Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Rainy Days Mean No Photos

Spring is well on its way to actually arriving here in my part of the world. The crocuses have been blooming for a couple of weeks, and the daffodils are growing by leaps and bounds. I expect blossoms from them within the next week or so.

The spring rains are here as well. Right now that means a low cloud cover and a medium-to-heavy mist outside, although that can change to a downpour in an eye-blink.

The rain is good for the growing things, but it has made it impossible to take photos of my latest sock project. Once again plugging my sock yarn into the list generator, this time I got Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight in a Rare Gems colorway.

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The Rare Gems are skeins that came out of the dye pot pretty enough but weren’t quite what they company was looking for. They’re one-of-a-kind yarns, so if you see one you like at a fiber show you’d best snap it up quickly. Otherwise one of these people might get it

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Blue Moon Booth, Black Sheep Gathering, June 2008

I’d been eyeing the Firestarter Socks by Yarnissima for quite some time. In fact, they may well have been one of the first patterns I fell in love with when I joined Ravelry and started delving into the resources there. Amazingly enough, I’m using the actual yarn called for in the pattern, which I’m sure is a first for me.

These are toe-up socks with a short-row toe… which completely kicked my backside the first three times I attempted it. Apparently I sometimes have issues with counting!

They’re coming along quite well and seem to be a quick knit so far. Have you noticed how much quicker patterned socks are to knit than plain ones? All those rounds and rounds of plain knitting seem like a good idea at the time, but at some point I get bogged down and feel like I’m in purgatory. But give me some cables or lace and I’ll just cruise alone happy as can be.

Well, lacking any pictures of socks in progress, and seeing that is has indeed turned into a downpour out there, I believe its time I ate my lunch.

To my prizewinners from last week: your yarns have been selected and should go to the post office this Saturday. I hope you all like them!

10 comments:

Caffeine Faerie said...

Thank you once again, you rock!

Rose Red said...

oooh so exciting!

That rare gems colour is amazing! Can't wait to see it knitted up. I'm not sure I like the sound of a short row toe. I suppose I should try one though. Especially as I'd like to do the Firestarter pattern too...

TinkerTots said...

Very pretty! It reminds me of Bella Coola and the new club yarn, too. I'm going to need that new club colorway come next year. It's gorgeous!

I can't wait to see this pair of socks in progress.

Bells said...

nice randomly selected yarn! We're both on STR for our sock clubs this month!

Alwen said...

What a beautiful colorway.

We don't have rain here today, just heavy fog and frost. The crocuses are still completely buried under a heavy grainy snowpile.

Anonymous said...

Ooh, pretty yarn, and well done you for beating the other knitters to it! I look forward to seeing the socks!

Anonymous said...

I really envy you guys with your wonderful yarn shows. That rare gem is gorgeous. Should make for stunning socks! Looking forward to pics. :)

Anonymous said...

I envy your Spring even if it means rain to go along with it. That yarn is gorgeous, can't wait to see it in your socks.

Joanne said...

Thanks for celebrating my new book on my blog with me! I love that Blue Moon yarn...want to reach right through the screen and grab it. Luckily I got a couple of their skeins from the year before at Black Sheep. It's still waiting to become socks. :)

Donna Lee said...

I looked at the Firestarted pattern and decided it was just too complicated for my addled brain right now. It is on the list however.

We got several inches of snow yesterday and it's snowing/blowing outside right now. I know spring is coming but I can't see it through all the snow!