Short Row Heel

I've been knitting socks for several years and only use the short row heel. I guess I just like the look and the fit better than a square heel. I've been asked about this heel many times and because I do it without thinking, I have a difficult time explaining it! I think saying "wrap the next stitch" confuses people. It's not really difficult, it's just a matter of seeing it and understanding it.

I decided that it might be helpful to demonstrate a wrapped stitch. This demo heel was knit in contrasting colours, so the wrapped stitches would be visible.

So let's see how this goes!

Knit to the last stitch:


Bring yarn forward:


Slip next stitch as if to purl:


Move yarn back:


With left hand needle, slip stitch back:


Completed wrap:


Turn your work:


Completed heel:


Voila! It's as easy as that to wrap a stitch!

Next I'll try posting a whole pattern!

Hmmm...It's been awhile!

I hadn't realized that I haven't posted in so long! This post if for all the people pestering me! You know who your are.

Here are a few photos from Knitting Night:

First and foremost, Ms. KW learned to knit socks! For someone who wouldn't even finish a leg warmer, this is a huge step! She even has a STASH! Pretty good for someone who said they'd never knit again. Now if we can only get her short row heels in order!



Second, I'm sorry to say that poor Ms. VI had to be enrolled in remedial knitting. :( There were a couple of "incidents" that had the rest of us thinking that tape and glitter glue were more her speed. However, she surprised me by agreeing to knit a mitten. I'm a firm believer in having beginners knit mittens. It's a small project so it moves along quickly...and you learn almost everything you'll ever need to know! There's increases, decreases, stitches to pick up, knitting, purling and working in the round.

Well, Ms. VI dug in and worked away! Here she is knitting in the round for the first time and she even looks like she knows what she's doing! Next week we're gonna make her drop a stitch...ON PURPOSE! Bwa-ha-ha-ha!



Ms. DC has been working away on mitts. To my great pleasure, she has thrown out the acrylic crap and gone back to using wool. Thank god! Here she's working on a pair of mittens for a Calgary Flames fan. How nice is that? Perhaps we'll get a photo of the finished project because they're pretty cool!



Ms. DP has been working away on a beautiful sweater in some kind of delightful yarn. I'm sorry I don't remember the name, but I think it's the yarn made from recycled Indian saris. So pretty! She's been alternating between this sweater and a lovely pair of socks made out of Kroy Stretch. I'm looking forward to the finished products!



And finally, there's me. Someone took my picture while I was knitting my lovely alpaca lace scarf...and because I'm vain, I'll include two photos!



I'm over coming my fear of lace knitting by forcing myself to just do it. So far I've chosen simple patterns with a maximum four row repeat. Anything more and my brain starts to melt! Anyway, this yarn is Alpaca Sox. I love it. It's soft and fuzzy and a beautiful colour!

Finally, we have two new additons to our little group of knitters. They're not particularly accomplished, but they're always entertaining!

Done!

2 pairs of mens' socks: done

3 pairs of ladies' socks: done

assorted mini socks for the Christmas tree: done

1 silk lace scarf: almost done


*Whew*

And not a moment to spare! Christmas starts tomorrow with my family, while Hubbo's family starts showing up Christmas Eve.

It should be noted that my fabulous Smooshy, Lorna's Laces, and Alpaca Sox yarn showed up two weeks ago and I've managed to ignore it...except for the occasional fond glance and gentle squeeze. Once this lace scarf is complete....look out!

Picking up my yarn parcel at the post office is a story in itself! I received a notice in the mail and knew my yarn was finally here! I had to wait an entire work day, but finally went to pick up my package. When I ordered this yarn, it didn't occur to me that the busiest post office week in history would soon be upon us.

I arrive at the postal outlet and there before me is a line of people a mile long, all looking decidedly unhappy. The poor girl working behind the counter looks tired and frazzled and she's practically standing on today's delivery of packages.

No problem, I think. A little quality "me" time...I'll just admire their fine assortment of cleaning products and fragranced bathroom sprays (it is a drug store, after all) and besides, there's YARN at the end of this line! After about 45 minutes, it's my turn and I hand the poor frazzled girl my postal notice. "Do you know how big this parcel is?" she asks.

Hmmmm...well, let's see, 6 or 8 skeins of yarn....ummmm..."No." is my reply. Of course, I'm Canadian so I add an apology in there somewhere.

The poor frazzled girl now has a young man helping her fetch parcels and she sends him off with my notice. Again, being Canadian and pathologically polite, I move to the side so others can continue with their pressing postal matters.

The now frazzled guy has been digging for my package for about 15 minutes...which is a long time when you're waiting for yarn and have a lot of grouchy people staring at the back of your head. I'm trying to read package labels which are upside down and fuzzy b/c I don't have my glasses...meaning, I'm no help. I know this poor frazzled guy wants me to say "Don't worry about it. I'll come back after Christmas when you're not so busy." However, there...is...YARN...involved! I'm not going anywhere! But I'm polite. "It's probably a really light package" I say helpfully.

At this point I run into my neighbour and we make polite small talk while they search for his package. His is located quickly and he looks at me, squeezes my arm and solemnly wishes me "Good luck" and walks away into the chilly evening.

