Plain Vanilla Socks

socks
Originally uploaded by Garyou.

I confess: I sometimes think knitting a plain vanilla sock is boring; it's the most boring thing to knit.

Still, I love to knit plain vanilla socks. It's addictive. Knit stitch after stitch, row after row. And out of nowhere (yeah, I know where it comes from. But it's a rhetoric, you know), I have a sock in my hands.

Again, I confess: I love knitting socks with lace patterns, socks with cable stitches, and socks with any decorative stitches.

But, any of them gives me this nice and cosy foot comfort when it comes to wearing. Well fitted plain vanilla socks is the best. They are the most comfortable socks to wear.

And the issue here is "well fitted." It must not be too loose. It must not be too tight. Just in size. That's what I care.

That means, you need swatching a lot. You have to try with different size of needles, different number of stitches and all. You may have to knit a complete sock to figure out what you really need.

This time, I was lucky. 64 stitches for circumference with size 0 needles is just my size. Well, I could have guessed, though. My not-so-rich sock knitting experience told me before I started.

At last, I confess: I love knitting plain vanilla socks; I love wearing them.

Information:
Yarn: Online Supersocke 100 Sierra Color 77
Needle: Size 0 (2mm) 80cm circular
Started in October 2007
Finished on 16 February 2008
Cast-on: Magic cast-on 24 stitches increase to 68 stitches
Heel: Short-row heel with wrap
Cuff: K2xP2 rib
Cast-off: Turbular cast-off

Crochet My Love

Brueghel Lace Scarf in Progress
Originally uploaded by Garyou.

It's been a while since last time I crochetted.
This happnes a lot.
Now I tat the most, but then, I knit the most, and so on.
That doesn't mean I do nothing other than knit while I'm hooked to knit. I also tat, crochet and spin once in a while. And sometimes, I just do what I'm hooked only.
Anyway, I've been away from crochet for quite a while.

This method is called brueghel lace. You make a long tape with loops and join some loops together. I believe this is one of the methods of bobbin lace, but not so sure.
I've tried this method for crochet and always failed to count rows and loops.
But this time, I'm doing ok so far.

Also, I crochet in a very relaxed manner. I've been a tight crocheter ever since I began crochet lace. This time, I try not to crochet too tight, rather, try to crochet without strain, but not too loose.
And so far, it turns out very nice fabric.

The photo below shows the book contains this pattern. It is my favourite book. It is rather old book, but doesn't matter. I've made several stuffs out of this book.

I'm using Jaeger's Matchmaker Merino 4 Ply. I really love this yarn. It is the "yarn." My idea. I'm so sad it is out of production. Or isn't it?

Life is Too Short to Untangle Yarn

And I mean it.

Oh, how I hate skeins! Skeins, skeins, skeins!
Here comes John Cleese in my mind. "I hate it! Oh, I hate it! I hate it!"

Well, I do have a ball winder and a swift. Even if I use them, once in a while, I end up with a messed up skein.
Why? I don't know.

This morning, again, I had to deal with a skein of yarn, ClassicElite's Alpaca Sox.
It is wonderful yarn. I really love it.
Still it came here as a skein.

I know some shops offer service winding up yarn into a ball or two.
I heared skein makes yarn relaxed and that is good for yarn. And I believe it.
So, I wind yarn up just before I start to knit.

Anyway, I finished winding the yarn up and it is over. It took me more than an hour. What a waste of time! Life is too short to do the things like that. There's no time, you know.

By the way, I'm going to knit socks for my father with Alpaca Sox. I searched for the pattern in Ravelry and queued so many sock patterns. I make a queue not to forget. If I really want to knit (or crochet) that pattern, immediately I cast on or start crochetting.
Ravelry queue is more or less a memo to me.

Oh, I'm "Chihiro" at Ravelry.