I recovered fairly well from the clothing incident yesterday ( what with these sorts of upsets being so frequent, I need to be good at coming back from them) and left triumphantly wearing a different wool skirt (the one that is a little narrower than my stride so that I can’t walk very fast. I hate that one.) and the pair of stolen tights. I was feeling pretty good about the whole thing until I crossed my legs in the airport lounge and noticed that the stolen tights were navy blue, not black…but it was too late and I decided that if I tried hard I could compensate for tight colour with charm…. and also….at that point, who cares.
Freaking out over skirts and pants ate up a chunk of Lene’s knitting schedule for me, so I applied myself most diligently while I waited to board and finished the Embossed Leaves socks…seen here photographed in that most elegant of settings, a hotel room.
They don’t fit me, which is something I shall be noting on the post it note I’ll stick to the pattern. I have really little feet, and these would need to be knit on much smaller needles to come down small enough to fit me, but at pattern gauge they are going to fit the recipient (who has average womans feet) rather nicely.
Embossed Leaves socks from Favorite Socks, Lotus Yarns sock yarn in “Hydroponic”.
While waiting for the plane to take off I started another pair of socks, but was thrown off the schedule by a hyper-vigilant flight attendant who felt that my needles posed a risk to others during take off and landing. There’s no arguing with the people who run things (though I was tempted to show her the schedule and explain that Lene really hadn’t figured on this) so I stowed them until the seatbelt light went off….but there went a chunk of knitting time on each end of the flight. I shall have to be superquick today to recover.
It will be easy, since I am so in love this yarn so much I want to marry it. I surprised myself when I bought this colourway, since this group of colours isn’t usually my thing, but I love it. Adore it. Am charmed to the point of unreasonable behaviour by it. Last night at dinner I totally dorkified myself by forcing people who really don’t care at all to admire it at some length. It’s Duet Sock Yarn in Chocolate Crunch and I am totally, completely obsessed with it.
I haven’t even got to the co-ordinating yarn for the heel yet. I expect it shall put me right over the edge. It’s these little one row stripes that are making me so happy…. I am a simple woman.
Yes, we must all fear being accidentally stabbed by a rounded-tipped knitting needle being wantonly flung down the aisle due to turbulence… I hope the flight attendant’s over-vigilance doesn’t hurt the Lene Schedule!
has anybody out there ever dealt successfully with the ‘handmade stuff is cheap’ deal?
love the green lace… love the chocolate crunch
That is yarn worthy of being shown around!
I’ve only had a flight attendant tell me to put the needles away once, but I’m the one who always leaves my iPod going even during takeoff and landing, if I can get away with it.
A yarn that isn’t mustard yellow and acid green and you still love it? I don’t know if I can wrap my head around that…
I have been happily reading your site for a few months now and have picked up my knitting needles again, thanks in part to your wonderful projects.
I do have a question, though. How do you avoid muscle pain with all the knitting you do? I find I can’t knit in certain chairs or certain positions or even for extended periods of times without my back piping up in protest (for 2 or 3 days). Perhaps I am exceptionally prone to such issues, but I am curious about those who knit A LOT without feeling it in places (back, shoulders, neck, arms, elbows, etc etc.) actually DO it. Is there a magic trick I need to know about?
Wow, I haven’t run into that flight attendant yet, but I did have a fellow passenger who was completely shocked & angry that I would be allowed to bring knitting needles on the plane. I guess I see her point, as I did have a slight temptation to stab her with my #1s…..
Wait… that yarn is… mostly pink… and you love it? Okay… who are you and what have you done with Stephanie? 😉 Although upon further inspection it appears to have enough of the browns in there to tone down the pink.
I too am thoroughly charmed by the single rowed stripes. 🙂
Flight attendants get drunk on their own power, I swear it.
Being a pink lover myself, I can only say that pink is so great that at some point it will overcome even the most dedicated green/yellow lovers. Just give it enough time. as for flight attendants and needles–I recommend bamboo. I put them in a pouch with my pencils. I never met a bamboo needle that was more dangerous than a sharpened pencil. Congrats on getting back on Lene’s schedule–does she do schedules for the rest of us for a price???
I think I need Lene to do a December baking schedule for me : )
What??? you mean forcing totally uninterested people to look at a gorgeous sock in to-die-for colours isn’t normal?????
Oh. My. Jaywalkers. in the Chocolate Crunch…..I wish Santa would knit for ME!
PS Navy tights…bummer. But you’re cute regardless.
😉
um, where are you flying to right now? i guess i haven’t been keeping up!
Gorgeous!! I love those little stripes, too. Flying out in less than two weeks and agonizing about what projects to take, since I will be gone for about two weeks. As long as the power hungry TSA and flight attendants don’t get all over-vigilant on me, I’ll be fine. I know my pens and pencils will be far more problematic if they confiscate my needles! Sigh. . . and I used to love flying. No more!
I’m still shocked at how fast your can turn things out. I couldn’t knit that much sock in a week, never mind a day. Go, Stephanie. Go.
Happy flying. Maybe they will be less nervous on the way home. I love the colourway of the new socks.
I agree, that yarn is delicious!
Don’t stress about the coloured tights – its the fashion this winter. All the clothes shops here in London are selling tights in bright colours designed to clash with everything else. You are the height of English vogue.
I think I missed something along the way…. who is this Lene?
You knit those embossed leaves socks so fast!! They are lovely.
And, um, I will marry your duet yarn too. It’s so pretty. I am going to need some of that I think.
First, in recent air travel, the airport security person in charge of the XRay screen stopped TWO sets of headphones in front of me, while allowing my socks-on-two-metal-circs to go through unscathed. As I boggled at the mental process, a Raveler pointed out she just may be a knitter herself.
