Quiet Sundays are the best!

Today it’s been nothing but watching movies and knitting!  I have watched several movies and gotten a bit knitted on the sweater I’m attempting.  I’ve never knitted a sweater “not in the round”, so this will be interesting.  I have to admit, it’s way smaller to carry about.  I cast on for it yesterday (KIP at Noah’s, thank you).  I’m about seven inches into the front of it.  Not using any fancy yarn, just plain old Red Heart that I had stored.  I wanted to sort of do a “test” sweater first.  I figure it will be good to layer over a tshirt this winter, besides, I’m thinking it will soften up as it’s washed (with fabric softener added).  If it turns out well, I’m going to save up and get some “tweed” type yarn from Knit Picks and make a true Weasley Sweater.  I loved those sweaters in the movies, they just looked so warm and cozy.  One can always use a warm and cozy sweater, right?

I’m hoping to order some yarn from KP in order to start on Yule gifts, sometime near the end of July.  I need to get cracking on Yule knitting sometime in August I think.  That will give me plenty of time to get stuff knitted.

A whole lot a sock knitting!

Yep, my major contribution to humanity today was knitting on a sock.  Not only is it a sock, it’s the dreaded second sock to a pair!  I finished the first one up this morning and cast on for the second one.  I seriously have to do that or it will never get knitted. I’m up to the gusset on the second sock and am almost ready to start turning the heel.  This pattern totally zooms along.  I seriously think if I tried hard and started early in the morning (like 7am or so), I could actually knit an entire sock in one day…and that is with sock yarn on a size 2 needle.  See, why I totally adore socks, they are fast and easy and definitely satisfy my lust for quickie projects this summer.

I need a really good elastic type bind off though…anyone got some links for some?

Anyway, the highlight of my day was someone I met at the doggie park.  She works for KnitPicks!  It’s only one of my absolute fave places to buy yarn!  I was stunned when she walked over and asked about the toe of my sock.  Plus, she was excited to see I was doing my sock via magic loop, as she had just learned it.  We also chatted about the Knit Picks Options Needle Set (which I adore), and my bag.  It was rather funny as her husband recognized it right away!  Talk about a small world, huh?

Yesterday, I was the one person in the line that I hate.  The one that holds up the whole thing.  Why was I holding up the line?  I had to chat with the cashier about sock knitting, the new Interweave and the merits of the magic loop!  I swear sock knitters are coming out of the wood works lately.  Everyone is knitting socks right now!!!!!  Then I was perusing my Interweave last night while waiting on the dogs to “do their thing” in the grass, when a woman walked up and said she just got her issue but hadn’t had a chance to read it?  You mean there are knitters here in my apartments?  I was stunned!  Wow.  Wonder how many I will run into at school? LOL!

Templar found a buddy at the park today.  He’s still checking out the neighborhood when it comes to the dog park.  He’s a bit shy still and overhwhelmed when it comes to all the other dogs there.  But, today, he was romping and playing chase with a Dalmation puppy named Hank.  We were thrilled to see him romping about today.  Maggie is rather funny about it though, she never lets him get too far from her sight and will wander over if things get out of control too much.  It’s rather cute to watch.

I made a casserole type dish for dinner tonight.  I did up a fancy schmany pasta and cheese with ground beef added.  I did the bowtie pasta with a combination of mozzerella, cheddar and colby jack cheeses mixed with the ground beef.  I then added parmesan cheese over the top of it.  Talk about yummy!  I might add pesto next time to see how that goes?  I firmly believe that pesto makes everything taste better.

We also watched an old Robert Montgomery movie and a two hour epsiode on the mythology of Star Wars.  It was actually rather good and very informative.  I knew I kept seeing all that stuff in those movies.  I also watched the second Harry Potter movie tonight.  Since the book and the movie are out next month (oh my goddess, that is really soon!!!) I thought I would get caught back up as it has been awhile.  It’s still just as good as it was the day I saw it originally in the theatre!  I can actually claim I have seen all the Harry Potter movies in the theatre…it’s kind of cool to be able to say that.

