flattery will get you everywhere

pattern: Merino Lace Socks
designer: Anne Woodbury
yarn: Pigeonroof Studios Merino Sock in Nighthawk
needles: Addi Turbos US size #1
modifications: When knitting the plain knit round before starting the toe decreases, I decreased 2 stitches at either end of the lace pattern going over the foot, leaving me with 64 stitches, and then I knit a standard round toe over that.

I think I have pretty much established that I am an unabashedly selfish knitter. Or maybe lazy more so than selfish. Or perhaps a combination of those two. I generally don't do swaps, with just a few exceptions, but that's partly because I fear that I won't make the other person something as nice as they would make me. And I don't knit people gifts because of a few experiences where my handknit presents were less than appreciated. Ahem, I'm not referring to my beloved sister at all... not at all.... So I am fine with knitting for myself and only myself. Except lately, there seems to be a shift. Maybe it's because of all that hope and promise and good stuff floating around in the air these days.... Maybe it's because Matt keeps telling me how much he loves the socks that I have knit for him and how he keeps wearing those two pairs over and over and over. Lest anyone think my desire to knit for Matt is entirely selfless - oh no! When dealing with me, flattery will get you a pair of handknit socks. His love and appreciation for the socks I knit him have totally stroked my knitting ego. Well, that and you've gotta love a guy who when presented with several different pattern options for socks chooses a lace pattern because he's heard you say that you love to knit lace since it's fast and easy. Dude, he's been paying attention and crap! He is definitely sock-worthy.

Unfortunately because our photo session was a little hasty, with Matt rushing off to capoeira class wearing the socks, I wasn't able to photograph one of my favorite details of this pattern which is the way the pattern continues on the heel. Maybe I'll post it later on at some point because it truly is lovely. Besides, I need to start blogging again. I just realized I have about 6 posts that I thought I had posted but apparently I still have to fix up and edit. Ugh, such a slacker!

Also, I have to gush about the Pigeonroof for a moment. I had to use this yarn as soon as I got it into my hands, it is that gorgeous and the texture is that heavenly. The colorway was perfect for this pair of socks because the colors are just so "Matt." The lack of pooling (YAY!) allows for this to be knit as lace without the colors being too distracting and overpowering the pattern. The finished piece is so squishy and fabulous. Seriously, I could go on and on about how much I love this yarn. Love it! Hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

wow, so it's been a year already

pattern: basic 3 x 2 ribbed sock
designer: whoever first knit a sock in a 3 x 2 rib
yarn: Crown Mountain Farms Sock Hop in "Sunshine of Your Love"
needles: Addi Turbos US size #2

Starting the new year off on the right foot (hah!) with an actual FO (and it's a birthday present for Matt no less). Socks in handspun are really the best, and I am happy to say that I know their recipient will adore them.

And hey! Will you look at that? It's been a year since I started up this ol' blog. I didn't even notice that my bloggiversary had come and gone. I guess that's because it's nothing new to me, what with this being a reincarnation of my original blog and running 2 other crafty blogs (one of which no longer exists), in addition to participating in a couple of group blogs, writing on a non-crafting blog, and co-blogging with my partner-in-crime about a certain obsession of ours. I have been around the blogging block, regardless of whether any of those blogs can be called a "successful blog," whatever that means, or not. (I think it's a success if you manage to reach out and connect with people and form some sort of community, but I digress here.) I feel like the person who gets married and re-married over and over, and the very idea of marriage becomes commonplace to them. Weddings are no longer this special event. It's just another day in the life. It's like, "Hey you, over there! Wanna get married? Okay then, let's go." I'm like Liz Taylor, you know, minus the fame, fortune, and drag queen following. (Although there are days when I wish that I had a drag queen following because that pretty much seals the deal for you as a pop icon, and who wouldn't want that?) Or maybe I didn't notice because it's been a while since my slacker ass posted anything on here. Ahem. So yeah, I'm pretty whatevs about the bloggiversary itself, but I am really happy with this blog and the people that I have met through it. You guys are pretty frigging fantastic! I am going to have a little bloggiversary giveaway or something the minute I get my act together, which I am expecting to do sometime by the end of the month. Thanks for tuning in, peoples!

happy new year!

If I were the sort who believed in new year's resolutions (and I just might be that sort), I would say that one of my resolutions this year is to retire the word "awesome" from my vocabulary because I totally overuse it. From now on, things will be fabulous, remarkable, mind-blowing, brilliant, fun, stunning, lovely, superb, exquisite, thrilling, exciting, and mighty. So here's wishing you all a fantastic year full of all the best that life has to offer. Happy 2009 everyone!