Monday, July 24, 2017

Sock Monkeys

It's been a bit busy around here.  I've been shopping for a condo and have now found one that I like.  So, for the next while I'll be busy packing and cleaning and moving and generally getting settled in. All this has been in between days at work.  I'll blog when I can and will catch up once everything settles down.

While I was on vacation in Denver last month I knit two pairs of socks.  One pair was made from the monthly sock yarn (2016) from The Loopy Ewe, which I blogged about a while ago.  The other yarn is from a favorite dyer, Artistic Yarn by Abi.  Abi is very creative and her sock yarns are fun to knit. The yarn is a good quality and they have been holding up well. In the past I made watermelon striped socks, kiwi socks and a pair in Mardi Gras colors.  I have Bacon & Eggs yarn patiently waiting for its turn.  This time, the colors are those used in sock monkeys.

THE DETAILS


Pattern:  Generic.  
Cast on 60 sts., K2, P2 ribbing for 12 rounds, 
Stocking stitch leg for 75 rounds, Short row heel,
 Stocking stitch foot for 50 rounds, Shaped toe.

Needles:  
US #0 / 2.0 mm

Size:  
Medium

Yarn:  Sock Monkey Self-striping Sock Yarn
by Artistic Yarns by Abi 

Ravelry Link:  Sock Monkeys

Sunday, July 9, 2017

How I Spent My Summer Vacation - Part 2

The first few days of vacation where turning out better than I'd hoped.  On Sunday I had brunch with former co-workers from the University of Colorado Hospital at Mimi's.  I'd heard some great music, driven a fun car, met up with friends and knitted with a group at Wooden Spools.  But there was another surprise in store for me.  It's no secret that I love live music.  I've always had a mental list of groups that I'd like to see and hear.  Fortunately, the list is getting smaller as I've been lucky enough to see so many of my favorites at least once.

One of the bands that was still on my list is Boston.  I turned on my computer one morning and learned that Boston was playing that very night at Fiddler's Green.  A wonderful venue, by the way.  I was initially a bit disappointed as I felt quite sure that I wouldn't get a ticket on such short notice, but I was wrong.  I got a seat in the third row!


The show was fabulous and they played all their hits.  The crowd seemed to know every word.  The venue is outdoors and the weather was perfect.  I wouldn't hesitate to see them again.

I spent the rest of the week hanging out with friends, knitting, a bit of shopping and some sightseeing.

Whenever I'm in town I like to meet up with a small group of special friends - friends that I've known for over 15 years.  We meet at the Corner Bakery, get caught up and have a nice dinner.  This is always the highlight of any Denver trip.  I also met with another group at a favorite yarn shop, Colorful Yarns.  It is a feast for any knitter - lots and lots of temptations.  

The next day... Saturday, would be a trip to the Estes Park Wool Festival....

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Suggestion for the Governments

Since the ties between Canada and the US are close and since our two holidays are within days of each other:  Canada Day on July 1st and Independence Day on July 4th, shouldn't we just have a week off to celebrate both countries?  Just an idea.


Happy July holidays, y'all, eh?  



If you're not in Canada or the US.... have a great day no matter what you're doing or where you are!

Monday, July 3, 2017

Packing For The Trip

Knitters know that the hardest part of preparing for a trip is packing their knitting.  Clothes are easy, an clean outfit for each day.  Cosmetics and toiletries:  as long as you have your toothbrush and comb, everything else is a bonus.  Prescription. ID. Credit cards.  Check✔, check ✔ and check.  ✔


Now knitting is harder.  There is lots to think about.

1.  How many projects do I need to take?  For me, I would gone for 16 days so I packed:  yarn for at least 4 pairs of socks, two sweaters in progress, a cap that needed a tassel, yarn for swatching for a new sweater project and yarn for a class I was going to take.  That seemed about right.

2.  Patterns?  Yes, for everything except the socks (will use my standard sock "recipe", which is memorized) and the cap that needed a tassel.  Now, packing books can be heavy, especially since I  wanted to save room for any souvenirs/new yarn that might beg to come home with me.  So... time was needed to download patterns or make photocopies.  Downloading can take a particularly long time, especially since I saved one of the patterns on Ravelry.  One does not just pop into Ravelry for a minute.  There are always new projects and patterns than must be looked at - and it would be rude not to see what your friends have been knitting.  I wanted to leave a bit of time, too, to check out discussions on my favorite groups.  Gathering patterns could easily take several hours, if not days.  I also wanted to pack a pattern or two for something I might want to make in the future, just in case I saw the ideal yarn and had to have it.

