Monkeying Around

I am glad to say that I have finished the Monkey socks! I managed to graft the toe of the second sock differently than the first, and you can tell I became more comfortable with the gusset the second time around ... but they're done!So final information:
2.75mm dpns
Size: 10 in Women's
Not even a whole skein of Zitron Trekking Handart in the Brazil colorway
Officially started: April 4, 2008
Officially finished: December 27, 2008
(to save face, I should state that over the months I switched needles, lost needles, misplaced the pattern, got eaten up by knitting presents, was sick...)

Its back...

As I was about to sit down and watch the final episode of series three (Doctor Who --- what else?), I realized I was finished with the DNA scarf (I had woven in the ends). If I did not have anything to knit while watching the Doctor, I was going to go absolutely bonkers.

I pulled my knitting basket in, ready to find the silk and mohair Edgar I started working on back in April ... and found my 2.75 US dpn.

My missing 2.75 US dpn.

Baby, the Monkey sock is back. With any luck, I'll be modeling my finished pair by Christmas Eve.

Since y'all been so patient...

Here are some photos.

Trish's Scarf:

The Second Monkey Sock:

The view from the beach by my house:

The Most AMAZING Cupcake Ever from the Culinary Institute of America (thanks Mom!):

Washington Square

Second Monkey sock is coming along! This picture was taken Thursday afternoon in Washington Square Park. I finished the first lace repeat on the leg this evening.

Trouble on the Green Sea

And this, my dear readers, is why I have not made progress on my second Monkey sock. Tangled, utterly tangled ball of yarn. I'm almost done untangling it (with a pin. I need a PIN!) and then I can cast on (for the umpteenth time) and have a finished sock.

A sock, a sock, my kingdom for a sock!

Guess what I finished yesterday?

One of my girlfriends had tapestry needles on hand *and* a copy of Stitch 'N Bitch. With the tapestry needle and the step-by-step instructions for grafting I was able to finish sock 1 of the Monkey Socks. And it fits beautifully!

And if Glenna C ever hosts a webinar on Using Your Own Feet to Model Knitted Socks, I would totally take it.

Cleverness

Turning the heel of a sock always makes me feel incredibly clever. After working on the heel flap, turning the heel suddenly transforms my knitting into something that is 3D on one needle. It amazes me every time.

Secret projects

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about my monkey sock :) In fact, here's Crazy Black Sheep modeling for you...

However, I have several secret projects that I am working on.

One which needs to be finished very soon, two for Christmas, one for February, and one that will take me a while, so I can't put a time line on it yet. But it must be finished before the weather gets warm ... next year. And those, my dear readers, are all my clues.

The "Wrong" Side of Besotted and a health update

This post is primarily for Jessica, who wanted to know what the "wrong" side of cables looked like. Not scary at all! Kinda endearing, in a weird, other-side-of-the-cables way.

In other knitting news, I'm finished the cuff for my first Monkey. Later today I'll start the leg. I'm trying to resist the combined siren calls of Old Navy, Michaels, the library, the bookstore, the mall... this whole being home to convalesce is driving me a little crazy. (But when I do go out to do something, like tag along with my dad to Price Club, I have to take a 2 and a half hour nap afterward. Bummer)

On the health front, I heard back from the ENT doctor ... and I do not have the feared strep throat or tonsillitis. In fact (and this might be Too Much Information), there was no bad bacteria in my throat.

Basically, my throat decided to swell to such magnificent, agonizing proportions, because of the Mystery Virus.

I think I'll be rebellious tonight and make chocolate chip cookies ... with milk chocolate, white chocolate, and slices of dark chocolate truffles.

Frogging

Well, not yet. In an hour or so.

The Monkey sock does not fit, it's too tight around the ankle. I bought size 2.75 dpns today, and I'm planning to restart the sock. Thankfully, the sock has me just a *little* obsessed, so I should be okay. :)

Obviously, I won't have a finished pair by the end of the month!

I did knit a few rows on Edgar this past weekend though, and I just love the feel of the silk and mohair running through my fingers.

The Monkey Sock and I go uptown

So, I've been knitting the Monkey socks pretty non-stop. While being fitted for a new bra at the Town Shop yesterday, I probably got a raised eyebrow or two from my fitter, for almost every time she came with a different bra for me to try on, there's me, knitting away, standing up.

I went up to Columbia yesterday, and here is the Monkey sock with the Butler Library in the background. I had one little boy ask me what I was doing. He was adorable.

As you can clearly see, I've already turned the heel, picked up gusset stitches, and am happily marching towards the toe.

Except ...

I tried to put the sock on today, on my left foot. I wear a size 10 shoe in womens. All other socks I have made have fit me.

I can't get it on. So, here I am, with this gorgeous sock yarn, this gorgeous sock, and I have no idea if it will fit me. Do I finish it, try to put it on again? Do I see if these will fit my mother? Is my tension too tight (is that why this is happening)?

Monkeying around

Monkey has completely taken over my knitting life. Currently working on the heel flap. I may have the first sock done in the next two weeks! (Maybe sooner, I'll be logging a bit of public transportation time soon)

I did try the Magic Loop, for about an hour. I am no longer terrified of it. However, once I'm done picking up gusset stitches, then I'll put the sock on the circular needle.

Spent yesterday at the beach, sans knitting, but running around with my niece and nephew.

Never too early...

...to start thinking about Christmas. According to my desktop widget, there's 262 days until Christmas.

Since I'm just a little in love with brooklyntweed's photographs of the Urban Aran, I thought I would knit it up for my brother, in a show of sisterly-love and daring (especially since this would be my first sweater).

Except my brother doesn't really wear sweaters. However! he would love a long white scarf. Grumperina has a free pattern on Ravelry (so dude, if you're reading this, hah hah! You can't see the picture!).

Since joining Ravelry in the past two weeks, I now have a ridicolously long list of queued knitting projects, most with notes - "show MarySusan (genome socks)" - "knit for next baby in family" - "hmm. Knit up in green?"

And I'm madly in love with my Monkey sock.

Knitter Takes Manhattan, Part 2

I was also in the city again on Friday, for two events. The New York Antiquarian Book Fair was this weekend, and I was volunteering at the Grolier Club table.

I sadly did not take any photos, but the books and leaves and manuscripts and incunabla on display were gorgeous and breathtaking.

After that, I decided it was a good idea to walk up from 67th to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (around 81st street). I *finally* saw the blog.mode exhibit.

After the Museum, I sat on the steps, and worked on my other new knitting project, the Monkey socks. In a fit of brilliance and hubris, I decided that morning that I would knit these socks using the Magic Loop method. Needless to say, by the time I was outside the Met, I realized that I am not ready for the great Magic Loop.
The evening was spent at NYU, for the graduate student symposium in Costume Studies, where I saw an old friend for the first time and years, and heard her present her thesis on home-made, tailor-made, and ready-made clothes in the early 19th century.