Thursday, February 09, 2006

GIANT GRAY SOCK!


These are not turning out very scrumptious looking. Admittedly, the yarn wasn't luxurious to start with--it's a fingerling weight acrylic that I got for free in a swap, but I have a fear after all my trashed knitting of using anything pricey when I don't know what on earth I'm doing! And the way this sock is turning out, I'm glad I'm using the practice yarn :)

Really, I'm amazed that it vaguely looks like a sock and am excited about starting a new sock that might fit a little better--first, there is WAY too much ribbing at the top of the sock. I think the pattern called for like 7". Then something really funky happened around the instep (?) part--whatever the opposite of a heel is. I think a pregnant elephant could probably fit in this sock; it will definitely poof too much for my feet. We've either got a sizing issue or I did something VERY wrong :) I followed the directions though--so I think I'll just go down a size and measure my foot really well to compare with the directions to make sure.

I'm tempted to work on the toe tonight and finish it off, even as short as it is, so I can start fresh tomorrow with some nice yarn (well, nicER--I have some Lion Magic Stripes; I think it's 75% wool, 25% nylon, which will be better than 100% acrylic) and see if can't make something a little more attractive . . .

On the positive creative side, I got a great idea from a lady in my Bunco group for some very inexpensive but classy home decor--spent a whole $3 on frames at the Dollar Tree plus $1 on B&W reprints from our bottomless file of digital pictures that DH takes, and I put together this ensemble:



So now when I finish painting the wall over the mantle this weekend and hang these, I think my $4 investment will show that I have a LITTLE bit of craftiness in me this week.

Just don't hold the sock against me. It's a "learning experience" and I really think I will enjoy knitting socks once I get the issues worked out . . .

Monday, January 23, 2006

Not good knitting . .

I received some yarn in a swap a while back--I have tried to make TWO sweaters for my 3 year old and both have been terrible!!!! The first was a hooded sweater from the Lion website--something went terribly wrong with the hood and it was too small to fit over his head! I tried to fix it, but no go.

The second sweater was a placket-front sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I tried to put the second sleeve on last night (it's raglan sleeved and knit in the round; all new to my novice self) and something is wrong with it too. I'm going to look at it some today but I have a good mind to tear it off the needles and trash it! Let me add that it was listed as a "Four Hour Project"--I've been working on this darn thing for over a month, knitting at least an hour each night--maybe it's a FORTY HOUR PROJECT!!! Am not happy.

I'm wanting to knit some socks and get my mind off these sweaters. And try to sew again--I have been so frustrated with the trash-worthy things I have been sewing this past year that I haven't touched the machine for a month except to hem some pants. But maybe it's time to pick it up again . . .