3.  Gadgets?  A knitter cannot work without an assortment of gadgets, everything from stitch markers, tape measures, pins, scissors, stitch holders, etc.  The clever among us have their gadgets
already housed in a cute little bag.  I've tried that several times, but then, I need something from the bag and somehow it doesn't always make it's way back into the cute bag.  It can take at least an hour to go over the gadgets in my mind.  I had to "mind knit" the pattern - reading it over slowly and carefully and thinking what I might need to make the process easier.  Do I need one stitch marker or several?  Can they all be the same color or do I need some that are distinctive from the others?  I'll need a tape measure - is it long enough, it is metric?  I'd better pack a needle sizer, just in case.  If I get far enough along on one of my projects I'll likely need a tapestry needle to weave in the ends or to work the Kitchener stitch.  Should it be sharp or blunt?  How big a needle will I need?   Is one enough?

4.  What needles should I bring?  For my sock projects I was all set.  I know that I'll need 4 US size 0/2.0 mm needles.  But, what if I break one?  Or get the urge to start another sock before the first one is finished.  I'd better pack extras.  My sweaters were in progress so they were already on the needles.  I'd better check the pattern to see if the needle size changes somewhere.  I was planning to swatch for a new project - more needles, but what sizes?  I'd better pack extra sizes and lengths.  Along with the needles, I had to make sure they are protected from bending or breaking.  How to do that?  I'd better pack needle protectors (so the stitches don't fall off the end) and a needle holder of some kind.  Will I pack my needles in my checked bag or can I carry them onto the plane?  Something to think about.

As you can see, packing knitting is the hardest part of all.  Forget the fact that there are more than 20 good yarn stores in the Denver area if I "needed" anything.  There was also the fact that I was going to the Wool Festival in Estes Park with at least 50 vendors.

How did I make out?  I finished 2-1/2 pairs of socks.  Bought some yarn.  Didn't work on the sweaters.  Didn't swatch for another sweater.  Didn't make a tassel.  But I never ran out of anything, although I did shop - and I had a very good time.

Here's one pair of socks that did get finished:


THE DETAILS

Pattern:  Cast on 60 sts, 2x2 ribbing,
stocking stitch leg and foot,
short row heel, shaped toe.

Needles:  US #0 / 2.0 mm

Size:  Medium

Color exclusive to The Loopy Ewe:
"Lake Dillon"

Each month The Loopy Ewe offers an exclusive colorway.  This one is from June, 2016.

Ravelry Link:  Lake Dillon

Sunday, July 2, 2017

How I Spent My Summer Vacation - Part 1

In September, it seems like everyone in grade school had to write an essay about their summer vacations.  I know that I did, and when I was teaching school, I assigned the essays.  It was an easy way to get to know the students in those early weeks.

I've already had my summer vacation, actually late-spring/early-summer.  I spent 16 days in Denver, the longest I've been there since moving away in 2011.  From the first day, after I'd only been off the plane for about half an hour, it was already better than I'd expected.  On a previous trip I had rented a car and the radio was awful - lots of static.  I complained about the radio and was given a coupon for a free rental car upgrade for the future.  At Enterprise, I was told I could pick any car except the Porsche.  I chose a new (only 800 miles on the odometer) red Camaro.

Click on pictures to enlarge.
While there's almost no room for a back-seat passenger and little room for luggage in the trunk, it was a blast to drive - a lot more fun than my aging, 14-year-old Xterra.  It was hard to give the car back at the end of vacation, and I'm pleased to say that I didn't get any speeding tickets!

On the first full day in Denver I was registered to take a class with Stephen West at Fancy Tiger.  I didn't know what to expect.  From all that I've seen online (mostly on YouTube) I was afraid that the class might be a bit of a Gong Show.  I was pleasantly surprised when he turned out to be a kind, professional teacher and charming and funny. He was teaching the brioche stitch which I'd never done before.  Now I have another technique in my knitting repertoire.

Check out the "eyeballs" around his neck. On the flip side is where his phone is carried!


But wait, the Sunday wasn't over.  In the evening I went to The Hudson Gardens to see a group that I've been listening to since I was a kid, The Four Tops.


The members of the group have changed over the years.  Some of the current members are family with the originals.  The songs like "Baby I Need Your Loving", "It's the Same Old Song", Reach Out I'll Be There" and "I Can't Help Myself" still sound as good today.


Check out the flashy outfits.  When it started to get dark and the lights were on the group, those suits shone and made for great stage clothes.  Sitting in a lawn chair on the grass with my friend, P, and listening to the music was a wonderful way to spend a pleasant June night and to start my vacation.