Cracking My Jaw
I have an appointment on Tuesday with an oral surgeon to check out my TMJ. Ick. I hope he tells me that increasing my knitting time will improve my problem, and that I need to start knitting at work.
Har.
This weekend? I made a hat. I've been making a LOT of those lately. I was knitting on a London Beanie and bound off before realizing that it was way too short. so, I unraveled the cast on edge, put it back on the needles, and knit down using ribbing and a different color. Here's the result:
who's that saucy chick?
It's Anne Marie, of course. Anne Marie and I spent a lot of quality time together this weekend, partially by choice and partially because I locked my keys in my car and we were stuck at Target for like an hour and a half. After a while we got a little punchy and started taking pictures of each other in our new shoes.
Oh! I made this too:
It's lacy and thick. Comfy!
I used a little butterfly lace stitch. I've been knitting a lot of wintry accessories in hopes of a booth at some holiday-bazaar-crafty-market or something in Athens this holiday season. If that doesn't happen....christmas presents, maybe?
Oh, I also started a sock this weekend! I've attempted a sock before, seen here
in this entry, but this sock is different because I used.... (drumroll, please)....size 1 dpns. Wowsa. Did you know that size 1 dpns are REALLY REALLY REALLY TINY and feel like you are holding toothpicks? I do, now. And did you know that it is really easy to drop size 1 dpns in your couch, and never hear from them again? And also, sock yarn looks neat, but it's just so tiny.
This is how I feel when it takes me five hours to knit an inch. Ha.
I realize that there are many of you snickering behind your hands, saying, "What a beginner! I use size 0000000s and lace yarn for my socks." And to you I say: congrats! that is awesome. I will probably never do that. But dammit, I'm going to finish a pair of socks with these size ones, and they will be lovely. I think my hands are already more accustomed to the tininess, so maybe by the end of the week I'll be racing through the sock.
I'll show you pics soon. They are actually for a sock swap that I'm doing, and the recipient may or may not stop by this here blog occasionally. So I'll try not to talk too much about the ripping and re-ripping and more ripping.
Oh, and about the embroidery! It's SO easy, seriously. I knew nothing about it at all, just got the supplies, read the directions and went to it. I think the Sublime Stitching patterns are well worth a look if you want to give it a try.
In other news, my twin sister's wedding is less than two weeks away. OH MY GOD. I can't believe it! I will be in Super-Maid-Of-Honor mode very soon, cleaning up messes and protecting the Bride from any disasters. Go Team!
Comments (24)
The hat looks ace with contrast ribbing, very cool! Socks take far too long for such tiny things - I'm making some at the moment too, and they're taking forever! But you do get used to the needles.
Posted by jen | November 10, 2004 2:56 AM
Keep up with the socks, i need the motivation! I started one, but ripped it out and havent gotten back to it yet even though I have some gorgeous sock yarn staring at me in my room...
Posted by stacey | November 9, 2004 6:26 PM
Ooh, TMJ is not fun, so I hope the doc gives you good news that involves tons of knitting. The London beanie looks great in the contrasting color, and the lacy scarf, so pretty!! I would never dream of making my own socks because teeny tiny needles scare me and I AM a beginner in the world of knitting. =) Keep on keepin on, and kick arse as I know you will as Super Maid of Honor. Hooray!!
Posted by Giao | November 9, 2004 9:21 AM
Keep up the socks Carrie! To everyone: Carrie is finally understanding what it's like for regular folks to knit something...it takes time. She usually makes a sweater in like an hour.
If her knitting weren't locked in the car with her keys last weekend, she would probably be finished with both socks!
Posted by Anne Marie | November 9, 2004 9:10 AM
the scarf is lovely. I adore a white fuzzy scarf for winter, don't you? and not to worry about the socks--the tiny needles will soon be easy to manage, and when you finally go back to something bigger, it'll be like trying to knit with broom handles! I have such a hard time with big needles now....
Posted by Valerie | November 9, 2004 8:12 AM
Sock swap, eh? I started mine, too! I tried using 1s but happily need 2s to get gauge. That said, my gauge is still your gauge no matter what size needles we're using, so trust me when I say it will go faster--or at least seem like it--once you're more used to it. And Da Brooklyn Sock Mafia would be perturbed if I didn't put a plug in for two-circular sock knitting. It's changed my life. F'real.
Posted by Em | November 9, 2004 8:02 AM
I've just got to say, I've never really read blogs before, but I found yours while looking for some knitting pattern, and I love it! So, thank you. (ok, now I don't feel like such a voyeur)
By the way: I love socks because they are so tiny, you can carry them anywhere, just in case you get bored. (I lose the needles often too, or the doggie chews them up)
Posted by Lisha | November 9, 2004 7:42 AM
Your pair o' socks will be most fantabulous! You can do it!
And yes, you're right--size 1 DPNs are such sneaky boogers! My new set of size 1 DPNs have headed for the border, never to be seen again ...so I had to buy another set.
