WOW! and she is a crafter too....

I just watched this funny presentation by Erin McKean about words....she is a dictionary editor, a blogger, a mom AND a sewer! The presentation is funny (traffic cop v. fisherman) but long, so feel free to SKIP IT!

I have been trying to remake my presentations for library instruction this week and love how she did her talk--no words, only pictures, and lots of humor. This may not crossover to "How to use the library" directly, but I am going to try.

I have also been thinking about blended librarianship, about instruction and web and new tech as it applies to library work. AND about how libraries and librarians have a bad reputation, just like dictionaries. How can we continue to change that? Don't make me shush you!

Beginning of third week of WeSoP: Three socks done

If I do not lose my sock mojo, the goal of 18 socks looks pretty do-able from here. I am nearly done with sock #4 and we are barely into the 3rd week. AND this is a mansock, though a simple one. Mansocks take ages.

Last night I finished the gusset decreases; its only the race to the toe now. I have to take my dad for oral surgery today, so I should get at least an hour in at the dentist.

I have a Second Monkey sock on the needles now--I'm still on the picot hem--and I may work on that one next. BUT I am also looking at my copy of the Thelonious pattern.....will I be able to knit it in a week or so? probably. And I do have a backup of a sock, so I really have two weeks. Will I enjoy knitting it if it takes awhile? or should I make another kid anklet to give me more "insurance"?

The joy of options!

First week--one a most of a second DONE!

My first week's progress....this was the pair on Monday morning. I am ahead of my goal! I began the first sock on Monday and started the second sock on Friday.

Only 16 socks to go! Maybe I will get a bit ahead and then work on a harder pattern (or a bigger sock. There are some man-socks that have been promised

I have decided in Ravelry to list each sock as a single--so a completed sock shows as 100%, rather than a pair showing as a completed sock. We don't need pairs, we need single socks!

I am REALLY loving the Noro here, more than I have ever loved Noro before. The thick and thin is interesting, rather than distracting. The texture is pleasantly rough, feels like an honest wool (and I hope it will wear like honest wool!) The colors develop wonderfully, but do not HURT each other like the stripes do in a larger garment. The socks work as a pair...and I think I could combine two SINGLE noro colorways to make a pair as well.

In fact, I am loving the Noro so much I make take to the edge and keep knitting with the ball--BoyWonder likes the colors and has already requested socks from this yarn. So I may start his sock right away. The ball has 450+, but I am unlikely to get 2 kid socks out of it. Maybe HE can be the first to wear planned mismatches--there will certainly be more Noro in my near future. I bought 4 balls from The Loopy Ewe so I had better feel the love.....

The Weekly Sock Project (WeSoP)

January is a time for looking back and forward, for taking stock of the past and for planning for the future. This is important; to learn one must somehow look forward and backward, revisit success and failure, and hope to learn from each. Many resolve to diet, quit smoking or save more money. Knitters resolve to buy less (or more) yarn, tackle more (or less) projects and learn from all.

I resolve to knit a sock a week.

From now until Maryland Sheep and Wool (May 3-4) I will knit a sock a week. This is 18 weeks, so I should produce 9 pairs of socks from now until May 3. All socks count--including kid ones (my children's feet are nearly adult size already.) Two baby socks will count as one adult sock (they have 24 stitches, so that is fair).

WeSoP Project is not just about garment production; its the celebration of the daily knit. The everyday, ordinary projects that keep us entertained waiting for the dentist or at a kid's soccer practice. The everyday projects that we wear (and wear out) every day.

WeSoP is also a celebration of the creativity of the stash. In theory sock yarns don't count as stash...they are simple, contained projects, they can be started at any time with little planning, they pack small in a purse or tote. Sock yarn is always ready and waiting for the knitter. BUT even sock yarn can be too much. Remembrance of Projects past......all those skeins waiting to be knitted can hold back the knitter who is trying to knit for TODAY. Creativity grows when options are limited...limit yourself to the current stash and see what develops.

Onward! for today, WeSoP!

(I just created a Ravelry group for the WeSoP so you can WeSoP with me! Search on Weekly Sock Project.)