October 31, 2012

Socks Socks Socks


 
Pattern: Simple K6P2 Ribbing
Yarn: Opal Hundertwasser
Color: 3200
Needles: Circular - 2.25 mm

How could you not smile while putting on this pair of Hundertwasser socks? Wouldn't they perk up the dullest November day?! Granted, they would be out of place in the board room or in a professional office but imagine an autumn walk through fallen leaves...

Twelve Pair Of Socks For 2012


 
I set a personal goal this year. My aim was to knit twelve pair of socks in 2012. I wanted to make good use of my supply of sock yarn. While some of these socks are knit with yarn purchased this year, I did manage to use most of the sock yarn from years gone by that was stored in the yarn drawer with the exception of three skeins that are so "what on earth was I thinking when I ordered this?" that they still languish there!
(Movita and 2.0 keep insisting they want and will wear any socks I knit with any color yarn that they may well become the recipients of the "odd balls"!)

October 19, 2012

My Brother Turns Eighty This Week



At Fort Needham
 
I know! It is an astounding number isn't it! I'd like to point out that there is a HUGE age difference between us. It is as though I was born to a second or third or fourth wife though, in fact, I was simply at the tail end of a large family...

My brother does not have the face of an eighty year old. He looks twenty years younger and though health problems have given him a somewhat slower gait over the last year, his overall demeanor is that of a much younger man. His spirit, drive, and determination are all as indomitable as ever. Some might describe those attributes as stubborness, bloody mindedness, and denial. They are in fact, a blend, and they have served to propel him through life without the use of brakes - raising six children, all of whom gather at the family home on a daily, or at least weekly basis, maintaining any number of interests (many outdoors), serving his church,  and dabbling in part time accounting work for decades after his official retirement from CBC.

He has reached a greater age than our father and he inherited from that gentle man an amazing work ethic.

He has, in the last few years, faced health problems that would have sent lesser mortals to an armchair with an afghan and a remote control, lamenting their inability to leave the house and experience life to the fullest. Not my brother. Not long after surgery, he managed to get himself into his warm duds and went hunting in the Nova Scotia woodlands with his sons and friends as he has done year after year after year. Tied to medical equipment? Yes. Tied to the house? No. He loads it into the back of his vehicle and takes it with him to spend the summer in the garden of his country home. And winters back in his family home close to Halifax.

He is a force of nature and it is a testament to his character that he has friendships that have endured for more than half of a century. His home is a comfortable haven where conversations pick up where they last left off and familiar faces constantly come and go.

Happy Birthday, Brother. Here's a pair of socks for winter:


 
 
Pattern: Skyp Socks
Designer: Adrienne Ku
Yarn: Austermann Step Classic
Color: 1020
Needles: Circular - 2.25 mm

October 06, 2012

Around The Garden

 
Pattern: Simple K3 P1 ribbing
Yarn: Supersocke 100 Tropic Color by ONline
Colour: 1468
Needles: Circular - 2.25 mm

This is the first time I have used the Supersocke yarn so it will be interesting to see how well it holds up. There are no complaints about it on Ravelry and it comes in such pretty color combinations. It has great stitch definition and is soft to the hand.  I added reinforcing thread (as I do with all socks now) to the heels to help prevent them from developing holes with wear.

 
Designer: Dana Gibbons
Yarn: Sirdar Crofter DK
Colour: 0033
Needles: Circular 3.75 mm and 3.50 mm (for cuffs only)
 
This is a sweet little cardigan pattern that I purchased and downloaded from the Patternfish website. It is knit from the top down with no seaming required. And while I would certainly do the sweater again, I did not enjoy working with the Sirdar Crofter yarn. It is soft to the touch and easy care (an acrylic/cotton/wool blend) but it does not give uniform stitch definition and I think it should be knit to a tighter gauge. It is also a bit splitty so you really have to watch the needles while you work. However, the colors will look great on little Apolline and I hope she gets a few wears out of it.
 
Poignant
 
Nora finds a quiet place to rest by Annie's grave site.