I now have both my socks done to the exact same point–four rows past the heel. They fit wonderfully (44 stitches seems to be just right for me), and oh, how I love the colors. Love them. I keep stopping to admire the colors, I love them that much.

This is wonderful, of course, but not exactly conducive to speedy sock knitting. Still, when you consider my last pair of socks–what with distractions and all–took me five months . . . these are going like gangbusters! I couldn’t be happier.

Next, is to decide if I want to do anything interesting for the leg portions, or just do ordinary ribbing. And obviously, now is the time!

Carole asked me about the Turkish Cast-On I used for the toe, so here’s a closer look. Note the completely seamless construction as it rounds the bend. Start with 12 wraps/24 stitches–increase four stitches every other row until the sock is 44 stitches, and boom. The toe is done. Faster than using a provisional cast-on and a short-row toe. Faster than any other method I’ve tried. Yep. I’m in love.

This method was highlighted in Meg Swansen’s column in the Fall Vogue Knitting, but Fluffy Knitter Deb has a wonderful tutorial on this method.

My order from Interweave Knits “Hurt Book” sale came today, and I must say, I am quite satisfied with the quality of these books. I believe the one should have had a paper cover, and there are some rippled pages, as if they were warehoused in too humid an environment, but for the price? Wonderful. And better than used books, too, since I really don’t like used books–I like to be the first person to read my books.

There’s “A History of Hand Knitting” which I’ve wanted to read for a long time, but didn’t want to pay full-price for. Meg Swansen’s Knitting, which I’ve resisted for a long time–mostly because I hadn’t seen the inside of it. But I flipped through a copy a couple weeks ago (conveniently just a couple days before the Hurt Book sale), and decided I really had to have it. And then, Learning to Weave and Hands On Rigid Heddle Weaving. Because, um, no reason, really . . . it just never hurts to be prepared, right?

If you didn’t know, it’s Sandy’s 3rd blog-iversary today. Go wish the sky-lady a happy day, huh? And for her–a picture of our neighborhood sky while we were out for our walk earlier.

I’m so glad it’s Friday. I mean, sure, I always am, but I am just so tired today. I yawned my way through my day at the office, yawned on our walk. Yawned while giving Chappy his bath. (It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon, but this morning, it poured. The ground was kind of muddy, and he does get bed-sleeping privileges on weekends, sooo….) I’m just tired!

And I’m glad I can sleep in tomorrow, and glad I don’t have anything more strenuous planned than a haircut, for which I thank Shelley. She talked about her haircut today, which reminded me that I’ve been meaning to call the salon to get an appointment for weeks. And I only ever schedule appointments on Saturdays, and the Olympics start next week, and there was no way I was giving up valuable knitting time for a haircut–it’s been four months, a few more weeks wouldn’t have mattered that much–and so it was basically either tomorrow, or sometime in March. Luckily, my stylist had an opening for tomorrow, so . . . that’s where I’m going. Really, my hair IS getting kind of long. And while I like it long, it needs a little shaping.

Did you know Stephanie has over 2500 people signed up for the Knitting Olympics?? Wow.

And lastly, we all love goats for their fiber–would any of us want a world without Cashmere? But, oh my! They do NOT make good houseguests!

• Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning, Sky • Permalink:And Then There Were Two //