Socks: The beginning

For whatever bizarre reason, I seem to be incapable of knitting during the summer months. Of course, it could be that this past summer was filled with getting married, moving and home remodeling on top of the "normal" craziness of work. Now that there is definitely a nip in the air, I have this urge to start knitting again. Maybe it helps keep my hands warm or it's simply an ingrained memory of the frantic amount of knitting that started as cold weather season came about and mom had orders to fill.

I've successfully made mittens, gloves and scarfs. I've attempted to make arm warmers that have so far turned out to be too big or too small. This is when I learned all about gauge and why it is Important. I debated making yet another set of arm warmers but couldn't find a pattern that I really liked and don't yet trust my own abilities. So, when I pulled out the sock yarn that I had intended to use as arm warmers, I decided it was past time for me to learn how to knit socks. 

The yarn came with a handy pattern on the inside of the label. So far, I've only had to restart.....several times. At first I decided to be clever and use the internet for a pattern but they weren't helpful for the supplies (and gauge) I had. My husband happens to own a set of 4 size 2 double pointed needles, which is the size I decided I am going to work in as my double pointed needles that I can find are much larger. At first I attempted to find a pattern that would work with the yarn and the needles I had but I eventually gave in and am using the pattern on the yarn. It just so happens that the needles allow for the right gauge size for the sock. This trying different patterns has meant quite a bit of restarting.

The other main reason I've had to restart is because of the needles. I don't have caps for them and they are metal. The stitches have kept slipping off! I'm hoping that by gingerly carrying them with me, that they will decide to stay on the needles so I don't have to restart. 

Another issue I'm having is the yarn. I've had this yarn for...too many years. Four years? Something like that. Good intentions and all that. I had some wool moths a while back and while it appears that this yarn is okay, I'm paranoid as I keep finding little breaks in it. Of course, it's 4-ply, light-weight yarn which probably has just as much to do with it. 

These socks will certainly have character. I simply have to finish both of them first. Right now, I should focus on getting past the cuff of the first one.

Introduction

With all the various things I seem to make in various different mediums, I want to be able to share and document them. Blame it on having a background in theatre, where a good designer always documents the process and final design, or perhaps blame it on this irresistible urge to join others, friends and foes, in sharing what it is that I do.

I don't honestly remember the first thing I ever made. I'm not referring to school arts and crafts projects but home made for the sake of making it. That's probably the side-effect of having a mom who is really, really into fiber arts (she had her own business at one point). When I was much younger, I remember spending time at a very cool shop, which sadly probably no longer exists, and drooling over pretty beads and running my fingers through the soft and colorful yarns. At this some shop, mom signed my sister and I up for jewelry making classes while she was taking her various wool-related classes. At some point, mom decided to teach me how to make yarn with her spinning wheel. I was in about 6th grade, which I distinctly remember because in 7th or 8th grade, we had to give a demonstration speech and I did it on spinning. At some point, I decided that I hated all that wool related crafty stuff because it was "uncool" and, of course, once it became *cool*, I wanted even less to do with it. In the mean time, I learned how to tie-dye my own shirts and how to bead small amulet bags. Shortly after I became a Musician (and just was just as pretentious as the capital letter implies) and taught myself how to compose songs, sort of.  Eventually I went off to college and feel in love with theatre and the creation that happens backstage. I learned how to build sets (sort of; I'm really not meant to be a carpenter) as well as costumes because I wanted to be a multi-tech; able to be useful anywhere backstage. Learning to sew also coincided with really getting into Renaissance festivals.

Years have gone by since that first craft that I do remember (I spun the wool my mom dyed during her purple phase and then wove it into a scarf; I still have it and will post pictures some day) and I've largely gotten over myself. I gave up the pipe dream of doing beadwork, including just adding beads to my fancy Renaissance festival outfit, but have picked up some new crafts along the way. I have my own spinning wheels (yes, that is correct that it's plural) and for Christmas I received my first set of knitting needles that weren't just cast-offs from someone else. As I'm getting married in less than a month, I've realized that I'm not just a maker of craft goods anymore but have started to garden with amazing fervor and somehow discovered a dormant baking gene. I don't necessarily know what to do with all of the things that I make but I want to chronicle them as I make them. Maybe someone will stumble across this and be inspired but most importantly, I'll be able to look back a month, a year or a decade from now and see what it is that I've accomplished and perhaps giggle at the silly things I tried along the way.