Will wonders never cease.
Second, Duet Middy is sold out everywhere and I, of course, desperately want some after seeing yours. But if you Google “Duet Middy,” you eventually come to a blog entry where someone talks about playing a recorder duet and something about “The Secret Life of Walter Middy,” which I found very funny.
Love, love, love the socks. Covet, covet, covet the yarn.
Hi,
I haven’t dared yet to try to take knitting on a plane; how do you do it? Only wooden or plastic needles? This is a serious cry for help!
Thanks,
Jenny
So, you’ll even like pink if it’s called “chocolate”?
I love that the socks have leaves and are knit in a colorway called “Hydroponic.” It’s all so botanical and perfect. Nice socks, too.
The hydroponic socks are great (and I LOVE that name). But those one row stripes are just awesome. Of course, mine wouldn’t end up that way, I’d get funky pooling most likely. But it still makes me want to knit some up to find out 🙂
I join you in your appreciation for the hydroponic socks. Those are EXACTLY my colors.
I have a pair of socks knit in Schaefer Yarns Heather (“Clara Barton” colorway) that I hang on the towel rack in my bathroom after I wash them, and there they stay until I next wear them because I love looking at them and this way I see them everyday. A private little pleasure.
Love! the new socks. Want some yarn, with coordinating heel/toe yarn. Sold out. Will pine until restocked.
Love the chocolate yarn! Yum!
I have had experiences with over-vigilant flight attendants also. A shame. Maybe we should teach them how to knit…
I loved your post about the skirt! And adore your socks and your blog!
I just wanted to say that the maker of Duet Socks Yarns, Angie, is a friend of mine and as a friend, I must plug her product. You can find her many fine yarns at http://www.aswellyarnshop.com. She does a great job with her colors and high standards of quality control.
I just got started on a pair of socks in Army Girl. Great stuff!
I am finally commenting, because you don’t have 5 million comments on this post! I love your posts and read them faithfully! My daughter also, reads, but SHE knits socks (I do mittens, mostly with handspun). She also has a few of your books and allows me to read them at her house – I can’t take them home with me. Keep up the good work in knitting and writing!!
Wonderful yarn, looks perfect for the modular socks on my to-do list. The pattern wants a colorway dyed with large sections of color. I’ve got some Opal handpaint earmarked to use, but friends have warned me that the pattern is like potato chips and to have another skein at the ready. This one looks ideal. Thanks.
::sigh:: someday I will knit as fast as the Harlot. Well, maybe not, but I’ll hold on to that dream as long as I can. Beautiful, beautiful knits!!!
Maybe the solution to wrong colour tights is to keep everything else black or grey – and then go to wild colours for the tights – can’t possibly not match, right?
For Mobea at 11:31 – if you have given handmade to someone and heard “handmade is cheap”, then the next present for them should be something *not* made by you. I had a whole story written here about what the accompanying (SP?) note should say, but I deleted it – don’t want to be that negative. Just tell them you understand that they feel your time and love are not worth much, so you won’t burden them with handmade items ever again. And then don’t! Life is too short to waste on gifts for folks that won’t be converted – share the love with those who adore stuff like that!
Stephanie – hope the travels go well – now that you’re fully dressed you’ll get a lot more done and have more fun!
Mobea – If anyone your giving a gift to is foolish enough to prefer generic store bought to handmade, you could tell them approximately how much time it takes to knit/sew/bake the item and calculate that in minimum wage. And then add the cost of supplies. Or you could save your efforts for someone appreciative and buy them something generic from the Big Box Store. If your worrying it will be perceived that way, then just let it go. Most people really prefer handmade items, as long as you are as thoughtful about the gift suiting them as you would be if you bought it.
Don’t forget you’re a bit ahead, so maybe the set back won’t be so bad. I believe in you!
Yay, I fell on that one with voracity too! I hadn’t particularly been swept into the Duets mania, until that colourway. It may be on the needles sooner than expected….
RE: Navy vs black tights- after about the twelfth time I spent fifteen minutes at dawn’s early light trying to figure out if I had the right color? I took a permanent marker and wrote “BLU” on the tags of all the navy ones and “BLA” on all the tags of the black ones.
Mobea, if they think handknitted stuff is cheap? Give them storebought socks. They don’t deserve better. Or make up little decorative baskets of scented soaps and lotion you can find on sale. Not only will they not be able to complain about receiving lovely handknits, you’ll have more money to buy yarn.
And Jenny- I’ve flown with knitting nationally and internationally for years, and it is *totally random*. I took 16″ aluminum needles from the USA to England and back last spring and no one even commented. But all you need is one person in authority having a bad day, or one fellow-passenger who is a jerk, and you’re stuck, because even though knitting needles are on the TSA* approved list, it also says that ‘anything can be banned at the discretion of the airline or TSA employee if they think it’s a problem’. (Obviously TSA applies only to people traveling in and out of the US, but it seems to be similarly random in Europe from anecdotal evidence.)
My rules for travel knitting:
1) Never take needles you can’t afford to lose.
2) Print out and take a copy of the TSA list with you to the airport, so if there is a question, you can very politely point out that they are specifically allowed (while looking as harmless, friendly and inoffensive as possible).
3) Bamboo and nylon circs are probably about as safe as you can get, but other wood or plastic needles are also much less likely to draw attention than metal ones.
4) Always bring enough stitch holders or other means to save your work if you lose your needles at security.