I can’t believe that the last book will be forthcoming this next month.  I’m not sure if I’m totally ready for that or not?  I so love the books that I feel this last book will be like the loss of a dear friend.  Sigh.  As they say, all good things must come to an end, even my beloved Harry Potter series.  I’m just not ready yet though, even though I am going to have to be that’s for sure.

I watched the trailers for Ocean 13 today as well.  I love those movies and can watch them over and over and over.  I’m totally addicted to the whole “gang” of them.  The chemistry that is among the cast is amazing and still works.  A lot of people thought that Ocean’s 12 was not as good at the original one, but I beg to differ.  Yes, it was a sequel, but it still had merit and the magic that was among the cast.  Sometimes, you go to see the cast and not just the storyline.  In the next one, the storyline is as good as the cast.  I so cant’ wait to see it.

Now that I have rambled on and on and on…it’s time to go back to the sock and at least get to the heel turning part.  Once it’s turned, it’s the downhill slide from there!  I will turn the heel, knit a couple of rows and start on the 1×1 ribbing and cast off.  I think I’ll cast on a third pair once I’m done with this one.  Can’t help it, addicted to socks making.  This is all Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s fault…her and that sock of hers that traveled more than I have!  She is right though, the sock is a perfect project.

Socks and their creation

I have to totally agree with the Yarn Harlot in her views of the joys of sock knitting. I love the little buggers. They truly are total treasures to create. They have several parts, so there are bits to love and bits to hate. They give almost instant satisfaction and let you play with yarn that is so out of your budget normally you would only press your nose at the window to lust after. You can knit them from almost anything on any size of needle. They can be designed to fit inside a shoe or operate more as a slipper on a cold floor. They let you express your individuality or be that closet rebel in the corporate environment. They travel well and are a definite conversation starter when out in public. And, if you knit your barista a pair, let’s just say they are better than any tip you could have given them! (that was a very broad hint, folks!) In that fact, they make excellent gifts, because most people don’t realize that socks started out being handmade. They make people think your bloody brillant and that you can do anything. (only my socks and I know that is so not true!)

I think that Summer 2007 will be my summer of socks! I’m bored with most knitting projects out there and it’s too hot to start something huge and I’m going to be a bit more “portable” this summer, so socks it is. I literally can stuff it in my pocket (i.e. yesterday) and just go.

We were at Noah’s Bagels yesterday and after we ordered, I went and grabbed a table. Since P was waiting for our order, I grabbed “the sock” out of my pocket and started on it. I had six people stop by the table to see what I was doing. One guy was amazed that I could knit socks! Another woman loved the colors and thought it was totally cool that I could make my own accessories to match outfits (like I take the time to match anything-but I could if I wanted to!). Another one couldn’t believe that you could make socks from hand? I have to laugh at some of the looks I get and the questions. P has finally gotten used to it and it just amuses him.

At least with the “Summer of Socks”, I’ll have Yule covered this year in a big way! If I’m industrious, I can whip a sock out in a day. If I’m not industrious and just stick with it, I can whip one out in 2.5 days. So, technically, if I’m dedicated and have something going all the time (like I normally do) I can probably whip out almost three pair?

Wait…I know of about seven days of being locked in a car this summer….that will definitely speed up production! After all, what else is there to do when your not driving but watch the middle part of the US pass by? No offense to anyone that lives between Portland and Columbus Ohio….there’s not a lot of see out there…except miles of desert and farmland. Once you have seen an acre of sagebrush/wheat/corn/soybeans…you have seen the rest. So, sock knitting it will be, yippee!

Let’s not mention lectures in class…hello, prime knitting time! So, who knows, I might master that more than three pair a week thing? Just me and my addi turbos..it will be totally fun.