hot times, summer in the city

This weekend was hot!  Steamy hot, bright sunny hot, the kind of hot that many crazy people move to Southern California to enjoy; the kind of hot that makes me want to stay inside, safe from the sun's rays, with a fan pointed directly in my direction, complaining about how hot it is.  Which is exactly what I had planned for this Sunday, until Julia gave me an offer I couldn't refuse- a shady patio, flowing margaritas, and the chance to meet the lovely and talented Marnie, a knitblogger I frequently stalk!  (Marnie and Julia- you two look so darn cute in this picture- I hope the lack of photo pre-approval is OK- I'm trying to break a speed record with this blog entry)  I am not in the picture, as the shots that included me reminded me why I haven't worn a miniskirt in public since college.  Lets just say I whipped out the self-tanner yesterday.  Everything is much better now, thankyouverymuch.  Show-and-tell with other knitters is always fun-  I got to see Marnie's Wyvern socks in person, and they are lovely indeed.  Julia is obviously having a little seaming party in the photo...  As for me, I went into some kind of knitting timewarp, in which two hours and most of a sleeve just flew by.  So now my Hourglass-esque sweater looks like this:

That's almost a sweater, folks!  I am very interested to see how the Trinity blocks... um, no, I didn't block my swatch.  The sweater is very thin and is draping very nicely.  So far, I've only opened 5 balls of yarn- and two of them are in the picture.  I'm guessing I'll need another ball before it ends- bringing the grand total to 6 balls.  Gotta love that.  Even though it will be at least another month before I'll be able to wear it, I'm feeling nicely motivated.  I'm knitting another raglan-in-the-round at work (for one of the creepy models mannequins) and I've decided that the next time I make one, I'm doing the sleeves first.  It was kind of a buzz kill to cruise through the body, mentally think... oooh, I just need to attach the sleeves... and then have to knit the suckers.  But then again, that's knitting, right?  Sometimes (especially in the case of the second stockinette sleeve) there is a great deal of just slugging through.  And for that part of the process, margaritas help.  A lot.  For me.  Whatever works for you is great.  Margaritas work for me.  I'm just sayin'.

This week, though, I'm starting to feel another knitting deadline- Sockapal2za!  September is right around the corner (how did that happen?  When did that happen?  What happened?) and I am determined to mail my socks off in a timely fashion.  I started the Padded Footlets from Interweave Knits last week.  I adore these socks.  Chocolate brown Koigu (mmmmm.... solid Koigu....) with a pretty multi color (alas, the label and record of the colorway is long, long gone).  These are not the quickest socks I've ever knit- the padded bottoms do take time- but they are so pretty.  The lace chart on the instep is easy enough to memorize after 1 repeat, and so are the steps for the sole padding.  The design is fantastic- short rows in the ribbing along the back of the heel (to stop annoying southward sock traveling), a lace chart on the heel, knit rows along the color changes to keep the stripes straight, and of course the cushy padding.  I love a well-thought out design.  I'll make these socks again- for myself!

I've also finished knitting the baby sundress- maybe.  I'm pretty sure I want the ruffle at the bottom to be more... well, more ruffly!  I need to make a trip to Michael Levine's for some ribbon and a small bit of fabric-  I want to face the insides of the seed stitch on the top with ribbon, and use the same ribbon as ties on the shoulder, so that the dress is adjustable.  As for the fabric, this dress is just calling out for a little heart applique on the front.  The color, a lovely purple, is remarkably accurate on my computer.  I have yet to weave in the ends on the skirt/ruffle... I may not decide whether or not to rip until the rest of the details are in.  Usually, if I think I may want to rip, I just do it right then and get it over with.  But I do think it is cute as is... I just wonder if it would be even cuter with a little more flounce.  What I don't want is for the dress to be too precious- which is why I'm inclined to wait until after the ribbons and hearts are added before I make a final to-rip-or-not-to-rip choice.  Anyone have thoughts or ruffle opinions? 

Comments

[Marnie]

Oh, I had fun too. I love all your pieces. I think you'll be able to wear the sweater sooner than you think, it's so light and breezy.
As for the little dress, I think it's really nice as is. A bigger ruffle would look great, but I don't think it needs it. My 2¢
~m

[Carrie]

The dress is so cute! and the sweater looks fab. and the socks. you've got all sorts of things going on! Sounds fun hanging out with Marnie and Julia - there are so many cool West Coast bloggers!

[Julia]

I think I know who will accompany you to Michael Levine. Love the WIPs. I think those footlets are my favs.

[Mary Snyder]

Glad you like the sock design. I love the color band/Koigu combination.

[Laina]

The projects look great! I tried doing the padded footlets twice, and though I loved the pattern, I just couldn't make them come out right. The short rows on the heel threw me off because they weren't centered (at least in my version), and when I had the first sock half-way done it wouldn't fit over my heel! It's sitting in a bag, waiting to be ripped out. I hope you have better luck!

[kat]

leave the ruffle as is. when you finish all the other details it will be so prety.