5) If they ask you not to knit on some portion of the plane trip, it’s not worth arguing. It is worth bringing up the TSA rule if they’re trying to confiscate your needles, but you really don’t have a lot of recourse. You can also bring stamped self-addressed packaging so you can mail needles to yourself (they’ll generally let you do that instead of confiscating things) or if there’s time, you can check another bag (which means leaving the line, going back to check the extra bag you brought and returning through security).
6) If you’re using straights, 9″ are a lot friendlier to your seatmates than 16″s.
7) Bring a backup book to read.
(Boy, I am just full of advice this afternoon. I’ll shut up now.)
The rate at which you churn out socks is simply astounding! (I’ve been working on the same pair for about 6 months now) I have a great and abiding admiration along with a wee bit of jealousy for your speediness regardless that it stems from years of experience. I’m really rooting for you on this knitting schedule thing. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.
PS: The knitting club I advise at my school is learning mittens. It’s strange how I can teach all day long and have such a hard time trying to teach “purl.” I think knitting teachers must be gifted indeed.
Oh, I do despise those flight attendants who make you stow the knitting like an electronic device. And it’s kinda hard to knit inconspicuously when you’re the only guy on the plane with yarn in his lap…
Duet Sock yarn can be found at Angi’s website:
http://www.aswellyarnshop.com/cart/home.php?cat=364
She has great colors and it feels so great in your hands while knitting.
vicki with no blog.
Why, why, do you tempt us with these colorways, i’ve gone to the website, and this color is sold out!!!! sniff-i’m sure there will be another one i love better that you’ll post on soon enough! i hope the knitting goddess rains down curses on the flight attendant, how dare she deprive you of much needed knitting time. does she really want to tangle with someone with pointy things and string? i don’t think so. continue happy trails and here’s to staying on schedule
Ooh, they’ve made me do that with my knitting too, during takeoff and landing! So silly. I’m glad I’m not the only one it’s happened to!
Love the one-row-stripes, they are super cute! Good luck staying on schedule! =)
I’ve been fortunate when flying; I’ve only had flight attendants comment on how much they liked my yarn and ask what I was making. I only use circulars when traveling. On my latest flight, I had my knitting toolbag stuffed into my carryon with a bunch of magazines surrounding it and realized, upon arriving home, that I had a tube of hand cream (not in a quart size ziploc bag) AND scissors inside my toolbag! Horrors! I can only conclude that the magazines blocked the view inside my toolbag.
oh, what a pretty colour! The Duet looks great knitted up.
I cheer your recovery from the whole getting dressed business…it’s taken me a few minutes to recover from your tale…you write so well that I felt like I was going through the whole getting dressed business myself. Love the chocolate crunch look; guess I am really simple as well 🙂
I love the embossed leaves socks! I had the same problem with mine matching my small feet. Time for finer yarn and smaller needles, I think. But meanwhile, I’m off to put some of that duet yarn on my holiday wish list!
The sock yarn is totally worth showing off to even the non-knitters! It’s gorgeous, and looks good enough to eat. Love the tiny single rows! And the name. Mmmm…Chocolate Crunch!
Muggles always try and sabotage knitting plans with things like “grocery shopping” and “laundry” and “risk to other passengers” excuses. Why the hate muggles?
Also, those pinks socks are exactly my color.
Tell them you are a lot more dangerous without your knitting needles.
I’ve also experienced the overly cautious flight attendants but I’ve learned that as soon as you hear a “ding-ding” sound you can take out your knitting no problem – you don’t have to wait until the seatbelt light turns off! That ding-ding signals that you have passed through 10,000ft and it is safe to use approved electronic devices so knitting is a-ok 🙂 Waiting till the seatbelt light turns off is pure torture – sometimes they never turn it off! To tell the truth, I’ll often pull out the knitting a few minutes after take-off, when the plane is off the ground and not climbing to sharply… the attendants are stuck in their seats too so they’ll never know 😉
I hope you got the name of that flight attendant and her supervisor. I have a small discussion planned.
How DARE they mess with The Schedule?? Isn’t that akin to some sort of blasphemy?
I am so lucky that no one has ever eyeballed my knitting and told me no on an airplane. However, I am a poor flyer and frequently am convinced I am going to die, so I often place similar limitations on myself. Besides, turbulence increases the possibility of dropped stitches.
I can’t wait till they get more of that sock yarn at TLE. It comes with coordinating yarn? Mine!
Oooh that chocolate crunch is scrumptious!
The flight attendants always make me put away my needles during landing and take off too. I figure they don’t want me to put an eye out. Which would, truly, interfere with the schedule too…
Dontcha’ just hate having to stow your “dangerous” needles??? The last time that happened to me I even had the PLASTIC Denise needles…circs, plastic, WTF? I just don’t get it…but I didn’t really stow them, just tucked them under my lap blanket and waited until she had stopped walking past to knit…bad girl!
And now that I see you working with the Duet, I might just have to pull the stuff I bought out… however that will have to wait until after holiday knitting is finished…(half a scarf, two hats, another scarf and a pair of baby booties…)
Chocolate and raspberry–yum. I think the flight attendant was just jealous they weren’t for her.
I am dead drunk in love with the Hydroponic Yarn. Must acquire some. Soon. Only I lust after a whole sweater, or perhaps a shawl. I love mossy, rich, botanical greens beyond all reason.
For MOBEA — re “handmade stuff is cheap” … I’m afraid the only answer is, “Thanks for the warning that you don’t appreciate my time and effort, or the quality of the yarn. I’ll give it to someone who does.” And take the gift back. Seriously.
If it’s not a gift-ee, but simply someone making the usual “why-do-you-knit” comments, you can reply with, “Clearly, you haven’t priced good quality yarn lately. And thanks for the warning. No gifts of my time and skill for you!”
