I so enjoyed making my Boyfriendly socks that I started to make myself a pair, as well. I’m using the Temperance pattern, slightly modified, and I really like the way it’s coming out. I will post pictures presently, but all of my sock knitting has made me think that maybe I want to try to make socks for my close friends for Christmas. The difficulties:

• I am lazy
• Christmas is like 50-something days away
• …

Really, that’s it, but isn’t that enough? I’d have to make 7 pairs of socks (at least, I’m still putting together the list). I don’t know if I’m up to this. I have a bunch of friends with winter birthdays, so maybe I’ll save theirs for their birthdays in January and February. This could work…

So I made the boy a pair of socks for being an all-around good sport (plus, he bought me a boatload of expensive yarn, and who doesn’t love a generous guy)? I didn’t use a pattern, because boy socks don’t have to be that fancy, so it’s just a simple toe-up 4×2 and 3×2 rib. I started them two at a time on the same needle, and then remembered how much I hate that, so separated them. I did short row heels using Priscilla Gibson-Roberts’ method (pdf), which I really liked.

I had such a good time making these socks that I decided to make a pair of socks for myself. They’re purple and adorable. Will post photos when finished.

It is, in fact, a sweater. Here is my dirty red sweater of guilt (guilt, because I should be finishing those socks). Please note the totally awesome cables that I am doing without cable needles (thanks to Grumperina, who rocks, although I won the most darling set at the LYS holiday swap).

I’ve decided that it’s not procrastination if you’re knitting something else while avoiding the original item.

Up with cables!

Down with boring patterns!

Down with excessive striping!

I got off to a good start with the Baby Chalice Blanket for my friend, and made pretty steady progress in the weeks leading up to her baby shower. Then a crazy, act-of-god-type thing happened that derailed me for a bit, and meant that I didn’t finish the blanket until approximately two hours before the shower!! Luckily, it came out okay (Figure A), but obviously I wasn’t going to give it to my friend unblocked. I wrapped it, and let her cuddle it at the baby shower, before whisking it away with me to be blocked and prettified.

Figure A - Unblocked and bunched

Then, I was so proud of myself for having finished and blocked it that I basically sat on it for weeks. Then, when I was ready to send it, I caught the cold from hell, and I was laid up for the better part of two weeks. I actually wanted to knit then, but was so gross that the thought of knitting anything was disgusting to me; I didn’t want for me or anybody else to come into contact with my sickness germs, and I knew that no amount of washing would ever make me feel good about anything I’d knit during this time. So then I was feeling better and finally sent the blanket to be blocked, which took longer than I was given to expect (I am not the only procrastiknitter I know).

Figure B - Blocked, but on a desk & wrapping paper

Finally, it was all done (Figure B), but I’d started a pair of booties at the meeting of my knitting group, and decided to throw them in the box, as well. So of course, there was nothing to do but to finish the booties and then block them (Figure C). Then I got delayed by the storm from hell, but I finally, FINALLY mailed the package out today. I thought that I was going to be in time for the baby’s due date, but it turns out that Baby A’s sense of time is very much like my own, and he is actually several days overdue. Ooops! It looks like my blanket is going to be arriving pretty much the same time he does, since my friend was induced today.

Figure C

My Angeeeee! socks are all finished, and I love them. They’re super cute and they’re warm; what else could I ask for in a pair of socks? I got the next Rockin Sock Club pattern, Knetting (although on my sheet it says Knetted) on Saturday, just in time for it to be my new project. I’m getting started on that now. Yay for progress!

A couple of days ago I wondered if I would notice a difference in using my Addi Turbo needles after having used the Addi Lace needles. The answer is YES. After having used the Lace needles, I find the Turbos dull and stupid. I feel like I’m dropping more stitches, because the needles aren’t as good at snagging them. Then, because I only have one circ in 2.25 mm, I switched to dpns. Oh my goodness, it was awful. I now hate dpns, and I don’t know how I could have used them for so long. So I think that, from here on out, my sockmaking will be done on circular needles, and those needles will be Lace, if I can help it.

I’m up to the heel on my Angeeeee! socks right now. I haven’t made a real heel in a while (I usually do short row heels), but I thought I’d follow the pattern and make the heel suggested in it. So far, no problems. I guess I’ll just have to be careful when picking up stitches for the gusset. Back to watching The 4400 and knitting…

My Angeeeee! socks are coming out pretty well. I like this pattern. It’s pretty and looks great with this yarn, but it’s easy enough that I can watch dvds while knitting. I’m really enjoying The 4400 so far. I’m up to the second episode of season 2. I actually switch to 2.25 mm needles, because I hear that these socks come out pretty stretchy, and I’d like for them to fit well. I’m back to regular Addi Turbo needles. I have to see if I end up noticing a difference in experience between these and the Addi Lace needles I bought the other day.

Angeeeeees in process