Now I Know How Dobby Felt

Any Harry Potter fan will know that the only way a house elf will become free, is if their human gives them an item of clothing.  Dobby the house elf was given his freedom by means of a sock.  Socks are a big deal to Dobby - and I'm starting to understand the enthusiasm.

My first failed attempt at cuff down socks is detailed here and the discovery of toe up socks is detailed here  (Fact fans, that first pair is still in the process of being knit).

I then tried Sockmatician's toe-ups as part of his March sockalong - which used German short rows which I thought was an exciting technique to learn.  Apparently you can also do them without turning the work  (Both links are to Youtube tutorials).

 Things were going well:

Toe up socks - yarn is Regia 4 ply in the colourway Mosaic

Things were going really well:

I realise that the camera on my phone isn't that good under artificial light

Until the point where they weren't.

I have no idea where I went wrong - but as other knitters were using (and loving) the pattern, it's a knitter error, rather than a pattern error.

So, instead of getting worked up, I did the only logical thing - and cast on a new pair, using Stray Cat sock yarn (the acquisition of which is here)  The pattern is Time Traveller Socks, by Liz Sedmak.  (Ravelry link here  Non Ravelry link here)  It has a Fleegle heel - which the pattern describes as being: "great for a beginning sock knitter because there is no picking up gusset stitches, no “wrap and turn” short rows, and no kitchener stitch"  Sold. 

 The heel looks a little triangular to me, but the sense of achievement in turning the heel was pretty awesome. 

Using the same pattern, I cast on my next pair: 

King Cole 50:50 (discontinued) Colourway: Jubilee

I was knitting these socks for the second briefing weekend for our trip to Iceland, for the World Scout Moot in Iceland.  It's not the required wool content needed for walking socks for the trip, but it contains the colours of both the UK and Icelandic flags, and it seems appropriate to wear them for the opening ceremony. 

However, after the first false start with the heel (I had to knit to two stitches beyond the marker, which I did - I just used the wrong marker) I don't think I've knitted the foot long enough.  I've turned the heel on the first sock and it feels a bit snug.  It might be OK, but then again, there's a risk it won't be - and if frogging 20 rounds or so removes that risk, then so be it. 

The weather here has been phenomenally hot, and socks are about the only things I can knit without sweltering.  (This is why there are no photos yet of the completed cable-breaker).  All the windows are open, which means moths at bedtime.  The fridge is full of drinks which we're both reminding the other to actually drink,  The Tube tomorrow is not worth contemplating.  On the plus side, my hands appear to be behaving themselves, more or less. 

What has your weekend brought you ?  If you're in the UK - how are you coping with the heat?  No, really - I think I need tips. 

The Elk Under the Sofa

I've just dropped a whole load of loom bands on the floor, and in clearing them up - found an elk under the sofa.  He's a Christmas decoration that I bought in Stockholm last August.  I have no idea how he ended up under the sofa, instead of on the tree - but we can rectify that in December.

Since last posting, we've not had any more major terrorist attacks (yay!) but we have had a General Election (boo!).  The Prime Minister wanted a strong mandate to carry on with negotiations to leave the EU.  She ended up with a reduced minority and a hung parliament.  At the moment of writing, she is still leader of the party, has just 'reshuffled' her cabinet and is going into partnership with the DUP to get a majority.  Many people, quite rightly, are expressing concern about the government now no longer having neutrality in the power sharing talks in Northern Ireland and as a result risk totally destroying the Good Friday Agreement.

But back to the loom bands. 

The loom bands were to help match up a batch of knitting needles that I've been bequeathed.  At my grandmother's memorial earlier this year, I was given unused yarn and needles from my uncle's mother, so not a direct blood relative.

Yesterday was only the single point needles; the box of DPNs will have to wait until a later date.

All together, I ended up with 36 marriages (of which three weren't true pairings, but they were the same size and length and basically looked good together) and 42 orphans.  As one of my friends said: "Knitting needles breed, but are lousy parents".

I'm knitting a secret thing for Mr Knitty's birthday, which is later this month.  He's probably worked out what it is, but is pretending not to.  I want to keep it a secret, so can only knit when he's not around.  Graciously, he's said that he's happy to wait if needed.  

Yesterday, we went for a walk in a local park and saw the birds, and a fallen down tree.  

Love where you live - the walk yesterday afternoon

As I was taking this photo - a small dog decided to take a poo at my feet 

There was something about the inside of the tree branch which seemed so fresh and meaty; I ended up taking loads of photos, all of which were pretty much the same. 

Odd that I should describe this as meaty, given that I'm a vegetarian 

Today was all about the knitting of the socks.  This pair started off so well.  Sock one had the foot done in pretty much one evening.  Sock two came with me to Gilwell Park (the headquarters of The Scouts and that's where things started to go wrong.  I was using Drops basic needles, as a friend of mine said that they were cheap, but long lasting.  This is the second pair of socks I've knit with these needles, and something happened to the join between the cable and the needle, to the extent I couldn't get the yarn past it, without it badly fraying - so I had to cut the cable. 

Yarn is King Cole 50:50 (discontinued) in colourway Jubilee 

Then I had a mare turning the heel of the first sock - all now sorted.  I'm at the heel turning point on both socks, but it's not going to happen tonight.  Pattern is Time Traveller by Liz Sedmak (Ravelry link)  Free pattern with an easy heel.  What's not to love? 

So what have you been knitting this weekend?  Has it all gone to plan?  

(Just checked.  Theresa May is still PM)

London Calling

The Shard, in the centre of the picture, was near the attack last night

It seems spurious to be blogging about knitting, in the aftermath of last night's terrorist attack in London.  It's a city I know fairly well, as I've lived and worked here since 2011.  I was aware of something going on via social media before I went to sleep last night.  Mr Knitty was awake before I was this morning, and told me it was a terrorist attack by giving me a massive hug when I woke up. London is a city I know and love, inhabited by people I know and love. All the places on the news where the attack took place are all places I have woven into my life story.

London in the cold light of day

Again, my sadness is for the people directly involved.  Tomorrow may be interesting; it appears that some of the injured were taken to the hospital where I work (thank you Swedish media) and I also have an appointment at Guy's tomorrow, which is right next to where the attack happened.  It is moments like this when I am incredibly proud to work for the NHS.  And again, Twitter took the mickey in the way that we British do best.

My uniform and international necker - for a foreign visit last year

Yesterday was a better day.  I spent all of it at Girlguiding Regional Headquarters with other international advisors, discussing Plans and sharing ideas.  Our voluntary role is to advertise international opportunities to all members, help to select girls and leaders for international trips and support groups going away if needed.  Above is my uniform top and neckerchief from when we went abroad last year.  The union flag badge is one you sew on your uniform when going away internationally. 

The plan today was to sit and knit a hat, using Sockmatician's Invisicrown pattern (Ravelry link).  The yarn was bought for my nephew's blanket and I have a purple and red ball left over.  In a day of feeling out of sorts, creating something seems to be a good way of being productive.  Very annoyingly, I cannot find the double point needles that I need to swatch and knit.  Instead, I'm putting together ideas for another international trip to Bruges later this year.

Oh - and I've finished the cable breaker.