Rip It, Rip It, Rip It

That's right, Rip It...I have re-knit my corner of the EZ ribwarmer and I have to rip it. WHY? Why, when everyone else I know is on their third or fourth rib warmer, moved on to clapotis and spring projects? Why am I stuck on this freaking, frigging, frogging corner? THIS time I have knit the corner on the wrong side---the collar side of the garment. You can see quite clearly from EZ's diagram in "Knitting Workshop" that the corner belongs across from the collar...and you can see from the photo of my garment...well, you can see that I screwed up. So, I'm going to have to rip it. I'm just not as clever as that most clever of women, Elizabeth Zimmermann. All hail the Goddess of Knitting.

Meanwhile, I finished Evelina and enjoyed it all along the way. Fanny Burney's character development was so great. What next to read? I've yet to read Persuasion by Ms. Austen, Pamela and Camilla, the Mystery of Utranto, so many good choices!

Last night in the mail, by way of Royal Post, I received "Tokens of Love," a book of patterns based on extant Quaker pin balls. Now I can't wait to start devouring that and knitting!!

Ripping that Rib Warmer

Sorry for no picture, but I thought about it AFTER I ripped. I had rounded the corner and was prepared to start knitting up the back when I thought, and the knitting group confirmed, that my second corner was at right angle to the first. NOT good. So, there was no choice but to rip and start knitting again. It took just the better part of Saturday afternoon and evening to redo and I'm happier than I can say because I did a much neater job. I'll take some pictures and I think I have a picture of the right angle pre-realization.



In the meantime, there hasn't been much time for knitting, or inclination. Work has been busy and absorbing and by the time I get home I seem to sit in a stupor or fall asleep. I've also been enjoying reading lately. First, I read Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen and now I'm reading Evalina by Fanny Burney. The two Austen books are ones I had not read before and I liked the character of Fanny in Mansfield Park, while I did not much care for Catherine in Northanger Abbey. While both young women seemed a bit clueless about what was going on around them Catherine was particularly dense and I would loved to shake her a bit. Fanny, while helpless at least had backbone, even if she was unable to act on her feelings and sentiments.



Now Evalina is another heroine, helpless against the twists and turns that others impose upon her but not dense. At least she realizes what is going on around her and I like her the better for it. She sees what is happening, makes note of it and has a clue! And the story is delicious. What is the meaning of the strange note from Lord Orville, so out of character with all else we have seen of him? What is the deal with her father? Is he her father or is the man who has raised her more truly the man who can claim her for his own? I haven't the faintest, but I'm enjoying myself immensely! I've got to figure out what next to read!



Meantime, I bought two skeins of Trekking hand art hand dyed yarn in a brilliant blue and raspberry color combination to make a clapotis. First, I do want to finish the rib warmer AND find that other skein of Kona I'm Falling...I really want to make that other sock!

Lovin' My Socks

I am. I'm lovin' my socks.

These are basic toe-up socks with a Turkish cast-on. The Turkish cast-on is a figure 8 or loop-de-loop over two needles, casting on between 16 and 24 stitches depending on your foot size. You then knit into the top needle's stitches, turn 'em around and knit into the other needle's stitches, keep going adding on at the corners every other row until you've made a little cup shape that fits your foot, dividing the stitches. Now knit even until you get to your leg. Split the stitches in half by placing a marker at the halfway point, increase one stitch after your first stitch and one stitch before the marker until you've knit to your ankle every other row. Now decrease back the same way to your original number of stitches and knit up your leg about 4 to 5 inches and then k1, p1 for 2 inches. Bind off using a needle 2 sizes larger for nice comfortable fit. That's the rough idea of a toe-up sock--at least my version.

These are knit using Cestari sock yarn dyed in Woolbearers' Matts Tattoos, a DK weight yarn, on # 2 needles. They are old aluminum needles, probably Susan Bates. I cast on 52 stitches and increased up to 68. Also, to accommodate my chunky calf, I increased 4 stitches every 13 st at the 2 inch mark and again at the 4 inch mark. I just did it randomly at those points and it seems to have worked. The yarn knits so tightly that the socks feel as if they are felted, they are just heavenly on and yummy warm and yummier soft.

I'm now knitting a pair using the exact same pair of needles but Kona DK Superwash, in Woolbearers' I'm Falling. Same cast-on style and number of stitches. The first foot is done and if I can find the other skein... it's hiding out amongst all the OTHER skeins. I don't understand why it does not want to become a much used, adored and beloved object of both utility and beauty: the humble yet necessary SOCK!