Remember that you don’t need to justify yourself to others, dear. I like Miss Manners’ universal reply to nosy and stupid questions: a shocked expression accompanied by, “Why on earth would you ask that?”
If a person is exceptionally rude, however, I confess to the occasional non-knitterly barb. Once a woman in a medical waiting room looked at my work and asked me what I was knitting, and I told her, thinking she was starting a polite conversation. Then she said, “I’m glad I’ve never been so bored that I had to learn to knit.” To which, after a moment, I replied, “I’m glad I have my knitting; I’ve never been so bored that I had nothing to do but make rude comments to strangers.”
Simple is good. I myself like to be thought of as simple. But then again, I like to screw with people’s minds…
And the chocolate crunch? Yummy.
omg dez- love that come back! thanks all of you for the re-inforcements! perhaps the key is to knit for knitters! 🙂
mobea
I litterally gasped when I saw your socks…. Love that color green!
I knit all through the process of jury duty (this was not too long after 9/11, I ended up not getting selected for a jury [whew]); I had called several people to confirm that I was allowed to bring the needles through security and the metal detectors, etc. I ended up using a 26″ plastic circ set (which to me seemed like it might be more dangerous than a simple metal set, but [shrug] oh well I got to knit for a week so I didn’t care!). I managed to finish a poncho in a couple of days, but yes, it does not pay to argue with those in charge that have the ability to take away our beloved needles!
Ok, I need to ask the blog a question–please reply to ME only [click on my name in the post or email me at nancyamiller@hotmail.com] so we don’t eat up The Harlot’s blogspace…how much would a hand knitted scarf be worth, if we were to put a dollar value on it? Reason for asking–we are doing a ‘Secret Santa’ type thing [the one where one person opens a gift, the next person can either ‘steal’ that gift or open a new one, etc] and I actually got my needles in gear and have a knitted scarf for it. But they have upped the dollar value this year, and I don’t know whether I should toss in a $5 gift certificate or not. If it matters, I got the yarn on sale for $3 [it’s a nice grey acrylic, as I don’t know if anyone has any allergies, and it’s a slanted rib pattern, very nice and suitable for either gender] and I figure that it took me about 10 hours to make, and the dollar value for the gift exchange is $20.
Any thoughts??
Where in the world would you be traveling that your dinner partners wouldn’t be interested in yarn? Have you taken up the oboe?
One row stripes are a beautiful invention. Good job finishing the Embossed Leaves, they are lovely!
I just wanted to let you know, You need to go over to the Panopticon stat and read todays post. too funny.
ps ooo, pretty stripes and I love the the leaves, thanks for the note on the sizing.
On my computer chocolate crunch appears pink and red, but I believe you if you say that’s the name of it.
And they say lots of porn is made in hotel rooms, so why not a little sock fetish for the rest of us? The crispnes of the hotel sheets really shows the green ness well.
P.S. I have no actual knowledge of hotel room porn, so I really can’t elaborate on that urban legend for you.
The little one row stripes are simply darling! I must break out my Duet yarn once I finish Christmas knitting.
Schaefer Anne does the same thing – that wonderful single-row striping! I wish it had coordinating heel/toe yarn!
I must remember that colors that might otherwise be disliked can be rendered completely acceptable by a name change.
So if it looks like poo brown and I call it chocolate….
Yum yum yum. That color combo brings me to think of vanilla ice cream with strawberries and chocolate chips.
When I flew to Europe, my plastic circular needles were the source of considerable discussion among the inspectors, as to whether they were allowed or not (I had a printout from the airline and the government to prove they were). Still, they were almost confiscated. Odd though, the five pair of straight needles in the carryon — metal ones, no less — evoked no concern.
And you would show us yummy yarn — that is out of stock!
Robert Burns: “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley.” Loose translation- “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Same can be said for knitters on a schedule and a deadline. Love the colorways and patterns.
Dez, you are my hero.
Mobea, my next gift (should there be one) to Critical and Clueless would be a charitable donation in her or his name.
Stephanie, those green socks are gorgeous! What a lucky normal-foot-sized woman! (Although unlike other posters, I find that the expression “hydroponic socks” makes my feet feel wet.) And I am not much of a pink person generally, but this is the second time you’ve knit something with predominant pink-ness (at least on my monitor) that I just LOVE. Do you remember the socks with the sideways-knit cuff? I think the colourway was “granite” from STR? It was quite a while ago, but I can still see (and long for) those socks!
Mobea: I dont deal with it, if the person is a family menber I dont make them anything, esp if the comment comes after a homemade gift is received by them whether its to me or another person. If the person isnt a family member, my comment is usually “its your loss then”
Stephanie I am sure glad you were finally able to get dressed enuff to go out of the house!!with out having to lie in traffic to boot 🙂 Btw where on earth are you headed this time ordid I miss it in your blog?
“And also….at that point, who cares.” Now there’s a philosophy for you! Love it. Very expedient.
The chocolate sock yarn is fabulous. First thing I thought laying my eyes on that picture was “what perfect little stripes!” Really. It looks like you changed yarns. Fabulous! Great colors too. And the embossed leaves are to die for. I have some Shui Bui in the wasabi colorway that I was going to use for a sock pattern I just created, but I might have to do a little rearranging and use it for these instead.
P.S., I just forced a (possibly completely uninterested) muggle co-worker to listen to me wax poetic about the difference between Merino wool and that spun from the fleece of Romney or, say, Blue-Faced Leicester sheep. Does that make you feel better?
Okay, yeah…that is some damn sexy yarn. Gonna try to get me some, methinks!
