Circles

Well, it looks like we've sold our house! The home inspection will be next Friday. If all goes well, we'll sign papers for this house and our new one at the end of June. We're buying the home of a good friend, who lives just a few miles away in another equally great, walkable neighborhood. The new house has a big backyard, a driveway, a double garage, and a big front porch, all things our current house lacks. Inside, the woodwork is all original, unpainted, with the original light fixtures and lots of character. And our friend will be relocating to another spot not far away, which means we'll still get to see her and be able to sit on her beautiful back deck and knit.

That's my big news. On lesser fronts, it sounds like my sock pal received her socks. I also finished my mom's Mother's Day socks.
I used Trekking XXL (and loved it) with a simple cable rib pattern from Charlene Schurch's "Sensational Knitted Socks". They were made toe-up with garter stitch short-row toes and heels. I ran into some trouble with the bind-off edge. I wanted to finish them with a few rows of stockinette and then fold over on a *k2tog, yo* row, stitching down a final few rows of stockinette to the inside edge. On my first try I did a three-needle bind-off, which, while it looked beautifully clean and neat, was way too tight. Then I tried weaving the top row with an inside row, but still couldn't get enough stretch. While I might try that again sometime with elastic thread, I ended up pulling it out and finishing off the top with a picot bind-off. Not the finished look I wanted, but it's stretchy and gives a hint of whimsy.

I've started the second circle for my "Sunburst Pullover" (Norah Gaughan, Interweave Knits, an old issue--maybe 1999? Mine are already packed away and the copy I made doesn't list the year). I am using some finer wool, Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool, which has a wonderfully cool, crisp, yet soft, feel. Given the weight change (of the wool! Hopefully not of me) I'm needing to follow the gist of the pattern but make up most of the numbers. I'm really liking the orangish color, something I normally wouldn't have reached for. I can't wait to have this sweater finished, as I think it will make a great summer sweater for cool mornings and evenings. Happy knitting!

Happy Feet

[Oof--I started this post over a week ago, and ended up having trouble with Blogger. Huge apologies to my sock pal for taking so long to show off her beautiful socks!] My Sockapaloooza socks arrived from my pal, gleek. I absolutely, unconditionally love them! I have them on today--a lazy Sunday, slightly drizzly and cloudy, perfect sock weather. Here they are in all their splendidness:



She used Nancy Bush's Rib & Cable pattern from the Fall 2005 Interweave Knits with Brooklyn Handspun. I really love the colors--the greens, blues, and yellowish-gold look great together; there's even my favorite lime green in there.



The fit is perfect--couldn't have been better. I really like the toe, too; I haven't made a toe yet this way and want to try it out on my next pair, as the fit is really good. These are well-crafted socks. Thanks so much, gleek! I couldn't be happier with my socks.

And to top it off, she included yummy chocolate (now devoured), a cool sockapaloooza label, and a postcard of NYC taxis. She has a very interesting site, too. Be sure to read about the iguana at the top of the page. I wish I had something similar for Scooter. He'd probably be asleep most of the time, too!

How fun to make new friends from across the country. I'm embarrassed to say that it will be tomorrow that I mail out my socks for my pal, overseas, but, I think I finally have all the pieces to my carepackage for her. Hopefully they'll swing their way over to her quickly. [OK, they went out a week ago now. Hoping to hear from her soon! I hope she likes them.]

Yesterday I hiked in the Columbia River Gorge with some people from my tai chi class. It was an overcast day, and a bit cool, perfect for hiking. Here's the view from the top of Hamilton Mountain, looking northeast toward Table Mountain:

It was a good hike--long but not too strenuous, with a good view from the top and lots of wildflowers making their debut along the way.





And this is Pool of the Winds, where Rodney Falls cascades into a rock-walled bowl: Quite impressive in person, but hopefully this gives you an idea. Beautiful!

Finished Sockapaloooza Socks!

My socks are finished--I actually finished knitting a week or so ago and blocked them last week. Here they are!

I had fun knitting them. They are Amelia Raitte's "Elfine" pattern. The wool is from RainShadow Farm in Kingston, WA, 97% Coopworth sheep wool and 3% cashgora and angora. It's a sturdy yarn, and while the pattern is delicate, these socks will be good boot or clog socks, or socks to wear while by the fire on a cold, rainy day. I hope my pal likes them! I want to pick up a few additions for the package before sending them off overseas (hint, hint).