Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - DONE!

Stand back, I have needles and I know how to use them...

I have knit these socks, and I have teenagers.  

I am certifiably fearless.  

The are indeed awesome, too spiffy to hide inside shoes or underneath a pant leg.  It would be a crime to tuck these into boots.  I’m bursting with pride.  The only downside of such an accomplishment?  You guessed it--I have to do it all over again for the other foot.  Sigh.  Such is the nature of socks in the biped world. 

These socks are consuming in the best sense of the word.  They’d made an excellent project for a long trip, bed-rest, a broken leg (if you aren’t on really strong painkillers), or anywhere you need something to occupy you for, oh, say a fortnight.  

They are far more comfortable than you’d think, although I’m not sure if they’d be winter-warm with all those holes.  These have spring and summer written all over them, especially in this color.  

These are fiber-hot-shot socks, baby.  If you’ve got time and someone you need to impress with a hand-knitted masterpiece, this is the project for you.

It’s been a lovely trip through Galena.  Next we travel to Jeffersonville, Indiana and meet the charming folks of Grinny Possum Fiber Arts.

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 6

Yep, it’s officially hard now.  I think there’s a wrinkle or two in my forehead with “Arched Gusset Socks” inscribed in its creases.  Don’t get me wrong, the finished product is completely worth the effort, but there is serious effort required.  I think that’s a good thing.  I think stretching one’s skills, pushing one’s limitations is a good thing.  I’ll be a better knitter for having done these socks.

Another thing about this pattern--I was sure these wouldn’t be comfortable.  Lumpy, from all the yarn-over holes and knit-two-togethers, socks more for show than for coddling the feet.  Boy, was I wrong.  The Soxx Appeal yarn has sufficient spring and, for lack of a better word, fluffiness, to cover all the texture this complicated pattern brings.  I was willing to endure the sock’s discomfort for its obvious beauty, but now I happily discover I have the best of both worlds!  Kudos to Amy at FiberWild for such a feat (come on now, you saw that one coming a mile away, didn’t you?)!

I’ve just reached the point in the pattern where you switch to size 3 needles to keep the tension comfortable for calves.  Thanks for thinking of that--constricted calves make for one cranky Allie, and my husband will tell you that is a condition to be avoided at all costs.

This will be the first DestiKNITions Knit Along to require a seventh segment, so you’ll get one more installation from me next week as I finish up this splendid sock.

Then, it’s on to the hidden gem of Jeffersonville, Indiana for some surprising finds just north of Louisville (how did I miss that on my November trip to Louisville??)

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 5

I should take into account my houseguest schedule when planning my knitting.  This is serious, brain-cell-sucking pattern-work, not to be attempted in the presence of beloved young nieces.  Which explains, by the way, why you’ve not heard from me.  No way, no how was I going to attempt the double-pattern of this ankle with a high distraction quotient.

When I finally tackled it, however, I was pleasantly surprised.  If one paid attention and went slowly, it wasn’t that hard.  There was a sort of logic to the way the thing expanded, and the hard parts were interspersed with occasional pulse-lowering rows of pure stockinette.  I think in the ten rows I’ve attempted I’ve only made one goof-up.  Now that my house is quiet....er....quiet-ish, I’m ready for more.

Here’s a treat for being so patient.  One of my houseguest jaunts was to the Morton Arboretum, where "Nature Unframed" art installations currently grace the grounds.  Lucky for me, one of them is a “yarnbombing.”  Everyone in my party--knitters and non-knitters alike--loved this piece by Carol Hummel of Ohio called “Lichen It!”

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 4

Women Who Should Stare More At Heels...

I should know, by now, never to publicly boast about my competency in any knitting skill.   Did I get the heel turned and the heel flap done?  Yes.  And, in the end, it came out fine, although I will admit to no small amount of...well...fudging to get there.  I got cocky, trying to tackle this while watching Men Who Stare At Goats.  Turning heels is not exactly “let’s take in a flick” knitting.  One should concentrate.  All those short rows can be befuddling if you loose your place.

My folly makes a good point, though.  Every knitter ought to know how to turn a heel.  It’s a concept that looks exasperating on paper, but once you’ve done it, you understand the basic concept.  Yes, I lost my place.  More than once.  But because I knew what the end result was supposed to look like, I could work my way back without having to rip the whole thing out and start over.   As it was, I went on a bit of a detour, but eventually found my way back to the pattern’s intent and made it through unscathed.  That’s the beauty of knitting--it’s essentially forgiving in most parts.  

I’m deeply aware, however, that the patterns above the ankle will not extend to me the same grace.  But I’ll know enough to keep the DVR off while I knit.

