So I had a bit of spare time today and what better to do on a day when the temperature hits 30 degrees than play with wool? Forget ice cream, swimming pools, G&T, wool is the number one heat buster - soon everyone will want some.
I thought I had better bag up my Get Knitted stash and put it all away. I have been having nightmares about circling moths. How cruel it is to make someone with a phobia of all butterflies and moths become a knitter - now I combine a phobia of horrible winged insects with a fear of wool destruction. I can trace my fear of butterflies (butterflies are much, much worse than moths) back to my time in Japan. In Japan I witnessed the horror of large butterflies, as big as sparrows, landing on people. My toes are curling even as I write this. I have to stop.
Anyway, as I happily bagged up stash to the accompaniment of The Archers and The Afternoon Play, I realised there was a problem.
Conditions in the sock tray are becoming seriously overcrowded (note the large amounts of moth deterrent plastic bags). We are moving into double layer territory. Pretty soon I will be getting calls from charities dedicated to improving conditions for sock wool, demanding to know how I intend to alleviate the situation. I will have to put an action plan in place. Is there a fund somewhere that I can apply to for a grant?
While mulling over my action plan and how I will present my aims and objectives to the funders I decided to make a small dent in the mountain.
Rib & Cable Socks from the latest Interweave Knits, for my Sockapal2za pal, done in Koigu P711. I love this shade. Initially it looks tweedy, which is why I chose it for this vintage inspired pattern, but then it hits you with all the colours it has in there, pinks, greens, yellows, just beautiful. I'm using my super short 2.25mm Brittany sock needles, from Web of Wool. I was unsure about these to start off with but I'm enjoying using them now. When I went back to Josie's Regia socks today, which are on 2.5mm standard bamboos, they felt surprisingly unwieldy.
In other news, do you remember the lovely handpainted yarn I got from my Secret Pal a few weeks back? Well shortly afterwards, I got an email from the lady who produces this wonderful yarn. She was amazed some had ended up in England and very kindly offered to send me one of her patterns written for this very yarn. Guess what came in the post yesterday? The pattern for the Butterfly Shawl. Thank you so much Virginia. If you're in the market for some hand painted yarn, pop over to her site and say hello!
Must dash, I have an aims and objectives triangle to draw up.
hmm... i am just a little freaked out. i started that exact same pattern, for the same reason, using those same needles, in Koigu last weekend. The only difference is that mine are a different color.
Posted by: holly | July 13, 2005 at 11:44 PM
I love that koigu and the pattern. But that woman in the states is cash/cheque only! Wah! Those stand up boxes she has on there are amazing.
Posted by: Lixie | July 14, 2005 at 09:48 AM
a draw full of beauty !
I don't want to worry you but wool m*ths can eat threw thin plastic ! Also keeping wool in plastic causes it to sweat. I prefer to stir the stash regularly,working on the theory that the little b*st***s don't like the light ! Keeping yarn/wool in old pillowcases works too,or boxes with good lids. If you must use plastic - I confess that some of my stash is plastic wrapped - heavy guage is better. Best of all is to be vigilent and wield the hoover regularly. My wool room = most hoovered room in my house.
Apparently living by the sea helps as they're not supposed to like the sea air !
Posted by: Emma. | July 14, 2005 at 11:08 AM
I think Emma's right, I've never had a moth problem EVER! If you could see my yarn, it isn't in bags of any description although I try and keep alot of it in those big lidded and wheeled containers from the DIY place. Maybe they haven't heard about me or that Dorset is mothless, but I know that can't be. So answer is, move within sight and smell of the sea.
Posted by: Tracy | July 14, 2005 at 01:38 PM
As big as sparrows? Surely not! What a lovely stash though - you look like a branch of Get Knitted.
PS. I love the shrug - they didn't show the back view in the magazine, did they? So pretty!
Posted by: Anita | July 14, 2005 at 06:57 PM
Moths...we've got loads at the moment. I won't read in bed, they seem to wait until only my light's on!
My second attempt at sockapaloozer socks has failed. I've cast on a plain brown pair meanwhile.
Dawn
Posted by: dawn | July 14, 2005 at 11:30 PM
Hello again - you are permanently marked on my blog as a "good read" :)You would not have liked to live in Charlottes Pass (Snowy Mountains, NSW) when I was there during the Bogong Moth season - they hatch there, fly a few 100kms away to mate, and come back - TO DIE!!! And they were everywhere! I did laugh out loud though - I hate spiders with much the same toe curling passion. LOVE the Koigu - boy do I want some - no one stocks it in Australia so it will have to be online!
Posted by: Donyale | July 15, 2005 at 12:22 AM
Mary my dear, at last I have found someone who shares my major moth phobia. Daryl was on permanent "moth alert" on holiday, jumping up to swat them at my every scream.
As for your Get Knitted expedition, it looks like you had a fabulous time - I want to go!!
Glad all your family are safe after 7/7.
Posted by: Clare | July 15, 2005 at 11:14 AM
that koigu is just heavenly - did you pick that up at get knitted? i tried the brittany's but being so short, they kept stabbing me in the palm of my hands. not so nice. if you can use them, they're yours.
Posted by: anna | July 15, 2005 at 12:53 PM
So Mary is now a Get Knitted franchise... very handy.
The socks are coming on a treat. Your ones, that is. Mine haven't done anything since last week.
And as for moths... my old house overlooked a harbour and we had a serious moth problem. They've not found me here yet. I expect they're still making their way up the A303.
Posted by: Fi | July 15, 2005 at 04:06 PM
Oh My Goodness. Please say I am your sock pal. They are the most beautiful socks ever. I am off to fing that color koigu...must have some!
Posted by: Jenn | July 17, 2005 at 01:52 AM
thanks for your comments on my socks! they are coming along. i am interested in hearing your impressions on the short brittany's if you ever feel so inclined.
you are right, this pattern works with the koigu. i do not know why, but it does.
Posted by: holly | July 27, 2005 at 09:25 PM