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.

We Interrupt This Program For Protective Goggles

Class starts next week, but my chemistry class doesn't actually begin until the beginning of February. That's OK, I'm still ready to do science!

I just need to loose the necklace and tie up my hair.

Speaking of science, I landed a job as an Instructional Materials Center Assistant at my local college.  I'll prepare materials for lab experiments and procedures for various science labs.  I'll also keep inventory and clean lots of test tubes.  

I told the husband it's a perfect job for me; I'll get to handle lab materials and interact with various faculty in the science departments.  Tomorrow I'll learn how to use the autoclave!

In the meantime, work on the licorice stick socks continue.  They've been getting a lot of love on Ravelry and it motivates me to keep working on them.