Socktoberfest Socks, Stocking Progress, Felting & Grave, Grave, Grave Knitting Errors, Oh My!

I have been SO busy over the past two weeks, I've barely had time to do pretty much anything I actually enjoy and do in order to relax. As we speak I have just finished sorting a huge pile of papers on my desk and have cleaned up as much as I can (considering our bathrooms are still in disarray after some renovations - almost done, down to the painting, also in the bedroom, and finishing touches) before my mom arrives in, well minutes ... she should be here any minute, for a nice long visit from Ontario!! I am excited!

So, knitting . . .

Socktoberfest Socks: Two weeks ago, at Stitch 'n Bitch, I finally finished the toes and I wore them the next day (I haven't since though, as like Laura, I have laundry on my list too!). Julia, the week's knitting host, kindly took some photos for me - check these beauties out - nice photography skills eh?





Stocking Progress:



Here you go! So far, it is coming along ... I still think it is a bit skinny but compared to my old one, it is. ALSO! At that week's knitting session I also learned that I have been purling INCORRECTLY for the past, um, maybe 10 years!! How did I not notice this? How did no one else catch this? Basically I was purling with yarn at the front of the stitch instead of pulling it behind and I was twisting every single stitch in every bit of flat knitting I have done in the past 10 YEARS! This explains why I always thought the switch from knitting in the round to flat knitting seemed more awkward - it always required a sort of twist and twitch of the needles to get the knit stitches off from the previously purled row ...

So, unless I completely frog the stocking I'll have to continue to purl incorrectly for this project, and then continue to purl correctly for the other things I'm working on - mostly little wallets and purses to felt and sell at an upcoming craft fair. Yeah, I know sounds complicated - but I'd rather not frog . . . but the perfectionist in me might . . . but then again, we're almost into November - the BIG stocking day will soon be on its way!

Well, that's all I have time for tonight - so many exciting things in the world of knitting but so little time to knit - I'm looking forward to a road trip with my mom and having her drive so I can really go at 'er!

Stocking Update - Week 5 (Already!?!)

The stocking is only a bit further along however, it is only suffering from neglect with the great progress in my Soctoberfest Socks! No photos yet, but I'm going to try and weave in the ends and tighten up/untangle the kitchener stitch toes so I can wear them tonight, damn it!

I began these socks some time ago (you know, I can't even remember when I started them!) and was using them as a sort of motivator to help me push towards finishing my MA thesis (how else does a knitter motivate herself in things not knitterly?) and getting to the ultimate goal of defending the thesis and wearing the newly named 'Thesis Defense Socks'. Well about 2 weeks ago I decided this thesis was keeping me from moving on with and living the rest of my life and I decided to withdraw from my program and start doing things I love. And so, the 'Thesis Defense Socks' became the 'Birthday Socks' but didn't quite get finished on Sunday (too many phone calls and a squash dish to prepare for dinner) and then became known as the 'Freedom Socks' which I think is a much more appropriate name. So, I'm heading out with a friend tonight to attend a live show downtown, something I never would have done while I was 'working on my thesis' and so, I WILL finish these socks and wear them tonight! Here's to Freedom from doing things you do not love and to freshly knitted socks!

Stocking Update - Week 4

Here's where I was last Sunday:


This photo was taken in my friend's car on the ferry on our way over to Salt Spring Island for the annual Apple Festival.

I'm a little further as of our S'n'B meeting this week and have the face done and am on to the scarf. Poor snowman is looking a little long in the face since my gauge is less wide than my old stocking but I've got to stay to scale and make this stocking the same size as Alyssa's sister's stocking. I'm sure he'll still look cute.

Here are some photos from the Apple Festival:


Fulford Hall was filled with people and apples - hundreds of varieties were displayed on these tables, look at all that colour! Here we enjoyed apple (orange cox) and apple raspberry pie for breakfast - delicious!


Every apple variety grown on the island was on display at the hall - here is a tiny wild apple displayed in a blue naglene bottle of course.

Then we went on, following the map, to visit orchards and farms in search of tasty treats. We headed to Moonstruck Cheese, where was saw this very cool Parking sign (udder & all) and I purchased some blue cheese for my dad hoping it will keep until Christmas.


We then met up with some other friends and visited Bright Farm where they have 350 varieties of apples, pears, plums and cherries as part of a preservation orchard and were given a tour by the owner. I purchased some Alexander apples which are the apples I grew up with in my grandparent's orchard.




Then I treated myself and purchased this beutiful butter dish made by Judy Weeden. I love it.


Now I'm on to enjoying the long Thanksgiving weekend here and I've planned a party to celebrate my birthday, Post Thesis and the opening of Trailer Park Boys the Movie so we'll be enjoying cheese burgers, pepperoni, jalapenos chips and other heart stopping treats. The rest of the weekend will be filled with farmer's markets and farm tours, local produce, hangover recovery, hiking and family feasts! Happy Thanksgiving!