Puffer fish!

We caught (and released) a bunch of fish today on our charter fishing trip. Including puffer fish! They're so cute.

Manatees Redux

What can I say - we did it again: swam with the manatees in Crystal River. For all the manatee details, see my post in June when we did the tour the first time. Back in June, it wasn't manatee season and we only saw 1 lonely guy.

This time, it's prime manatee season and we saw lots of them. We spent a good 90 minutes floating around the Three Sisters Springs taking pictures and video.

Ice Storm (part 2)

Some more photos, in the setting sun.

PS. It's getting cut-throat at the shops when it comes to road salt. All the major stores are sold out. Our local hardware store is driving a 2 hr round trip to stock up, with people forming lines to buy it, an hour before the truck is expected to arrive. It's nuts!

I like the squiggly branches in this one:

 Neighbors' trees:

Sparkly tree!

Ice storm 2013

Over the weekend we were hit with a couple days of freezing rain. Everything ended up coated in about an inch of ice: trees, sidewalks, cars...

While out walking the dog I snapped a few photos. The first photo is of the tree outside our house. We actually lost power for most of Sunday afternoon and tens of thousands are still without power in Toronto, and may continue to be through to Christmas. Thankfully the city has plans in place to deal with the emergency.

I was staring at the tree branches, thinking they would make a pretty twisted stitch pattern on some socks.

 

 

 My dog, trying to negotiate the ice and snow.

A Study in Socks - Progress

The other day I wore one of the earlier socks I've knit. I can't recall exactly when I knit them, but it was early in my sock career. When I comb through the hand knits in my sock drawer, it's like an archeological survey of my education as a sock knitter.

The early layers, the furthest back in the drawer, rarely see the light of day. These socks don't fit. They're either too tight or don't fit correctly. When I was learning, I followed the instructions meticulously, but with a tension so tight you could bounce quarters off it. I was trying to prevent that pesky laddering problem between needles, and to create a fabric as tight and smooth as commercial made socks. The socks I wore this week were of this vintage, albeit later in the era. They fit around my leg and foot, but the toes and heels were off. The toe on one sock kept sticking out and didn't conform to my foot properly.

One other characteristic of this early foray into socks is the hit and miss quality of the yarn I used. I was experimenting and usually buying cheaper yarns. I hadn't discovered a blend that felt good on my feet.

The middle layers of sockitude begin to get more varied. As I gained experience I learned what size my foot was and how to adjust the toe and heel shaping for my foot instead of the pattern's ideal foot. The yarn became more varied. I tried self-striping yarns and bought the pricier commercial yarns. I was seduced by variegated yarns that look great in the skein but disappointed me when knit up. I also had a bit of a fling with Handmaiden Casbah sock yarn. This more adventurous era provided more learning opportunities in matching fiber blends with patterns, as well as lessons in gauge.

I learned which yarns felted if you looked at them in an agitated manner (I'm looking at you, alpaca blend). I learned that some yarns bloom when washed - and that this, combined with a lacey pattern means that your socks will grow a size or two. This is also when I experimented with a few different techniques: toe up, magic loop, two at a time (TAAT). I learned to relax my tension and tighten up the second stitch after changing needles, not the first, to reduce laddering. In addition - I learned cast on methods to ensure that the cuff of the sock wasn't too tight for my leg. In other words - I learned to step outside the strict instructions of the pattern to make socks that fit me. This may have also been the start of my enormous sock stash growth.

The outer layer of socks, the ones I reach for most frequently have all been made in the past two years. They fit perfectly. They are made of the "good" yarn in my stash: the indie dyers, Wollmeise, and Cascade Heritage. I realized that these yarns shouldn't sit unused in my stash. If I was going to spend 30 hours (or more) knitting a pair of socks, it should be with the good stuff. I began designing socks as an incentive to reduce my stash (hah!), so most of these socks are of my own creation. I even learned to enjoy knitting socks toe up! And there are a lot of socks missing from this layer - the socks I designed, knit and gave away to family and friends.

Perhaps it's just that time of year for reflection, but there's a lot to be said for looking back to see where you started and just how far you've come. We tend to focus on what we can't do (yet), but it's worth taking a moment (or three) to look at your accomplishments too. Well done, you!

Choosing the right needles

In the "I couldn't have said it better myself" category, there's this blog post by Liisa Nieminen at SweetGeorgia Yarn. In part 1 of two, Liisa talks about Choosing the Right Needles.

Let's face it. She had me with her opening paragraph. I can totally identify:

"I’m a hoarder. Let’s get that out in the open right now. I hoard yarn, I hoard fibre, and I especially hoard needles."

Knit-along in January & February

Welcome to the inaugural KAL here at Maureen Foulds Designs!

I'm very excited to announce the details of the upcoming Knit-along, which will coincide with the release of the first pattern in my upcoming Hercule Poirot series. The Hercule Poirot series will feature characters or novel titles from Agatha Christie's novels and short stories featuring everyone's favorite mustachioed Belgian detective.

Also, each of the pattern samples will be knit in Sweet Georgia Yarns range of sock yarns. You don't need to use Sweet Georgia yarn, but they are delicious to knit with and come in fabulous colors.

The read-along is optional. I've linked to the novel below. Your local library should have it. There's no need to buy a copy.

Pattern: Captain Hastings
Release Details:
- The pattern for the KAL will be available for $1.00 for 5 days: January 1-5th, 2014.
- Pattern photos & yarn/yardage requirements will be posted here Dec 22nd to allow people to decide whether they want to knit this pattern or pick another one of my patterns.

KAL dates: Monday, January 6th – Friday, February 28th

Guidelines:
- Have fun!
- Knit Captain Hastings or any other of my patterns if you prefer
- Read The Big Four if you want and discuss.

This is a no-pressure KAL where the goal is to have fun, get to know each other and maybe indulge in some selfish post-Holiday knitting. Finish, don't finish - just hang out and have fun.

Prizes:
- Skein of Sweet Georgia sock yarn. Randomly awarded at the end of the KAL from amongst anyone who finishes at least 1 sock.
- 2 copies of the full Poirot collection. 1 awarded at midpoint randomly. 1 awarded at end randomly.
- 6 pattern prizes (winner's choice of pattern) randomly awarded weekly from posters in KAL thread. The more you comment, the more chances you have!

Optional:

The Big Four, by Agatha Christie

Book: The Big Four, by Agatha Christie. Read-along with me. The Big Four is a fun read, comprised of mini-stories within a story as Poirot tackles a cabal of master criminals known as The Big Four.

Hercule Poirot is preparing for a voyage to South America. Looming in the doorway of his bedroom is an uninvited guest, coated from head to foot in dust and mud. The man's gaunt face registers Poirot for a moment, and then he collapses. The stranger recovers long enough to identify Poirot by name and madly and repeatedly scribble the figure '4' on a piece of paper. Poirot cancels his trip. An investigation is in order. Fortunately, Poirot has the faithful Captain Hastings at his side as he plunges into a conspiracy of international scope -- one that would consolidate power in the deadly cabal known as 'The Big Four.'