Saturday, July 7, 2007

Roza's Socks: Part Three



Part One:

Quick-knit a guage swatch with size0. Gauge was too small, so I went with a size1. Sock1 finished, only to find out circulation to my wee-wittle toes was non-existent. Are ankles really supposed to bend? How much circulation is truly needed for the top of a stupid foot anyway?


Part Two:

Screw the guage swatch, I will just knit with size 2. It can not be that far off, right? Mail ordered Inox 6" in size2. Waited a week-10days for delivery to Alaska, and started knitting like mad only to find out that Inox and wool go together like teeth and steel wool.


now that brings us to... Part Three:

I ordered my tried and true SB in size1, size2, and size3. SB only come in sets of four, so I had to order two sets of each. Dropped a whopping $14.95 for all. I better be knitting socks for the rest of my life for what this has cost me in needles, time, and effort. Another week-10days later, I am jumping right in. Liar! Liar! Panties on FIRE! I made gauge swatches for each size needle. The required gauge is 33sts and 46 rnds = 4" in Stst. Well, I am "Stst" away on the round to find the size1 gives me a 41 sts and a 62 rnd. So I try the size2. That gives me a 35 sts and a 50 rnd. Can it possible be that I need a size3 needle for a size0 pattern? Can my knitting be that horribly off? The pattern calls for a Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock and I am using a Cherry Tree Hill superwash sock. Is there really that much difference, or am I just a really horrible knitter? (Don't respond to that, I can't take the abuse right now). Gauge on the size3 revealed a 32 sts with a 45/46 rnd. It isnt that horribly off the 33sts/46rnds. I have the cuff and breaking into the meat of the sock and it looks so loose compared to the first one. The sole was so fine and dainty on the first one and my gauge swatch more resembled lace than the sole of a foot.


Anyway, I am dedicating a week of work to this sock. If this sock doesn't come out, I am ditching the entire pattern and selecting a new one. My first pair came out so beautifully. What is up?

Knitting and Fishing in Homer, Alaska

Qivuit hat is almost done. Still need to sew in the ends and block. Cast off: July 3, 2007

I initially cast off a day before the Halibut charter we took all the kids on for DH (darling Husband) and 2nd oldest. They share the same birthday. As I pulled out the last dpn and snugged up the top, I looked down and thought to myself. Gee, 6 inches seems like a very short hat. And sure enough, it was. Too short. More like a yamika, and less like a nice, warm, super soft hat. So, a day after the 14 hour drive home from fishing, I frogged the decreases and added another two inches. Now it is long enough to cover both my forehead and ears.

The Qivuit experience: glamourous and enjoyable. All other fibers feel like steel wool. It will take some getting used to going back to my ewe-y wool; but a girls gotta do, what a girls gotta do!


What's for dinner?


Halibut chowder, halibut olympia, blackened halibut tacos, deep-fried Alaskan Amber battered halibut, grilled halibut, baked halibut, oh... the list goes on.


126 lbs of Halibut for the freezer. This should last us a couple years.