My First Flat Sock, A Story Told In Pictures

Here is the sock as I work my way down the sole. Patrick has been working hard and exhausted the little time he is home, so he is helping out most by acting as a backdrop. (Blogger didn't want to turn this photo correctly.)


I have finished the sock (worn inside out to show all the ends). Now to weave in all those pesky ends!


Of course, if you're looking for help with any knitting project, look no further than your local felis domesticus. Maggie is helping by making sure my hand doesn't get cold. She'll just be a couple hours.


A couple hours later and I have a snoozing Patrick to help me again. He is holding the snippets of yarn that I cut off after weaving in the ends. This is something that Maggie was less skilled at. (Damn sideways photos!)


And here is my finished sock from the side! You can see that it is a little tight through the ankle and heel because the mattress stitch on the gusset heel is pulling open. Also, how stupid is it to try and match up stripes on a flat sock? Note to self, stripes only work when you're working in the round.


From the top, the ankle stitches are distorted and stretched. I haven't blocked this one yet, but I don't think it will be getting a mate. Single sock syndrome claims another victim! I will keep my sock, possibly hang it on a wall in all its stripey glory, but it will not be worn.

Next project - socks in the round!

My Sock Grows

So my sock has been growing over the last couple of days. This is it after I've put the two sides on stitch holders and started working the instep. I put it on my foot to show the scale. Also - stripes!

Actual Craft Content

I'm sure I could knock you all over with a feather. A blog post? With something I've actually made? Shock & awe!



Connie loaned me Teach Yourself Visually: Sock Knitting many eons ago. Last Friday Patrick had to work late, so I started the Basic Flat Sock Pattern. I had some of the Essential Kettle Dyed Sock Yarn from when they were still selling it in 50g skeins (colors Jay, Eggplant, and Wine), so I decided to do stripes (cuz, dude, stripes rock).

Today marks my 5th day on the sock, and it's coming along pretty well, considering all the color changes I'm doing. I chose the flat sock pattern because A) I didn't have a circular needle when I got the wild hair to start it, and B) the 5 needles you need to do a sock in the round are just too much for me to hold. Since then I've ordered a few more skeins off Knit Picks and a circular needle to boot. I also got this book: The Eclectic Sole - seems like my cup of tea!

So there you go, I've got another project in progress! Out of curiosity, how many of you guys are on Ravelry?

Just The Headlines

- I have not been doing any sewing, so I haven't been posting. I have received strongly worded admonitions about this, and I resolve to do better on both fronts.

- I am working on leaving civilian status and going back in to the Air Force, this time as an officer. This pursuit has been taking up a fair amount of my time.

- To do this, I'll be leaving my job at the local quilt shop. Turns out there are only so many hours in the day, and I'd like to use some of them for sleeping.

- Last night Michelle, Erin & I went out to Swing in Olympia to celebrate Erin's birthday. The service was so-so, but the smoked gouda fondue was unbelievable. Conversation ranged from life events to crazy dreams to our philosophies on manscaping. How did I live without girlfriends for so long?

Updates on all fronts to come, and hopefully a little closer together than once a month.

The Quilt Retreat

Last Thursday I left on the Washington Stars' Annual Quilt Retreat. Four days in the woods, and all I brought was my Dear Jane to work on!


Several LQS's had given retreat attendees coupons, so I did some shopping on my way down. The haul above came from my first stop, Gee-Gee's Quilting.


My next stop was a shop I'd never been to, Sister's Fabric in Chehalis.

The retreat center was in Raymond, WA - the Falls Creek Retreat Center. They were very accommodating, considering the last quilter went to sleep at 3 every morning and the first quilters started in at 5! I got 9 blocks done on my Dear Jane, and I'm very happy with them.


E-5, Rising Sun (17 pieces)


J-12, Rebecca's Basket (3 pieces) - This one isn't like it's drafted in the book, but I really wanted to capture that flower whole.


L-4, St. George's Cross (21 pieces)


H-12, Hannah Lou's Hearts (5 pieces)


A-5, Cathie's Campfire (29 pieces) - I tried to fussy cut the pattern in this toile (ala Flibbertigibbet Bunny), but I ended up shorting the seam allowance in all 4 corners!


J-10, Chieko's Calla Lily (21 pieces) - Oh, I should have done this by machine. I'm back in my wrist brace after this one.


A-8, Florence Nightengale (11 pieces) - I needed a nice simple block after that Calla Lily affair.


A-9, Cabin Fever (41 pieces) - I love the stripe in this one.


L-9, Walter's Place (29 pieces) - Another simple one, but I got to use that nifty black from Trick or Treat Street. The coordinates in that line are so pretty! I don't usually like Halloween fabric, but this is definitely an exception.

Alright - so that's the works! I came home early on Sunday to celebrate Patrick's birthday with him. I'm only just getting my sewing room back in order now, so you'll forgive the lateness of this post, I hope. This trip brings me to
30 blocks
2 triangles
0 kites
516 pieces!

Apron & Quilty Bugs

I've been working on a couple of things this week. I've never done an actual sewing pattern before, but the quilt shop I work at wants me to wear an apron. I'm not so down with florals, so this is what I came up with:


This is my corporate apron! I used the Amy Butler's Domestic Goddess Apron pattern, then added the bow tie and buttons. I can't tell you how happy I am with the outcome.

The other thing I'm gearing up for is the Washington Stars Quilt Guild Annual Retreat! I'm bringing my Dear Jane out to the woods and we're just going to sew for four days! Exclamation points! The theme is Camp Quilteroptera - the Quilting Bugs!

I had to get two blocks ready for the weekend:

It Was A Little Like I Imagine Cocaine Feels

For lo, it came to pass in days of yore (yesterday, actually) that a great weariness plagued our heroine. She made with all good haste to her local apothecary, one StellarBucks, where she prevailed upon the faux-hawked knave in attendance for a concoction of such potency as to deliver a "brain-melting degree of caffeinne."

The knave, with an alacrity well-masked 'neath his foolish coiffure, answered simply, "Hot or cold?". He then produced a flagon of kingly proportions brimming with the promised libation.

And our heroine lay her face upon the counter in StellarBucks and wept. For it was that good.