Thursday, May 03, 2007

FO Report, Sock Madness Round Four

Sorry I missed yesterday, but Operation Smelly Mommy was in full force. No I did not take a shower yesterday. But as I was cleaning the kitchen after breakfast I contemplated taking a shower. That was all it took. The children were playing quietly in the girl's room and I thought maybe I could sneak in a quick interlude with some soap and water, maybe even some conditioner. I'm nothing if not a dreamer. Then my dream was shattered.

Meaty came running to tell me I had to see what Bird did, which is a sure indicator that it was a group effort. I've been around long enough to know any energy spent ratting out a sibling is in actuality the attempt of a guilty conscience to pull attention away from oneself and deflect it onto another equally guilty party. So I ran to see what I was sure they had both done together.

And what did they do?

I must admit they'd really out done themselves this time. These are the children who spread an entire tub of crisco all over the kitchen and dining room, painted themselves with nail polish (twice), and put dog food all over the garage (twice). But this time they made an amazing mess that magically got larger as I tried to clean it.

They took an entire can, and I'm talking about one of those large industrial size-sold in bulk-will last you a year-can of shaving cream, and they painted everything in the girl's bedroom with it. But this was no ordiary industrial size can of shaving cream. This was shaving gel. The kind you rub in your palm to create shaving cream. So as I attempted to wipe up the gel it changed color and expanded to five times its original size!

So between the carpet, and the curtains, and the walls, and the toys, and the furniture, I spent three hours cleaning up shaving cream.

Operations Smelly Mommy is a raving success. Thank goodness for deodorant. I can not fathom how they will top this. I am scared to leave them alone in a room lest upon my return I find an entire wall missing.

But enough about my plight. Let's turn to the knitting.

Mad fuzzy socks



Oh my that picture turned out fuzzy, how did I miss that. Oh well, it's not much better in focus.

Pattern: Mad Weave from Sock Madness

Yarn: Knit Picks Sock Garden in Geranium, now discontinued

Needles: Size 1 dpns

Modifications: None

Review: These are some seriously messed up socks. I think it's the technicolor yarn that makes it unbearable to look at. I have seen some versions of this sock that are stunning, but mine leave something to be desired.

And for the first time I was very angry with Knit Picks yarn. I have knit tons of Mad Anglethings with Knit Picks yarn. My devotion is well documented. But this yarn is beyond the bound of acceptable. When I rolled it into a ball I found several places that were, not knots, but just places where a new strand of yarn was added. Out of two hanks I ended up with five small balls instead of two large ones. Then as I was knitting I found many poorly spun areas that needed cut out. They were too weak to knit into the socks. Thank goodness I learned to spit splice, or I would still be weaving ends in. I have never seen such terrible yarn quality. This yarn just gave me fits. I'd write Knit Picks but the yarn is discontinued any ways. Live and learn I guess.

Another Mad AngleI lost this round of Sock Madness. I began knitting as soon as the pattern was released, and I got a migraine. My partner was gracious enough to not knit until I felt better. But once I was over the migraine I got a stomach bug. Somethings are just not to be. I lost this round to the talented Laura. It was bittersweet. I was relieved to be able to once again knit with no pressure, but I was hoping to make it to the Final Four. I'll settle for the Sweet Sixteen. It was a lot of fun.

Tomorrow? A pair of sock that were non-competition related. And a shower?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

If it weren't for that migraine headache and stomach bug, I know you would have taken the whole thing in Sock Madness. But how many times can a person drop everything to knit socks under pressure? Four times is very admirable for someone with three very active and imaginative (as this post clearly demonstrates)children.

Shaving cream that grows? My own children would shiver with delight at the thought.

I ran across the same thing with the last project I knit with Knit Picks yarn--not a knot, but a fuzzy lump. It took me a minute to realize that it was some weird splicing thing.

I actually really like how your geranium socks look. I don't know how they feel, and I haven't knit the pattern myself, but I heard it was sloooooooow going.

Bezzie said...

Well erm, at least shaving cream smells good right? Better than dog food at least.

I had a very similar problem with KP Sock Garden yarn. I swear there were at least 5 breaks in the yarn of the first two inches of sock I knit out of some Sock Garden yarn. Very frustrating.

But the socks look good!

Anonymous said...

Lovely socks, you are an amazing knitter. Yikes, your kids really are conspiring against you :-o Shaving cream, that must have really sucked to clean up!

Yarn Tails said...

I came across you through another blog and just had to say hi after reading! OHMGosh! You just have to love kids. I am sorry but I about died laughing at what they did. I remember those days well.

I haven't had a problem with any of the KnitPicks sock yarn yet....knock on wood. Beautiful knitting of the socks though!

Unknown said...

Those socks look great, wow. I'd never want to wear anything else if I had those!