Keep breathing, you’ll get through the schedule just fine. We have faith in you!
I love how passionate you are about knitting. You have inspired me to pull out that sock project from a few years back – where I completed only one sock! I contemplated sewing some fake fur on the cuff and hanging it up for Christmas! Perhaps not, I just may finish it!
The socks look great Stephanie! I think you picked the perfect yarn (of course). Thanks for blogging about them yet again!
Love the new colorway too…YUM.
xoxo
See, you gloated about being so far ahead and you lost takeoff and touchdown knitting time.
Be careful!!
It’s good to know I’m not the only one who just pulls out a sock and fondles it in front of complete strangers… there’s nothing like trying to force the unwilling into a yarn-orgy to make a person feel like a total fiber-pervert.
Clothing nightmare. Honestly, your entry about clothes is the anxiety dream/nightmare I have when there is some stressful thing on my horizon. I’m trying to get dressed and catch a ferry. It’s right up there with the dream where you’re supposed to take a final exam and realize that you’ve never actually been to the class. Hives!!
Oh my, what an enabler you are! Chocolate Cruch is right up my alley. Makes me think of chocolate covered cherries!! Boo, hiss, boo! You wouldn’t be knitting those for me by any chance, would you??
Very pretty yarn, indeed. I love pinks and chocolates together.
On your attire issues — Years ago a very dear co-worker of mine discovered near the end of the day that she had on one black shoe and one navy shoe. They were both pumps relatively the same heel height but the toe was a little different.
About your small feet — do you mean they are narrow in width? I wear a AAA width (US sizing) and can get by with a AA width if it is a shoe with which I will be wearing socks. So many sock patterns I have call for size 0 needles. I’ve never worked with anything smaller, but I guess I will have to try it to make these patterns work for me. I love patterns that offer more than one circumference size.
For some reason I am compelled to acknowledge a recent knitting related near disaster, mostly to make you laugh and because you’ll get it. On a rather longish spontaneous road trip from San Diego to Flagstaff AZ, I was working on a large lace piece I wanted to finish and was jubilantly nearing the last few rows. Using very pointy metal Inox needles I swiftly pulled on the loose end of the circular needle (on a very long cord) and heard a thwap!, thinking nothing of it I secured my hold on the business end the needle and commenced knitting when my boyfriend (the driver) commented very calmly that the thwap! had indeed been the very pointy needle smacking his sunglasses! The terror I felt is hard to describe, had he not been wearing sunglasses I surely would have taken out his eye! Not sure what the moral is here, other than yes I am a crazy knitter who should probably be a bit more aware about things and that I have an amazing and patient man in my life.
I like the Chocolate Crunch. Must have it!
And the socks…oh wow, the socks…
Did that same flight attendant make all those who were writing stow their writing utensil away?
Love the socks! And, I am most happy to hear that others leave the house with articles of clothing that are the “wrong” color as well!
In the future, maybe traveling with Lene in December will help with the schedule – while she argues with those who are messin’ with the schedule – you can keep knitting….
Have a great weekend!
dez: I love your comeback, even if Miss Manners wouldn’t approve.
Mobea: When I first started knitting for my children and nieces (all teenagers at the time) at holidays I printed a few lines from the introduction to Yarn Harlot,
“Knitting is magic. It’s giving you my time – time that I could have spent on anything, or anyone, else. Knitting is love, looped and warm.”
This cut off any negative comments long enough for them to appreciate the items, and now they lobby for knitted gifts.
Nancy: Ten hours at minimum wage is WAY OVER the twenty dollar amount. I’d say no extra gift certificate and whoever gets the scarf scored BIG. (I usually discount my time too since I had the fun of doing the knitting, but even at $2 an hour, you’re fine!)
Last time I flew both my father and I were wearing handknit sweaters. One of the flight attendants asked my dad if his was handknit. When he pointed me out as designer and knitter the attendant asked if I could fix a problem she was having with her knitting! While I was straightening out her problem and teaching her how to avoid the same issue next time, I introduced her to the Harlot’s blog and knitpicks yarns. She gave me the names of some good LYS in Phoenix and Southern California. It was a great flight!
That yarn is a pretty yarn, but if you love it so much and decide to marry it, won’t you first have to divorce the yarn you used for the SrCJ? No wonder they call you the Yarn Harlot. 😉
Pink single row stripes! That is very me!
Mobea – don’t give handmade to anybody who doesn’t express an appreciation for the time, skill and love involved *before* you hand over a a gift.
Neither of my sisters can knit, or even sew. When I started to knit socks they pointed out that it seemed a lot of bother for five-dollars’ worth of socks. I told them how long it would take me to knit a pair of socks (about 20 hours non-stop, I’m slow still on dpns!) and because I knit in my leisure time, I told them how much I charge for out-of-office hours (scary rates, I’m a computer consultant and the managing director) – they did the maths and then I added in the cost of the merino/cashmere I use, hand-dyed by an artisan on the other side of the planet and airmailed to me…
The price was staggering. And then I let them try on a pair of my socks, we have the same sized feet. My sisters considered how nice it must be to have socks made to fit your feet perfectly, in your favourite colours, unique luxury socks made just for them. And then they begged.
But I say No. I’ve offered to teach them to knit. I’ve promised a skein of Posh Yarn’s Lucia to each of them to make their own socks.
I don’t think anyone, however appreciative, can truly comprehend The Wonder Of Socks until they have knit their own.
Besides, it is fun to torture your sisters. Even after 30-odd years, it never gets old!
