Friday 7 December 2007

To My Harvest Sock Pal

I have mislaid your address, and I'd like to send your parcel to you. Please can you respond to my note on Ravelry with your address? Thanks.

Monday 3 December 2007

The Harvest Sock Swap Marathon

Now, I'm not a particularly lithe woman; I always say I'm built for comfort, and not for speed. But that doesn't mean that I like to take FOREVER to get something done. Yet that is exactly what has happened here. I have FINALLY finished my Harvest Sock Swap sock (with only one day to go). I believe you have to post the sock and the goodies out by tomorrow. Well, truth be told, I won't achieve the posting date, but THANK GOD this sock is done.

I won't bore ya with all the details, but suffice to say, I don't love Lantern Moon needles. Well, I do, but they break ... all the time. It really put me off knitting the sock. I used to think that I was a fairly loose knitter, but maybe not. Maybe it's the way I hold my needles. I don't have a single needle that isn't bent.

The yarn, on the other hand, was truly lovely to work with. Helena is a 4ply (sock weight) yarn, made from pure organic merino. I chose a harvest-time colour called Bonfire, which I thought was appropriate. One of the main autumn celebrations here in the UK is Guy Fawkes - aka Bonfire Night on 5th November. We build bonfires, burn the "Guy", let off fireworks, and have a party. It is all in memory of the man who was caught trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605.

I chose to make Monkey in the end. (Guy Fawkes was a cheeky monkey don'cha know.) What a beautifully written pattern! I had a little difficulty with the working the row above the double yarn overs at first, but with some timely help from my sock guru friend, I soon overcame it. Needle woes aside, I enjoyed doing this pattern, and I'm sure to make this again for myself at another time. I am putting a few goodies in the parcel that I'm sending off to my pal this weekend. I only hope that she likes it.

I'll add pictures at the weekend, when I've got good light to take photos.