Well, the second socks are finished, and the next pair (for the Trek Along With Me) are cast on. My desire for a compelling pattern conflicted with the desire for something to knit up from my head, so I’m doing the Simple Socks from Cat Bordhi’s book with an XO cable running down the side.

This is also my first time doing socks with the Magic Loop method. I’m not sure how I feel about it. Financially, it makes sense… about half the price of two needles. However, it just doesn’t seem as fast as two circulars. The needles I got are not Addi-Turbo’s, a change that may be influencing my speed.

I went with bamboo #1s from the brand I learned on (no link, you have to go research that yourself). The joins are NOT good. It’s a challenge resetting the stitches each half round. I had to cast on three times, finally resorting to casting on with the #2 Addi-Turbo and transferring back to the #1s. I considered returning the needles, even though ImagiKnit doesn’t accept returns, because I felt mislead. I clearly discussed my Magic Loop sock goals with one of the employees and (I hope) had she known how difficult the joins make working this, no human in their right mind would recommend this brand. Now, I’m a few inches into the cuff and things seem to be settling into a rhythm.

I’m flying off to Nashville, TN tomorrow for Bonnaroo Music Festival for work. I plan to come home with these Trekking XXL socks finished. Should you see a male knitter with a shaved head, say “hi” and ask him if he’s me. Yes, I’ll take pictures.

Before I left for work this morning, I finished the knitting of my second pair of socks second sock. All that remains is grafting and then I can get started on my Trekking. I’m going to swatch out a few cable patterns to see it would look to have a big old aran-esque knot down the sides. I want something a smidge more challenging than a simple 3/1 rib.

As always, suggestions are welcome…

Thanks to Paul, I’ve found out about the Trek Along with Me sock KAL (my first) that involves being outdoors with your knitting and knitting something to be used outdoors. I like socks. I like outdoors. Why not?

I don’t know how I feel about the “joiner” mentality of a KAL (this is my first), but I like the structure and deadline, and, heck, I was going to knit my Trekking XXL yarn this summer anyway. Now I just have a reason to do it outside. I’ll get a US#1 circular this weekend to begin. Any manly pattern recommendations? Something beyond a simple rib, perhaps with cabling?

Don’t worry toy fans. I’m not giving up on you… there are many more beasties to be made!

Sorry for the forced pun, but this afternoon I returned from my second trip to visit the in-laws in Oregon. The knitting gods smiled upon me, seeing a project finished, a project started and finished, a skein of Trekking XL purchased, and much progress on the second pair’s second sock. It was first trip to Eugene that revived this little writing space and got me back on the needles.

This time, we took the trip by car. What Yahoo! Maps said would be 7+ hours ended up being closer to 9. Granted, we had our little angel in the car with us, so many stops were made for potty breaks. She traveled like a champ, hanging out in her kennel for the first few hours, napping on the back seat for most of the time, and the occasional visit to my lap. She’s exhausted from three days of playing with the resident canines—two border collie mutts, one twice her size, the other at least four times! She endeared herself to Lolo and Roger by hurling herself onto their laps anytime they sat.

But you didn’t come here for dog talk, didja? First, a confession. I went to a chain fabric store (the name rhymes with Rowan, or more specifically, Row-annnn’s) and bought some 100% acrylic Red Heart Super Saver crap. Hold on, I have a reason! I wanted something cheap to experiment with, as well as something that’s machine washable. One of the big motivators of my current toy kick is making things for friends with kids (or, in Janie’s foster mother’s case, about to have kids). If you have recommendations for baby-safe, easily cleaned and durable yarn, I’m all ears. Same goes for environmentally-friendly stuffing (organic cotton batting?). Luckily, that mainstream craft wench got less than $20 from me; and I promptly spent a similar amount at a Eugene LYS.

So, out of the aforementioned products, I present to you my first Nautie. How geeky is it to knit a fossil? It was super simple, just a little time-consuming working off of the large skeins. Next time, I’ll work it in a single color, or two that are closer in value for a mottled, less uniform appearance. With such contrasting colors, any tension variation results in visible blobs of one color. Also, I would caution anyone attempting this to not stuff too densely at the beginning, as I have some fiber leakage in the center of the shell.

When we left on Friday morning, the Jess Hutch bunny was in pieces. Somehow, when showing off the parts to Lolo, an ear was lost. I’m not sure if Oscar, Dudley or Janie ate it; I just hope it all comes out in the end. I knit up a replacement ear (the shorter one) last night, and everything came together. This pattern is super-fast and I’m looking forward to riffing off it. I love how she’s arranged the increases and my needles are antsy to try to make more little creatures.

As for the sock progress, you’ll see it when it’s finished. And the Trekking XXL, I want to get a 40″ #2 and try to knit it with the Magic Loop technique. A memorable Mem… sorry, I can’t. Between the man and the dog’s snoring, it’s time for me to go to bed as well.

The outpouring of comments got me off my butt and onto the needles. I printed out a bunch of softie patterns, put down my sock and swatched up some scrap yarn last night. I’ve settled on a Jess Hutch bunny pattern for my bear base. So far, head and 2/3 of the body are done. Using the Rowanspun Chunky from my cycling aran (no, I still haven’t put the zipper in, nor photographed it), it’s coming out a tad dense, I could probably jump up to #9’s,but I want to see it through at this gauge.

