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Friday, October 20, 2006

Who in this universe knows what would make a knitter this happy?

Can we say whirlwind? Wow. This was an incredibly busy week for the Lone Knitter. Seems as if every time I sat down to update my blog, there was something so incredibly pressing waiting for me in my email inbox.

Part of the joy of being a knitter is rushing up to your boyfriend and saying, "See my socks?" It makes me feel like a child showing off a drawing. So the joy of the knitter-blogger is rushing to the computer to post pictures of the new finished object.

I had a finished object on Saturday. My Trekking socks were finally done. I took them off the Addi circular and put them on my bamboo dpns and they almost finished themselves. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed that the socks were finished just as the Trekking yarn was starting to get interestingly bright. Seems as if I started with the darker end of the ball. But at least my socks ended on a happy note. What you're seeing in the picture above is the happy note that my socks ended on.


These socks were knit using Trekking XXL in colorway 100 across 64 stitches. They started on a size 1 Addi circular and ended on size 1 bamboo dpns. They use a traditional Dutch heel flap and have a 2x2 rib for the cuff. They are incredibly comfy. Incredibly. Quite possibly the most comfy socks I've made to date.

In the midst of a terribly long and sleep-deprived week, the mail truck came. The mail truck came unexpectedly. The mail truck came twice actually: this morning and two nights ago. Look at all the great things the mail truck brought me.

Hmmm....I thought. Who could be sending me all these wonderful knitting books? Who in this universe knows what would make a knitter this happy? Could it be a secret pal? No. Could it be my boyfriend who knows that if I'm not knitting I want to read about knitting? No. Is this some strange, twisted joke that the universe is playing on me to get me to think that magical things can happen if you believe in them enough? No. And then I read a little gift note that came with the books: "Thought that the Lone Knitter would get a kick out of this group of goodies." Well, the Lone Knitter is getting a kick out of these goodies. These are great goodies.

I got Yarn Harlot's At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much, Yarn Harlot: the Secret Life of a Knitter, and Knitting Rules. And the creme de la creme of the goodies: I got Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. This is a great book. In addition to having really great patterns, it's also a history manual. There's a whole introduction that gives an overview to the history of sock knitting and different types of sock heels and toes. For a sock knitter, these are very, very interesting facts to know. The book is also bound with a spiral inside so it will lay flat as you're knitting. Very handy.

So, the mystery remains: who sent me these goodies? Who is the behind the magic in my universe? Why, it was my boyfriend's mother who, from now on, I will refer to in my blog as Mom J. Thank you, Mom J! You've made my knitting week, my knitting month, my knitting year! I've already started devouring At Wit's End and can't wait to read the other books and look at the vintage sock patterns. What I love about the Yarn Harlot is that she makes me feel normal; my obsession is nothing to worry about. Or, rather, my obsession is not normal, but I can find a method to live in such a way so that others will not notice what they should be worried about.

7 comments:

Lazuli said...

Wow, that's a great package! And finished socks! I totally know what you mean about the finished socks excitement and the little kid drawing. I feel that way every time I finish a sock!

schrodinger said...

What a lovely, thoughtful package. How sweet.

Loving the socks - groovy baby.

Unknown said...

I love those socks. Must get some Trekking. And the gift! What a nice boyfriend's mom. You will, love, love, love that book. Nancy Bush's Folk Socks has some sock history in it, too. Different stuff than what is in this book. It's all so fascinating. And the Yarn Harlot books, you lucky grrrl! I love her. It seems WE are all normal and everyone else is strange.

Anonymous said...

Mmmm, pretty socks. Very fall-esque, mostly darker colors with a bit of surprise orange and red just to keep it interesting. And better to have the bright colors at the end than at the beginning where you fade into boring-ness just when you need a boost.

And great package! Good to know your boyfriend's mom supports the knitting obsession. That or she wants her own pair of socks for Christmas!

The A.D.D. Knitter said...

Yes I am also rushing to post about any and every finished object, it is a puerile urge, isn't it?
Way to go Mom J!! I am loving the Trekking socks and am so happy to see them as I have that very colorway myself so now I know what it looks like knitted up, thank you Lone Knitter!

Sarah said...

Damn, those are some cheery socks!

My boyfriend's mom got me the Knitting Answer Book for Christmas last year, and I've used it more than any other book in my arsenal.

Gingersnaps with Tea... said...

What a lovely package of books. I have all but one of them (the first Yarn Harlot)and just know you will treasure them all.

Love your Trekking socks! Trekking grows on you doesn't it? I started a pair of socks with it for my sister and just picked up more to use in my toe up class. I like the way it transitions from colour to colour.