It's Not Just Black and White

Knetted Socks

Wow I disappeared huh? Didn’t mean to do that! Last week just got crazy. I did finish yet another pair of socks as we watched the final days of the Olympics. They are the Knetted socks from the Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Rockin’ Sock Club September 2010.

First of all, I LOVED the colorway of these socks. As usual, great stuff coming out of Blue Moon Fiber Arts.The colors represent fall perfectly and it makes me wish I had started these socks back when they came! I wasn’t so sure about it in the skein, but once I started knitting with it I fell in love.

I knit the small size in the pattern and went up to a size 2 needled. This pattern was challenging in a good way to me. Cat Bordhi has such a unique style to her sock construction. The heel was one I’d never done before as was the toe. I was nervous about how they would fit, but they actually fit pretty well. Would I ever knit the pattern again? I don’t really know at this point. I have a lot of other sock yarn to knit through.

This makes four pairs of socks for this year so far! Two more and I’m caught upon the Rockin Sock Club!

In the Garden Socks

Next week we will have more than just knitting content. I promise.

Until then. I have another finished pair of socks! These socks are the In the Garden socks from July 2009 in the Rockin Sock Club from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. They were knit on size 2 needles with the colorway Heirloom. I can honestly say I was not a fan of the top portion of these socks. Despite being on size 2’s they were really tight to knit. The pattern recommended 1s or 0s!

I loved that the pattern taught us how to cable without a cable needled. That wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I did miss the going down a needle size for the purl portion of these socks so they are a little bulkier on the top and inthe middle than they should be.

I loved the colors of the yarn and they really do fit with the pattern. The socks were a very quick knit since they have a pretty short cuff. This was nice because I was able to knock them out in just a week and a half!

I’m slowly working my way through last years Rockin Sock Club. I did skip the March socks, and I’ve started the September ones. I’m hoping to make a lot of progress on those this weekend!

Stripey Socks

When I first started knitting socks, someone mentioned Blue Moon Fiber Arts. My first trip to the website and I knew I would have a hard time not buying. I purchased the Sherbet colorway.

Knitting it in my normal sock pattern, I didn’t like the way it was striping up alone. I headed back to Blue Moon Fiber Arts and picked up the Stormy Weather colorway. At first I started knitting a Chevron scarf. After awhile I came to the realization that I was never going to finish a scarf on size four needles that didn’t involve lace. This yarn was destined to be striped socks.

I cast on 64 stitches and did a 2×2 rib for the cuff. At the end of every row I twisted the yarns and picked up the next color. The heel is a short row heel, since I did one of the socks toe up… and the other top down. These socks were knit over a year’s time as I picked them up and put them down. I wasn’t a fan of working with the two colors to make it stripe, but I knew ultimately I needed to finish the socks.

I finished the socks last weekend in the midst of my sock kick. They were knit on size 2 needles and fit a woman’s 9-10 foot. I’m glad the socks are done and honestly I probably won’t go back and knit another pair of socks the way I knit these. It was an experiment to see if I would like it and ultimately I didn’t. I do love the socks though and they’re fun to wear around.

Swiss Hat

About 10 months ago, my friend Jessica decided to go to Switzerland as an Au Pair. She put in her knitting request of a hat for winter with the Swiss logo on it, semi-matching the Swiss flag.

I decided it was the perfect chance to break out the double knitting. That lasted for about 5 rounds and decided it was better to straight knit the hat with the cross in white. The hat was knit with Cascade 220 Superwash so it could be thrown in the washing machine and still fit correctly. It was knit on size 7 needles with 116 stitches in the round.

The hat was originally supposed to make it to Switzerland before it got cold. Another project got in the way and I had to push it back a little bit. At that point I decided I wanted to get it to Switzerland before the Olympics!

The hat arrived in Switzerland about two weeks ago and is now working to keep her warm. Overall the hat was a fairly quick knit once I got passed the cross portion of it. It was a matter of sitting down and finding time to get it done. She now can support both the US and Switzerland as they compete for gold in the 2010 Olympics.

Change Is GOOD!

For their sixth birthday Facebook launched a new look to their website. The new look rolled out over a period of a week and Facebook uses slowly were able begin to use the new site. As new users began to use the new site, the status messages started showing frustration and groups such as BRING BACK THE OLD FACEBOOK started forming, again. Deja Vu?

Every time Facebook rolls out a new look, people get upset, frustrated, and form groups. I don’t understand it. Very few websites remain exactly the same over a period of six years. When it comes to websites and design, change is usually good. Think about it. If we kept websites the same for years and years on end, we would still have our sites in tables with the pipe border around each table with each cell being a different color. I bet Facebook would look great with the old table look, circa 1997.