Ok, I like your new yarn, but I still like the Lotus Yarns better because the dyer is my internet friend. I just started your Unoriginal Hat. I am not sure why I wrote that. Anyway…
Recently I went through airport security alongside a pilot who smiled when TSA pulled out my knitting. I remarked to him, “if there’s a knitter on your plane, they’re on YOUR side” and he agreed.
And I got to keep my knitting.
Oh, that yarn is **scrumptious**! The depth of color comes through even on my antique monitor. I love the idea that it comes with contrast yarn for heels and toes. Saves rooting thru the stash for just the right color. I Must have some, but I see it’s out of stock already. Just as well, as I shouldn’t get sidetracked till after Christmas gifts are done. After the first of the year, watch out!
Chelsea – I am wearing my Unoriginal Hat right now. I took the time to block it today and love it even more (and it was highly loved in unblocked form).
As for socks, I am having a hard time believing anyone can knit socks as fast as you, Dear Harlot. Are you sure you don’t have a bevy of elves knitting for you?
No way! Coordinating heel color! Can’t wait to see it.
Have you seen Franklin’s blog today?
http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/
As they are coming back into vogue, or to tout one’s obsession to the whole world, ever consider knitting leg warmers for yourself in some nice goes-nearly-with-everything color like black? Nice cables would class up any skirt nor seem out of place with business-casual Fridays. And when they do go back out of fashion you just pack them away for another 15 years when they come back around.
Of course, this doesn’t solve any near-imminent clothing crisis as it isn’t on The Schedule and you are only semi-super-human after all but it is just a thought.
Pretty, and I don’t even like pink!
I think you can make your schedule this year, but if you don’t make it and are on the fast track to the loony bin, you can wave hello to me. I’ll be there with both feet on a stool knitting as fast as my gibbering mind will let me.
Hi —
I am a frequent reader of your blog (aka … I must have my Yarn Harlot fix or else 😀 ). I came across this link from Mimknits and was wondering what badges you have earned.
http://www.cast-on.com/?page_id=123
I keep missing the Duet at The Loopy Ewe. Partly because I don’t try hard since I haven’t picked up my last pair of socks-in-progress for several months. Correction – sock singular. It was a design piece and I already knew I needed to do an entirely separate pair based on whatever I decided was the final design.
Your Duet is gorgeous, though. Love the itsy stripes. Reinspires me to pick up some socks, except that all my sock yarn is in another state right now and what I just ordered from Loopy was a sweater’s worth of yarn – sock-weight yarn – and have another sweater’s worth in my cart.
Not such a big deal. There are no busses where I am right now, either, so portable’s not a big issue.
I love that yarn! Reminds me of chocolate and cherries, two of my favorite things.
I thought of you (you-all, actually) today when I had to go to the County Courthouse this morning. I had the presence of mind to leave my knitting in the car before I had to walk through a metal detector. How bad would a Susan Bates Quicksilver circ have looked to the security guard?
Dear Harlot,
Before you go showing off stunning, scrumptious, indie yarn, you probably need to warn the dyers that they are going to be inundated with orders from all over the world! We all want both those yarns!!!! 🙂
Now I’m in really Serious sock-yarn withdrawal here!
Mmmmmmm Chocolate Crunch…..
Yeah, about that, HUGE question:
Have you ever had a problem getting knitting needles onto an airplane? Should I risk having to unravel my project and give up my needles because they looked pointy on those security X-ray whatever machines? Is there a good way to tie them up to avoid such a thing?
A week from Monday I’ll be on the longest flight of my life (so far). Having to sit there for 8 hours while my sweater is all alone in storage is going to KEEL ME.
I’d like to second (third? I didn’t read the other comments) the question about how you accomplish so much knitting without injuring yourself. I really admire your abilities, and I’m envious. How do you knit for such long periods of time without causing damage to your joints and tendons?
When are u going to put the snowflake shawl up??
I’m a blue-green-purple girl myself, but that chocolate colorway is perhaps the most beautiful sock yarn I’ve ever seen. ***must ask Santa, must ask Santa, must ask Santa***
Love the Chocolate colorway!!!!!
Dear Harlot 🙂
Two words. BAMBOO NEEDLES. They’re short enough you can stuff them in your purse and they DO NOT XRAY.
I further shortened mine to 5″ instead of 6.” They fit in the purse well enough that they no longer poke holes in it. I just took a sharp knife, whittled the ends down, and sanded them well, finishing up by applying some wax to the ends and rubbing it in well.
LOVE those green socks! I’m the Green Queen…
Embossed Leave socks are gorgeous. The yarn and pattern work so well together. And I too am digging that Duet sock yarn and one round stripes! And I too would not normally like such a colourway. I once worked at a Baskin Robbins ice cream shop before they modernised their colours and had to wear pale pink and brown to work.
I have the Chocolate Crunch2, glad to see it knit up, it is gorgeous!
Doesnt matter what kind of needles you have, the flight attendants ALWAYS ask me to put the dpns away during take-off. Massive bummer. What else am I supposed to do? Just sit there? think not!
Oh…my…god!!! I just had to wipe the drool off my flippin’ keyboard at work. I must have the Chocolate Crunch…MUST FIND SOME!!! It is so fantabulastic that I just might cry!
The best happy is simple.
it could also be called “neopolitain ice cream”, methinks.
Ahh, love dem green socks! (On A Green Kick: 1-1/2 years and counting, here.) The chocolate crunch I can admire, but it does not incite me to buy. Good thing, huh? Less competition for the rest of The Blog, trying to find somewhere it isn’t out of stock. But I do admire the cute widdle stripes it makes, I may have to give in to some Duet. Oh, the hardship. 😉
Meanwhile, my mind’s eye now sees you performing future clothing inspections with a high-power flashlight and jeweler’s loupe, making sure any stolen tights are true black instead of sneaky navy. This makes me wonder if my mind is even loopier than I thought it was…
Looks like the collective’s got you covered on the handmade/cheap bit, Mobea. Good luck with that! And Dez? Standing ovation on that comeback!
