Janurary Ravelry Sockdown Socks!

I didn't feel compelled to post anything until my second Licorice sock was done.  I've already posted pictures of the first one, so doing the same for the second would seem redundant.  

I finished it yesterday night which means it's time to post!  It also means that I could win a fabulous prize if my name is picked.  There are twelve different prizes to be given away and they are all really nice.  Even if I don't win anything, I now have these awesome pair of socks and I proved that I can knit a pair within two months.  

Here's the stats:

Pattern: Licorice Stick Socks

Source:  The Twist Collective Magazine.  The pattern is $6 and is specifically here.

Yarn:  Dream In Color Starry from The Loopy Ewe.

Colorway:  Dusky Aurora

Needles:  Size 1 bamboo dpns

I memorized the four row pattern repeat after knitting it a few times.  I like the linen stitch heel too; it was a nice change from others I have done.  They fit snugly; overall I am pleased with the outcome. Also, as my husband loves to point out, they sparkle!

So...what now?  I'm going to leave sock knitting behind for now and completely focus on the Rogue pullover.  I also want to re-knit a hat for my husband that he lost in Chicago.  I just need to grab the pattern and get the right kind of yarn.  I'm a broke college student and might hold off until later until I can walk into a yarn shop without crying.

We will get quite a nice tax refund though.  I have to be a good girl and squirrel it away since I'm not making the big bucks as a college student.  

I have been doing other things...like getting more yarn.  I know right?  Why am I getting more yarn if I'm broke?  It all goes back to the Yarn Pirate Booty Club.  It's a GREAT club and the dyer is awesome and super-nice.  She just keeps accidentally sending me more yarn.  That's not why I say she's nice...it has nothing to do with that.  I thought she was nice long before I joined the club.

I tell her every month about the error, but she just tells me to keep it.  I feel pretty conflicted about it; I shouldn't be getting this lovely yarn that she's worked so hard on.  It's pretty yarn that I get to keep though...it's a moral dilemma.

Just look at it.  It's such a weird position to be in.  The top colorway is Plum Pudding, the middle is called Hope, and the last is Daffodilly.  

When I'm not knitting or stashing yarn, I'm being a human calculator.  I've got to study for algebra and run some calculations for my chemistry lab...so that's all for now!

One Licorice Down, One To Go

A finished sock approaches.  Command?

I've got to hand it to the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry.  Their monthly sockdown challenge has motivated me to knit this in 19 days.  I don't think I've knit a sock so fast.  I do have extra time between college and my job, but I'm still proud of myself.  I went from one year to less than a month.

It's very possible I'll finish the pair by the end of February and win fabulous prizes!

Once this is over, I'm going to sit out a challenge or two and pick up work on Rogue again.  I'm just starting the cable work around the collar.

On a side note, my friend Larry Oji described me as 'Kristi Kaufman, kickass knitter'.  I like that; one of the most gratuitous uses of the letter 'K' I've ever seen.  Sure...my husband composed the soundtrack for Contra 4.  I guess that's kind of a big deal, but I'm a kickass knitter!

Yeah.. :)

Heel and Turn

I love turning heels on socks.  It's when a top down sock really starts looking like a sock to me.  That and it's a simple technique with a neat effect.

I'm working on the gusset decreases now.

On a side note, I heard this at work today.

"We need more buckets for body parts."

We store the dissection specimens for the natural science classes.  If a lab needs a few eyeballs or hearts to dissect, we put them in buckets and cart them off to class.

So, as odd as that sounds, it's really completely normal!

Leg of Licorice

I started the Licorice Stick Socks on January 1st and have completed the leg of one sock so far.

I start school and my job tomorrow, but I hope I can keep up the pace.  This knit is going pretty fast for me, but hey...the yarn is really pretty.  There are silver slivers throughout the yarn, but I can't capture it on camera.

I Can't Decide

I've decided to participate in Sockdown: Ravelry! for the month of January.  I need to use up the tubs of sock yarn I have try to keep the construction of a pair of socks under two years.

January's theme is beaded socks, socks from an online magazine, or a mystery sock pattern by Emmie.  I really don't care for beads on my socks and I didn't want to deal with the uncertainty of a mystery pattern this time.  I'll be travelling in early January.

Searching through the internets has led me to the Licorice Stick Socks from Twist Collective.  It's in many Ravelry queues, but no one has started a pair yet.  For you Ravelers, the pattern link is here.

I pulled my sock yarn tubs out of the closet and started throwing sock yarn all over the bed.  I can't just look at photos of my yarn, I need to touch it and see it for myself.  I've narrowed it down to five...which one should I use?

1.  Yarn Pirate in 'Hard Cider'.  This was the "Booty" Club for last September.

2.  Socks That Rock Lightweight in 'Lenore' from the Rockin' Sock Club.

3.  Brooks Farm Acero in a denim colorway.  There isn't a specific color name on the tag.  I purchased this at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

4.  Dream In Color Starry in 'Tea Party'.  This was purchased at The Loopy Ewe.

5.  Dream In Color Starry in 'Dusky Aurora'.  This was also purchased at The Loopy Ewe.

I can't decide.  It takes me ten minutes just to decide what to eat at a fast food joint.