I said I'd never do this but...

I'm knitting a sock. Egads. Not only am I knitting a sock but I explained the tiny bit of sock knitting I possess to a class of 6th grade science students I was subbing for. And a couple of them even said "cool".

But really, it is cool. A large part of my knitting is overcoming my fears and intimidating. No one should be afraid of sticks and string or trying new thing or possibly wasting large, large amounts of time. But I am sometimes, and I have been quite afraid of working with 5 needles all at once. I can't say I'm the grand master of it, but after a couple of weeks of a steep learning curve, I can say I am competent.

I have also learned some important things that they never tell you when you read instructions on how to knit with dpns.

1) Get wood sticks. Metal needles slide out really, really easily and make a lot of noise when they crash to the floor, though not enough to drown out your cursing when said needles drop out of your work for the millionth time.

2) Figuring out how to hold all of those things with their pointy pointy ends is no small feat. Rest the mess on the table.

3) Don't try to learn by knitting a Pinwheel Blanket, or any other project that starts with a tiny number of stitches. And if you ignore the warning, at the very least don't embark on this project while also trying to watch Elizabethtown which is an enjoyable movie worth giving your full attention.

I am making the Pedicure Sock in the persistent pink and olive colorway. (When I said earlier that these would be THE colors for fall, I didn't realize it would be because I would have a million yards of it to use up). Turning the heel looks a scare, but I have a few more inches to work up my courage.

Is This Anything?

I used to watch a lot of David Letterman back in the day. I was a huge fan...I'd make my own top ten lists, discovered new bands I liked through him, etc. Once, I even won tickets to his show in New York. Sadly, I didn't get to go because my plane didn't land in time, but that's another story.

Anyway, he had a segment for a while called "Is this Anything?". The curtain would raise up, and the audience would see, say, a pyramid made of Peeps or a girl grinding a saw against her armor-clad body. Then Letterman and Paul would debate whether or not the item in question was anything.

So here is my "Is this Anything?"...it's a top secret project that has been festering in my mind for a few months. It's just about done in the photo, and that's the only clue you get. If all goes according to plan, it will definitely be Something. Oh, the mystery!

Also, I have tentatively begun a foray into the darkness that is knitting with DPNs. Hopefully I will have something to show for it soon.

Cool Weather and Warm Necks

There's nothing like a quick, easy knit to soothe the beast that rages in all of us. It's even nicer when the beast gets soothed AND your neck gets warmed.

This is on its way to northern California to my sister that is in grad school and works part time on a farm. A regular scarf would unravel and dangle in the fertile soil or manure or whatever there is on a farm. I saw this on craftster ages back and have always wanted an excuse to make one.
So I'm quite happy with how it turned out and I hope she will be too. On a sadder note, I think my camera is on its way out. Like all of the stores, I will be thinking of Christmas early this year.