If I had that stripey yarn, I would also totally dorkify myself and make people admire it at length. I’m going to have to look into acquiring some so I can do just that.
Oh Stephanie, I read aloud your last post (about the grey skirt and brown pants) to my 17 yr old DD. When you spilled the coffee she really did laugh so hard she cried. As she recovered she said, “are you SURE I’m not HER daughter, SHE’S JUST LIKE ME!”
I love your writing!
I made a pair of socks out of that duet yarn. It’s yummy, isn’t it? I’m still trying to decide if they should be a christmas present…or if I should keep them for myself!
Those socks are gorgeous! (both pairs!) Now I’m forced to seek out two other sock yarns! Yarn Harlot – you get me into so much trouble!
Knitting on planes….I hate it cause it always involves someone stating that they cannot believe that they let me on with those sharp needles
To those with joint issues:
Knitting seems to help the arthritis in my hands, keeps me limber. Tatting, however, aggravates almost as much as typing for long periods! Staying warm while knitting, even in the summer in the air conditioning is important. Nice socks and sometimes a hand knit hat are very helpful. Whichever might be your “bad” side should have cushioned support, but low enough not to obstruct the movement of your needles. While I am a dedicated “thrower,” when I am having episodes, I will knit the smarter (for me, slower) continental style – much less stress on the elbows, hands and shoulders. As to stiff knees and hips, get off yer duff every so often and go to the kitchen for a bit of chocolate. While you are up, bend over and pick up the shredded roll of paper towels the dog has strewn while you were so enthralled with the pleasures of the flesh. Your back, knees, and hips will thank you.
I’m just really jealous about your ability to knit on aircraft at any time. In Australia, all the airports/airlines specifically include knitting needles (all types, not just metal) on their dangerous goods lists. You need to check them in if you’re going anywhere. I’ve never known my hands to twitch so much as on a two hour wait and four hour flight to New Zealand recently.
Oh, and I adore the one-row repeats on the chocolate crunch.
Oh wow! You have YarnLOVE on the needles. AWESOME.
=:8
Man, you Harlotted that yarn! The entire Interweb store of Duet sock yarn has tumbleweeds (made of loose fiber) blowing down it’s halls.
I have dealt with the flight attendant issue. In the end, I decided she was right because the turbulence from Seattle to Boseman,MT was REALLY bad. But poke someone’s eyes out? She really could hae thought of a better excuse.
I am stunned that you didn’t whip up a pair of tights on the plane, maybe in that new sock yarn, probably just long socks with maybe a “garter belt” , like what were those things…lol
I *love* the heel on the Embossed Leaves socks. Only six months ago I wouldn’t even have noticed the different heel stitch pattern and here I am noticing them before the lovely leaf pattern and beautiful yarn. You do seriously awesome work, lady.
That yarn is yummy. I want some and now it is sold out everywhere….bummer.
I had a stewardess (I’ll refer to her as the Yarn Nazi) run clear back from first class, screaming all the way, to tell me that my #0 bamboo needles (which I could have snapped between two fingers like a toothpick, let alone stab someone to death….) were scaring the passengers. I loudly asked the surrounding passengers if they were scared and there was a huge round of laughter. I told the YN that the guys ink pen in first class was scaring me! I suppose I am lucky to not have been bound and gagged and thrown out of the plane in mid-air.
Well one time I knit an entire flight sitting between an FBI agent and a TSA agent. It didn’t seem to bother either one of them. Course that probably doesn’t help with the hyper-vigilant flight attendants.
Fabulous colourway!! Much adoration! Those are so totally my colours. Those are socks for me, I just knew it!
I had a similar experience when I nearly wasn’t allowed to bring my BAMBOO cirfular needle on a flight. The security guy tested the points on his thumb and I gently explained to him tha the point of his pen was way more dangerous than my darn knitting needle! SIGH – how will I make it from London to Vancouver without knitting? (Answer: I won’t – as I will make 100% sure they allow my knitting onboard, in my hand luggage!)
Wrong colored tights – I remember the day a friend showed up at work in matching pumps – well, one in black, one navy blue. A little harder to hide! We will be flying overseas for Christmas and I’ve decided to leave the knitting at home (eek) I’m bringing a x-stitching project, hopefully that needle will be considered safe! It will give my muscles time to relax (re: rhetor1999, above – I get very sore muscles but usually keep knitting until my arms give out. I just hate to stop! So I need forced rest/recovery periods) I’d be craving chocolate covered cherries while knitting with that lovely yarn…
Love the Chocolate Crunch, I might have to get me some of that. (but then, those are the kind of colors I generally like)
Having just gotten in from the 3rd trip in the last 5 weeks (that’s one week at home all told) I have been on and off all sorts of planes and have had no problems until today – and even then, not much. The TSA folk just wanted to see what the scissors in my toolbag looked like, and turns out they’re not pointy enough to be confiscated. I probably disarmed them chattering on and on about how I was trying to finish my holiday presents, and how much my son was looking forward to his first hand-knit sweater, etc., etc., until their eyes glazed over and they started mumbling “nothing to see here, move along now” to themselves.
And at long last, I’m inviting anyone who would like to come see my new blog – remember, I’m a blog virgin, so be gentle with me!
