Finished Objects Friday: Socking it to ya!

Spelling out Finished Objects instead of writing FO was just as satisfying as actually completing a few things this past week.

I still can't believe how long it took me to pick up sock knitting.

Here is my finished pair of Hermione's Everyday socks or as I like to call them, "smart girl socks", cause you know, Hermione is hecka smart in those Harry Potter books and smart girls are what we all strive to be.

No matter how "easy" a patterned sock is, it takes me a while to wrap my head around it. I have to prep myself, for patterned sock knitting means, thinking knitting and thinking knitting means slow knitting.

But I do love the way they turned out.

Look at that gusset. Swoon. My name is Ellen and I love a hand knit sock.

On a side note, I used my karbonz US1s with Madelinetosh Sock and I think next time I tosh sock on US1 double point needles, I will use wood. I think I need a little more give with this yarn. Don't get me wrong, I love the yarn, but I felt like I had to work more with this specific combination.

Next up are a pair of Way Back When socks. These started off as a summer vacation knit ... LAST YEAR. I started working on these in Mexico at the end of last July, early August. I had just finished a shawl and was really tucking into this pair amidst the tropical scenery. Then my vacation was over and I was back in the world of keyboards and double monitors. I must've tucked away my summer vacation dreams until I felt summery again, because I found them in a pile of project bags.

I love this colorway. It's "splash" in Felici by Knitpicks, of course. Soft and dreamy and stockinette so it was a quick finish. These socks have a story. Even the boys think it's funny it took me a year to finish them.

WIP Wednesday: Reflections on a colorway

I managed to finish some socks over the holiday weekend and I openly admit to hoarding them until Friday when I can have a proper Friday FO post, ha!

Still feeling contrary about baby knitting I dug around for a bag in a bigger knitting bag (Am I the only one who does this? Nests (potential) projects within projects?) I pulled a lovely ball of yarn and said, "Socks! Good old fashioned stockinette socks!"

In two evenings (where no gym was involved and an excellent episode of  Case Histories) I managed to get about 62 rows in. I'm ready for the heel flap.

This is more like 37 rows, but I kept going!

But I've stopped. I've picked up the second short row section of the Twinleaf wrap. 

I think it's a good place to stop and mix up the project knitting, but honestly I think I'm not that in love with the way this yarn or more specifically this colorway is knitting up. I like it. I just don't love it. I think it is browner than I was expecting.  I was thinking it would be more lavender/gray, I suppose. Also this little bits of dye that gently pattern the stripes -- I think I'd prefer it without or have it mottled all the way through. I dunno. But looking at the ball and looking at the "stripes" my expectations have been ... surprised.

Here is a close-up of the yarn and colorway on the Simply Socks website. It is Trekking XXL.

Here is a photo of the ball of yarn next to it knit up. Everything feels more ... muted. It's a bit like July in San Francisco. Even the fireworks come with fog. 

Anyhow, I am sure I'll be ready to return to them after another section of Twinleaf. 

I'm working 60 sts on US 1.5s. I think you could go down to US1s, but I think that US 1.5 are my favorite size to knit socks with.

After this pair, I have my first pair of socks on magic loop that I need to get back to and maybe then ... I'll be ready for another baby knit.

Hope you are all well and getting some happy in, whatever form that may be ... but may I recommend some knitting? ;)

Fourth of July Weekend: The Food Edition

I hope you all had a good 4th of July weekend. I did. I managed to do a whole lot of nothing on the 4th. I went to the gym and they were doing a special holiday schedule and the class I took was 90 minutes long. I was useless the rest of the day. It's okay though, because when the boys went to go watch the fireworks I knit and watched some pretty craptastic cable.

First off for the weekend, I tried a new recipe. I have figured out that I'm kind of drawn to variations of the brownie cookie. So when I saw this one, I decided I could fit it into the weekend schedule. I let The Kid and his friend decide on the toppings. Sprinkles always win, but mint chocolate chips and butterscotch were also used and so were an unusual combination of all those things ... hmm. I saw in the comments of the recipe that after filling the wells of the mini muffin pans some bakers piped the remaining batter into circles. This is exactly what I did on parchment paper and I would probably do this again especially if I were going to use this batter for ice cream sandwiches. Ooooo!

Also up for the patriotic weekend were some ribs. Remember how I like to complain that I do not have a grill so I must constantly compensate? Smitten Kitchen had a recipe that spoke to the complainer (that's me) and I have to tell you they really turned out quite well. I did reduce the brown sugar, because the household is not super crazy about the too sweet mixed with the savory. We used some gourmet BBQ sauce on the side though we did try to make a bit of the sauce recommended in the recipe. It reduced too salty, but I admit to sprinkling a bit on my husband's potato salad. Hey guess what internet, it turns out I might not be so anti potato salad after all. Is it the dill pickle and the lack of hard boiled egg? I dunno. But I ate it and I liked it. :)

What are your feelings about potato salad? What's your favorite summer salad? I admit, I had planned on making pesto pasta salad with olives and bell peppers and artichoke hearts but I didn't really do much that day. I sort of acquired the goods, left the recipe out and mentioned this is what I wanted to make. It seemed while I took a shower and a nap (apparently I like naps and potato salads now. Who said your 40s aren't full of new adventures?) the Manfriend decided to rub the ribs and salad some potatoes. Once I was socially engaged again I sort of consulted with him from my knitting chair as he continued to execute and implement the meal.