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 3

Gusseting up for the tricky part...

Now it’s getting tricky.  Not too much, though.  A few yarn-overs, couple of k2tog and such, with a handful of cables just to make me feel accomplished.  I did have some trouble figuring out how to yarn-over after a purl stitch--the yarn seems to be on the wrong side of the needles to set that one up.  A quick google search brought up a video tutorial that confirmed my hunch--you just wrap around a bit farther to get the yarn where it needs to be.

The thing I’ve always loved about toe-up socks is that you can try them on as you go.  Yes, it’s like wrangling a porcupine up your ankle if you’re on dpn’s, but with two circulars the socks slips on quite nicely.  Don’t forget that the final row of this gusset has some alterations--you can’t just stuff the gusset pattern in your knitting bag (the full pattern is several pages long and I always copy only the page I need to put in my bag) and be done with it.  Make a note to yourself that the final row has some details that don’t show up in the pattern chart.  My favorite bags?  Namaste's Oh Snap bags.  

They came out nicely.  I feel quite confident at the moment.  The next step it to turn the heel, and I’ve done that enough times that the prospect doesn’t frighten me.  The patterns up the ankle?  Well, that’s another story.

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 2

Toe-up!

Four and one-half inches of stockinette to make my sock toes?  Check.  Soxx Appeal is a wonderful yarn, soft yet springy with a marvelous elasticity.  They’re going to be comfy, I can tell already, not to mention such a cheery pink.   I feel like this is the warm-up for the tricky stitching to come.  A chance to stoke my confidence before the pattern taxes my brain cells.  I’m ready, bring it on.

As we all know, stockinette isn’t particularly compelling, so I’ve decided to show you my latest adaptation.  I was looking for a way to organize my circular and double-pointed needles, and ran across this accordion file at the office supply store (oh, my, I do love office supply stores).  It works beautifully.  Sure, there are lots of knitting products designed to do this, but I get great pleasure in finding “normal” objects and putting them to knitting use.  

What have you repurposed to serve your knitting?

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 1

A Case of Cold Feet?

In 1996, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (affectionately known as the Yarn Harlot) launched  the idea of the “Knitting Olympics,” urging knitters to cast on a new and challenging project during the opening ceremonies and strive to finish when the flame went out sixteen days later.   I’ve always loved the notion behind it--challenge yourself, even in knitting.

There is no torch involved here, but that doesn’t extinguish the fear that I’ll go down in flames on this one.  One has to gulp when the designer--in this case FiberWild’s creative genius Amy Loberg--hands you the pattern asking, “are you willing to work hard?” 

Even the pattern description on the internet chills the soul:  "Not for the faint-of-heart!"  "For the experienced knitter!"   Note the liberal use of exclamation points (theirs, not mine!)!

These socks are complicated, intricate artwork:  multiple patterns, openwork, cables, just about every trick in the book. Not your average toe-toaster by any stretch of the imagination.  Even bolstered by my recent colorwork mitten victory (by the same designer, I console myself), I’m nervous that these will not turn out well.

Still, I’m game.  And you all get to watch.  Well, the first inch is done without drastic incident except that I had to look up the definitions for M1R and M1L.  That, I can handle.

Stay tuned, this could get really interesting.

Knit Along: Winter Wonder Mittens - Day 4

Head and Hands...

I’ve been pondering the value of creativity lately.

It’s a peculiar topic for me, because as a writer, I am creative for a living. Knitting has always served as a counterpoint to my labor of words, the “anti-writing” that recharges me to continue writing. 

I heard a piece on the radio the other day about Helen and Scott Nearing, icons of the back to the land movement and authors of The Good Life.  While there are a host of policital/social views offered in the book, I was most intrigued by their concept of a ideal day, divided into three blocks of distinct pursuits.  Labor to earn a living (in which they highly valued manual labor), civic-community pursuits, and professional/recreational activities. Hands, head, and heart, as it were.   I was fascinated by their “three blocks of four hours” concept--it explains why my day feels incomplete if I haven’t had time to knit.  

I’m stymied, however, by their lumping together of professional and recreational pursuits. They are very distinct for me. And yet, my profession creates other people’s recreation, and I know my profession is considered recreation by many (clearly folks who haven’t seen me near a deadline!).  In short, separate my professional creation from my recreational creation.

I don’t write to relax, although some people do. It got me thinking; would I write for fun, if I only had to do it when I felt like it?  Yes, I think so.  Writing about knitting is fun for me.  That’s not to say writing novels isn’t fun--it is enormously satisfying, but it’s work.  It’s hard.

