The Post I Never Wanted To Make…

It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you, my friends, of my dad’s death on Saturday, August 4, 2007 in Statesboro, Georgia. He was a healthy man, so it was very unexpected. They think that he probably had an abdominal aortic aneurysm that dissected, or burst, and he bled out internally into his abdomen. Other than some mild pain he’d been having over the previous 24 hours, he suffered very briefly, probably less than an hour. He has said many times that he did not wish to suffer for a long time when it was time for him to go, and he didn’t. My dad is from a very long-living family. Both of his parents were in their 80’s when they passed away, and he left behind a brother who is 82 now, as well as four other siblings. He was next to the youngest, at 67 years old. I thought my dad would be around for years to come, and I am still in shock. I’ve lost my dad just weeks before my own birthday of August 16th.

My dad loved to make people laugh, and didn’t have a mean bone in his body. He would do anything he could for anyone. He was kind and gentle, loved animals, loved life, and loved his family. He was a true gentleman - a gentle man.

His funeral was yesterday, August 7, 2007 in Nashville, Georgia, where he lived for the last three years of his life. The funeral was full of tears and laughter, and great honor to my father. He had a military funeral, with the flag ceremony and presentation of arms. I am quite sure he felt very honored.

I don’t know how I’m going to manage without Dad. He was my best friend, my confidante, and my strength. He was my hero! And I still cannot believe that that great man is gone. But to honor him, I will go on, and I will do my best to make him proud.

Dad, if you can hear me, I love you so much! Please help me stay strong…

Edit:
If anyone wishes to contact me directly, my e-mail address is cveale AT mchsi DOT com. Replace AT with @ and DOT with a period.

Beginning of Icarus Shawl is Frogged.

I ripped it out. I think the Lane Borgosesia Cashwool is just way to thin. It’s definitely too thin for my first lace project! I would like to save up for a skein or two of some yummy Hand Maiden Sea Silk (from The Loopy Ewe, of course), and try again. I know the Yarn Harlot says lace looks like arse until it’s blocked, but mine looked worse than arse. More like dog poo. And I couldn’t imagine the torture of knitting for months on something that looks like dog poo, finally get it blocked, and find out it still looks like dog poo! So off the needles it came. More soon!

Loopy Ewe Sock Club Socks

I got my Summerfield socks finished, and I must say, I really like them! When I got the yarn and pattern, I LOVED the yarn, but wasn’t so sure about the pattern. I guess it just doesn’t photograph well, because I really like them “in person”. The yarn is soft and springy, with a nice touch of sheen to it. The socks fit fantastically too! As far as I can recall, I followed the pattern, with no modifications, other than knitting on two circulars rather than DPNs.

Hand-knitted socks are the best. Having said that, I DO want to broaden my horizons a bit, and knit a sweater as well as a lace project. I have started a lace project, but it hasn’t gotten far yet. I’m attempting to knit the Icarus shawl, using Lane Borgosesia Cashwool in Cocoa, from The Loopy Ewe. Am I in way over my head, for a first lace project? Probably. Don’t spoil if for me though, by telling me! If you’ve never been to The Loopy Ewe, Sheri is the greatest. She’s got the best customer service around! She has the sock yarn, of course, but she also has lace yarn now! Plus patterns, accessories of all sorts, needles, knitting bags, even gift certificates, all at great prices. I urge you to stop by The Loopy Ewe if you haven’t before.

Now on the needles, and already almost half finished, is Rainy Day Socks from HeartStrings FiberArts. It’s an easy, fun pattern, quick to memorize, and the results are very nice, I think. I’m knitting them in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in the Devon colorway. Is this stuff yumalicious, or what?? Here’s what they look like so far…

Next up, finished Rainy Day Socks, and probably Rockin’ Sock Club Socks on the needles!

Sock Club Socks?? Not yet…

So I said I was going to be knitting sock club socks next. I did start them, my first toe-up pair of socks. I got to the ankle, and had a real struggle with the cable, which is worked across eleven stitches. I got so frustrated, and then… Well, then I got more yarn in the mail from The Loopy Ewe, the BEST place on earth to buy sock yarn, and now the best place to buy lace yarn! In that package was some Crystal Palace Panda Cotton in Royal Purple, the color my mom chose for a pair of socks. I was really interested to try this yarn, since I live in south Georgia, and wool is kind of warm in the summer (I wear it anyway). I had my mom pick a pattern, and she chose Country Girl Socks from HeartStrings. The pattern recommends size 1 needles, so that’s what I started with, but they were knitting up too big for my mom’s very petite size 5.5 feet. So I frogged them and started over with size 0 needles, and that looked like it would fix the problem. So I knitted. And knitted. And knitted. Knitting goes reeeeaaallllyyy slow on size 0 needles! But I finally completed them, and I think they turned out well. Here, have a looksee for yourself…

What do you think?? Not bad?

This yarn wasn’t the easiest to knit with. I found it to be extremely splitty. Maybe it’s because of my tension. I try my darndest to break my needles in half, I pull my yarn so tight. I’m trying to break myself (no pun intended) of this habit, but it’s slow going. It just seemed like the yarn just separated into separate strings very easily, but I’ve got some more, and I’m going to give it another chance.

So, I was getting close to the end of these socks, and what do I get in the mail?? My second Rockin’ Sock Club kit! One look at the yarn, and I had to knit it. The colors are luscious, and it has silk in it! SILK, people! It’s 81% Merino and 19% Tussah silk. Dreamy, to say the least! These are toe-up socks, and I’m fast approaching the heel. Right about the time I get these finished, I should get my sock club kit from The Loopy Ewe! I will finish my first Rockin’ Sock Club kit, but it might have to wait for a bit longer. =)

Words Do Not Convey…

My condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by the tragedy at Virginia Tech, but especially to the victims’ families and Cho Seung-Hui’s family. My heart aches for each and every one of you.

