Bayerische Solution

Option 1: I frog the socks and reknit an ordinary sock that won't eat yarn like it is going out of fashion

Option 2: Push them to the back of the closet and never speak of them again

Option 3: Rip back part of sock 1 and knit both socks with different toes - a design detail

Option 4: Pretend I am super quirky and finish the second sock in a completely different coloured yarn and revel in my individuality. Or rather just remember when someone asks to see those extraordinary socks just pull out the correct complete sock.

Why don't people ask to see handknit socks, can't they see how truly special they are?

Here I am:

Super quirky

Maybe if I did this more people would ask about the socks (joking, just joking, really not even around the yard)

Thank god I am done.

Say hello to the new kid in town...........

First the good news.........



Deciding it was time to do some knitting for my daughter I took away some Knitpicks Sock Yarn on our camping trip. The plan: some 1x1 rib knee high tube socks. She is 3 years old and heels aren't very practical at this point, she grows too fast, this way she will get the whole winter out of them (ask me how I figured this one out? lets just say I may have experience in this from last winter). I had this knitpicks yarn that I knew I would never knit up for myself because the colours are on the garish side but it is perfect for a small child. And no I don't think I save my crap yarn for my kids projects, god maybe I do, bad mummy! Anyway she is loving them even if they do make me wince a little. I want to love knitpicks I really do. I mean I love the price. I love the concept of the company. But the yarn, while the quality is good sometimes (and dodgy others), the colours are just, just, well just a little trashy. Believe me I like trashy as much as the next person, in fact it may be said even more, but not in yarn colours. But I am being a little hard, some of their colours are good, it is just many aren't. I think I have a bit of bad attitude about this due to a sweater that went wrong once it was cleaned, so very, very wrong and well since then I have never felt the same. So anyway this sock yarn, it feels a little stringy and not so much fun to knit with but it will work. Cheap (and nasty; damn be nice)





Now don't look away, don't cover your eyes, let this be a warning to all who think it can't happen to them:


I am out of yarn

Really, really out of yarn. Like there is no more.

I don't know what I am going to do. I know what I am not going to do. I am not going to frog these. I have never, never run out of Socks that Rock yarn, never. This is unbelievable. I am not even close. I just kept thinking by some freakish occurrence it would make it, even when I could see it wouldn't. I can't even begin to face this at this moment. The socks are now in the naughty chair.

My current solution is to just do this when anyone wants to see the socks:

I think I am fooling them.

Project Update

As promised my projects update..........

I decided it was time to cast on for a new project. I have many sweaters (and socks) promised before winter, not the least for my wardrobe so since it is now the end of summer I knew I should start. I have had my eye on a modified version of Banff that is on the Blue Blog. I need a good basic warm jumper and love raglans so it seems like a good match. Not even considering doing it in the flat when it is so obviously suited for in the round I pulled out my trusty EZ. I am knitting it as a bottom up raglan. It has been a delight to knit. I love this yarn. It is Green Mountain Spinnery Mountain Mohair. It wasn't to gauge but it was easy math to rework it. It is a mohair/wool blend and a favourite of mine. It is just the best yarn around for felting. Anyway I am loving the simplicity of the pattern and just doing some basic knitting. I took this away with me to Central and finished both sleeves. I am now working on the body. So fast. Sometimes I just love all knit.

I have also been spending a lot of time with my socks (notice the plural, I have cast on for #2) and we are getting there. Once I turn the heel it goes much, much faster as only the top of the foot is in pattern. It is now my travelling, sitting at libraries, fill in a odd moment out and about project.

Yesterday we dug up our potatoes for winter. We ended up with 2 large sackfuls and are now salivating over what they will become; potato salad, potato soup, steamed potatoes with olive oil and fresh herbs, potato gnocchi, mashed potatoes with lentil stew, oven fries, aloo gobi, potato pierogies, samosas.................

Lastly I have joined a KAL for the Stefanie Japel's Cable Down Raglan. I love the look of this sweater. I love this designer. One skein wonder is possibly my favourite pattern of all time, I have made it 4 times and could easily make it again. I love how quick it is, how easy it is to memorise, the rhythm of the increases, it feels like a song. Ahhh the choice of yarn... This sweater has to come from the stash but nothing seems quite right. I will have to sit myself down and give myself a good talking to. The stash is too big, the stash must become smaller, I am stronger than the stash, it is all good yarn, lovely stuff otherwise I wouldn't have bought it, it doesn't matter that I had other plans for it....................