But wait, these mittens are work.  They’re hard.  And I am on a deadline of sorts, knowing you all are watching. Where’s the difference?  The interesting thing is that I know there is a difference, but I’m not at all sure what that difference is.  If I could knit for a living (oh, the joy!), would it become similar to what writing is for me now?

All I know for certain is that I must have both.  They balance each other out, head and hands, in my day.  I’m sure I would feel incomplete if I lost the ability to do either.

Makes it poignant, when you think about it, that I’m pondering this as I tax my head power to serve my hands with toasty mittens.

Knit Along: Winter Wonder Mittens - Day 2

The World Beyond Stripes

I feel so impressed with myself.  These are looking so nice, I want to stop people on the street and shout, “Look at what I made!  Look at me, knitting with a strand in each hand--each hand I tell you!”  Yes, I was a theater major in college, which means by definition I am a shameless attention hog.  Just in case you haven’t yet figured this out.

Mostly, I love the whole new world--intarsia, fair isle, color work, etc--that this new skill opens up.  A world beyond stripes is now my new horizon.  Normally, I would run from curly-cues, but I LOVE these.  The selection of patterned hats and mittens out there is endless--and now I can have at any one I want.  I feel like a kid in a candy store with Daddy’s platinum Visa.

It’s not only the fat selection, it’s my fattened toolbox.  The satisfaction of an important new skill.  And really, while your fingers tangle up at first even if you are a continental knitting veteran, it’s not that hard.  The vital dynamic here is not what you see, but what you don’t.  Success here is all in how you carry the yarn behind the work.  It’s got to be loose enough so that it doesn’t distort the pattern, but not so loose that you’ll snag on loops every time you put your hand into the mitten.  And the little twisty trick to carry yarn behind when you don’t use it for more than five stitches?  The one I learned taking a class at my local yarn shop?  I smirk every time I do it.

If you think this looks beyond your skills, dare yourself to give it a try.  The world needs more satisfied smirks.

Next, we make room for the thumb.

GALENA, ILLINOIS - The Food

Gastronomic Galena


Last episode I went on about Galena's fabulous yarn shop, FiberWild!  Today, we'll look at all that this charming town has to offer my other appetite...mainly, my appetite.  One of the things I like about Galena was the vast selection of places to eat.  Plain or pricey, American or foreign, upscale or down home, chances are you'll find it.  Here are my favorites:

Fritz and Frites

317 N. Main Street

Galena, IL

815-777-2004

www.fritzandfrites.com

When Sean and Amy from FiberWild! recommended it, I raised an inward eyebrow.   I wasn’t quite sure I’d like a French/German bistro.  The excellent service, the accordion music, the spectacular mushroom soup, and the lived-up-to-the-hype ham and greyre on pretzel bread sandwich won me over quickly.  The cheerful-quiet combination simply works, and you feel like you’re someone continental, wearing some clever silk scarf while discussing art.  I was there in winter, but in summer they’ll  pack you up a picnic lunch delivered to nearby Linmar Gardens for our own private picnic. I’m definitely coming back to do that!

Another restaurant on the casual-elegant side is:

One Eleven Main

111 N. Main Street

Galena, IL

815-777-8303

www.oneelevenmain.com

Yes, I totally get the local cuisine movement.  I like thoughtful cooking and artisan products.  But for me, here, it’s about the fries.  No, really.  Eat the fries.  They are the best I think I’ve ever tasted.  Everything else we had was good, but I will go to my grave remembering these fries.

Want to go way upscale?  Opt for:

Perry Street Brasserie

124 North Commerce Street

Galena, IL

815-777-3773

www.perrystreetbrasserie.com

I couldn’t get in because I didn’t have reservations.  Yep, it’s that good. But I’m coming back to try again, because more than one person told me about their signature desert, the Chocolate Cup.  According to their menu, it’s “A bowl of solid Swiss chocolate, filled with creamy dark and milk chocolate ganaches, topped with fresh whipped cream and drizzled with more chocolate. Enough for two to share.”  I have no plans to share nicely, so be warned.

Needing something more homey?  Opt for:

Fried Green Tomatoes

213 North Main Street

Galena, IL  61036

815-777-3938

www.friedgreen.com

Folks rave about the restaurant’s bread and rumor has it this is a good place to take an diverse bunch of appetites.  It’s one of those much-touted-some-love-and-some-hate kinds of places, and I always think those are worth a try.

Now, this is by no means a conclusive list, for a gal can only eat so many meals out in a weekend without...well, without having to buy a new pair of jeans for the long car ride home.  

