Softball Socks 2010 • Now with More NCAA Championships!

This is the third straight year that I’ve knit “softball socks.” These were started while I was attending the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, although it was too damn hot to do more than a tiny bit of knitting while I was there. Basically, I cast on the first toe, got the sock into the round and put it away until I could spend some quality time with my good friend Mr. Air Conditioning.

Turtle Daddy sock blockers!

These socks rekindled both my sock knitting mojo and my love for a plain stockingette sock.


I don’t need pattern stitches to keep my interest. I think there’s a beauty and serenity to just going “knit knit knit” in the round. Nothing changes while life swirls around you. Although I did change needles for the cuffs, going up one needle size to make these socks easy on/off.

Toe pic!

I used my very favorite toes for this pair, the garter toe. They could not possibly be easier to execute, and they fit perfectly every single time.

New Pathways arch increases/heel turn

I used my Zen Yarn Garden “Represent” yarn, which was Roxanne’s entry into last summer’s Dye for Glory contest. My BruWins certainly did “Represent” while I was knitting these socks. Softball won its 13th national championship and baseball has played itself into the NCAA Championship Series for the first time in program history (best-of-three begins tonight against South Carolina)

I loved watching the rainbow of colors pass over my needles, as you can see on the bind-off.

Once again, I used Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off for these socks. I love how the colors flow on variegated yarns when I use this bind-off. Plus, it does exactly what it says it will. It’s very stretchy!

All in all, I’m very pleased. And yeah, you can expect another ZYG pair of plain ‘ol stockingette socks up next on the sock needles.

Softball Socks 2010

Pattern: Riverbed Master from New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi
Yarn: Zen Yarn Garden Superwash Sock
Colorway: Represent
Yardage: 430 yards
Needles: US 1/2.25mm for feet, US 1.5/2.5mm for cuffs. 16” Hiya Hiya with “2 circs” method
Started: 6 June 2010
Finished: 27 June 2010

O Canada

First of all, my WiP Wednesday post seems to have been skipped by several friendly neighborhood feed readers. Including the one I use. So if you want to see what my Northman Mittens looked like two days ago, go here and check it out.

Meanwhile, you guys know that Roxanne at Zen Yarn Garden is my very favorite yarn pusher. Since she lives in the host country of the current Olympics, I figured showing you a little more of her yarn would be a good mid-Games post.

After I got my December Cashmere a la Carte shipment and saw the spoiler photos of the “cool” color, I decided I could find a little room in the yarn budget for the other color in this yarn.


Once again, it’s Roxanne’s “Serenity Worsted” base, which is 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere ant 10% nylon. It’s a double skein, 400 yards.


Again, cashmere content, so very yummy. Colorway name is Ice Blue. No clue what I’m going to make with it. But again, something that will go next to the skin.


I got some good work done on the mittens at Hurricane Knitters on Wednesday night, and yesterday (Thursday) was a total wash. Since taking these pictures, I’ve gotten to where the decreases are scheduled to begin. But I’m second-guessing whether or not that will make an appropriately-sized mitten. (ETA: Lifelines are good. I’ll forge along and see what happens)

So at the mid-point of Day 7 of the Games, here’s where I stand:



I’m really behind. I’m going to lose Wednesday night, Thursday night and all of next weekend (the last two days of the Games) If I can get some good work done tonight and Sunday, I’ll probably be OK. I’m also wondering if, although I’m getting gauge, I’m knitting too small. GAH.

Well, back to the grindstone. Have a great weekend!

Soft and Squooshy

If you guys have not yet figured out that my most favorite-est yarn pusher is unquestionably Roxanne at Zen Yarn Garden, then you either haven’t been paying attention or I haven’t been obvious enough.

And if I have not yet enticed you to try one of Roxanne’s yarns or one of her clubs, then I have been remiss in my duties as a blogger and devoted follower of Zen Yarn Garden.



This month marked the third and final shipment of the Cashmere a la Carte yarn club's first run. It starts again in February (sign-ups are open now!) As I’m sure you know, red is a notoriously difficult color to photograph, and this is no exception



The “Serenity Worsted” base is 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon. It arrived as a double-skeined knot comprised of 400 yards. And Oh My Goodness, does it feel amazing.



The pictures are reading more red and less maroon than the actual skein. The colorway is called Gothic Rose, and it’s just perfect. Either that, or Roxanne is putting something in the dye that is making me start to like her reds more and more. Don’t laugh – Roxanne’s favorite color is red, so it’s certainly not out of the question.



Any suggestions for 400 yards of an incredibly soft worsted weight? I feel like this has to be something that’s next to the skin.

La Noche de Los Probres

It’s time for my July shipment of the Art Walk Sock Yarn Club!



It’s a monthly-renewal club offered by the incredibly talented Roxanne of Zen Yarn Garden



Roxanne picks a piece of artwork every month, then dyes the club yarn based on her interpretation of that piece of art.



This month’s artwork is La Noche de Los Pobres by Diego Rivera



It’s dyed on Roxanne’s Superwash Sock Yarn base, which is 430 yards of 100% superwash merino.



Have a great weekend, everyone!

Yarn Pr0n Friday!

You all know that Roxanne over at Zen Yarn Garden is my very favorite yarn pusher. Sadly, recent developments mean that I’m probably going to have to drop out of one of her clubs. Hey, it’s how I’ll be saving my pennies to re-up for the Rockin’ Sock Club and Fiber Baristas for 2010!

Anyhow, this club is her Colour Burst club. It uses non-sock yarn bases, so we get everything between sport weight and worsted.



This month’s offering is her Gemilicous Sport base yarn.



Colorway is named “Rugged” and I really like it.



It’s 250 yards/4 oz of 100% Superwash Merino



To all of my American friends, have a wonderful holiday weekend! We’re attending a wedding today, then driving to the Lake. Nothing quite like the 4th of July at Van Buren Point!