Agony of De-Feet

Perhaps agony is an overly strong word. This weekend DH and I made our annual pilgrimage to the Philadelphia International Flower Show. The always-wonderful show seemed larger than some years, with more exhibitors and vendors, also fewer chairs. The consequences were predictable, sigh. Ah well, we got to see (and smell and buy) some pretty things.



DH wanted to see the controversial exhibit of the show, stagey displays inside battered, graffiti'd cargo containers arranged as if their contents had shifted. One had Spanish moss covering the walls and ceiling, as if it had grown out of control during transit. This one was titled, "The Accident." What say you: Genius? Memorable but silly? Something else?



I was more drawn to this Beatles-themed cottage garden exhibit in honor of the retiring Pennsylvania Horticulture Society president, Jane Pepper. She would seem to be a woman after my own heart. Notice the whimsical Yellow Submarine mailbox in the left foreground and the Trek 7700 bicycle (with basket laden with peppers) crossing a symbolic bridge.



Speaking of the agony of defeat, there was the dark side of my Ravelympics: I was so busy with frogging and spinning that my Piscean Socks failed to progress. Alas, they are exactly the same as they were on the second day of the Ravel*****s. At least I have until March 31 to finish them for February Sockdown.



Then there's the cuff of my March Sockdown project, Snow Queen by Janel Laidman, which is really really tight on my Frankenfoot, which does not bode well. Hm.



This beautiful pattern is meant to suggest falling snow, but it makes me think of falling cherry blossoms. (Yes, I know snowflakes have six points and cherry blossoms have five petals. A minor quibble.) The yarn is equally lovely, Brooklyn Handspun Signature, in colorway Pale Petals. I love Marie's stuff.



Tomatoes never fail to get my attention, even at a flower show. Apropos of that, a biker friend in Philadelphia is trying to get a CSA started. The location would be Old First Church, in the Center City at 4th and Race Streets. If you're in the area and interested in participating, please respond to this survey.

Redacted 6/26/12: The Ravelry event formerly known by a name that rhymes with and supposedly infringes on the Olympics™.

Thrill of Victory

My 2010 Ravel*****s wound to a happy close Sunday night. Wound would seem to be the operative word, too – the niddy noddy, swift, and ball winder all got quite a workout. Despite the many temptations posed by the many attractive Olympics and Special Olympics handknits, oftimes it seemed that my Ravel*****s was all about yarn. That focus was not entirely a bad thing. On the upside, I collected four medals.

The first two medals were for frogging, or the Aerial Unwind, of two languishing UFOs, Peace Socks and Titania. The hard part was deciding to do the deed (the doing was easy enough), yet no sooner was the yarn reconditioned and reskeined than the trauma was forgotten. I felt no pangs of regret – just a vague sense of freedom.



The third, and happiest, medal was for the Flying Camel Spin. I surpassed my goal of spindling enough fingering weight yarn for socks. That not only was a Ravelympics goal, it's also a fibery resolution for this year and, indeed, for last year as well. Curiously, no sooner was the goal achieved than others beckoned. It's a milestone, not a destination.



That said, I'm inordinately pleased with the yarn. After a lot of fussing with plying techniques, one skein did end up with more of the deep rose tones and the other with more of the gold and pale pink, but the colors are decently well distributed and the skeins are very close in yardage, 249 yds and 246 yds (227 and 225 m). I'd say that's pretty good spin control.

My last Ravel*****s project, a NJ washcloth for the Platter Lift, was a spur of the moment thing, started and finished during the Olympics closing ceremony. I made one the last time. It's turning into a tradition. Which is bizarre, as I used to dislike knitted washcloths.

Discerning readers may have sensed there was more to my Ravel*****s than is mentioned here, and indeed there was a dark side. That will be addressed in due course, but for the moment, behold Ravel*****s glory.





Uh-huh, it's not that dazzling, but I'm proud of my handiwork.

Redacted 6/26/12: The Ravelry event formerly known by a name that rhymes with and supposedly infringes on the Olympics™.

An Opportunistic Frog

I'm not entirely sure every instance of frogging is a Ravel*****s-worthy feat, but the organizers saw fit to include Aerial Unwind as an event and I'm doing my humble bit. Does that make me a hypocrite? At least I didn't rail against it, vote against it, then seek to take credit for it (click if you have about 10 minutes, and hold on to your blood pressure). Ahem.

Moving right along, here's a languishing UFO, Peace Socks by Wendy Johnson, posed with Monday's print version of the NY Times article on a ritual unique to ice skating, kiss-and-cry:



Apropos of that, here it is after frogging, about 92 yd (84 m):



Most toe up socks just don't fit my Frankenfeet, yet hope springs eternal. Sigh.

Redacted 6/26/12: The Ravelry event formerly known by a name that rhymes with and supposedly infringes on the Olympics™.

And I Don't Mean the Fish

It occurs to me the Traveler sock may be the sock equivalent of a mullet. One side is all stockinette...



... the other is beads, cables, and the secret pocket.



In any case, they are done and (despite the somewhat dismaying epiphany) I like them.

ETA: Handspinners on Ravelry, rejoice! Casey has opened a thread on improving Ravelry for handspinners. Be sure to have a look and add your desiderata.

Danger, Will Robinson!

Betwixt working on Ravel*****s projects, I finished three singleton socks. Each showcases fascinating technique. For me, they're pure temptation and sheer knitting bliss.

There's Split-Toe Sweethearts by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, in Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn.



I've blathered on about the tabi toe visible above, but the sock also boasts an eponymous intarsia in the round heart and a seamless turn (it looks like a seam, but it isn't) which are no less entrancing to knitters who enjoy technique.



Then there's Traveler by Janel Laidman, in The Enchanted Sole, with its cables, beads, and secret pocket.



And there's Love Me Knot by Alice Bell, a pretty illusion knit revived from suspended animation. For the moment this static pic must suffice. If I can figure out how to upload a video, I'll show off the illusion effect.



I'm determined to keep them all off the Clothesline of Shame. Gentle readers may wish to indulge in a genteel guffaw and/or to recite the immortal admonition: Danger, Will Robinson, danger!

Ravel*****s spinning continues, although according to a great and powerful mod (her preferred form of address), Ravelry is for knitting or crocheting or weaving projects only. There can be handspun stash, but no spinning projects – spinning projects constitute a Core Spirit Violation. Huh. I'm inclined to think that's simply a limitation of the construct and no reflection on either fibery reality or my personal state of grace. However, if some wish to construe it as sin, then let me sin boldly. Go Team Spindlers!

Redacted 6/26/12: The Ravelry event formerly known by a name that rhymes with and supposedly infringes on the Olympics™.