Oh, I have to show you the birthday aliens, too! 

Packing for the Summit

My pile of stuff to take is growing slowly.  Click through to Flickr to see notes if you wonder why things are in the pile!  (Like, perhaps, the wedgie-free girls underpants?)

I started a new sock a few days ago to knit at the Summit. I wanted something that will be easy enough to knit in public, but not dead dull like a stockinette Felici sock.  You know, something that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen knitting among other hardcore sock knitters… Here’s what I came up with: Amelie (by Alana Dakos, who also designed the Cedar Leaf Shawlette) in Dye Dreams Luster Sox (100% superwash BFL and purchased at Sock Summit 2009): The color of this yarn is very rich and bronze, almost metallic.  I like it!  And since they are for me, there will be no fitting issues.  My feet are always with me.

I thought I’d take something else to knit on the airplane, something a bit more complicated but that doesn’t take up much space.  I have two main contenders right now – holler if you think one makes more sense than the other.

1. Campanula Scarf.  I cast on for this last summer (yes, a full year ago) and am about 3 rows into it.  The yarn is 100% cashmere and it’s gorgeous, but it’s also really fine.  It sure doesn’t take up much space, though!
2. Celtic Vine Fingerless Gloves. I got the Yakaboo yarn for this at MDSW’11 and the pattern came with it. The yarn is a wee skein (only 25 g). The pattern still isn’t in Ravelry – here is a not-so-great photo of the photo on my printout:

Thoughts?

I need to think about my wardrobe, too.  It has been “Texas hot” here in Pennsylvania lately and I’ve been living in sandals (or less).  Portland is easily 30 degrees cooler.  I can’t wait!  I’ll be sure to pack my little sock yarn shawls (cedar leaf and sugared violets) – they will come in handy in the convention center (which was chilly last time) and perhaps outdoors, as well.

Knitters, what else should I be thinking about?

Felici, di nuovo

I was at a conference last weekend so of course, I took my knitting along.  When I travel, I always worry that I’ll run out of knitting (doesn’t everyone?) so I cast on for another pair of simple socks and threw them in.  I didn’t touch them at the conference, but they’ll be perfect for my next travel knitting.

A plain vanilla pair of socks for Boy 2 out of Felici: When I was knitting the pink Felici socks recently, Boy 2 frequently petted them and talked about how soft they were.  (Felici is unusually soft for a sock yarn that includes nylon.)  I promised him a pair of Felicis and showed him the colors I have in stash.  He picked this one.  This is one boy who’s not afraid of color!  This is one of their older colorways, called Aurora, that has stripes of differing widths.

Boy 2 responds strongly to softness and texture.  I have a tiny yarn cake of cashmere laceweight yarn out in the living room right now which he immediately asked me about.  “Mama, what is that blue yarn? It is soooooooo soft!”  It was fun to be able to tell him about cashmere and let him rub it on his neck.  This is the first laceweight yarn I have ever purchased.  Lace normally isn’t my thing.  But was I entranced by one of Anne Hanson’s latest creations, the Campanula Scarf, and thought I’d give it a try.  I actually cast on and knit a few rows of this, but I struggled so with the slippery metal needle I had.  I think I need a different needle to work this.  I ended up goofing and frogged the whole thing.

But this scarf will be MINE – lacy cashmere scarves should NOT go to kindergarten!