Between Leslie, emmalola, and Elemmaciltur and Janie’s expecting foster mommies, I got a bunch of creatures to make! I should probably do one on larger needles and felt it Miss Janie Sparkles, too. Little things are fast! I see why toys are so much fun!

I hope y’all won’t mind if I stray from the bear motif into other animals. Inspired by the www, I want spikes and swirls, and multiple appendages. <sarcasm>That said, I bet the gays would go nuts for a little, knitted, fat, hairy figure—who knew novelty/fun-fur yarn could be so butch? I’ll go sell them around the corner at the Lone Star Saloon</sarcasm>

Being late to knitting, I’m often jealous of people who grew up with it in their family. In fact, the woman who infected me with said passion is (at least) a third-generation knitter. (Hey, B, when’s your episode with Beema and your mother airing?) I feel like I missed out on the passing down of knowledge, tradition and family history. I’m no Knitty’s Amy; it’s just the opposite. Heck, I’m the guy my mom calls for advice for her friends—have you ever tried to describe a SSK on a cell phone?

Thanks to a kind and dear friend from work, my feeling of being left out has been replaced with a deep gratitude and a sense of honor. While cleaning out her basement, Leslie came across her mother-in-law’s needle stash and entrusted them to my care. Benthe’s son Peter doesn’t knit, and Leslie is a crochet-er (now armed with Benthe’s hooks), so she was kind enough to think of me! I was floored when she handed me a grocery bag that rattled with weight of aluminum, resins, metal and such. I am now guardian of Benthe’s valued tools (ranging in size from #0’s to #15’s):

• 13 pairs of 14″
• 4 pairs of 13″
• 2.5 pairs of 12″
• 20 pairs of 10″
• 4 circulars
• 84 individual dpns
• 3 stitch holders
• and a metric/English (not US) needle gauge.

Benthe grew up in Denmark and moved to the U.S. as a young woman. I knew she was a knitter from my first day at work, as Leslie gave me a mini bear from Benthe. This was long before I knit, and I wondered what kind of compulsive person would hand-make gifts for strangers. She was prolific and generous with her craft.

Today, Benthe is still very much alive, and I hope to do her needles justice. I never thought I’d have more needles than yarn. Anyone need a bear?

Thanks so much for the comments! You make me want to write more… if only I were knitting something to write about! Man-on-man knitting love to:

• Elemmaciltur
• Dan
• Tricky

This weekend I’ll try to get up a knitting blog links in my sidebar ’cause I want to link you fine fellows (and a few other knitters I read).

Oh, and a little note-to-self for an sock I’d like to design: inspired by Spun Magazine’s pattern (found via Whip Up—handcraft in a hectic world), I want to make a more handsome and higher-ankled male geisha sock for chilly NorCal flip-flop wearing in earth tone colorways.

Well, that was a surprisingly long lull between posts. You get a dog, you work life explodes, you stop knitting completely, and then you stop writing.

But then there’s a three-day weekend, which was supposed to be a five-day vacation to Eugene, OR to visit your partner’s parents. Due to overdue crap at work, you reschedule your flight to a day later and fly up on Friday morning, joining said partner who flew up the day before. After writing a few emails in the airport at 6:40am, there’s not really any more work you can do on the plane, so you bust out your knitting. Sheer bliss for the short flight and all weekend long.

A return to my first sock, from Cat Bordhi. When I last left the sock, it was time to begin the toe. Just 2″ or so to go. It’s done and and I’m an inch into the cuff of its partner. It feels great to be back.

That’s me in the photo, waiting for BART from the airport. I’m wearing the aran sweater I got at last year’s Stitches West from Philospher’s Wool. I wanted to knit a classic, and I ended up with a beauty with sleeves a smidge too long. Oh well, it keeps me warm.

Two things kept me sane throughout the past month:

• Project Runway. Thank you, Dan for posting those images from the final collections.
• Janie. I love having a dog. It takes up all of my free time, but damn she’s cute.

As far as the almanac-along that Tricky and Franklin are doing, there are no men (that I can tell) on the participants list. I’d like to throw my jockstrap into the ring.

Wait, that’s a great January idea, aran undergarments. Unvent that, EZ! I just ordered my copy of her Knitter’s Almanac . And a copy of Knitting Workshop for good measure. One can never have too many books, eh?

I just finished an aran in December, so I may simply swatch some honeycomb for January. I don’t consider myself the joining type, as I’ve never knit-a-long with anyone. But, I like the anarcho generousity those guys have invoked. I’m a big fan of
learning from the greats, so this Almanacalong is right up my alley.

(I had to add the gratuitous button, so you understand the depth of my commitment.)

Have you heard about the work of knitta, please in Montrose, TX? You have to see it to believe it.

My partner sent me the link to Wooster Collective, a site celebrating street and epemeral art. An article was published today in the Houston Press.

Color me inspired! Rock on, sisters.