Monday, July 10, 2006

Second Sock Syndrome

I have not been updating my blog for a few weeks. This is because I have been recovering from SSS.

Second Sock Syndrome : A definite pattern of behaviour in which after finishing and loving a sock, the knitter is totally incapable of duplicating that sock, no matter how many times he or she tries. This syndrome can lead to the knitter wearing many unmatched first socks together, the first symptom of the insanity that reknitting and reknitting and reknitting the second sock can cause.



See what I mean?

These poor single socks have been waiting for their respective mates for some time. Even though I was itching to cast on a new pair with some new gorgeous yarn I got, I made a July resolution:

I will not cast on another new sock until I finish at least one pair.

Okay, here we go:



Drum rolls, please:


Two down, three to go. So far, so good. Don't you think.

In the meantime I got a new toy.

Here is my new Majacraft Rose spinning wheel. I have been dabbling at spinning on a hand spindle for some time but found it too slow. Then back in May at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival I ran into a lady who gives private lessons. She is also a Majacraft dealer.

The spinning bug got me pretty bad! I even tried my hand at dying my own roving.

This is a corriedale roving I got from Crown Mountain Farm that Idyed in Egyptian red.

Spinning takes a lot of practice. I came up with loads of thick-and-thin, uneven yarn as I practice. Now what to do with all this practice yarn?


A felted Kitty Pi, of course

Runty is getting a new, hand-dyed, hand-spun kitty bed.




It doesn't look like much yet, but I have got a lot to go. After all, that "Runt-of-the-litter" kitty of mine now weighs 21 pounds. So I will keep spinning. By the time the cat bed is big enough to be felted, I should spin well enough to attempt non-felting stuff. Otherwise there will me more felted baskets around the house for sure.

Stay tuned. Next, a non-knitting life. My garden. Here is a preview.




Now can I cast on a sock please?