Wrapping Up A Few Loose Ends...

Now that DH has his own "man-cave" in our basement, he's been spending a lot of time there playing video games on his new mega-TV and relaxing in his recliner. Although these two [dare I call them] "design elements" have made him really enjoy this windowless, solitary, subterranean region of the house, he's been commenting on how it's cold in the basement and that he could really use a pair of knit socks to stay warm. I origianlly responded "well, you don't wear the first sock I made you, so why would I knit a second?", but I was the only one who chuckled. Although the basement is partially heated, it is too cold for me to stay long in the man-cave, so the though of DH shivering in the basement was enough motivation for me to complete the pair of socks I started for him over a year ago. Recall this project stalled out due to Second Sock Syndrome somewhere in early 2009. So I finished them and here they are! For socks I generally use the Yankee Sock Pattern, and just knit the leg portion in a K2P2 rib so they stay snug. Note that is DH's hairy leg, not mine. Even Kevin, from "Brothers and Sisters" on TV, is looking back at how nice they came out!

I also finished the baby blanket! I'm very happy with how it finished up. I do admit it was long and a bit boring to knit with all that stockinette stitch, but it's worth it for our bun in the oven. I feel happy and satisfied that I knit the blanket, a hat, and booties for him, and I think now I can go on to other projects!

Like the French Press Slippers I've been working on! This link is to the pattern on an etsy site. I'll have more on this project next time. My LYS is having their annual Superbowl Sale this weekend, so I plan to get some buttons this weekend to finish this project off. I'm heading to the sale with a list of upcoming projects I'd like to do, and their yarn requirements, so I hope to make it a productive, yet thrifty trip! We'll see how it works out! (Recall I still haven't used all that Manos that I bought last year, but I know it'll come in handy any time now....)

Second Sock Syndrome (SSS)

Hooray! I've completed one sock of the KOIGU pair my hubby requested! Now I just need the motivation to complete the second one! Why am I not ready to jump in and complete the pair? Because 1) there's always the temptation to start one of the new projects that you found while you were knitting sock #1 and 2) in my case, completing sock #1 did have some knitting drama associated with it... (hence this post). Enter... second sock syndrome (SSS).

So I'd just completed about 4 inches of the foot portion when I "requested a fitting" from the future owner (my husband). He donned the sock, and I measured that I needed to knit another 2" before starting the decreases for the toe. So I knit, knit, knit and requested a second fitting. Jason tells me "you know, it doesn't really seem any longer". So, I continue to knit, knit, knit, WITHOUT confirming that the sock was positioned in the same place on his foot during fitting #2 as fitting #1. So I complete the toe decreases and after a brief kitchener stitch youtube refresh (compliments of the KnitWitch), I graft the sock and am done. Excitedly, I show the sock to Jason, who tries it on, and behold - the foot was easily THREE INCHES TOO LONG!

His foot looked like a Dr. Seuss character!!! I was crushed! I think he must have pulled the sock up higher on his foot, in fitting #2, which I definitely should have noticed. I thought of knitting an identical misfit sock, and then shrinking them in a hot laundry cycle.... but I realized this KOIGU is 100% wool, and they'd felt. So.... at midnight last night, I un-sewed the toe and proceeded to rip out 3" of sock! Amazingly, I was able to pick up all the stitches and resume at a safe point. Looking back, I should have taken a picture of his Dr. Seuss sock because it looked really funny, but I think I was too crushed at the time. Here is a photo of the properly sized sock #1, which I completed an hour ago. The final product did come out great. BTW, that's my husband's leg, not mine. :)

So I'm kinda pooped on the socks. Hence the SSS.

Most knitters remedy this condition by knitting 2 socks at once, using 2 circular needles - and also because I think using double pointed needles (DPNs) has a bad rap. But I actually love DPNs - they're more compact and I think you can knit faster with them, rather than sliding stitches along a cable, if you don't have a perfect length circular needle. But... to each their own.

Single sock.... I promise to knit you a mate.... but enjoy a solitary lifestyle for a bit - it might be a while until you meet your match.