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I love making socks. But with all the hassle-bassle-rassle-snassle we’ve been going through lately, I hadn’t had a chance to start a new project.
Well, the hassle isn’t over, but I decided to go for it and try some socks for N in the Online Supersocke yarn that she had picked out ages ago.
Tried with size 1’s. Didn’t look right. Riiiippp. Frog. (Ribbit.)
Tried with size 3’s. Too big. Too weird looking. Riiiiippp. Frog. (Ribbit, ribbit.)
Looked for size 2’s. Grrrr. Nope. No size 2’s. While that might at some point merit an Excuse To Go To My LYS at some point in the future, it wasn’t helping me right then.
Then I stumbled upon dipladyknits, and it appears Shanda was not having the splitting, nasty experience with her Very Same Yarn. She was great about responding to my comments to her post, and inspired by Shanda the diplady, I decided to go back to the size 1’s.
After a couple more false starts (don’t you hate getting those stitches twisted or dropping stitches really early on), I finally started zipping along, and was in The Zone.
So here it is–(Take 5) the beginning of N’s sock. On size 1 addi turbo lace 34″ cable–magic loop method.
I do love the magic loop–so easy peasy, never dropping those stinking giant toothpicks (a.k.a. double pointed needles) or knitting onto the wrong needle and having to tink (knit backwards one stitch at a time) back the mangled mess to get it back on the right needle!
And it does fit N’s foot (well, leg), so all is well for now.
More pics later as the masterpiece progresses.
One thing I’ve appreciated more and more this year is the value of being still and making things with my hands–especially with my children. I think back to the times I sat with my grandmother while she knitted and with my mother while she made amazingly creative things for our home. These are some of the best memories I share with these great ladies.
It’s made me even more determined to be a memory-maker this year with my daughters.
Last year I penned a list of observations and life lessons I learned through knitting–but they apply to sewing, crochet, and probably just about any other endeavor where you get to create something with raw supplies, some basic tools, your love, and your hands:
Sometimes more is gained from slowing down than from running harder.
Every big project starts with that first stitch.
Take time to spend with your parents and grandparents and children in a quiet, “agenda-free” setting. Those are the times you’ll remember most when they’re not with you.
Things worth having are worth working for.
A teensy slip-up, ignored and not fixed, can turn into a great big hole and a nasty mess down the road.
It’s easier to fix a problem right away than to wait until later.
If something’s a real mess, sometimes it’s best to rip it out and start over from the beginning.
Enjoy both your results and every stitch of the journey to get there.
Finish well.
Homemade really is better.
Read the instructions.
Don’t panic when you realize you’ve messed up. Stay calm and think it through and you’re on the way to fixing the problem.
Listen to advice from those that know more than you.
When Grandma says, “I can fix it, honey,” chances are she really can.
When God said He knit you together in your mother’s womb, He didn’t use a knitting machine. He did it stitch by stitch, purposefully and full of love. And He didn’t make a single mistake. (Here’s where He said that.)
For the original post, you can click here.
Happy 2009!
Okay, I know it’s been, well, months, since I’ve posted here, but believe me, I have some very good reasons. Between hospitalizations, a vacation, the holiday frenzy, and lots of other assorted stuff, I’ve been well, Indisposed. But now, we’re back and I’ll try to pick up (at least slightly) where I left off, craft-wise. (I’d have to have gotten back to business eventually, as Kari has shamed me into writing again!)
One really big area where I was remiss in not posting was the incredible, awesome TOGA party that N and I went to back in October. My friend Linda and her incredibly creative sister, Sharon, invited me to this gathering of sewing legends who are (seriously) experts in treadle and handcrank sewing machines. Linda and Sharon’s sister, Frankie, was part of the party too, with her creative crocheting self. Well, My daughter, N, and I went and we had a wonderful time!
As you may recall, my daughter N, took a liking to sewing and was sewing on a chainstitch TOY machine. Enter, the Treadle-On Angels.
We simply CANNOT have sweet little N sewing on that toy. (Seriously, I knew no better, but N was happy, so who was I to interfere?) Yet, these amazing men and women literally took us in, taught N to sew and (for real) gave, seriously GAVE, N an antique hand-crank sewing machine. (Very special thanks to Karen and her very special guest, Iz).
I cannot thank these incredible folks enough for the hospitality and generosity they showed us. More importantly, as a mama, I can’t thank them enough for the huge round of applause they all gave N as she finished her very first real project! WOO HOO! Oh yes, she’s got the sewing bug now. And even though our opportunities for any kind of new crafting have been minimal with our family’s recent illnesses, N’s still chomping at the bit to get back in there and crank that machine.
These people are the real deal. They blessed my daughter and me more than they could possibly realize. I am so grateful for the chance to attend their get-together. Whether they knew it or not, it really was a life changing event for N. Which always makes me happy.
Here are some neat pictures of the event:
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- N trying the hand crank sewing machine
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- Sharon and N
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- Linda and her sister, Sharon (in her element!)
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- Frankie!
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- N learning about her new machine
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- N’s First Project WOO HOO!
A quick PS to Karen: if you’d like me to post the photo of Iz with the machine here, I would be happy to do so. Just want to make sure it’s okay with you. Also, if you would rather I’d just send the photo directly to you, just let me know. 🙂
(And I promise, more updates from other crafty-type things will follow soon!)
First excitement. Squeals of excitement. Shrill, little-girl shrieks of excitement. Yes, I have finished the beautiful pink market bag for M.
I also have taken so many cute pictures of the market bags and their owners and friends.
And now, the frustration.
I cannot stand Kodak Easyshare Software. The camera works fine, I just can’t do anything with the photos trapped in there about a third of the time. They won’t upload and the software just freezes up and sends me one of those polite “not responding” boxes.
An hour after messing with the stuff (I just re-downloaded the software earlier this week, so that can’t be the problem), I finally decided to give it a rest for the night.
Anyone out there with some tips on handling easyshare upload? Your advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be able to get to the bottom of it and get you the pics of the new (did I mention pink?) market bag. You’ll have to be in suspense another day!
I am in love. True love. It’s okay–even though I am a married woman. You see, I am in love with a skein of yarn. Not just any yarn, mind you. The Most Beautiful Yarn in the World.
I saw this yarn a month or so ago at a cute little yarn shop where my friend Kari and I took a sock class. Just looking at it is like beholding a work of art. Seriously. Gorgeous.
No. I’m not selling it to anyone. Indeed, I am not even sharing the location of this fabulous fiber, because I don’t want anyone else to buy it either. You can’t buy it. Please don’t buy it.
See, I cannot buy it. I just cannot. It is Not In Our Budget. Truly, it’s outrageously priced, but it’s also outrageously beautiful yarn (can you hear the rationalization?). So I have exercised self-control, even to the extent of telling my husband how much the yarn costs. Naturally, the amazing specimen has now become contraband. No way is it coming into my house now, baby.
But I do go and visit it from time to time. Really, I mean it. It’s still there on the shelf, waiting for me. Last time I was there I took a picture to share it with you.
I told you so.
Yarn rookie that I am, I didn’t even write down the name from the tag to share it with you. I’ll get it on my next visit and let you know then.
Oh yes, and I’ve resisted the urge to hide the poor thing on the bottom of the stack toward the back of the shelf so someone with a champagne budget couldn’t have it either. I mean this yarn deserves to be knitted into something beautiful.
But for now, I still have my visits to look forward to. *Sigh*
What the Craft?! 