WIP Wednesday – Missing in Action

Well, I wish I could tell you I’ve been off on some adventure that’s kept me from my knitting. I could make something up. The truth, it’s just an ordinary slump, and the distractions of a hundred tiny details. Like my Mother is moving here this Summer. I did organize and sell a quantity of stash last week. Filed our taxes. And just need one more piece of info to finish my Mom’s taxes. Yes, I know.

But, I have a few little things on the needles, and some mods to a sock heel that I’ll share in another post. Maybe later today.

Saturday, I head to Seattle and am staying ‘til the end of the month with my three nephews while my sister is in China. Very exciting for her, and a great chance for me to spend a lot of time with the boys who seem to grow up too quickly when I only get to see them once a year. I’ll be able to work from there, and of course Knitters and Spinners, I’ve got to figure out what to take with me.

Now fortunately, Seattle has something like a half-dozen LYSs, so I’m not too worried about the odd needle size or notion. Hmm, what projects to take? I’ve got socks and mitts underway, so they are easy. But I want to take one big project along that’s not too complicated so I can knit it with distractions, so no lace. I liked Margene’s Scoop du Jour, and have been thinking about the Central Park Hoodless (like Ann’s), and have a sweater’s worth of Mountain Colors 4/8’s in the stash. And I’m taking my sadly neglected spinning wheel since I’ll have free time while the guys are at school and there’s a big spin-in at Weaving Works next weekend.

But now, the real reason you are here, the Knitting, what there is of it.

Ripped and Frogged:
This week the dear departed get their own category. That says a lot.

Reversai Socks - RIP:
Sock Madness 2, Round 2. This is an interesting, gansey-ish patterned, completely reversible sock with a garter stitch short-row heel and sole. But all that purling did me in.


Love the yarn, it’s Black Bunny Fibers superwash merino sock, mmmmm

With the distractions of having Mom here to look at the rent house, I was a day behind, had made it past the heel, and was a bit down the foot on Sock #1. There were 15 of 20 spots filled in my division, and my arm and hand hurt. It’s possible I could have finished in time, but I figured it was better to spare the arm and let my spot go to someone who could really enjoy competing in Round 3.

Monkey Socks, Because Kate Said So – RIP:
This was what, the third go at knitting a sock with this yarn? Stubborn much? I love the colors. But the STR is so dense I just must knit it at a looser gauge or it is no fun at all for me. The pretty pale turquoise BBF will make some nice Monkey Socks.


At least I figured it out before I got very far along!

A Sweater that shall not even be named:
Cast on and knit about an inch, twice, for a top-down raglan and decided to destash the yarn instead of knitting the sweater.


It’s Classic Elite Wool BamBoo in a gorgeous medium steely blue that I just love, but just cannot get a gauge I like since I’m such a loose knitter. I love the fabric when this yarn is knit firmly, but do not see an entire sweater on US3’s at the moment.


WIP’s in Active Rotation:

Charade Socks:
To cleanse the palate, I started yet another sock with the STR and this time we have a winner. The Charade Sock, by Sandra Park. It’s simple, fast, easy, looks great, and doesn’t hurt my arm.


Love the subtle variegation with the herringbone rib!

Since I want to get every bit of leg length I can out of the STR, I’m knitting toe-up. I fiddled a short-row heel with a mini-gusset and slip stitch flap. It looks odd off the foot, but it worked perfectly and fits, so you’ll get details in a separate post.


I’m nearly done with the Secret Project.


Startitis Alert:

I’ll take some easy fun spinning projects with me to Seattle. I am all about the easy and fun these days, aren’t I? And maybe start that easy fun sweater. And write up a pattern for the easy fun cabled fingerless mitts. That’s probably enough to keep me busy for two and a half weeks!