I've got five socks!

I have no idea how this happened, but I somehow ended up with no less than five separate socks all on the needles, all at the same time, all nowhere near finished. I have photographic evidence of the unfortunate situation I'm currently in:
From right to left, that's Domovina (Ravelry link,) the purple Trekking XXL sock that is still somehow nameless (but heading your way soon, so look out,) GothSock no. 2 (Ravelry link,) and the first of a pair of FroggySox (Ravelry link,) because I succumbed to the lure of New Yarn (I went camping and needed an engaging yet mindless project to take along. Also, I'm on a chartreuse kick.)

The astute members of my audience will, no doubt, see that something is slightly amiss. They will notice that there are only four pairs of socks documented above and not the originally stated five. I applaud you, astute audience members, for you are not wrong! There are five pairs, but I can't yet show you Number Five. This is because she is going to be the September pattern in Three Irish Girls' Sock Yarnista Club. I can tell you that her name is Eurydice (Ravelry link,) and that she's knit with Three Irish Girls Adorn Sock in Baltic Sea. Luckily, of the five wayward socks she's the closest to being finished.
And what did I do today, rather than complete (or even work on) any of these unfinished darlings? I buzzed around the city (in vain) trying to locate a wire soap dish (for those of you looking, there are none to be had in the Windsor area, and I am beyond annoyed by this fact. Anyway.) This means I'm off to spend some Quality Time with the socks. I'm attacking Eurydice first, and after that I'm just going to close my eyes and point to help me decide which to work on next. It's as good a way as any!

Polska mittens, ready for you!

They were finished and polished and posted kinda late last night because I was just so excited to get them out there, but it's true -- the Polska mittens (Ravelry link} have been released!

It's been a long time since I've done a mitten pattern of my own, and it feels good! Ok, that sounded a little dirty. You'll all forgive me my early-morning post-silliness when you see the mitten-type that is Now Officially In Production. Polska is going to have to be a little lonely for a while (poor mitten!) but the wait will be worth it. Trust me.

Mitten! Mitten!!

Would you believe that the Polska mittens pattern could be out tonight? I'm having a hard time believing it myself!

Stay tuned -- I'll post details as soon as possible.

ETA: Polska is up! I was so busy getting everything in order I forgot to post about it. Enjoy!

That's how they do it in Warsaw...

...or at least in Boleslawiec, Poland's Town of Ceramics. Yes, my European-folk-art-itch is being scratched again. (On a semi-related note, the title for this post has been unceremoniously lifted from a Martin Tielli song (lyrics here, scroll down.) If you are not familiar with Mr. Tielli or the band he was a part of--the Rheostatics--I suggest that you rectify this immediately. Yes, I am using parentheses within parentheses! Somebody stop me!)

I have another new mitten-in-progress to show you, despite not having knit a stitch on the poor Domovina socks since the last time you saw them.

This is Polska (Ravelry link,) which will eventually be a pair of Latvian-type colourwork mittens. It's the result of staring at my favourite mug (a piece of Polish stoneware) a little too long. I just love the folky colours and pattern; it's so simple and perfect. I can't believe how well the pattern translates in mitten-form!

The pattern for Polska will be put out there as as soon as possible (hopefully.) Mitten season will be here before we know it.

I just can't help it--I see the potential for mittens everywhere! Hopefully the next time you see Polska she'll be finished. Then you can be subjected to the Mitten That Snuck Up On Me While I Was Out For A Walk.

You want New Sock?

I suspect that I burned myself out last month because it's been something close to painful for me to pick up the needles lately. This couldn't have happened at a more inopportune time, as I'm test knitting a new sock pattern and I CAN'T WAIT to make it available to all you lovely knitters.

This is Domovina (or rather, what there is of Domovina so far) posing with Oompah Bear. If all goes well I'll be releasing further pictures (and the pattern proper) within the next week. Fingers crossed that I can keep myself away from Final Fantasy XII and The Fall of the Kings long enough to meet my tentative deadline.

There's a new mitten on the way as well!

Finished mitts, felted bags, etc.

Look what took forever to finish:They're done! I'm thrilled. Now I can get on with the two new patterns that I'm working on.

The plan today was to work on my new sock pattern so that I'd be able to show a first glimpse here, but...it just didn't happen. Maybe it will tonight. Instead, I updated my Etsy shop with some goodies:

It's nice to have things I've made up for sale again. I know a lot of people have been interested in those little bags that I posted today. Here's hoping that they find new homes soon.

Saving You from Second Sock Syndrome Since...Today.