Change is generally good. Most websites such as Facebook are making changes behind our backs every day. They are upgrading server functionality, they’re changing code to make the site run just a little bit faster, and they continue to build upon the pieces of the site that are already in place. People never complain about the site moving faster do they? By creating the new layout, Facebook is actually making it easier to navigate in the long run. It now only takes one click once you’re logged in to see your friends profile updates. Before, it was two. Ideally we’d all become accustomed to the new design over night, but it takes a  little bit of time and eventually we realize that Facebook just made it easier for us!

Facebook has taken a great approach to the design change. Looking over Facebook’s archive of designs, you will see the color scheme has always stayed the same, the homepage has had two major overhauls in terms of layout, and the inside of the website generally matched the header and footer of the outside. They’re staying consistent. It would be a major problem if every time they did the redesign the navigation moved, the colors changed, and the functionality changed. Facebook slowly rolls out new functionality and eases us into the change. They didn’t go from the 2004 look to 2010 look over night.

Think of it as the evolution of the Pepsi Logo. In the 1970’s the Pepsi logo was sharp and fit with the times. Forty years later the logo still has the circle and says their name, it just moved with the times. Like Pepsi, Facebook hasn’t changed its overall brand with the new design, they’ve upgrade it to move with the times. Very few companies can get away without change. It’s a part of life and over time the new Facebook layout will be appreciated. For now, click through it and stop complaining. It’s not that hard to learn!

Fraggle Squiggle Socks

With the Rockin Sock Club 2010 club shipments coming out for January, I decided it was time to finish the ones from 2009. I got on a sock kick and finished the May club from last year. The socks are the Fraggle Squiggle Socks by J.C. Brier. The colorway is Pepe La Plume.

I started these socks when they came in back in May and had completed the first sock back in November. I finally picked them back up and finished them last weekend. They were knit on size 2 double point needles.

The pattern wasn’t hard, but there was a lot to remember with it, so I never really put down the pattern. That’s not a bad thing though because the socks kept my mind busy but had small enough repeats that I could work on it in a group setting.

I adore all yarns that come out of Blue Moon Fiber Arts. They are so easy to knit with, so soft, and wear really well. The color doesn’t fade and I haven’t had a problem with the socks wearing out. While these have a bit of lace in them they should still hold up pretty strong.

I’m excited to move forward with the rest of the yarns from the sock club last year, as well as the ones from this year!

It’s that time again, the torch is lit, Vancouver is ready, and the events have started. The 2010 Winter Olympics bring about the 21st Winter Olympic Games. On a normal winter weekend I won’t be seen watching skiing, snowboarding, or even speed skating, but for the next 16 days the events will be on both my computer and TV as much as possible. Opening Ceremonies is what I consider my Super Bowl. I love watching the athletes march in, the singing, and finally the lighting of the torch.

Why is that?

As Georgia lost a teammate during training yesterday the games were off to a somber start. Last night, amidst the magic of the Opening Ceremonies we were reminded of the reality. Usually the most memorable moment of Ceremonies for me is the lighting of the torch. Last night, it wasn’t the torch (probably to the delight of the Olympic Committee), it was when the team from Georgia walked in. Not a smile on any of their faces, but probably the biggest supporting cheer of the night. Watching everyone in the stadium stand up and applaud in support, knowing the tragedy from earlier in the day. Being able to watch athletes from countries who didn’t know him wear black bands around their arms, the stadium share the moment of silence, and watch the lowering of the flags all in Nodar Kumaritashvili’s honor really showed the world coming together. To me, that’s what the Olympics are all about.

It’s not just for the sports either. Every four years the Yarn Harlot organizes The Knitting Olympics, so knitters can test their skills like the athletes do. For 16 days your push yourself on a project and in the end either achieve that gold medal or not. For the 17 days (starting with the Opening Ceremonies, ending with the Closing Ceremonies) you knit with the motto Citius, Alitius Fortius.

For 17 days every two years (Summer and Winter Olympics) we can put the fighting, the politics, and all of the junk going on in the world behind us and come together as one. As we sit in our living rooms or in front of our computers we watch as miracles happen and life long dreams are achieved. For the next 16 days, it doesn’t matter what your country’s government is doing, it doesn’t matter what religion you are or what color your skin is. For the next 16 days there will be plenty of excitement as we come together as one world.

Let the games begin!