Longtime DestiKNITers know that for me, no trip is ever sufficient adventure to me without coffee. It's a food group all it's own as far as I'm concerned.  Rest assured, I got to scratch my caffein itch while in town with two quality but distinct options:

Kaladi’s 925 Coffee Bar

309 S. Main Street

Galena, IL  60136

(815)-776-0723

Spacious yet cozy, this artsy place boasts not only a good cuppa, but some very fine freshly squeezed oj.  I wasn't that impressed with the baked goods, but the latte I had was excellent.

Rendezvous Coffee and Tea

112 N. Main Street

Galena, IL  60136

773-960-0488

www.rendezvousgalena.com

These days it’s hard to make a coffee joint stand out, but this charming, airy location does just that.  Very good baked goods, excellent coffee--but, yeah, lots of those things can be found in coffeebars.  What I love about this one is that the owner plays live music.  Right there, on his keyboard, while you’re sipping.  I loved it.

Now that we've covered food, what's next?  Shopping!  Stay tuned for some of my favorite stores and the most unusual lodgings I've even encountered!

GALENA, ILLINOIS

Ah, the drive-away weekend...

Icon of American recreation, those mini-breaks we all think we’ll get to but hardly ever manage.  For me, the ideal long weekend away consists of no more than a three hour drive, and there had better be chocolate, yarn, and coffee when I get there.

Yep, that’d be Galena, Illinois.

Even in chilly February, this is one of those postcard-perfect resort towns that is just busy enough to feel entertaining, just sleepy enough to feel relaxing.  From the moment you drive through the big green floodgates (which reminded me of the Emerald City for some reason), happiness beckons.

This Main Street looks like a main street, feels like a main street, and walks like a main street.  It’s marvelously simple on just about the perfect scale.  As such, there’s no real science to how you take the place in.  It’s just a matter of wandering and exploring.  So, I’m going to take a novel approach here and show you my favorites by type rather than a specific route.  And rather than hand you one long blog entry, I'm going to break it up into smaller, topical installments.

Starting, of course, with the yarn store:

FiberWild!

304 S. Main Street

Galena, IL  60136

815-777-3550 or 888-848-KNIT

www.FiberWild.com

How can you not love a store with an exclamation point?  This really thoughtful establishment boasts a massive inventory and a collection of exclusive kits that will amaze you.  Despite its tourism base, FiberWild! manages that instant community we all seek in a yarn store through go-the-extra-mile customer service and encouraging personal support.  While I was there, I watched co-owner Amy Loberg (she owns the store with her husband Sean but longtime fans will tell you store cat Scout probably rounds out the executive branch) nudge a reluctant knitter into her first entrelac.  Brilliant.  That’s the kind of store owner I like--one that encourages me to expand my skills.  

They’ve done a great job of replicating the store’s high-quality atmosphere in their on-line experience, too.  If you saw something and talked yourself out of it (the horror!), you’ll be able to go back and get in online for sure.  Something truly unique to FiberWild! is their selection of fine finished knitwear.  This isn’t only a yarn shop, this is a hand-knit apparel and accessories store.  Walking in to the shop virtually guarantees a case of the “gimmies,” even if you’ve just mastered the purl stitch.

Projects that caught my eye include:

Winter Wonder Cap and Mittens

You’re going to hear a bit more about the yarn I’m using to make these (they are one of our knit alongs), but Amy also suggests Classic Elite Yarn’s Fresco wool, alpaca, and angora mix.  FiberWild! sells these as a kit since Amy created the patterns, but the mitten pattern can be also downloaded free from the Classic Elite website. If you’re looking for a place to show off your mad colorwork skills (or an elegant place to learn them), these are for you.  Impressive, and sure to make fellow knitters bow to your superiority.

Want something a little more basic but with a local twist?  Opt for the Stockton Socks done up in locally produced Suzy the Shepherdess Yarn from neighboring Stockton.  Good husband, dad, or boyfriend knitting (but you know what they say...knitting your boyfriend something has jinxed many a relationship!).  Then again, it comes in women's sizes, and what woman doesn’t want cozy toes?

If you want to go for the gold, break out your ninja knitting skills and tackle what I’m going to tackle, the Arched Gusset Sock.  An exquisite design of Amy’s, this kit is the black diamond ski slope of knitting.  I’m more than a little nervous, I’ll admit.  But can you imagine the looks I’ll get when I show these masterpieces off?  Done up in Soxx Appeal Superwash Merino, these guarantee some first-class footwork to be sure.

Next?  Why, food of course!  Stay tuned.