Re: Socks

Oh, and Happy New Year to all reading this.
I seem to be having a difficult time doing a toe up sock. The problem is keeping track of what round I'm on. I've had to back knit a total of five rounds (two different times with different rounds) because I couldn't tell whether I had just finished an increase round or not.
I'm formulating a marker design that would hang from the toe at the beginning of the round and it would get flipped every time you completed a round. This is also helpful for doing the increases for different 'sockitecture' designs by Cat Bordhi.
I get interrupted so many times it seems that I can't get more than a round or two done in one sitting. I'll be glad when the holidays are over and spring is here when my daughter and granddaughter can go back to Truckee. That's still up in the air of course, but no matter the decision, they are going to have to be out of here by March or April.

As for the marker design, it's going to have a coil type arrangement like some of the plastic ring markers so it can be slipped off easily. It will likely have a bead or two involved, possibly something with a letter or number.
Oh, I ended up sending off my knitpicks order. Three different sock yarns and the needles was the final decision. I'm now regretting not getting some of the kettle dyed in a worsted, or maybe a lace shawl pattern. I have enough of those free that I can choose from those and existing yarn.
It is now 11 pm and I'm pooped. I'll be asleep possibly by the time midnight rolls around, whoopdeedo. I never was big on celebrating the change in the year, even when I had friends that threw parties. I'm up for going to a party but it doesn't have to be a special occasion. With my new place, it's kind of small but could hold up to ten people. I'll think about doing that during the summer. The only issue is parking...
Enough sidetracking, have to get back to that sock.

I'm back on!

After a long unwelcome absence.
Well, I have completed two pairs of kids socks, am working on a third pair because the original orange pair are too small for the intended wearer. I bought some wonderful Alpaca yarn from Lonesome Stone in almost matching colors and that's turning into a beanie for the same grandson. Granddaughter Ava loves her new pink ankle socks and they do fit her well with a tiny bit of room to grow.
I got a $50 gift certificate to Knit Picks (Thank you Ceejay!) I just ordered another set of size 2 circs and some sock yarn. Sigh..never thought I'd be a sock knitter but it looks like my New Years Resolution for 2008 at least came through with that. I have yet to knit a real lace shawl, but that's coming next year.
I have to say that I make pretty decent socks. For kids at least. I'll have to start a pair for someone bigger soon. Son in law asked (totally unknowing about these things) if they made yarn out of wool. I didn't laugh... honest. All I heard from behind me was some comment about socks and wool.
He snowboards and needs some thick socks for fitting into his boots but the standard double rib type sock digs into his leg too much. He also said he wanted knee highs... that's a helluva lot of knitting to do unrelieved by anything. I bought some charcoal gray Telemark(I think, it's the nubby sock yarn) from KP, I hope he likes the color because I didn't ask him.
Oh, another yarn that I bought from Lonesome Stone is a bright pink and purple two ply sock yarn. Alpaca of course, and at first I tried casting on with size 2's but it felt like they were too big. Another knitter in the group showed up Monday with a pair made from the same yarn and they were soooo sofft!!! They striped on the leg and pooled a little around the ankle. I'm anxious to get going on that but that will have to wait until I finish the second pair of orange socks, a beanie, another pair of socks and possibly the start of a shawl.
He also asked me about how long it would take to knit an adult beanie... apparently son in law and daughter want to give a friend a lime green beanie. I'm considering asking for money for it since it is a form of a consignment.
Pictures of everything coming soon.

I succumbed due to the season

I went to Needlecraft Cottage and she has both Karabella yarn and some odds and ends in a basket for 1/3 off. First..my math isn't the greatest and I interpreted that as 2/3 off for whatever reason so the cost was more than what my brain had figured... but oh well.
I got five balls of Grignasco Top Print. Three are in a blue/brown colorway and two are in greens. I have no flipping clue what I'm going to do with them... something suitably soft considering it's ALPACA! This is a first for me. I have never bought Alpaca before, it's soft, but not like mohair that makes my fingers itchy. I love the colors and she had a scarf worked up in the green so I tested it against my neck and it's not too scratchy/soft.
The two colors worked alternating would be awesome and I think... I just might do a triangle shawl or long scarf wrap in it.
I don't know!. I hate impulse buys like that and am not prone to them as you can tell. I usually (and did) have a plan when I went in there. I was looking for a suitable yarn to make a rasta type hat for a coworker. Don't know why, he asked if I could and I jokingly said, 'what color? Redblackgreenyellow?' he said sure.
Dang. I am NOT using alpaca on him nor my son in law.. coworker may well get acrylic and son in law may get wool/acrylic. Not going overboard on either of them.
Okay, have to hop in the shower and do some thinking on this then off to work.
I'll bring the yarn to Brandi's on Monday.

Some side notes, no progress really

I tried the orange sock on Ava who is 4 and where I had planned to start the toe was about the right place for her. The problem is, this sock is supposed to be for a 6 year old. Double checked the directions and realized it should be 5 1/2 inches so got to about five and a quarter and decided to start the toe there. Now just have to get clear on how to do the toe. I worked about a half inch and it just didn't look right, so I ripped it back and figured out that it needed to be longer and have gotten back to where I needed to be.
I almost bought another ball of yarn in mostly pink with a few other striped thrown in. I've got to come up with a gift for a company dinner/gift exchange by Saturday. I was going to do photo cards but I ran out of yellow ink.
I want to knit a hat for son in law and son, but haven't found the right yarn to work fast enough. Might have to compromise, but I get paid on Friday so I might be able to make a trip down to the yarn shop and get some bulky yarn. Of course that money also has to pay some bills and buy our Christmas tree and other gifts.
Someday I want to have enough money that I'm not compromising or scraping by for gifts. Or bills.
Oh well, back to writing, maybe that will turn into something before I turn 55.