Friday, January 27, 2012

New playground equipment

Or rather, a re-purposed old and scruffy one....
A public holiday meant that I had the choice of a child-free day at work to catch up on things (and a disgruntled family at home), a catch-up on an enormous pile of ironing or doing a spot of knitting under the apple tree.
I had dreams of knitting up a storm (or a pair of socks) today.  Mostly, we made a red hair ribbon from some scrap tencel yarn.  We did it twice - the first being too wide and too short.

 Several weeks ago, I spent an evening or two working through this machine knitted sock in cheap Lincraft sock yarn.   I wasn't in love with the yarn so wasn't willing to put another night or two into the project.  I gave it to my one-legged father-in-law (waste-not-want-not). 
I made some toe-up socks by hand in my bamboo sock yarn, following the same short-row process for toe and heel.  It's been a slow project but I finished them today.  They're dodgey-as (and I tried a new cast-off that looks really rough) but the socks feel beautiful to wear.  I'm completely smitten with this yarn.  Considering that they were meant as a learning project and they're just for wearing about the house, I really don't care about all the little short-row holes and wonkiness. 
Today I made a bamboo yarn sock on the machine - I'm hand-knitting the rib as I write this blog post.  I'll blog them as a finished pair... when they're a finished pair.

And I'm leaving the ironing for another day...
...again.


15 comments:

A Peppermint Penguin said...

I was so sure, when I saw the post title, of what I'd find. But you had me worried with that first picture!

But no... proper playground ;-)

and that is the best ending for a single sock story - evah! :D

Shocking Hocking said...

lol - great outcome for the one sock jock - i have several in my laundry basket he may like too!....and i'm with you re the ironing - my pile is 5 times as big before i clear it!

Christine said...

It's a very decorative pile of ironing

BeaJay said...

Wow - a knitting machine. I have been fascinated by them but have not made the plunge. It will be really interesting to see more products from your machine!

Sally said...

Good choice... I'd have gone knitting under the apple tree too.

Lynne said...

I washed dried, iron and folded 72 half metres of fabric! Happy Australia Day!!

Katy Cameron said...

Heh, I have a very strict no-ironing policy in this house, it works very well for me ;o)

Jenny from Ohjoh said...

Isn't ironing just something you do during the construction process??
After that they're on their own!

Cathie said...

knitting under the apple tree sounds fabulous! pfffftt ironing..another day ♥

Fer said...

Who needs ironing when there's so much good knitting to be had!

Tas said...

Ironing is over-rated. Ask anyone.

However, crafting under an apple tree...sounds lovely.

Jennie said...

"I wasn't in love with the yarn so wasn't willing to put another night or two into the project. I gave it to my one-legged father-in-law (waste-not-want-not)."

I am PMSL because I interpret this as: "Ehh, can't be arsed working on this sock. Just give it to one-legged old crank in the corner."

trash said...

lol @ Jennie.

I am a longtime sufferer of single sock syndrome. Would your fil be interested in any of my excess?

Jules said...

Wonderful socks! It is great to see where you're taking the machine... and bugger the ironing.

xx

Katherine said...

Glad to see you left the ironing for another day. Knitting under the apple tree sounds lovely. Look at you, knitting up a storm! So impressed with your fearless adventures into this newer to you handicraft.