Archives for June 2008

The first Einkorn sock is done.

I’m pleased with it, so the second one is on the needles, but just barely.

(The pattern will show up at The Loopy Ewe eventually, by the way. Thanks for asking!)

Bellamoden asked in the comments:

How do you make some heel flaps look wedge shaped, and others look more squared, more heel-flap-y?

I think it’s a matter of different patterns for different heels. My slip-stitch heel pattern yields the squared heel flap, while my gusset heel pattern makes the wedge-shaped heel.

Loribird asked:

I’m curious: what made it difficult to find a foot-mannequin the “right size?”

All the female mannequin legs/feet I’ve seen thus far are identical — with the standing on tippy-toe arched foot. That foot is smaller and narrower than my size medium sock. I guess most of these body parts come from the same manufacturer. I’m still in awe of Dani and how she managed to find a foot that fits my socks exactly.

And Barbara-Kay commented:

That photo of Lucy with the foot model might seem strange to a non-knitter.  What about a lol-cat caption?

Excellent idea. Let’s have a caption contest! Look at the photo of Lucy with the foot model:

Now come up with a good LOLCats caption and leave it in the comments for today’s post. I’ll pick a winner or two or three, depending on how many entries I get, and the winners will receive something good!

Do it by 3:00pm EDT tomorrow (July 1) to be eligible to win.

Lucy sez:

“I’m not sure I approve of this use of my image . . . “

That was the theme for the weekend. So low-key, in fact, that I didn’t do much of anything.

I did do a bit of knitting on my new sock-in-progress:

I’m calling this design “Einkorn Socks” because I think the design looks a bit like stalks of wheat.

Note that I have a new foot model. This foot was sent to me by Ms. “Yea, I Knit” who is, as far as I’m concerned, the epitome of awesome. After I whined about my inability to find a mannequin foot that was the right size to model my socks, she actually found one and sent it to me! I cannot begin to tell you how happy this makes me and how much I appreciate it.

Nanner Socks

At the beginning of the month I designed a sock pattern for a group of my friends on Plurk. Because I want to keep the pattern just between friends and make it sort of “limited edition” and a gift to this special group, I won’t be distributing it to anyone after June 30, and I ask those of you who have it to not send it to other people either after that date. Thanks!

By the way, Lucy was a big help in today’s photo shoot.

A new sock project!

As I said yesterday, this is Tempted Good Grrl yarn (100% merino) in the Emergency colorway (love that name).

The design is, of course, my own that I’m working up. Hopefully you’ll see some major progress at the next blog post.

This means, of course, that I finished the Ribbon Candy socks. Ta-da!

I plan to write up this pattern and will let you know when it’s available for sale, should you be interested in knitting a pair of Ribbon Candy Socks for yourself.

Thank You

Thank you so much to the many of you who offered your support in my comments and signed the petition concerning the animal abuse perpetrated by the Richmond Fox television station. Several of you asked if there was a list of their advertisers available. If you go to their homepage you’ll see that a number of their major advertisers are shown on that page.

When I went to the page this morning to get the link, I saw this statement at the top of the page:

A colony of feral cats is living behind WRLH. We have contacted a number of organizations to help with the humane and non-lethal removal of these animals over the next few days.

Major eye-roll here. What they didn’t add, of course, is that this statement was added after they bulldozed the habitat, killing some of the cats. And they no doubt added the statement because of the public outcry at their cruelty and inhumane treatment of these animals.

And further, here is the Richmond SPCA’s response to their statement.

To close on a happy note, here is my little princess, knowing full well that she is not supposed to be up on the table.

All along while I was knitting the first sock, I kept thinking it reminded me of something, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Then when I asked for suggestions for pattern names, Ansley put me out of my misery by saying “I think the socks look like ribbon candy the way the zigzag is.” Yup, that’s it — ribbon candy!

Clearly a lot of you thought that was the name meant for these socks, judging from the voting. So Ribbon Candy it is.

Anyhow, I am close to finishing the second sock and have high hopes to do just that tonight. Then it will be on to a new sock, knit from this.

This is Tempted “Good Grrl” sock yarn in the “Emergency” colorway. While I am really not so much of a “red” person, I love this colorway. I’ve worked up a design that I think will be good for it.

Verena Knitting

Have y’all seen this magazine?

I think L-B told me about it, so I subscribed and received my first issue yesterday. There’s a total of 53 (I think) patterns in this issue, and a lot of them are very nice, I think. Well worth the cover price of $6.99 US!

I Love Kitties

This afternoon L-B brought to my attention this very sad story about a colony of feral cats in Richmond Virginia.

Another online friend set up a petition about this situation here.

Just a few minutes ago L-B sent me this update from the Richmond SPCA:

——

Update, posted 4:30 p.m. June 25.

It has come to our attention that viewers calling Fox Richmond today have been told that the station has been actively “working with the Richmond SPCA” to resolve the situation regarding the colony of feral cats on and around the station’s property. The station is also claiming that they called the Richmond SPCA weeks ago and that they decided to bulldoze the cat habitat today in anticipation of our arrival, to make it easier for us to trap the cats.

These statements are completely untrue and we have asked that Fox Richmond and staff immediately cease making any such statements to the public. We have and will continue to reach out to the General Manager of Fox Richmond to try to reach an agreement whereby the remaining members of the cat colony can be managed in a non-lethal, humane manner, but no such agreement has been reached between the Richmond SPCA and Fox Richmond or Sinclair Broadcast Group.

It is our understanding that the station has asked the pest control company which they had contracted to kill the cats to stop that action and to not kill any additional cats at this time. Otherwise, the fate of the cats and kittens on the property is undecided at this point. We will continue to try to work with local officials and Fox representatives toward a positive outcome. Please continue your calls and e-mails expressing concern over the actions of Fox Richmond and Sinclair Broadcast Group. A large and unified public outcry against the extermination route previously chosen by the station may prove very helpful as our discussions continue.

—-

While it may be too late for these kitties, signing the petition and/or expressing your opinion to the perpetrators may well raise enough awareness to prevent future atrocities.

Thank you.

And my sweet rescue kitty Lucy thanks you as well.

Y’all came up with a lot of creative and fun names for my new sock pattern. I had a hard time narrowing it down to just a few choices, but I did. So it is time to vote!

Here’s a “nice” photo of the first sock to help you in choosing a name.

And here is the second sock in progress.

I am being succinct here because I’ve not much time for blogging for the next couple of days. (Or knitting either.) So . . . carry on. Knit ’em if you’ve got ’em.

Twisty Bits

Remember my Twisty Bits sock pattern? It’s now available at The Loopy Ewe, here. There were still copies available when I checked.

Lucy Pix

A couple of you asked about the photos of Lucy in the blog. Do I take photos every day or do I stockpile photos for use?

I do try to take pictures every day and use photos from that day. However, sometimes I go back and use an older photo, usually from a few days earlier. If it is darker than usual when I come home or if the little princess doesn’t feel like cooperating, I’ll use an older photo. Or if I happen to have taken several really good photos, I will want to use all of them. The photo above was taken just a few minutes before I wrote this blog post.

Lucy sez:

The life of a supermodel is not an easy one. But do I complain? Well, maybe a little.”

Although she is simply exhausted from her supermodel lifestyle, she would like you all to know that she has fun in her “down time.”

Like playing with one of the fun new toys that Tiny Tyrant sent her!