But Losin' Everything...
Is like the sun going down onnnn meeee....
I think I love the version best where George Michael sings with Elton. Also, I think Roger Daltry of the Who sings this on the Lost Boys soundtrack - remember that movie? Both Coreys (Haim and Feldman) were in that movie. Good soundtrack though.
Sockapal-issues.
As you know, I am participating in Sockapaloooza, and had the ghastly realization that my socks are due on like MAY 2ND. Not good. I thought I had more time. As you can imagine, the panic has ensued.
And the problem was twofold. I picked out that pretty color of Artyarns, and when I knitted it, it was way too pink. She wanted "deep jewel tones", and I did not think the following qualified.
I'm telling you, there was no damn pink in this yarn before I started to knit it.
And, she didn't want a lacey pattern, which was, as you can see, what was happening.
I sucked on all sock fronts. And heels.
Don't keep us in suspense.
So, I started over. If Mohammed will not come to the mountain... or... anyway, I went to my Mecca, and came home with three colors of Mountain Colors Bearfoot, and have chosen the following:
I'm much happier with it, and I hope my pal likes it. The pattern is from Sensational Knitted Socks, by Charlene Schurch, which is truly one of the best knitting books I have read. It really helps you create a sock on your own, and has techniques you may not have tried. It will free you from sock yarn patterns, if you feel chained to them, or at least make you feel confident in them. Trust me. It's a great book.
Loll
And here's a Loll update, just for fun. I was surprised, truly, by how many of you said you'd never knit with Rowan Calmer again. I'm in love with this yarn.
And lastly.
Found these in a Hancock Fabrics. HOW UNFORTUNATE.
What is happening here??? What you need more than a little ugly novelty yarn, apparently, is a whole SHITload of it. Good Grief. Someone stop them.
Comments
I think both socks are/were pretty. I'm going to be running a time crunch with my sock pal too, but I have the opposite problem. No preferences at all from the pal, and no blog updates in months! I hope she likes what I make her because I have no idea what her tastes are.
Posted by: Jessimuhka | April 12, 2006 01:18 AM
I'd rather have a popcorn ball.
Posted by: Christie | April 12, 2006 02:57 AM
I will have to get that book, maybe it will inspire me to finally knit socks. I saw the giant basketballs of crunchy, icky novelty yarn at Hancock too! Why, why, why?
Posted by: Kate | April 12, 2006 07:20 AM
Why novelty yarn balls- so they can roll away from you? Ick.
Posted by: Christina | April 12, 2006 07:37 AM
Hey, first-time commenter. I enjoy your blog. :)
I've looked at those yarn balls in Wal-Mart and such... and as I recall, they were only about 100 yards. So they just LOOK like a huge amount of novelty yarn. Just what everyone needs!
Posted by: Liz | April 12, 2006 08:44 AM
i like the first sock, but the pic does show a lot of pink so i think you made the right call. as for the new sock--bearfoot is an awesome gift and the colors really fit the bill. which stitch pattern did you use from the book?
Posted by: jody | April 12, 2006 08:52 AM
ick...those yarn balls give me the creeps...like prepackaged freeze dried evil tribbles.
meh.
bearfoot...mmmm.
lookin good chica...
Posted by: heather | April 12, 2006 08:54 AM
i feel like we should all be running away screaming from Yarn Ball. They look like they're going to turn into pink, fuzzy gremlins at any moment. AHHHHHH - YARNNN BALLLLL!!!
I can't wait to see Loll finished! Love that colors...
Posted by: maya | April 12, 2006 09:01 AM
I love the socks you've selected for your sock pal. The Bear Mountain sock yarn is gorgeous.
I have to get going on my socks too. I just started yesterday!
Posted by: Jen S | April 12, 2006 09:23 AM
I thought novelty yarn sales were slowing. I guess when novelty yarns die at the yarn shop they find a good home in chain fabric and craft stores...
Posted by: Gina | April 12, 2006 10:12 AM
I love Sensational Knitted Socks. My last pair that I knit, I came away feeling like a designer!
Posted by: Leah | April 12, 2006 10:24 AM
I'm so glad there isn't a Hancock Fabrics near me. I'd be scarred for life if I saw that.
Posted by: monica | April 12, 2006 12:33 PM
I love Calmer, it is definitely my desert island yarn. Glad you're loving it, too.
Posted by: sarah b. | April 12, 2006 01:09 PM
Freakin' LOVE those frog brothers!
Posted by: Cara | April 12, 2006 01:31 PM
I think those yarn balls should be in a movie like "The Blob". Except it would be called "Yarn Balls". They could roll around like tunbleweeds until they find semi-innocent people who were last victimized by the T-shirt Fuzzy Paint pens and glitter glue.
THe socks look great and the jewel tone yarn shows the pattern really nicely.
Posted by: Anne Marie | April 12, 2006 04:37 PM
And that's why I don't sign up for the gifty exchanges anymore. I SUCK at deadlines. I'm glad you overcame, though!!! We're gonna miss you at MD!
Posted by: Lara | April 13, 2006 12:47 AM
Thanks for the review of Sensational Knitted Socks. I've been looking for just the right sock book, and you've sold me on this one.
Posted by: Dena Childs | April 13, 2006 08:27 AM
Those massive balls also come with 'learn to knit' instructions. Like anyone could learn to knit with ladder yarn. Are they trying to drive people insane?
Posted by: Dawn Carlyon | April 14, 2006 02:54 PM
GF, you are totally rockin' that sock. Your sockapalooza pal is one lucky chica.
I can't get over those yarn balls. Hello? I don't call them yarn balls. I call them freaking TRIBBLES.
Posted by: Becky | April 15, 2006 02:26 PM
I like both sock patterns and yarns... (Maybe it's the lighting in the photo, but the second sock doesn't look "jewel tone" to me, though.) I LOVE the color and pattern of Loll, but can't comment on Rowan Calmer because I haven't knit with it yet. Funny, I was about to write the same thing as Becky (tribbles) but I couldn't remember the name of those things... then I saw it in the comment right above! They'd have to be tremendously fat tribbles, though - those yarn balls are BIG! I saw them in person also (I think it was in Target?) and could not believe them, either!
Posted by: Bernadette | April 19, 2006 06:26 AM
Hey Girl! Love the sock pattern...it is very similar to the Conwy pattern in Knitting on the road, or at least it looks like it from the photo! I too love Calmer. I made Mariah out of it last year and I loved it. I just bought more for a tank.
Posted by: Donna | April 19, 2006 03:15 PM
Holy smokes!! HEJ gave me socks (from her 21 Mar 06 blog) and by god are they super soft and beautifully patterned! I am a lucky woman with happy feet.
Thank HEJ
Posted by: Melissa | April 24, 2006 01:03 PM
They have those ghastly yarn balls at our Hancocks's too. I overheard two clerks talking about them one day; would you believe they hadn't sold even one!?
Posted by: Amanda | April 24, 2006 02:48 PM
I'm so psyched to see that you're knitting Loll! It is looking beautiful so far - I love the color you chose. I really love my Loll - I put a zipper in the front and I wear it all the time. Have fun!
Posted by: Elizabeth | April 24, 2006 02:50 PM
This may have been said before but ... "Do not taunt yarn ball".
Posted by: Elspeth | April 24, 2006 11:24 PM