Sock Wars Rant

I promised myself I wouldn't post anything more to any Sock Wars boards because they were beginning to make me (more) crazy. I can, however, release my frustration here.

rant on

Gauge: To knit the socks for the war, you need string and pointy sticks that will get the specified gauge. That's it! It doesn't freaking matter what size needles the partially knit socks you receive are knit on. Each knitter is obligated by the war rules to knit to gauge. You put their work on the needles you used to get gauge and away you go. You don't NEED their needle size. You don't NEED to swatch with their yarn. Who cares if they knit them both at once???

*Swatch in the round with the yarn you've chosen. If you don't get gauge, repeat from * with different needles until you do. The End.

Pattern: To knit the pattern for the war, you're obligated to follow the pattern AS WRITTEN. The stuff about embellishments means you can add beads or intarsia in a message in a contrasting color. It does NOT mean you knit toe up if the pattern is written as cuff down. It does NOT mean you can get all cutesy and use your own personal heel technique. The point is that everybody does the same pattern the same way. If you are afraid that the pattern will use a technique you don't know, go learn it. Sheesh.

rant off

Mmmm, cake!

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Originally uploaded by Paula knits

Upcoming Knitting fun on Paula's Planet

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Originally uploaded by Paula knits

• Knit In Public Swap, Ravelry, any day now


• Sock Knitters Pentathlon, Sock 2, May 1


• Sock Wars III, May 9


• Slow Bee Mystery (see picture), May 11


• Sock Knitters 5 Swap, Swap-bot, May 14

The beads for Slow Bee arrived today. They are clear aurora borealis. They look almost white in the bag, but I crocheted together a few with the yarn I'll be using. Looks like I'll be getting just the icy effect I'd intended. Size 8 (smaller) beads might've been a little better, but these size 6 should do o.k.

Sock Wars III: The Tension Builds

...and it's been posted:

To construct your weapon you will need to avail yourself of some yarn and pointy sticks.
32 sts = 10cm (4") on 2.75mm needles (US 2)

I was wondering if the pattern would be done with doubled yarn. The previous wars have been done with DK weight. It looks like this one will be done with regular single strand of sock weight. This will slow virtually everybody down. I expect the first wave of carnage will be spread out over the first two weeks or so.

I wonder how many needle sizes I'll have to go down to get gauge?

More Big Girl Knits

After reading some reviews of More Big Girl Knits, I decided it would be one of my book indulgences from Amazon. There's lots of handy information and useful advice, but what I wanted to see are the patterns. I'm a little cranky today, so take my reactions with that in mind:

• Plain vanilla pullover: I'll probably try this customize it yourself pattern.
• Bountiful Bohus: cute, but are those really 3/4 length sleeves on a cardigan?
• Susie Hoodie: love, love, love. I will make this for sure.
• Modular Spiral Jacket: hmmm, maybe with less contrast in the color blocks.
• Boo, too: I have too much in each of the 3 Bs (b00bs, belly, butt) for a ruffled-bottom sweater.
• Hot Cocoa Jacket: I like it, but double-breasted is a no-no for the first B.
• Peapod Aran Jacket: uhhh, just say no to bobbles.
• Cable love jacket: There's nothing "little" about that horizontal band. It's BIG.
• Folly II: I bet it'd be nice without the flowers on it.
• Twisted pullover: very cute. Will likely make this one.
• Mirage pullover: I wonder if the neck could be modified to a V?
• No-gap wrap: verdict's not in on this. Maybe if it was a little longer.
• Pastille: pretty, not the right style for moi.
• Slipstream Pullover: a little on the boring side.
• Guatemalan floral tunic: if it was an actual tunic length, perhaps.
• Summer Chevron: cute, might try this one.
• Magic Halter: no, no, not on this body, ever.
• Orange Smoothie: it'd be almost as horrible as the magic halter on me.
• Goddess Shawl: very purty, but I doubt if I'll make it.
• Perfection Wrap: I'm not a shawl/wrap person, but it is pretty.
• Finagle: a scarf. Do not want.
• Trellis diamond socks: big girl socks! Yay!!!
• Indian summer socks: likewise, yay! I think they could use a couple of those teeny grape leaves from the Tsock Tsarina's Vintage pattern.
• Twisty-stitch socks: I like the pattern, but they're made with Cascade 220. Too heavy.
• Big clutch: pretty cotton clutch bag, big girl size.
• Felted weekend bag: the last thing I need is another bag, but this one's tempting.

It's one of those days

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Originally uploaded by Paula knits

when I just can't get into doing anything. I swear that these cupcakes don't look this bad in Real Life. This was the best of about a half dozen pictures. I couldn't get into trying to take better pictures.

The things sticking up are candles. Tips are made with glow-in-the-dark yarn. I knit them instead of doing more interesting things, such as making real cupcakes or knitting socks.

