The Comfort Zone

Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do.”  It follows that I am Lavalette!

I can hardly believe it myself but this is really my fifth Lavalette!  There are definitely more Lavalettes in my future but right now I am getting knitting comfort from Lady Bertram by Wendy D. Johnson using my new Socks That Rock yarn in the “New Color of Love” colorway. 

The pattern is straight stockinette for the first 64 rows and I am starting to be bored with it.  The good news is that I don’t have many more rows before starting the lace section.  It’s a simple project that is looking really good in the bright green.  I want to finish in time to wear it for St. Patrick’s day but I don’t know if that is realistic. 

Work is dragging me down right now–bunch of tax forms piled up to review–bunch of corporate returns to finalize and walk-ins, walk-ins always walk-ins.  I decided to be a nicer person tomorrow but it’s hard.  I think it is a control issue!  It is s-o-o-o-o out of control and I want to manage the unmanageable.  I’m sure Aristotle had a quote for this too but I don’t know what it is.   Mom, however, always said, “Don’t over-row the boat!”  Good advice. 

Talk about pleasant things–I found this sock pattern on Dream Weavers and immediately ordered another Blue Moon Fiber Arts Spirit color  called Jengu with the essence of blue.  I’ll use a blue velvet ribbon at the ankle.  Wish I had nicer ankles but I’ll wear them anyway because they are so pretty.  

Life is good fat ankles , walk-ins and all!
 

Why do you knit socks?  Is it because they are pretty, fun to knit, quick, or is it because they are warm and comfortable.  My reason is the fit followed a close second by warmth and comfort and the fun of a quick knit with luscious yarn.  All great reasons but fit is definitely the most important thing!

Store-bought socks never fit my long, thin foot.  My Dad always said I would be four inches taller if I didn’t have so much turned under for feet.  Since I was already 5′ 10″ I figured I didn’t need any more “up” so I was thankful for the “under.”  Socks were a problem though.  The largest women’s socks were never long enough for the heel to fit properly and always too wide.  I wore a lot of tube socks.

The first pair of socks I knit were apparently made for the local ogre and they didn’t even fit him very well.  After two or three pairs I hit on a formula that looked a little strange, l-o-o-o-o-n-g in the foot and sharp at the toe.  That was the “a-ha” moment–that paradigm shift that made me realize why I continue to knit socks.  So they will fit!

The formula goes like this:
Cast on 60 stitches to give me the width I need for my thicker ankles.
Knit a 2 inch heel flap for the depth I need for my heel.
After the gusset, reduce stitches on each needle to 14 for the instep.
After knitting another inch reduce stitch count again to 13 for a more narrow foot.
Knit a super tapered toe and bind off.

Voila, the perfect sock–for me!  You too can knit the perfect sock–for you!  I recommend to new sock knitters that they experiment with leg length, heel construction, stitch count in the foot and various toe finishes.  Find the styles that fit your foot and be happier with the FO every time.

Today’s eye candy is my new yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts.  The color is called “The New Color of Love.”  It is not nearly as emerald green as their pictures but is still a great green for a St. Patrick’s knit project like Lady Bertram shawl.  I ordered for socks but this yarn is speaking “shawl” to me.

I love it when my yarn talks to me!

Grace of Lovin Comfort Knits passed on a sweet award last week and I was one of the happy recipients.  I am to pass it on to two more knitters and give a list of seven things about myself that you may or may not know.  I lovingly share the award with

 
Kathyb of Irisheyes Knitting and
Marti of It’s Just Life

 
And so…
1. I have never been the slightest bit tempted to spin or dye yarn.  There are so many  wonderful yarns out there I haven’t tried that I just don’t have the time or desire to  create my own.
2. I will NEVER knit socks toe up!  I’ve tried and they just don’t fit my feet/legs the way  top down socks fit. 
3. I knit in the office, on the phone (I have a headset), in the car, in bed, at GK’s sports  games, with TV, with music, with audio books and pretty much anywhere you can  think of.  (Yes, occasionally there too). DH has asked me not to knit at the dinner  table.
4.   I never crochet!!  It hurts my hands and I can’t think of a reason to do something that  hurts.  Come to think of it–I would still knit even if it hurt!
5. I have a passion for crossword puzzles and do at least two a day, knitting while I think  about clues.

6. I love designing knit projects but confess I am not very good at it.  I think I have the  sock thing down but shawls escape me and I would really love to design shawls! 
7. I have never before been given a blogging award and am sooooo honored.   Thanks Grace!!

Diamonds on My Ankles sock pattern is finished and will be added to the pattern section of this blog next week.  I am tweaking the chart for the last time and will be done, done, done.  Please check back for it and enjoy!

Life is good.

Between two shawls we stopped to introduce our Comfort Zone Ravelry group.  A place to talk about pros and (gasp!) cons of the needles, who is knitting what with CZs and tips and tricks.  Hope you will join in the fun and visit Comfort Zone Group on Ravelry!

Between two shawls I was struck with the intense need to knit a hat.  That happens to me sometimes!  While watching recorded Young and the Restless shows over the weekend I fell in love with the slouchy hats that Lily wears (a chemo patient in the story line), especially a grey hat.  I realized that I have yarn the same color in stash and immediately started the hat.  It has been great office knitting for the last few days– straight knitting without any crown shaping.  I’ve worn it twice and it is destined to be one of my favorites.

The first shawl I’m working on is Hamamelis and it calls for counting and attention to chart.  Is it rude to not listen to people who talk to you when you are counting?   I admit that when I’m counting or chart reading I pretend to listen to people who are talking to me.  How bad is that?  DH is on to me though and often says,  “I’ll wait until you finish counting.”  Other people (I think) don’t catch on.  Or do they?  After all, I am so brilliantly cunning that I can appear to be listening to every word.  Then again, maybe not!

The second shawl is another Lavalette–my fifth! DD asked, “Mom, how many more of those are you going to make?”  My answer was, “As many as it takes.”

Do you know what caused this mess?

This!

Life is good!

DH is one of the most romantic men in the world all year.  On Valentine’s Day he turns to mush.  We are childhood sweethearts and have spent many Valentine’s Days together.  In all that time there have been many loving, sweet and memorable gifts.  This year is no exception.   There were wonderful flowers, chocolates, a card and then….

DH:  “What is that fish bowl yarn you like so much?”
Me:  “Fish bowl.  Fish bowl.  Ummmmm do you mean Lobster Pot?”
DH:  “That’s it!  Why don’t you order some of that for Valentine’s Day.”

He didn’t have to ask me twice.  Even if he got the name wrong the sentiment was there and now–so is the yarn!  For years I have wanted to knit with Lobster Pot Cashmere in the Drawn Butter colorway.

I restrained myself and ordered one skein (400 yards) for Kirsten Kapur’s new Hamamelis Shawl.  It is every bit as wonderful as I thought it would be.  I can’t wait to knit with it and wear the shawl!

Once again DH proves to be as loving and attentive as he was that first Valentine’s Day so many years ago.  I can’t be too upset about him suggesting that I should also order some new pajamas because the ones I wear are disreputable and I clearly need them.  Hey those  P. J.s are comfortable!  What kind of remark is that?

Love goes on!