I'm starting to get a bit worried at this point. The line behind me is getting longer and more restless and now both frazzled people behind the counter are looking for my yarn. Maybe it didn't make it to the postal outlet? Maybe the mail carrier noticed the shipping address and took it because they are a knitter too! Maybe it fell out of the truck and got run over and dirty! OMG!!!!!

"Found it!" says the frazzled girl! Yeah! All crazy thoughts leave my head as joy floods my psyche. I cuddle my package and shuffle out into the cold evening and head for home.

*Sigh*

I love new yarn.

My New Favorite Sites...

Just like everyone else, I have a list of sites and blogs that I visit every day or so. Well, I've just added this one:

Craftzine


They have lots of cool craft postings on their blog. I love it!

I also love Instructables. It's fantastic with tons of cool projects and how-to's!

Aaaaahhhhhh!

Time's running out! Must knit faster!

So Happy!

I just purchased Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn from Simply Socks Yarn Company! Yeah! I've been drooling over this stuff since someone used it in a sweater pattern on Craftster.

Here are the colours:

Chinatown Apple


Flamingo Pie


Giant Peach



Of course I also had to order some Lorna's Laces, which I've been eyeballing for YEARS! I thought it only fitting to order two colours especially made for SSYC and they just happen to be really fun! (Images courtesy of the SSYC website)




I'm also trying out some Classic Elite Alpaca Sox in Tango Red and Watercress:




And some Malabrigo sock yarn in Boticelli Red:



Hope it come soon! I can hardly wait!

It's not like I need more sock yarn...wait...I can always use more sock yarn! Sorry, my brain just rebooted there.

Triumph in the Big City!

Shamefully, I've neglected to post on my adventures in Calgary in October. First of all, I had 2 1/2 glorious weeks of vacation! I love vacation time! I wish I could always be on vacation. I believe I need a sugar-daddy. But enough of that...

I was fortunate in that I was able to spend the entire day alone in the big city. I feared I would have to take Hubbo or the mother-in-law, neither of whom enjoy knitting stores, searching for new and exciting yarn or rummaging through Ikea.

I wanted to get to Shuttleworks bright and early, so I set off from Lacombe at about 8:00 am. Father-in-law graciously loaned me his GPS, into which Hubbo dutifully programmed the addresses of all the shops I wanted to hit. The weather was perfect and traffic was light. As I was driving along the highway that links Edmonton to Calgary, the sun came through the clouds and I could see the Rocky Mountains in the distance. I'm a prairie girl but seeing the mountains always takes my breath away!

I knew that Shuttleworks was on the south side of Calgary, somewhere out in the boondocks. The GPS kept me company by squawking directions at me..."Turn right at the next exit....bear left". At this point I "bear left" and the GPS tells me I've arrived at my destination. Unfortunately, I was sitting in the middle of dirt road with no yarn to be seen! Crap!

No problem, just take that exit up there and I'm sure it's around the corner. Ummm...nope...right back where I started...the middle of a dirt road. I decide to explore said dirt road and promptly drive up the hill. Hmmm...no yarn up here. Maybe down that side road....nope...horses...yarn doesn't come from horses. I get back to the top of the hill and use my trusty cell phone to call. I get voicemail saying they don't open until noon. Hmmm...no problem. Ikea it is!

I spent a couple of lovely hours snooping around Ikea, getting my life organized and fending off mothers with giant strollers. Then I headed back to Shuttleworks. I figure that now they'll have a sign out or something to guide me on my quest. I was wrong. After a phone call and several sets of poor directions...success! I found it!



The first thing that hits me is how well organized the place is! Then I notice that they carry Lamb's Pride! Never having seen this line of yarn in person, I took the time to undertake a thorough investigation! I finally settled on 3 shades of Wilefoote sock yarn. It's so soft and yummy!



Then I spied some drawers labelled "Silk". Hmmm... Upon opening the first drawer I nearly faint at the sight of skeins of gloriously coloured silk hanks! Then the owner says that there are more in the drawers below! Well! My brain went into overload! Eventually selected these:



I also purchased a lovely set of EZ Blocker wires and a set of wool combs. Because of my decidedly large purchase, I was entitled to a free tote bag. I love tote bags! What a fun place!

Upon my return to Lacombe, I had enough time to stop at The Crafty Lady, one of the best crafts stores I ever seen.



Every trip to Lacombe necessitates a visit! She carries the most amazing selection of yarn I've ever seen! I love it there and can usually spend a couple of hours nosing around! Here are my eventual purchases:







Once again, I received a tote bag. I love tote bags!

The next day, all of us headed into Red Deer and stopped at a yarn shop called The Wooly something or other. Here are a the results:



Then we headed to a really yummy Indian restaurant. The in-laws had never tried Indian so it was quite a treat for everyone!

While I had anticipated finishing several pairs of socks, I ended up working on a scarf made from Noro Kureyon sock yarn.




Detail:


I love the colours of this yarn but don't care of the texture. It's not a plied yarn, just a single and a bit rough and not as sturdy as most sock yarn. It has to be hand washed. I don't do that when it comes to socks! I thought perhaps a scarf would be more appropriate and I think it looks quite pretty!