Dragon Socks Are Off The Needles!

…and have been since March 16. It’s just taken me forever to get them photographed and PhotoShop’d. I have to say, I LOVE this Merino/Tencel blend! It’s soft and squishy, and knits up so nicely!

The yarn is Yarn Pirate 50/50 Merino Tencel fingering weight in the Earth and Ocean colorway. I used the Here There Be Dragons pattern from the Keyboard Biologist. The pattern was a fun and easy knit. I didn’t knit the heel as the pattern dictated because when I started on the heel, I was out somewhere, and didn’t have the full pattern with me. NOT knitting was NOT an option, so the sock got an Eye of Partridge heel flap. I did manage to knit the toe as described in the pattern…

I used size 1 US Addi Turbos with the two socks on two circulars method.

Next up, my Rockin’ Sock Club socks!

Another Pair Completed

Whew! This pattern was really a challenge for me, for some reason. I kept trying to add in extra yarn overs, but I kept at it, and I prevailed!

I really like how the pattern broke up the borders between the colors, yet you can still see that they literally swirl around my ankles!

In this picture, you can see how the colors actually swirl perfectly from one sock to the next as well. I didn’t plan this, it just happened.

I used Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl, purchased from the wonderful The Loopy Ewe. I also got the Rococo pattern there as well. I started out on size US 0, 24″ Addi Turbo circulars, using the 2 socks/2 circs method. After the cuff, I switched to size 1’s, because I didn’t like how tightly the fabric was knitting up. It felt a little too stiff. The only modifications I made to the pattern were to use an Eye of Partridge heel flap and then I used a star toe (I think that’s what it’s called). I’m wearing them now, and I’m loving them!

Next up, we have socks knitted with Yarn Pirate Merino/Tencel (YUM!!) in the Earth and Ocean colorway, purchased from none other than The Loopy Ewe! I’m using the Here There Be Dragons pattern from the Keyboard Biologist. As always, I will have an update with pics once the socks are complete.

Monkey Socks Are Worth Aping Around For!

I finished my monkey socks last weekend, and they’re finally washed, blocked and dry. I must say, I love ‘em! I used Yarn Pirate yarn in Brownsugar, and I love the way the colors knitted up! They’re so interesting, but you can still clearly see the textures of the pattern. See that flower in the picture above? That’s in my yard, right now! Can you believe it? Sure this is south Georgia, but it’s JANUARY! Amazing!

I knitted mine on #2 US circular needles (2 socks on 2 circs). I added one pattern repeat to the leg so they’d be a little longer, and fit a little better, but I must say, these socks even look good when they slouch down on my ankles! I also knit an eye of partridge heel flap, because I just love the look of it.

They were a pretty easy knit, but took me awhile since I’m a slow knitter. All in all, about three weeks.

Next up, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl, in the Rococo pattern by Wildhorse Farm Designs. I got both the pattern and the yarn from my all-time favorite place, The Loopy Ewe! Sheri is fantastic, and offers out-of-this-world customer service. As always, I’ll have pics for you once the socks are complete. Y’all have a wonderful weekend!

Embossed Leaves Socks… Finished!

The Embossed Leaves Socks from Winter 2005 Interweave Knits were really fun to knit! I loved seeing the leaf shaping as I progressed. I finished them on 12/31/2006, and presented them to their new owner on 01/02/2006, and she loved them! Here they are on a tree in front of my house…

And here they are on a tree in front of my house…

They were knitted on 2 size 2 Addi Turbo 24″ circular needles, using the 2 socks on 2 circs method. I used Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock yarn in nearly solid Chocolate. The only change I made was to use an Eye of Partridge heel flap. I love how they came out! I’ll definitely be using this pattern again.

Word to the Wise…

I have a little story for you. A knitter girl once took some yarn to the post office to send it to Sheri, the very sweet lady at The Loopy Ewe to exchange it for a different yarn. At the post office, she asked the postal worker behind the counter which size Priority Mail box would be the best to hold the precious yarn, and the postal worker told her the smallest on the wall over yonder would do. So the knitter girl peeled off the backing on the self-stick parts of the box, assembled the box, inserted the yarn, a check and a nice letter to Sheri, and then sealed the box up as best she could. She then took the box to the postal worker who charged her $4.05, and threw the box into a bin of stuff to be sorted and sent out. Ten days later, the knitter girl was VERY surprised to get a Priority Mail envelope in the mail with several things enclosed. The check to Sheri, JUST the front of the box she sent to Sheri, and a nice form to fill out in case anything was missing. You’ve got it, boys and girls! The postal service lost the knitter girl’s two skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in the oh so lovely Black Purl colorway, that she was trying to exchange for the same colorway, just in Shepherd Sock! So somewhere between my home in south Georgia and The Loopy Ewe’s home in Missouri, my yarn is lost, feeling cold, alone and abandoned! I am SO PISSED! I’m generally an easy-going person… Very much so, in fact. But DON’T EFFING MESS WITH MY YARN!!! On the nice little form they sent me to fill out, the US Postal Service politely says that using appropriate packaging helps keep this kind of thing from happening. I would like to point out to the Postal Service that obviously their own boxes are not appropriate, since THAT’S WHAT I WAS USING! I think it might be time for the US Postal Service to get it’s collective feces amalgamated, and improve the sticky stuff on their boxes. Thank you! *steps off of soap box*