I've got a special treat for you today, especially if you (like me,) suffer from Second Sock Syndrome. I've just listed three very special kits featuring three of my sock patterns in my Etsy shop.
What makes these kits so special? Well, there is only one of each available, and they all feature ONE completely knit sock. This means that should you decide to pick one up all you have to knit is the mate and you'll have a complete pair. If only all sock knitting worked this way! The kits come in three flavours: Kethry, Flannery and Yukari. All feature one complete sock (knit by me and coincidentally the prototype sock used in designing and writing their respective patterns,) a copy of the pattern, enough yarn to make a second sock (and complete the pair) and the numbers I used so that you'll be able to produce an exact matching sock.You can't ask for an easier sock experience! As I've been told that my sock patterns tend to be a little more complex than most, this would be a good opportunity to try your hand at one. The commitment normally required to produce a pair of socks is automatically cut in half!Each sock is knit to fit US Ladies' sizes 7-9, though the lacy socks may have a bit more give to them as their patterns are stretchy. I can provide exact measurements or more details should anyone require them.
I'll post links to the kits in the sidebar to the right for quick and easy access. Remember, there is only one of each kit, so when they're gone, they're gone!

The Campus Scarf is Done, boys, and it's so lonely on a limb.

I can hardly believe it, but after languishing for over one year the Campus Scarf is done! The ends have even been woven in! I'm over-using exclamation points!

I ended up doing six full repeats instead of the pattern's recommeded seven, but the scarf is longer than its recipient is tall, so I figured the extra foot and a half won't be terribly missed. I think I might be even more excited about the scarf than its recipient is. I'm not surprised.

In other news, I am pleased to report that I will be finishing the thumb on Snowball Fight with Robert Smith mitten no. 2 this afternoon. One Xmas knitting project down...who knows how many more to go.

Also, I've started desgining again, and there is a new sock and a new mitten in the works, so watch out for those coming soon.

Purple Reign.

It seems that everything I've been making lately (or have been intending to make lately,) has been purple. I have no idea what this means, but it sure is pretty.

This is the first of the mittens that I can't help but call Snowball Fight With Robert Smith:

That's one of the patterns from Latvian Mittens toned down and gothed up in minimal purple and black. The good news is that not only are these the first of my Xmas knitting (I always start in June,) but that the second one is half done! I am making good time.

Of course, the mittens stalled about halfway through due to a real need for some plain Stockinette sockery:

Meet GothSock no. 1, which has since been completed. This could be Xmas knitting as well, but it might get gifted to its giftee long before then. I suppose it would help if I started GothSock no. 2, seeing as how the giftee has more than one foot.

I skipped the heel flap on this one in favour of a short row heel. I'm still not totally sure about bailing on heel flaps entirely, as I don't think I'm as good at short row heels as I'd like to be -- I always end up with these stupid holes between the heel and the instep when I start the rest of the sock, and even when I pick up enough stitches I'm always convinced that it looks odd. This might just mean that I need a little more practice. Well, there is GothSock no.2...

Then, of course there's this mess:

More purple! This was originally intended to be a pair of Keefley Mittens but then the pattern either turned on me, or I turned on it and I decided to forget the pattern entirely. Just because something is pretty and in front of one's face doesn't mean one has to knit it! Besides, I have a house full of mitten patterns to choose from -- this might be why this still hasn't turned into mittens.

This combination deviates slightly from the all-purple theme, but please recall that green was my last colour-rut-of-choice. There are no surprises here!

These innocent looking bits of wool are going to be coaxed into becoming Selbu mittens. I have fnally received my copy of Selbuvotter and I can't wait to dive right in. I just have a couple of things to finish off, first.

I also finished my Folky Mittens. They don't initally look purple, but that dark colour on the cuffs and palm is called "Merlot Heather" and looks maroony in person, so it might actually count.


Finally, a picture of the mitten in action, to show the length of the cuff and the actual fit:

I'm pleased with how they turned out. I fear the only problem I'm going to have this winter is deciding on which pair to wear!

Mittens, both finished and Finnish.

The first Folky Mitten (Ravelry link) is done:
Please note that this is the palm side of the mitten -- find that thumb! I am also pleased to report that I'm nearly up to the finger decreases on the second one. There will be no talk of the ten million ends that need to be sewn in. None.

Being nearly finished a pair of mittens is a very fortunate place to be for all concerned, really. Look what came in the mail last week:
This is the much-coveted Haavisto mitten book, originally published in Finland way back in the middle of the last century. Naturally, I fell in love with it at first sight.

Now the challenge was how to actually get my hands on the book. I knew it was in Finnish (which I unfortunately can't read) but had fantastic charts, and I had picked up in passing that it was out of print. Ok, I thought, this might complicate things a little. This is clearly evidence of how the Internet and its ability to provide me with myriad far-flung rarities has skewed my perception.

Imagine my shock and amazement when I read (in my own mitten community, of all places!) that Anne (Ravelry link) -- she blogs here -- had access to reprinted copies of the book and was offering to send them to mitten enthusiasts around the globe. I immeadiately contacted her and in a few short days (Finnish post is fast!) I had my copy in my hands. It is a fabulous book, and I expect it to keep me busy for quite some time. Socks may even end up taking a back seat to mittens this summer.