Just out of interest what size feet are you? I made a pair of embossed too and mine are seriously baggy, I will be using 2.5, perhaps 2.25mm needles next time, I am a UK size 6 shoe.
Love the new sock, the colours are great
I must ask if you are flying Air Canada with these hyper-vigilant flight attendants? I just flew with them and they were quite efficient getting us all loaded up and off the ground, but both my flights had attendants who were hyper-concerned about knitting… they allowed the elderly lady across the aisle to retain her walking stick (read: club) as well as an assortment of sharpened pencils for doing her crosswords. Her hands were shaky so she needed many pencils – but I had to stow my sock (Christmas knitting for a person in my household) until we were through the turbulence – which never happened on one flight because we were on such a tiny plane.
Ah well – nice socks btw.
What I do on flights is to place my knitting on my lap conveniently under a knitting magazine just when the stewardesses are nearby and checking things for departure. Having both activities on the go just makes me seem slightly nervous to my fellow passengers but not nearly as nervous as I would be with idle hands for the length of time to get airborne. Once they are safely in their little seats they won’t see me anyway, but it does avoid them saying to put my knitting away in that Loud Voice style which makes everyone nearby know that you really shouldn’t be doing that….
On my last flight I brought the little rolled-paper “smudgers” sold in the art supply store for use with drawing charcoal. They are just about sock needle size, faintly pointy, and just barely strong enough to knit with if you’re gentle. Then they didn’t challenge my needles anyway.
Still, I think a better plan is to bring “disposable” knitting – one ball of easily replaced yarn and a set of dried out ballpoint pens (the kind with a smooth, transparent case) to knit a donation hat with. If the flight is long, you could rip and reknit with a different pattern.
Preeeety socks! Sucks that they wouldn’t let you knit on the plane though. How does the coordinating yarn thing happen? Yarn that just matches one of the colours in the pink and brown?
Love the socks, had to go buy the book today so I can make them at some point in the future, hopefully soon when I finish the tulip sweater, the felted slippers I’m working on, the cabled thingy I’m working on, the shawl that’s on needles, and the hat I’m making for one of my nieces for Christmas (need two, it ain’t gonna happen, we’re aiming for Valentines Day now…)
In any case, is there anyone out there in Yarn Harlot comment land who lives in the U.K. who would like a winning ticket from the tickets that came in the November Simply Knitting? It says it’s worth at least 5 pounds or up to 10,000 pounds (I’m guessing 5), so I’m not sure if it’s worth it to anyone for me to mail it to them or not. If anyone is interested, please let me know at KendraPT@aol.com
Back to knitting….though can someone tell me why my cat is staring at me?
ok, i quickly scanned all the comments, but don’t see the answer to my previous question. where is the Yarn Harlot flying to?? does anyone know? 🙂
Second the mega-drool response. OK… since all the Duet Sock Yarn is already gone to a good home, does anyone know of any other sock yarns with that endearing single-row repeat? Must. Get. Stripy. Socks.
I found the embossed leaves socks to be to big for my feet also. I used a sock weight instead of fingering weight and I think I used a size 2 needle?? Oh well, it’s a SSS thing, I gave up on a pair.
I just saw on the news the other day that black and navy blue now go together…so you were actually very much en vogue. -congrats! I am sorry to hear about the situation on the plane. I currently work at an airport and know that in the US TSA regulations allow for knitting needles (with certain restrictions). I don’t understand how you putting it into your carry-on bag would solve the problem of them possibly posing a threat.
I shamelessly stole your idea to embellish a Swallowtail shawl with beads. It’s just what it needed! Thanks for sharing! Now I’m onto my 2nd one for another Christmas present!
I want to make embossed leaves socks so badly, but first must finish Christmas knitting. Which I never used to mess with, the Christmas knitting. And then you apparently infected me a few years ago. But I have no Lene, and am not as fast as you are with the needles, by any stretch. I think I will cry in my coffee now, and then come up with some nonsensical excuse for why I should be allowed to knit at work rather than write html and .asp.
Sounds like a very over exhuberant flight attendant to me, I mean really , sock needles?
I like the pink stripey yarn, it looks edible.
The Embossed Leaves socks are really lovely, may need to make a pair of those in green.
Happy knitting!
New (but related topic): Hey Stephanie, I saw your appearance on KNITTY GRITTY a while back. I loved what you had to say about knitting socks…how they are meant to be worn and therefore, will wear out….so that knitting socks is an act of love. You said it much better than I just typed it. I am wondering if you would offer your words (more or less), so that I can quote you in gift cards I intend to enclose with the socks I’m giving away as gifts this year. I wrote it down when I heard it. Naturally, I’ve now lost it. Would you be so kind?? PLeeeeeeease?!?!?
Stephanie, as soon as you get home, ditch the skirt you hate. Life is too short to put up with clothing that makes you feel bad.
Does all the pressure induced knitting dimish your pleasure in knitting? I saw in a past blog post that you didn’t care for a colorway you were knitting into socks for someone else. Does the speed your knitting at make it easier to knit something you may not like?
DUDE!!! Love that new sock yarn. Of course, it’s all sold out. Not sure if that’s thanks to the Harlot or just because everyone knew about this amazing stuff before I did. SHOOT! But thanks for sharing.
ok i’m totally confused.. it hasn’t shown you going anywhere since September.. so what gives.. was it a secret trip that we aren’t supposed to tell Joe or the girls about.. hee..he.e. i still need to get your latest book.. funds have been low.. but i thinki’m getting for myself for xmas.. hugs.. karola
Oh my word- I’m knitting stranded! Harlot you have been right along- knitting isn’t to be feared… It’s just knitting after all…
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