It was impressive. "I'd" do this again. I'm really grateful that Smitten Kitchen provided various oven temperatures for different times. She's fantastically practical in her way of knowing you think you're going to have plenty of time for "slow and low" and then suddenly it's only a short period of time you have left. We opted to take the foil off the last 10 minutes and crank it to 400 to kind of crisp them up. They weren't crispy  crispy, but they were definitely good.

Lastly in the highlights of holiday weekend eating at home. I've featured these before, but I think they are becoming a summer food ...



Korean BBQ Shortribs. I know, I know, you're all asking, "But how, Ellen?!? You just told us for the 80th millionth time you don't have a grill! Did you GO OUTSIDE to a park where there is sunlight and people?!?"

hahaha, seriously I'm laughing at YOU now, silly Internet!

No! We used  our handy dandy cast iron skillet. The big one, because that's what the Man Friend wanted for some gift giving occasion last year.

It's just store bought marinade, but jazzed up with some cloves of garlic, white onion, and green onion and a little black pepper. When it's time to put them in your skillet, pull all the marinade bits off so they don't burn.

It creates this carmelization that makes you worry if your cast iron skillet will survive, but it's totally worth it. Just don't wait too long to clean your skillet :)

Maybe what made this meal taste so ... well, tasty, was that we made it together in the kitchen. I made the stir fried cabbage with a little fish sauce, garlic and white pepper and The Kid helped us make some home made karaage from 2 boneless skinless thighs that had to be cooked.  We rounded it out with some more left over veggies and steamed rice. It was a simple meal from a happy kitchen.

What did you eat over the weekend? I don't care if you're not American, I assume it was still July 4th everywhere and at some point and you ate, ha! I hope you ate well. And don't forget! Tell me and the rest of our pals about your summer salads!

The Wednesday Whatknot

Hello? Is it me you're looking for ...

Or maybe just some good old fashioned knitting?

I have been rather busy lately personally and professionally and unable to spend time in the blogosphere as I'd like. But rest assured. I'm good, my people are good,  I'll be around to visit soon and ... why yes, yes I have been knitting.

Today we're going to talk about a little bit about TWINLEAF

I took a break from it to finish some baby knitting. Then the plan was to do some more baby knitting, and then literally there were TWO MORE people that I found out are going to have small people. You're killing me, people. Seriously, get some cats, how am I ever going to knit something non "wee-sized" again?

Babies are born. Babies are going to keep growing on the inside and getting born and well ... they have to wait because Ellen needs to do some summer knitting that can fit something larger than a potato!

Well I'm a rebel (ask my mother, I think she's still recovering from my youth) so I'm working on my  shawl.

Here are some highlights:

I am doing the EXACT yarn and color combinations as described in the pattern notes. Why? Because I lack imagination and I thought it was pretty.

But in all my exactness ...

* For some reason I didn't notice in the project notes where people said that it really required 3 hanks of the Main Color. So ... I sent off for another hank of yarn. I haven't really eyeballed how close the dye lots are, because I just can't feel disappointed now. Also it's gray, I'm hoping the dyelots are forgivable. shh! cross your fingers and let me dream!

* The gray yarn seems to bleed a little when my paws have been working on it for a bit. Will be interesting to see how the color of this fibre company holds after it's blocking.

* The initial border is 40 rows of 340 stitches. Yeah, it was some serious garter stitch. I was ready to work on something else at that point. (baby sweater)

* I'm almost done with the first short row section after the initial border. It's been fun. I'm already thinking how I'd modify it to make the stripes of contrast color wider a second go and what possible color combinations I would do.

* I went up a needle size. I'm using US6 because I'm usually a fairly tight knitter. Hmm. No, maybe it's because I feel like all my shawls and wraps could be a tad bigger. Well ...

* It's gonna be a big baby. I mean huge. In the pattern she says it blooms. Oh dear.

Friday Finish FYI: I still loathe sewing buttons on.

So my friends, I managed to sew some buttons on The Henry Sweater.

I've been telling everyone and anyone who will listen I am not sure how I feel about the double-breasted look and functionality. Feels kinda fussy for a small gassy person.

I do love the old man look of it.

Shaking your fist at the kids to get off your porch pose ...

Ellen the Knitter, lovin' the old man look since the 70s

I think I actually wanted to knit something different with this yarn since I have quite a bit left over, but that's okay. I think the pattern looks good in the Plymouth Tweed. And of course, now I'm in the middle of an obligatory extra yarn hat. I think I'd like to wrap this gift in a receiving blanket just to be cute. Too try hard?