Honey have I let myself go?

I am mad, steaming mad.

I just came back from the mechanics and after spending way, way too much for having a tow bar put on it seems I still have be treated like a "pretty, empty headed little girl" by a patronising old fuck. Now I don't know squat about cars, don't ever want to but that has nothing to do with being a woman. My partner possibly knows even less than I do about cars and he is most definitely a man. Apparently that does not matter, just having a penis between your legs entitles you to some level of respect at this mechanic. And I thought that is why I pay a mechanic, I don't know anything about brain surgery and yet it wouldn't make me stupid to use a brain surgeon right?

Still we have come a long way; let me tell you a story.

I was at local auction (we buy and sell "stuff" for part of our living) and to my surprise the bloke who shows the things for the Auctioneer (you know like Ivana) holds up this kinda cool looking retro bag and says "bag filled with old knitting books" and well my head swung around so fast I made the smelly, smoky woman next to me jump. And then before I know it I am bidding on it and it is mine for $7. Sight unseen. It was filled with lots of different mags and patterns. None newer than about 1980.

I now have a complete collection of Golden Hands, a gem for crafts that have been forgotten. Macrame anyone?

Good for lace shawl patterns - yes?

And - then - I came across this magazine from 1958,

and this wonderful article.

Apparently I have not been a good wife. I have allowed my husband to see me without lipstick. I wonder - does lip balm count? Not only do I not jump out of bed each morning before him so I can get myself presentable and pretty, and this kills me to say, but I won't get out of bed until I am sure he has coffee waiting for me.

I quote "I once asked a very successful business man what part his wife had played in encouraging him. "She never came down to get breakfast - even after the babies started to arrive - looking anything but pretty", he said promptly and proudly. The article goes on to tell me how I must leap out of bed in the morning before hubby wakes and sees how truly hideous I am and do an entire beauty routine as well as making sure I change into a "trim blouse and skirt or slacks". Now if the children's needs are not too demanding I should sit down to breakfast with hubby because "that is the way he thought it would be -the prettiest girl in the world facing him over the table". Then I must walk him to the door and kiss him even though I will get lipstick all over him. But he will be secretly thrilled that I have taken the time to put lipstick on (and this is the best part) because it shows I care. (Forget about that committed life partner stuff silly, it is all about the lippy.) Did I mention this is in a KNITTING magazine. Pass the Valium.

Check out the sock.

Bet you couldn't do this Mr Asshole Mechanic, bet you couldn't even if you did want to. Making these socks - that is easily as cool and difficult as putting on a dumb tow bar anyway. And you know what else Mr Asshole Mechanic if you came to a Stitch n' Bitch and asked to learn how to make these socks we would be nice and helpful to you because knitters aren't like you, we are good.

The Wild South

We have returned from our time down in the Catlins. It is a coastal forest park about 120kms south of Dunedin that is remote, beautiful and wild. It is dubbed the Wild South by kiwis and it is well worth a visit. For all of you that are still on the fence about whether New Zealand is a country worthy of a trip I hope this photo essay will help convince you. This part of New Zealand can be cold and the weather is unpredictable but there is no denying it's natural beauty. Keep in mind it is the middle of our summer and the peak of tourist season and it was cool and empty. (We have some wonderful beaches and lots of warm sunshine in our "sunny north" in case you were wondering). The local tramping (hiking) is worth it alone. The many wild animal and bird sightings are icing on the cake.

Our "local" bay at low tide. A wonderful kid's playground. This area is protected by a breakwater.

Relaxing at the end of a hard day.

A nearby bush walk.

The other side of the breakwater. A little rougher!

Yep local wildlife. We were happy to share the beach.

We took a walk over a local farmer's property to view Jack's Blowhole. It was about 30 minutes each way. There is no other way to view it and that seems to make it all the more special.

Jack's Blowhole : 55 metres deep, 144 metres long, 68 metres wide and get this - 200 metres inland. At the bottom of this blowhole is the ocean, right there, right in the middle of a sheep paddock, with a little fence to stop the silly sheep falling in. Very cool.

As for the sock and I, well getting away was just what we needed. I could see that I had been hard on it and well it could see why some days were a little rougher than others. We spent a lot of time together and that was good. I now see the lace scarf was warming me up for the sock. I didn't know I was alive with the scarf. If you really want to see something move s-l-o-w-l-y try this sock. We (as in "sock" and I, we are now one) are ready to turn the heel, I am very excited, somehow that makes me a dork in non-knitting company, if only they knew.