Two FOs for the price of one

Pattern: Basic Ribbed Socks
Yarn: Vesper Sock Yarn in Neapolitan
Needles: Brittany, US size 2
Started: July 14, 2007
Finished: July 23, 2007

To say I was underwhelmed by these socks is an understatement. The problem is not the pattern, which I've knit before and find enjoyable enough, but the yarn. See how inconsistent the dye is, especially in the brown stripes? The quality is definitely not what I was expecting. These socks are a Christmas gift, and I know the recipient will probably find the distressed look charming, but I don't.

I am, however, a fan of the Umbilical Cord Hat from Stitch 'n Bitch. A family friend is expecting a baby in the fall, so this will be for her. Here it is, lovingly modeled by a statue of Buddha. Who knew his head and that of a newborn are roughly the same size?

Pattern: Umbilical Cord Hat
Yarn: RYC Silk Wool DK
Needles: Random circs and Daisy DPNs, US size 7
Started: July 20, 2007
Finished: July 21, 2007

I started the hat in between picking up my wristband for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and going back to pick up the actual book, and then finished it after I finished the book. The yarn is absolutely edible, and it was a nice distraction from both the Vesper and the end-of-Harry-Potter blues.

Oh, and something a little fun: my coffee table! Pictured along with the socks are: a library book about knitting for dogs, some waste yarn, a squirt bottle for reigning in our unruly cats, my current WIP, and the framed version of the picture up on this blog.

Dumbledore likes looking at knitting patterns, and I do, too.

Oh, I had big plans to finish the socks I'm working on before the last Harry Potter book comes out tonight, but that's not going to happen. I finished the first sock last weekend, but I just can't get myself motivated to work on the second one. I haven't even turned the heel yet. My main problem is the yarn. Prior to my order, I'd heard nothing but great things about the Vesper sock yarn, but the skein I'm currently using is really muddy and I am less than impressed. I'm thinking it's just a fluke, and haven't yet played with the second skein (different colorway), but it's difficult to get excited about knitting with what I've got.

And now, two questions:

Has anyone taken knitting on an airplane lately? What did they allow you to bring onboard? I've read the guidelines online but a first-hand account would make me feel a bit better about what I pack in my carry-on and what I check with my luggage.

How in the world to you reply to comments on Blogger? As far as I can tell, there's no way to do it. Can this really be the case?

FO: 9 to 5 socks

Pattern: 9 to 5 socks by Nicole Hindes
Yarn: ShibuiKnits sock, Wasabi colorway
Needles: Clover Takumi, US size 1
Started: June 29, 2007
Finished: July 12, 2007

I love this pattern! The faux-cable is beautiful and so simple to work. It's definitely one of those instances where I found myself knitting "just one more repetition" to see another piece of the pattern unfold.

The Shibui yarn was so easy to work with. Nice stretch to the yarn, soft as can be in the hand, no splitting EVER. Also fun was how the variegated colors spiral around and make tiger stripes on the foot of the sock.

I have plans to knit this sock again at least three more times for various gifts and such, and next time I will do as the pattern suggests and use a US size 1.5 needle. The store where I purchased this yarn didn't have any 1.5s in stock, and I didn't want to wait to start knitting, so I used my 1s. They worked fine, but the socks are just a tad more snug than I would like. That doesn't bother me, necessarily, except I'd prefer gifting socks that weren't as snug.

My dachshund is also a fan of the finished objects. (See socks, shoes, collar; I seem to be going through a green phase!)

I love sock yarn!

Generally speaking, I prefer to do all my yarn shopping at The Yarn Gallery because it's so close to my house and because the staff is always so fun and friendly, but it doesn't have much variety in the way of sock yarn. So yesterday we made a trip to the wilds of Shoreline to visit Village Yarn & Tea, and it was definitely worth the trip. It was a lovely shop, bright and airy, and I made some fantastic finds.

Shibui Knits in Chinese Red and Yarn Pirate in Sweet Magnolia

It's a bit of a trek out to Shoreline, and they didn't have any Lorna's Laces, which is what I was really hoping to find, but I've been drooling over the Chinese Red color on websites for weeks, and really, how can I complain about anything when I purchased Yarn Pirate off the shelf?

After this little expedition, we came home to find my new Brittany Needles had arrived from Paradise Fibers. I was super impressed with this shop. I placed my order on Thursday, it shipped on Friday, and it arrived yesterday. Granted, they're shipping from Spokane, so I have a bit of the old home field advantage, but still. Additionally, the prices are really reasonable, and they have a great selection of the Brittany needles.

First one

Obviously, the internet-at-large needs another knitting blog like I need another hank of sock yarn, and yet, here I am. I can't promise patterns or tutorials, but I can promise pictures of various finished objects, pictures of my dachshund, and sometimes even both at the very same time.

See?

Meldrick, posing with a pre-blocked Dragon Wings Shawl