Colony Collapse, Center for Disease Control and knitting socks

I have colony collapse disorder (CCD) on the brain. And too Center for Disease Control (CDC).

I was reading a sock pattern and it says "k2, p2, k3, yo, CCD" ... say, what?

So I read it again. "k2, p2, k3, yo, CDC" ... that's still not right.

What it really says is k2, p2, k3, yo, CDD" for "center double decrease". I guess we've done a few too many stories about colony collapse and H1N1. Not in the same story, of course, since I doubt swine flu has anything to do with bees. Anymore than it does with knitting, come to think of it.

When the whole "swine flu" thing hit the news, our unit started getting calls from students and parents alike. I thought if I got one more call asking if they could continue to eat pork, I was going to respond "Not if you keep kosher."

I guess that's why the CDC and media now try to refer to the strain as H1N1 -- so people don't associate it with pigs. Parents were concerned that the dining halls would serve pork and their child would get swine flu. They have much more to worry about if Johnny or Susie get sneezed on, share a drink, kiss or use someone's pen than if they eat pork. Unless, of course, they keep kosher.

Now I'll get back to CDD and try to keep bees and swine out of it all.

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Yarn Harlot and knitted socks

I was reading Yarn Harlot's blog today. (Yes, along with reading her books I read her blog!) She knit a pair of socks for a friend and did something too cool for a fellow knitter! http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2009/08/14/dear_tina.html

So it got me to thinking about socks I have knit for people. One woman requested toe socks. After I knit them for her she complained they were uncomfortable. Ok.

Most people say thank you and that's that. This is the reaction I always expect.

Alex, however, gave me a far different reaction. She emailed; she texted; she showed them to her mom, who in turn oohed and awed over them. Alex wears them on special occasions or when she wants to feel good in a trying situation. She treats this as though I did something amazingly special for her. All I did was knit a pair of socks with love.

Alex is a friend of mine I first "met" on line. Later we had the good fortune to meet in person. Since then I've seen her a handful of times. She lives in Germany and I live in the States.

Alex and I keep our friendship going but there are weeks that go by when I don't hear from her or her from me. Yet I know she's there, living her life in Germany as I live mine in the States. There's something I find very cool about that.

When I offered to knit the socks I got her foot measurement and then chose the yarn very carefully. I knit the socks, all the while thinking of Alex putting them on and what she would think.

I used Opal yarn. Made in Germany and returned to Germany. A gift of warmth and friendship to be worn by a German woman I rarely see. There's something amazing about that.

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In search of ...

THE perfect sock pattern for a particular yarn. It's such a lovely hand-dyed yarn -- Blueberry Patch by Spinning Bunny. I can't wait to start using it! I have two colorways and I know I'll be making socks but I need just the right pattern.

I want a pattern that is nice to knit, won't take all my concentration and will show off the yarn nicely. A Cookie A. pattern -- such as Monkey -- might be a good choice. There are also some patterns in her book and in some magazines that would be nice as well.

I also have a project in mind for some of my Imagination yarn. A friend of mine bought me a skein of Wicked Witch. That's enough to do a sock with or a scarf. I'm thinking about doing a pair with the toe and heel of one in Wicked Witch and the body in Frog Prince. Then do the other sock in the reverse. I'll do these in Monkey because solid Alpaca is a little too warm. I have to do lace.

I think I might also buy some Mermaid Lagoon to go with the Looking Glass I have. I really love how buying sock yarn isn't considered adding to stash. That's a yarn stash rule and one that cannot be broken! I'm sicking to that story!

Oh!!! Maybe I'll do the entrelac socks out of the Blueberry Patch!

The search must continue until I finish the Monkeys on my needles. Then the rubber hits the road and I have to start with that yarn!

Lacy Bed Socks from Romantic Style? Traveling Stitch Leg Warmers (turned into stockings) from Knit So Fine? No. I'd need another skein at least and possibly two.

::digs through book, magazines and web pages::

Plaited Points? Hedera? Diamante?

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Never say never

I got the yarn for the Christmas stockings. I'll have to start those before too long since there are to be four of them.

The woman will put the names and the embellishments on them. All I have to do is the Christmas tree and alter the pattern a bit to match pictures I've been given. That shouldn't be too difficult. It's right before the heel of the stocking.

In the meantime I have sock books coming and more sock yarn.

More! More! Stash! Stash!

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Mad weave socks

I'm almost finished with the socks! One more repeat and I'm ready for the toe. I can't wait! I love the color and the stitch but I hate the heel and toe instructions. I did the heel as the pattern said but I'm doing my own toe. My toe pattern fits much better than the one in the instructions. I tried that toe with the other sock, ripped it out and did it my way. I'm not doing that again. I see no reason to redo work without good cause.

The next pair I think will be with the yarn A'ndrea got for me.

At the moment I'm between chick-lit books so I'm reading "Charlie Wilson's War." The movie was excellent as is the book, but the book is more detailed. I'm enjoying the read.

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Knee socks?

No! BEE socks.

A friend of mine is a science writer and she has done several stories about the disappearing bees. I made the bee mummy for her (long story)







so for the holiday I gave her some bee socks

And no. It was not from my stash. But I ask you: how many times are you going to come across a yarn that is this perfect for a bee project?

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Excitement

I went to the Fair this past weekend. A friend of mine won a blue ribbon for her afghan. In her words it's a "fierce pink" that will "growl at all the other baby afghans and make them cry." It is actually a lovely raspberry color. She did a beautiful job on it!

She also go a "best of show" ribbon for her socks. She does the best kitchner stitch I've ever seen. I have to get her to teach me how she does that so evenly! Very cool. I had to call to congratulate her as soon as I got home.

I have to call the woman who is getting married in September. Here's the problem: what do you get a couple who is getting married - both for the second time; both have their own homes and have had for some times - and they will not be living together for a while. I was thinking about weaving the cloth that will wrap their hands during the ceremony but I don't know if they will be having that kind of ceremony.

Next problem: If I do weave the cloth, which is about the size of a scarf, what to do with the project I'm warping now? Since it isn't fully wound out I could put it aside or I could wind for the smaller loom. Of course there's no place to put the smaller loom to work on it so the larger loom would be better ... and on and on.

Yep. I really need to call her tonight.

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