Word on Ellen street is an old co-worker has also had a little boy this month. Perhaps I should try to knit him another baby sweater eh? As you know Baby Sophisticate is my go to, but I'm not in the mood. I hear that the Gramps cardigan is great, but looking at all those cables is giving me hives. I want to turn something out quickly and get back to my summer shawls and socks and things I will start but may never finish this calendar year ;)

I'm looking at Oscar right now. Maybe Harvest. But then if I'm really concerned about time and I have adequate striping quantity, it might have to be another  little coffee bean.

Thoughts, feelings or other recommendations are always considered and appreciated.

Cast on, Cast off: Cast Cozy

My friend at work broke her foot while exercising. She was doing some light warm up jogging and she felt that, "something".

Ugh.

Sure enough it was a clean break. I'm not sure, but it sounded like a stress fracture, which doesn't surprise me. She's been super active and athletic since she was just a wee lass. Did I mention she's a black belt? Yeah ... 

Anyhow, a life of crutches and cast for 6 weeks  ... I wanted to make her something that would I dunno, show some supportive spirit and maybe keep the bottom of her cast from getting too dirty. 

Originally I got it into my head to just knit a giant tube and then when I did a circumference test over her cast, I realized how awkward it would look. So ... I thought, GIANT SOCK! Also this way she keeps her toes and heel cozy! Cast cozy!

I used some worsted acrylic I had in my stash.

I dropped it off at her office while before I left for the river. I asked her to send me a few photos for knitting friends. I'm so glad it fit!

But what's more hysterical is that it seems her beautiful but ginormous cat person has decided to claim it. What's up with Cats & Yarn? 

Back to the real world, but I'm definitely in summertime mode

Re-entry to work was not too bad. I admit I was not at full speed. I managed to be late a few minutes and still forgot my headphones. I'm like a teenager where I need some secondary stimulation to work "in the zone." You know, like knitting with the t.v. on or an audiobook...

Anyhow today was also the first day of soccer camp for The Kid, so you know I was worried about getting him ready for his ride (which was coming after I left the apartment). He was fine, but I was still fussing. I actually went back to the apartment after a block away to confirm he packed a water bottle (it's a warm day) and I was secretly glad he hadn't so I had a reason to validate my sMothering.

The Manfriend and I both agreed our week at the Russian River was a success. We enjoyed it, we are not going to get divorced, we still like children ours, as well as others. We were active with some canoeing, swimming and hiking, and we were lazy loungers with knitting, video gaming and movie watching and reading. Lots of card playing. I might have a Rummy 500 problem. More than once I grilled a few 11 and 12 year olds on their "point totals". I concede these children probably have better math skills than me. :)

While at the river, I showed you we cooked a lot, I baked a lot. I tried to make homemade things that even if they were sweet, were at least, made with stuff that wasn't too manufactured. I really didn't eat much of it. Somehow I don't really indulge in my own baked goods that much, except for really large chocolate chip cookies. I kind of want to make out with them. They make excellent "bread" for ice cream sandwiches. swoon. I'll have to do that ... soon. 

Oh wait where was I in the ramble?

But now, I am back in "the real world" of responsibilities and other people not wearing beachesque gear, I have a bit of a tan. I wore a dress and espadrilles to work. I have fully embraced summer.

However all I can think about is ice cream and junk food. Ugh! I know right? What's wrong with me? Hot weather and fatty foods are a big no no! Even if you're a skinny minnie that stuff can make you feel heavier and more bloated than you are. 

I'm so conflicted! As I was walking out at lunch, I caught myself thinking about trying to lap swim a bit this summer and then I also thought, a frapuccino with whipped cream and chocolate sauce would be like celebrating my birthday at lunchtime. I thought it would be okay if I just had that for lunch. (but technically I ate my lunch before lunch time so you know, it wasn't as if I was forgoing anything, ha!)

Now I explain this to you, because it's not really a healthy eating tirade, mindful of moderation. blah bitty blah. I'm not going to boss anyone around that. Crap, I can't even boss myself around on that, obviously. I think what is interesting here is that I so clearly associate summertime with junk food. 

I actually read a review for Smoreos. Did you know this? This is a thing? Smore flavored Oreos? Now there are two sets of people. One who are pretty grossed out about this and probably not huge packaged foods/Oreo people anyhow, and that's okay. And then there are the other half, that are like me and known to dabble in the, "I know that sounds crazy but I think i have to try it." sphere.

Color me crazy. I'm going to sneak a try this week. I will bring them to the office so I can see how my co-workers feel about it. I live with 2 people that are in the "pretty grossed out" category, so they would go to waste at home.

Next up, moving on from my appetite for destruction to my appetite for construction (Guns n' Roses -- anyone? anyone?) I will show some knitting this week. I've got a cast cozy I made for a friend of mine who broke her foot. I also finished knitting Henry's Sweater, which requires some button sewing and blocking before I post on it. It's doing the edge curling thing that makes me twitchy when I look at it. I swear, it better block out! Also I managed to cast on for Twinleaf. 

It's sMiles of garter stitch and shaping up to be a relaxing summer knit. But I think I'm only half way on the border right now, so it's early days.

Hope you are all well and enjoying the beginning of June whether you're knitting, eating junk food or going for your 10k steps. Be happy in hearts and minds.