Monday, December 24, 2007

Christmas sweatshop

Remind me next year that I MUST either (1) start earlier on my holiday knitting, or (2) take on fewer things!!! The past two or three weeks I have been working in a sweatshop!!! This year I made the two chevrons, one for my MIL (hers went out almost 2 weeks ago in the mail) and one for my mom (hers was finished yesterday), socks for my mom (finished today!), a secret something that I am not at liberty to divulge yet, and a scarf for my dad. Dad's scarf is going to be a New Year's present. We exchange gifts with my parents tonight, and I still have a couple of feet to go on his scarf. It's not happening.
My mom's socks ended up being one of the biggest pains in the butt in all knitdom for me. First, I couldn't decide on a pattern. I first cast on for her socks back in late October. I wasn't feeling any pattern I tried. I finally settled on a plain old sock. Then came the pooling. I decided to just bear with it, and kinda liked it in the end. Until I got a little in to sock #2. That one decided to stripe instead!! There is no way anyone could mistake the two for a "pair" of socks. Bring on sock number THREE! I figured whatever happened with sock 3 would be the pair. It striped, which was good, because I prefer the stripe. But then the second skein of yarn that I had to buy to make a third sock was different. It didn't have as deep a brown as the first skein. I had a ping-pong ball sized bit of the first skein left, so I worked it in to the third sock. I think it came out alright. The yarn is wonderful to work with. I used Zen String Serendipity Sport weight in Parfait. The chevron was done with the same yarn in fingering weight, and I honestly don't remember what the other skein was... but they were great to use.

Here are the socks and the chevron:





And here are the mis-matched socks, number 1 & 2!!!

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope all of your deadline knitting is done and finds an appreciative recipient!!!

4 comments:

Lisa said...

I'm sorry that the holiday knitting kicked your butt. I promise to either make oyu start earlier or do less! If you can hold me to the same!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Unknown said...

Wow! I am impressed with your output. Your sweatshop is much more productive than mine! The socks look gorgeous--great job on getting 2 and 3 to match!

Anonymous said...

hmmm.... so you like things to match. got it! me - would have accepted that the socks were decidedly fraternal twins. we may have lost e-mail again - not sure since it is a busy time of year. your knitting all looks great and i hope that you enjoy the rest of the holiday season!
sitmt spoiler

joan said...

Finally a chance to get all caught up on things. Great idea to start now for next year. I think 2008 shall be the year of the sock! I have lost your email in my computer change over would love to contact you, Your swap partner Joan