Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Sock Wars III 2008

I signed up for Sock Wars III, and the pattern was released on Friday, May 9. Well. It was not an ideal time for me to knit my weapons, because I had THINGS going on. I had to work on Friday, but I managed to cast on the pair on 2 circular needles. I had a little issue figuring out the INC1 in the pattern, but I decided to knit into the bar of the stitch below the next stitch first, then knit that stitch to complete the increase. It worked, so I went with it.

I used Tofutsies yarn on size 0 needles. My gauge was right on. I had to carry one stitch around on the fourth row of the pattern on the leg, but that was accomplished by hanging it on a hook style stitch marker and picking it up with the other needle when I came around.

I got a couple inches done on both socks on Friday night. I had to work on Saturday, but I took the train to Berkeley, 2-3/4 hours each way. So I knit all that time, and a little more when I got home. Sunday I had yoga in the morning, and the In Harmony's Way song session at my house in the afternoon, and then our Irish session at Latitudes that night. I couldn't really bail on any of it, so knitting on Sunday was pretty light.

Monday was another work day, but my husband had a colonoscopy that day. So I had a couple hours knitting in the waiting room. I managed to finish the heel flaps on both socks, and that night picked up for the gussets. Besides knitting, I had to pack, because I was leaving the next morning to visit my mother in Tennessee! I also split up the socks, and put one on waste yarn, and one on doublepoint bamboo needles, that I could bring with me on the plane.

I knit for 5-6 hours on the plane. I wasn't even interrupted by a meal, because they don't feed you anymore! I finished the first sock, but I didn't have a needle to kitchener the toe, so I got the other sock onto three of the needles, and left the other one on the first two. Mom picked me up at the airport in Nashville, and took me out for lunch and shopping at Opry Mills mall. It was after nine when we got home to Clarksville, and I tried to knit, but I was pretty wiped out.

I got up at 7 this morning, and knit until 11:30, when I had to stop. We went to a luncheon given by a group my Mom belongs to, The Students. It meets once a month, each member takes a topic, studies it, and gives a report on it. This was a special luncheon, so they didn't have a program. We got home about 2:30, and I began to close in on the second toe. I finished at 5pm on the dot, packaged up the socks and we drove to the UPS store. I decided second day was the most I was willing to spend on this, so they will arrive at my Target's door on Friday.

Here is my weapon:

This colorway really grew on me as I worked with it. It has navy blue, brown and olive green in it, and it's really quite nice. I tried the socks on my Mother's size 10 feet, and they fit perfectly.

Meanwhile, I got an email from my Assassin. She finished her weapon on Monday, and she lives in Indianna. She didn't say how she sent them, but posted a picture here. She tells me the yarn is Scholler and Stahl Fortissima colori socka color 4010, and I think it looks fabulous. I emailed her to let her know I am in Tennessee, but I will have my husband let me know when the package arrives, so I can post myself dead.

Can't wait to die, and get my cool new socks!