Have fun at the wedding--you and your twin are adorable!
Posted by Rossana | November 9, 2004 7:20 AM
Your pictures always crack me up. Love 'em!
That's a cute two-toned cap. It was very clever of you to use a contrast yarn. Nice fix, and it looks great!
Posted by Becky | November 9, 2004 2:25 AM
For what it's worth, I sized toothpicks once (don't ask!), and they're actually a size 2--so what you're using are smaller than toothpicks! It does get easier, though.
Posted by Amanda | November 9, 2004 1:01 AM
Oh Girl...pull that lip back in. You'll get the hang of knitting with tiny needles and surprise of all surprises you might find you actually like it or even more suprising LOVE IT!
So anyhow i was meaning to leave a comment about your last embroidery project, but busy, busy is all I can say. Anyhow it is so cool...Yay for embroidery!
Posted by Georgia | November 9, 2004 12:59 AM
Socks socks socks!!! So proud of you for starting them. I believe in your ability to knit with tiny needles - I suggest metal ones as I constantly snap my wooden 1s and 0s in half. Now all my little ones are metal.
A better knitting buddy would have gotten you needles too. Harrumph. Cute beanie. Cute AM.
Posted by jenny | November 9, 2004 12:03 AM
okay really.. socks cost like 2 dollars and you put them in your shoes anyways.. why knit them if it causes so much anguish? lol i know its just the thrill of trying something new and it feels good when u succeed.. it just seems like a waste of a good talent. so finish your sock swap and then be done with it cause you could knit something WAY more awesome with your time and skill :)
Colleen
PS: that rant was my just my personal thoughts on socks, not to say that others might not find socks utterly intruiging
Posted by Colleen | November 8, 2004 11:09 PM
Who are the cutest girls in Georgia?! You guys, of course.
Even when making a sad face...
In totally unrelated news, I think I have to quit my job.
hmm- I think I will try to call you and bitch. Yes, I am.
Posted by frecklegirl | November 8, 2004 8:20 PM
I have one inch of the first sock I ever tried to knit *years ago* hiding in my stash! I quit (oh yes I am a quitter) because it took me forever to make any progress...glad to see you tackling it!
good luck, and hope the tmj thing goes the best way it can.
:)
Posted by heather | November 8, 2004 7:50 PM
Knitting that sock will get faster, Carrie! It stinks starting out but it gets faster. I am also a big sublime stitching fan! Speaking of, I need to get to work on some embroidered gifties. :-)
Posted by sarah b. | November 8, 2004 6:37 PM
sublime stitching, aye? i have had that site bookmarked for months. i keep meaning to start embroidery. did you get one of the kits? how can you find time to do something that has nothing to do with knitting?
Posted by amy | November 8, 2004 5:27 PM
I love the scarf too! Really cool.
Posted by Valerie | November 8, 2004 5:11 PM
It does go pretty slow on size 1s, but the stitches sure are CUTE! I like socks because once you get into the body of the sock, it's mindless knitting and very portable! (then again, I just do straight stockinette or maybe ribbed socks, no fancypants lace for me) So when I do them, I expect they'll take forever, and I kinda like that quality about them (that way ,you always have portable mindless knitting without having to continuously buy more yarn). If you're in a rush though, size 1s are gonna S U C K ;)
Funny, I was thinking I might have to try 0s. HOW FRIGHTENING IS THAT?!?!!?!?
Posted by Lara | November 8, 2004 5:11 PM
Hi.
I don't think you want to go to an oral surgen, you want an Oral Medicine doctor. Oral surgens perform surgery like remove your wisdom teeth or break your jaw. For TMJ or TMD you need an oral medicine doc and a pain clinic. Best of Luck. Your not alone.
Tina
Posted by Tina | November 8, 2004 5:03 PM
I have some size #1s that I bought for knitting socks. Then I tried to knit a sock and I promptly stopped because it was taking forever. I now knit socks using 3mm needles, and Regia 6ply or dk weight yarns. You don't get delicate socks, but you do get nice, comfy socks that are great to wear in my Birkenstocks or any of my shoes. So the #1s can kiss my butt.
Not that I'll never knit socks with #1s. Perhaps, in the future, when I knit a bit faster.
Posted by Maggie | November 8, 2004 4:14 PM
What a pretty, pretty scarf. I love the pattern onit and the simple color. I don't know if I'd be able to give that one away!
The beanie is cute too.
Posted by Eilene | November 8, 2004 4:13 PM
great beanie and i love the lace detail on the scarf. i am so feeling you on the socks and dpns. those dpns are just tiny in that size. you'll get it and then be blazin' through those socks and then you can give me tips, lol (did you get that pitiful plea for help) don't forget all the people that knit with logs when you cast off those socks, lol. can't wait to see them.
Posted by froggy | November 8, 2004 3:48 PM
I'm working on some socks, too, probably for the same secret sock swap thing, too, and my 1s are killing me!
Posted by Mariko | November 8, 2004 3:45 PM