I think I need more sleep than I've been getting.

Yarn-o-rama

Here's my Bayerische. I love the way it looks like a fancy Aran sweater. The merino/silk blend yarn is really nice to work with.

I got my hands on some much-needed cash today. I paid all the bills that had been collecting, and then you know I had to get some more yarn.

First was a skein of sock yarn from an indie dyer. It's for a swap, so I won't say any more, in case the intended recipient shows up here. I will identify the company later, because their yarn looks pretty and the service seems top-notch.

Then I went to Blue Moon Fiber Arts. Yes, I know I still haven't knit the final kit of last year's Rockin Sock Club, but I needed yarn from them for another swap. The swap yarn looked so lonely there in the shopping cart. I had to buy some more so it wouldn't have to make the long trip from Oregon all by itself. (Yes, I'm aware of how crazy this sounds. I still think it is better than other things I could be addicted to, plus my feet are warmer.)

Finally, I hit Knit Picks. I'm doing my first mystery shawl KAL in a few months. KP's laceweight is beyond reasonably priced. Even with them miniscule shipping charge added, it'll only cost me around $10 for the yarn. Can't beat that with a stick. Even pointed ones. I'd originally intended to buy the Bare stuff and dye it myself, but changed my mind. It cost a tiny bit more to buy it in a color, so I did. Now all I need are somethink like 3000 likkle bitty beads.

Earth Day Swap

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Originally uploaded by Paula knits

Shauna sent me a bunch of cool stuff in a swap to celebrate Earth Day. I've got to say, I'm becoming a fan of the Ravelry-based swaps.
I think I want to stick with them (and the enjoyable Scavenger Hunt).

If you'll excuse me, I need to go pet my yarn and have another square of chocolate.

Bayerische socks

I liked the pattern that I got in the cable swap, but I've been anxious to get back to the Bayerische socks first. I knit most of one with some Koigu, but it was painfully obvious that I didn't have enough yarn to complete the pair. Therefore, I'm using the Knitpicks Bare merino/wool for these.

I got through one and a half repeats and decided to frog back. Chart D just didn't look right. I've got it going again but had to get away from it for a while. I decided to take a break from knitting and try a different template for this blog. I like pink, but it was getting to be too pink.

I think it may be bed time. zzzzzzz

Cable Sock Swap

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Originally uploaded by Paula knits

Look what Valerie sent me from Canada:

• a gorgeous Silvia Harding cable sock pattern
• peppermint-spiked organic fair trade dark chocolate
• an adorable octupus
• wool/silk blend yarn to knit the socks with

::happydance::

Yarn Harlot in Atlanta

I went to Atlanta today to see the Yarn Harlot. Stephanie is even funnier in person. If you get a chance, definitely go and see her. I laughed a lot and learned stuff, too.

I took the toy digital camera and got a picture, but it won't come out of the camera. I should've taken the regular camera, but nooooo, I thought the toy wold work. It never works, why do I keep thinking that it will? Anyway, I couldn't supply a Yarn Harlot picture. What you see is one of the ten balls of Rowan Damask that I won in the raffle! Woohoo!! Knitch generously supplied all manner of knitterly prizes and I actually won one. The raffle was for Knitters Without Borders, which has donated almost half a million dollars to Doctors Without Borders. How cool is that? And I get yarn, too. ::doing the happy dance::

Wee Tiny Sock Swap

Isn't this cute? It's the sock I got from Chris in the Wee Tiny Sock Swap. The yarn's Claudia Handpaints.

Blood Red and PINK

It has been reported that the sock pattern for Sock Wars III is being done in Tofutsies color 733. It's called Get Your Feet Wet. There's no doubt in my mind that our Fearless Leader chose it for the blood color. It appears to have been blended with pink. Somewhere, pink haters are sulking. Hee, hee, hee!

This does not mean that warriors will be required to use that particular color. Tofusies itself isn't a requirement. I'll be using boring old 732 (black and gray).
I'm working on a sock in 718, Off on the Right Foot, for Tofutsies practice. Let's hope I am off on the right foot. It's only about a month until the war begins.

A swap the recipient liked

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Originally uploaded by Paula knits

This is what I sent Shauna for the Ravelry Earth Day swap. Thank goodness she liked it (despite my inability to spell Dreamsicle correctly).

I sent another swap out before this one and the recipient didn't like the yarn I sent at all. I felt bad and offered to replace it. Why would you tell someone you didn't like what you'd received unless you wanted it changed? This person didn't. All I can learn from the situation is if I have any doubts about what I'm sending, don't send it.

You Can Leave Your Hat On

If you've got a Ravelry account, go over and take a look at your icon today (April 1).

I'm a Pilgrim. :)