The verdict

Thanks for your votes! By a wide margin, you reported that you would like a free, basic outline for the socks. I have already done most of the writing, having noted the totals over the last few days, and I will try to take some better (less blurry) shots of the socks this weekend, to aid in your knitting should you attempt them.

Here is the final tally:
Free pattern: 24
Complete pattern: 7
No pattern: 3

Venezia

I'm not sure why I started this project now, as it's getting to be summer and will be no fun to knit in the heat. But then it will probably take f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to finish, so I guess I thought I would get a jump on it.

Sleeve/gauge swatch without flash (best color)


With flash (poor color representation, but a full pattern repeat!)

If you will recall, this is project 2.2 (steeks) on my Knitter's Challenge. It's intense. I'm still not that good at stranded knitting, although I'm getting better and I'm trying not to be too tight with it. Gauge is good so far. I'm very very very glad I'm not using 10 colors.

I don't think I will get to a point where I can work without the chart. I usually think this (and then I end up memorizing the pattern), but I really think it this time.

Still not sure what I will do about the neckline - I don't know that I want a boat neck, but it will be a very warm sweater and I will probably have to wear it when it is COLD, so I don't want too much skin exposed then.

PS - Keep those votes coming! It is completely anonymous, if you were wondering, so don't feel bad about voting your true preference. I totally dig honesty.

Sock pattern

I've had an inquiry or two about the "seat of my pants"socks. Before I write up a pattern, I'd like to get an idea of just how many people are really interested, since pattern writing isn't cheap (in time or mental energy - see here).

I am not fishing for compliments. Seriously. If the comment section to this post is inhabited by crickets, I will not be hurt. There are enough sock patterns out there, I'm perfectly fine if you don't feel the need for another. Frankly, I feel sort of bad about polluting the internet with another one, which is why I'm asking first.

So - show of hands (by taking the poll on the sidebar) from those who are really (enough italics yet?) interested in a pattern for the socks.

If you're still with me, you have a choice to make: a trade-off between cost (or lack of it) and completeness of pattern. Would you prefer:

a) a free pattern that is more of a rough outline of the sock (appropriate for those who have knit socks before and can fill in their own blanks)?

Or:

b) an inexpensive (but not free) pattern that has complete directions (appropriate for those who can't fill in the blanks)?

Both come with the usual tech support (me answering your e-mails) if there are errors - actual or if you just aren't sure - in what I put out.

I realize that money is a bit of an indelicate topic, but I'd like to be efficient about this - you get what you want (if, in fact, you want it) and I don't expend the wrong amount of energy in the process.

Catch up

I'm not at Knit Night tonight because I've had a cold for the last few days and no one seems to want to be around me. Seriously, my co-workers have been looking at me like I'm a leper. First of all, it's just a little cold; and second, it's not like I'm going around licking people's keyboards. I'm extremely good about using Kleenex, washing my hands, covering my cough, and not touching stuff. Where is the compassion, people?! I wouldn't have even gone in on Monday if I didn't need to be at a meeting. It (the cold, and the ridicule, actually) was bad enough yesterday to stay home from work, but I'm feeling a lot better today. Except that I can't really hear out of my left ear. And sometimes my right ear. But no more nasal congestion and much less coughing. I digress...

Since I'm not at Knit Night, and it's a really lovely evening, I shall blog for you. Look, lovely evening:

Pinky tree

Shady backyard

Some socks for your viewing pleasure:

Details:
Pattern: I just made it up
Yarn: Lana Grossa Meillenweit Cotton Stretch in Cream, 1 100g ball, with plenty to spare
Needles: US size 0 and 1 dpns
Additional info: Toe-up, baby! Check it off the list.

Bristow, in progress:


This is going to be a nice sweater, but it isn't for me. A friend was visiting a few months ago and loved one of my handknit sweaters (Tangled Yoke, actually). She said that she would like to get her grandmother a handknit sweater and asked if I would knit one. I told her she wasn't getting a Tangled Yoke, but I showed her this pattern and she liked it. She bought the yarn, I knit for free. (I'm such a sucker.)

The yarn is Knit Picks Comfy and I really like it. Buttery soft. Anyone think it might work for this sweater:

Ella, from Debbie Bliss Summer Essentials

It knits up a little loosey-goosey on size 7's, but I think the fabric might be firm enough on 6's. Yes? No? Perhaps CotLin would hold up better.

And finally: you know that rule I made about not buying blue or green yarn? Well, I violated it already.

Violation

Knit Picks Gloss in Woodland Sage and Dolphin, for a bi-color Venezia (probably with a scoop neck). I'm totally not even sorry about it. Gloss doesn't come in that many colors and these were really the only ones I though would be a good combination for me. I certainly wasn't going to take a chance on Pumpkin and Serengeti just to obey some stupid rule I made.

So I broke it. And just what are you going to do about it? That's right, you're going to enjoy it. Because knitters always enjoy seeing other people by yarn, no matter what color. In fact, I bet you were rooting for me to break that stupid rule. Shame on you.