Alas, the yarn fumes have dissipated, the stash enhancement has been… stashed… and it’s back to what passes for the real world around here.
This is the latest pair of socks. See… I have been knitting! I actually got quite a bit done on Saturday at OFFF, in between bouts of shopping and wandering and petting. The little magnetic acrobat dudes are happy to see how far I’ve progressed — almost to the heels.
I have no name for these, yet, and I am open to suggestions. They are based on the Coriolis pattern from New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One. I’ve widened the Coriolis band so that it can contain a bit of lace and cable pattern from a Japanese stitch book. There may be beads involved later on the leg. We shall see. The yarn is Fleece Artist Sea Wool. I have no idea what the colorway is. It isn’t noted on the ball band. It might be Stone.
They look a bit wonky on the needles. But on my feet, they smooth out and look like regular socks. As always, Cat’s pattern both charms and mystifies. I’m planning on working my own heel on this pair, as I did on the Cable & Corrugations socks. I’m not sure yet if the math is going to work out right so that my heel can be worked over the stitch count I will have when I get there.
Stay tuned. Film, as they say, at 11 — or whenever I get around to taking some. We’re not quite so scheduled here at chez PI.
And speaking of schedules…
Have you ever noticed that when you get behind someone who is wearing a hat while driving, that they drive really, really slowly and sort of incredibly cautiously — so cautiously that they become a hazard? Check it out! There may be exceptions, but in my experience this holds true more often than not.
Not that I have anything against cautious driving, you understand. I try to drive fairly defensively, although my nearest and dearest may have differing opinions as to how well I succeed. And certainly I have absolutely nothing against hats. There’s something just incredibly hot about a man in a hat — and I’m not talking a baseball cap, here, OK? I will forgive much when there’s a trilby involved, or an homburg, or even a panama. And wear a fedora and I’m yours, no questions asked. Fedoras are definitely best. Caps… meh.
But I digress.
People wearing hats just seem to drive slowly and cautiously enough to be a menace. Even one can block traffic. Now… pretend for a second that you are late for work, and traffic seems to be just incredibly slow – much slower than is the wont of morning rush-hour traffic – with no explanation for the turtle-ish and slug-like pace. There just aren’t that many cars around (because, as we have established, you are running a little late). And then you realize that up ahead are not one, not two, but four hats driving slowly down the street, two in one lane and two in the adjoining lane, effectively acting as a cork in the traffic bottle. And they pace each other for miles and miles at a steady 10 MPH below the speed limit while the drivers behind them wail and gnash their collective teeth. You would be forced to give up any hope of actually being to work on time. And because you were driving, you couldn’t even knit.
Sometimes, gentle reader, the fates conspire against me.
Actually, I have noticed the Hat Theory. If it’s international, it must be true. 🙂
1Remark from Dave — Wednesday, 9/26/2007 @ 3:30 AM
I’m sorry, but in the name of the Southeast I disagree with your theory. When I think of hat wearing drivers, I think of the rednecks who drive their trucks very aggressively, crushing everything in sight. These are guys who go mudding. The hat is a status symbol and they are the most reckless drivers. I don’t know if all of them drive fast because they swerve, intent on their destination.
2Remark from Amy — Wednesday, 9/26/2007 @ 7:13 AM
When I was a little girl, I remember an aunt of mine warning me to never drive behind a little old man wearing a hat. She said, “You will never get where you’re going on time!”
3Remark from Bonnie — Wednesday, 9/26/2007 @ 7:29 AM
Bonnie and Dave, thank you for the confirmation. But I think that Amy’s point is well taken. Cowboy hats in trucks do seem more aggressive than other drivers often.
Perhaps The Hat Theory could be amended to “Hats driving sedans”? Because the four in the cork yesterday were all driving sedans. And the guy in the pickup and cowboy hat next to me was every bit as frustrated as I was – and a lot more aggressive about it. 😉
4Remark from Judy — Wednesday, 9/26/2007 @ 8:30 AM
😆 Hubster has been saying that about hats for almost 20 years. It’s certainly true in California, and if you’re in farm country, forget it. The hats stop in the middle of the road if a hat is coming in the opposite direction, and they sit there and have a hat convention while everyone behind them is honking their horns.
5Remark from Pam — Wednesday, 9/26/2007 @ 9:22 AM
I honestly haven’t noticed that before. I think in California everyone is a crazy driver so it would be nice to see a slow driver occasionally!
I like your addition of the lace pattern. Very clever!
6Remark from ~Kristie — Wednesday, 9/26/2007 @ 3:44 PM
Hi Judy- I’m fascinated by the lace you’ve placed in the Coriolis band . . . dancing in my head are visions of colorwork, twisted sts, cables, all kind sof things, but I’ve never tried any of them. Lace seems like a great choice beause it will relax the band a little rather than tighten it up. Can’t wait to see how they turn out (in your hands, beautifully, I am sure).
As for the hats – well, where I live (on an island), people without hats or with hats stop in the road to visit with someone and you just either wait patiently or drive around them. The hat-driving habit theory sounds intriguing and judging from the comments it may really be true! I shall begin to observe . . .
Keep knitting – I want to see that sock!
7Remark from Cat Bordhi — Thursday, 9/27/2007 @ 6:22 AM
Wait until you see the beads!
(Now, having said that, I have all fingers and toes crossed that the beads will actually look OK. Ack!)
8Remark from Judy — Thursday, 9/27/2007 @ 9:03 AM
Your Hat Theory brings to mind a story about Julia Child: Julia’s mother was the first licensed woman driver in California, however, Julia was a notoriously bad driver and well known in the Pasadena area as such. As a young woman, she drove an open touring car, wearing a hat, of course, as proper young ladies of the 30s did. Since she drove with one hand, and held her hat on with the other, she couldn’t use the horn to warn pedestrians, so she simply shouted, “SCATTER! SCATTER!” as she drove down the street. Can’t you just hear that voice in your head?
9Remark from Bobbie — Thursday, 9/27/2007 @ 10:52 PM
😆 hahahahaha
Bobbie, you are responsible for the fact that beer has been sprayed on my monitor.
OMG, I can so hear that… Scatter! Scatter!
hahahahahahaha
10Remark from Judy — Friday, 9/28/2007 @ 12:02 AM
Love that yarn color…um, Coriolis Japonais? Ze brain, she is not so brilliant at the moment. But it sure looks pretty!
No additions to the hat theory, but howled at Bobbie’s contribution of the Julia Child story!
11Remark from MonicaPDX — Friday, 9/28/2007 @ 8:39 PM