Here are my Calla Lily socks, washed and ready to wear. They are incredibly soft and comfortable (did I say that before?). Too bad it's so hot today! It's close to 90 here, even so close to the ocean. It's a good beach day for all the Summer People, and a good day for me to stay home near the air conditioner.So this is what I've been up to:
I sewed something besides the hems on a pair of pants! This is the sock bag for my pal in the Knit Sock Kit Swap. I used the Leetle Bag pattern by Beth at Yarn Envy. I can't believe I actually did it, and that it looks perfect, and that I smiled all the way through the experience. Well, almost. There was a moment when I realized that I'd stitched the seams down in a wacky (and wrong) way. Out came my trusty seam ripper, and I was back on track in a minute or two. And it's even in Project Spectrum June colors! I'd been putting it off, but I had to make the bag eventually. I have an old Singer zig-zag machine that runs well and takes care of my basic sewing needs, but I've never really used it for, you know, sewing.
My mother sewed all our clothes while we were growing up, and many of mine into adulthood, and all her own, and then more for the grandchildren as they began to arrive. My sister S and I, being just thirteen months apart, always had coordinating outfits -- Easter dresses and coats of reversible linen, or first-day-of-school dresses with sailor collars. She used to have a theme for the grandkids at Christmas, too -- one year it was nighties (they must've been all girls at the time), and another year she made fish-shaped pillows (those were memorable), and weren't there fabric hobby-horses one year? My mom loved to sew, she did.
I didn't inherit the family affinity for the sewing machine (I still cringe at the thought of my eighth-grade Home Ec project, a lime green with polka-dots dress), but S did. She's a quilter. She has a really cool sewing machine that probably makes coffee if you program it right. Anyway, I'm happy with my little aqua-colored Singer that putt-putts along, zig-zagging when I need it to. And today I made a really neat sock bag with a lining and a drawstring and everything!
I also placed an order for some Fleece Artist sock yarn for my KSKS pal. I was forced to order two different colorways from Simply Socks Yarn Company. What if I'd ordered just one, and it isn't the perfect color? Can't have that, so I got a back-up. Guess I'll just have to suck it up and keep the extra one when I've decided. Like that's a tough decision...
Next I'll decide what sort of pattern I'm going to include in my kit, and I'll gather a few extras and goodies. I should have it ready to go in a week or so. Now that I've finished the bag, I think the rest will be a breeze!
I'm knitting away on a few things that have been neglected. I have just a few inches left on a hemp mesh bag, one and a third Trekking socks to go, and an experimental Socks That Rock scarf (GASP! What? Not socks?) in the Fairgrounds medium-weight that was meant to be socks. They didn't thrill me so I'm trying something else.
I hope everyone reading this is staying cool, has something sweet on the needles, and has plenty to smile about today, like me!
