Prepwork

As I am dying to start the Ironwork socks, I realized that I need to get myself organized in order to properly execute the twisted stitches in this pattern (same goes for the Drunken Bee socks). I knit in the Combined method, which makes following directions such as “Knit one through the back loop” a bit difficult. So I just avoided patterns that included such directions and went along my merry way. Denial was nice for a while, but it turns out that I really *like* some patterns that have twisted stitches! Damn. Seeing as I’ve proposed to the Ironwork socks/pattern, I realized I had to get over my commitment phobia and learn how to properly twist a stitch.

 

I thought I might need some practice, and after reading some directions, I whipped out my only skeins of Lorna’s Laces (bought years ago) and cast on for a nice pair of these:

I was practicing the proper way to knit in the Combined method when knitting in the round instead of just doing the same technique that is proper only when knitting back and forth. It’s a bit awkward for me, I must admit, and I am knitting much slower than normal. But since these socks are just for practice, I will attempt to just chill and get over it. Besides, I love this pattern!

Well…then I got annoyed. So I cast on for another project:

I cannot wait for this to one day be a sweater! I pulled out my trusty Knitting Without Tears book, measured m’self, and started what I hope to be a wonderfully-fitting pullover. But I changed my knitting style…again! I decided that I would knit in the Continental method, which is how I first knit waaaay back in the late 1990s. I don’t really like the purl stitch of the Continental method, but I just love the knit stitch! I figure I’ll have some options of how I will finally properly knit between this and the Lorna’s Laces socks. The project is made out of the Piece of Vermont Weybridge yarn that I have piled on top of my yarn chest (…it’s a bit full at the moment…whoops…) so I have no guilt whatsoever about the whole thing. I am being productive! Look at me!

 

All the while the lovely New England Yarn sits and waits. The Ironwork pattern sighs, “Well, that was short lived.” but I know that this is all FOR the Ironwork socks! My dedication runs strong! I must be properly trained for my special project! Soon. Soon!

 

Enough about knitting. Remember how last time I mentioned how knitting is so good for helping me deal with stress? Well, we have a health issue here in the house and I was greeted with a “Don’t get upset but…” after work today. Like many Americans, LG does not have health insurance, so when something goes wrong, anything from a hearty cold to getting hit by a bus, we are up shit creek in regards to how to handle the situation. I am furious at how health “care” is handled, funded, and conducted in this country. Let me be clear, I hold doctors, nurses, receptionists, and all the other various healthcare workers who are focused on *helping* patients, at the very highest level of admiration. It is not easy to work with sick or injured people and we would all be lost without those good people. The people and institutions that I am furious at/with are those that profit enormously off other’s suffering, that hold on tight to the notion that not everyone deserves health insurance, and those who are dedicated to keeping the failing system we have as the only option. So, here we are again. Hoping that LG’s condition can wait until, perhaps, health insurance is offered with a potential new job, hoping that there will be a good surgon who might do a better job than the last one, and hoping that if there is health insurance this condition is covered. Hoping is a shitty way to deal with injury and illness. So I knit. I knit and knit around on the pullover and try not to grind my teeth. I try to have a sense of humor, or at least avoid shouting. I try to think, “At least SB the Squirrel isn’t chewing up our mattress or something.”.

To end on a happy note, I did finish LG’s Great Pumpkin Socks.

Pattern: My own, if you can call knitting a tube of k2p2 ribbing with a short row garter heel and a garter toe a pattern.

Yarn: TOFUtsies in the 736 Underfoot color

Needles: U.S. Size 0

Notes: These turned out fine, but not fantastic. Perhaps they were a bit small. Perhaps the cotton kept them from being to spoingy. But I think they are good for LG who has hot feet. I, on the other hand, would probably only wear socks like these in July!