One green sock done! I try it on and then I take it right off because it is HOT. Here it is, going on the end of June, and I don't quite have the summer things I am making for myself done yet. I would like to see them finished by end of July. That way, the month of August can be spent gloriously wearing them.

So maybe, sock #2 waits?

I still mostly am a person who knits in the winter and sews in the summer, but it has been hard to put down my newest project. After much messing around with starting sweaters that I really didn't feel like knitting, I cast on for another sock. I'm knitting from the same book as my evening knee socks. Nancy Bush, I love you! You have such a great understanding of knit socks. These are a Child's First Sock, but they are not really, they are for me. I feel like when these socks are done, they will deserve sock blockers.

I kind of don't even know what to say about these socks. I love them. They are tall, lacy socks that would be (will be) really great for October. They were started in March and finished this weekend. Sock number too took a long time because it got warm and knitting was suddenly much less exciting. That said, knitting is much more exciting as of Saturday when I needed to start a new project (because really, nothing but knitting will do for the commute). It is so easy to spend forever on Ravelry because they really have all the options. If you're like me and like to consider all the options before you do something, this can be hard. I have started three projects in the last three days, and I'm not sure that I'm keeping any of them. I want to make the absolute best match of project to yarn while maintaining budget and reducing stash. This is ridiculous. How do you pick projects? What do you do when you regret it?

Another question: How important is blocking my socks? I didn't block these because I don't have sock blockers and even if I did, they would be too short. Am I missing out?

Facts:
Evening Stockings for a Young Lady
Knitting Vintage Socks
Nancy Bush
Arucania Ranco

Sock! But not just any sock--a Young Lady's Stocking for Evening Wear. It's the first in the pair, and I plan on casting on for the second while I'm on a plane to San Francisco. Whoo-hoo!

On Saturday Eva and I hopped in the car and headed east to Greencastle, Indiana for the "Fiber Event". It made the wool lover in me quite happy, if a little confused about which way to go next. There were just gobs and gobs of fiber-related stuff. The offerings ran the gamut from unprocessed fleece to fancy hand-painted yarns. There were even bunches of bunnies and two cute alpacas!

So, what did I buy? The yarns were pretty, but there was nothing so unique and wonderful that I felt I had to have it. The angora rabbits were 100% adorable, and I very nearly did come home with one of those, but I luckily regained my composure when I realized that building a hutch was on neither on Elie's agenda nor mine. I knew I didn't need a whole raw fleece—that is for a day when I wish to the wools some more serious commitment. But, I did want something, and I was really hoping to get my hands on some Blue-Faced Leicester wool. I'd heard so much about it and wanted to feel and work with it myself. And, that's what I came home with: some beautifully dyed BFL + seacell roving and also a drop spindle. Drop spindle! Why the heck not?

I tried out the drop spindle on some not-fancy wool this afternoon. It was fun, but I am definitely not good at it yet. The spindle makes me feel very official. Like, "don't mess with me, because I think spinning wool on a stick is awesome!"

Knitting again, even though we are officially past the wool knee socks part of the year. Socks though, they are so small and portable. One could even knit them in the middle of July, when no one in her right mind wants to be covered in wool.

Did you know that Payless sells tap shoes in adult sizes? I think I need some. When I was ten, I was all about tap dancing, and my friend tells me it is one of the most calorie burning activities out there. These are good reasons to rekindle an old flame. Man, I liked tap dancing so much that I would practice while sitting at my desk at school. I don't know how I never got in trouble for it, because it was the complete time step. PS, I can still do wings.

It worked! The paper dolls sweater is finished, and it looks and wears just as expected. I am so happy I own it, let alone that I knit it. It took me almost two months exactly to knit, plus blocking and drying, which always takes forever. (I don't know about you, but I think sweater drying is a lot like water boiling in kettle—it happens much faster if you don't try to pay attention.)

Technical details: This is Kate Davies' Paper Dolls pattern. I knit a size 32 using Rowan felted tweed. It is my smallest gauge garment yet (I knit loose, so I used 2s to get gauge), and I how light, yet warm, the thinner fabric feels. It is quite cozy, although Eva complains that it's itchy if you're trying to give hugs.

Mainly, I am working on the Paper Dolls sweater. It's incredibly cute, but there is a lot of small gauge stockinette before you get to the colorwork part. I am making good process, but I felt the need to stop and do something different, so I gauged. The yarns are, from biggest to smallest, Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky, Second Time Cotton, and "vintage" Spinnarin Cashmere Plus. I would really like to make a cardigan out of the Cashmere Plus (from a garage sale), but I think it's just a bit too fine. Maybe I'll hold it double, or maybe I won't have enough yarn to do that. I'm thinking of Audrey in Unst or Peyton, both from Twist Collective Fall 2009. But, the stuff is so soft and lightweight—maybe it wants to be something lacy?

Love! I am completely in love with my new striped knee socks. They validate my burgeoning relationship with knitting socks in general. I almost feel like I don't know why I'd ever knit anything besides knee socks. (Almost. I've just cast on for a sweater.) Ah, knee socks—you keep my boot from rubbing my calf. You provide a comfortable double layer for the part of my body that is below the hem of my coat without the double waistband of long johns.

The thing about most socks patterns is that the socks are not very tall. They usually come only a bit above the ankle. I want them taller. Is this possible, o seasoned sock knitters? Where do I put calf increases in a lace sock?

My knee socks came from this recipe at Streets and YOs and Noro Kureyon yarn. Also, I loved the Turkish cast on for the toe—so tidy. Here's a really good Turkish cast on tutorial.

I'm almost certain that when Andrew Bird wrote "I was the cartographer of the tangles in your hair," he was not thinking about mothers and their relationships with their daughters and the daily ritual of the hairdo. But, this is just where my mind goes every time. It's is such a beautiful, intimate line—to know someone so well that you know where each snarl is likely to crop up. It brings to mind morning sunlight and the process of tracing all the golden hairs from Eva's head and trying to get them to lay smooth and look brushed.

Of course, most mornings are not that beautiful. They are rushed—we are trying to get out the door to school and work. Most days Eva's hair is braided is one or two very long braids, and there is little time for experimentation. It is more likely to be a time where we feel cross with each other for all the pulling and yanking that those knots require. Seldom do I stand behind Eva with a comb and think that I am privileged to be able to groom this individual. But every so often, this song, Armchairs comes into my head and I take a breath and remember that it won't be much longer until she doesn't want or need me to do her hair, and I braid with a little more intention.

The hat is Eva's Christmas present from me. It was intended to be a beret, but it ended up being a hat. The hat covers her ears, which is important. I used Palette yarn left over from my tulip socks, and Sock Pixie's La Parisenne Beret pattern.

Also, Andrew Bird comes to town every year. Why have I never been?