so much knitting in my last post, and then today—eh, not so much! not because i didn’t want to, though . . . it’s just been a tough week to find time for it.
after making great strides with my red sweater over the previous week, this week’s progress has been slow . . . just a whole sleeve and then a bit of a second one.
still, that’s one big pile of red knitting done. i can’t wait to get all the pieces on the needle for the yoke knitting. i love to watch the yoke develop. and, it gets smaller as you go—just what i need at the end of a big project.
one thing that i have worked on very steadily each night is the new obstacles shawl. it really doesn’t look much different than it did the other day, but i think this pic gives a better idea of its length.
it’s so rich. no doldrums with this project, heh.
i worked a little on this sock and that, and i started a new one, too, in fearless fibers merino sock smoke colorway.
now, when i first got his yarn, i simply gasped. i mean, it looked exactly like cigarette smoke—it even has little streaks of this pinkish brown here and there, the way real tobacco smoke has. now cigarette smoke stinks, it’s true, but it has always fascinated me too, with its peculiar color and all the ways it travels through the air—it’s no wonder i smoked for many years.
about 15 months ago i gave up my smoking habit—i was a very light smoker, but i didn’t like having the habit. i did fine for about a year, but then this past summer i started to really struggle with cravings and with having the occasional smoke when i was with friends, etc. (i hope this doesn’t cause a rash of lectures about smoking—i’m not about to start up again, i just have an itch, y’know?)
i have a feeling that the high level of inactivity to which i have been subjecting myself lately is to blame—no endorphins = cravings for nicotine. gotta get back to my serious exercise habit . . .
so, i’m thinking that i will try to work through this strange re-emegence of wanting to smoke by knitting on these socks. like having a sort of voodoo doll—i can feed them all my need.
in fact, maybe that will be their name—voodooSmøx.
i picked a neat little ribbing that curls its way diagonally down the leg in little jogging puffs (like smoke puffs). hell, i can even make the two legs go in opposite directions. you can’t see the pattern yet in this picture as well as i’d like, but once i have a little more on the needles, it should be apparent.
the yarn is like butta—soft, but with body. it will make excellent lightweight socks. in fact, i have another hank in the thoroughbred colorway that i’m thinking i might knit up for my older brother (who is turning 50 next week!).
i know i’m thinking of this WAY too late to make the important day, but he just might really enjoy them for playing golf (why do i always have these great ideas for gifts so late in the game?—i started remembering this birthday well in advance, but the sock idea didn’t hit me til today—what’s up with that?). he has this incredibly odd foot size; something to the tune of 12 AAA, and i’m sure he cannot find sox that fit well (so i can’t just pull them out of my sock gift stash either). and yet, i have never knit any for him—he lives in hawaii, and to me that meant that handknit sox might be sort of not desirable.
but then i started trying some different commercial yarns, and there are some that are quite light and cottony. i could use some lorna’s laces yarn in a nearly solid colorway (i don’t think he’d like anything crazy . . .). if i can track it down, that would be perfect. i dunno. i don’t want to get all indecisive in addition to being late. and i should use what’s in my stash.
yeah—that’s it. i’ll use what’s in my stash, and if he loves them, i’ll make some more. has has weird feet in an unheard-of size. he plays a lot of golf. he lives in hawaii—will he like them?
hmm . . . i’ll ponder it while i get back to work.
18 thoughts on “hello, hello”
Maybe it is something in the air (smoke?), but I too have been craving a cigarette even though I quit 11 yrs ago. I have even been dreaming that I have had a cigarette (or 3 or 4 or more). Would one drag send me back on the path to doom? Or worse yet, standing in front of a restaurant/store/hospital sucking down a cigarette? That’s a yuck!!!
Guess I won’t.
Even on a busy and stressful week I think you’re amazingly productive! The sock yarns have a lovely depth of color; in fact, you have a good eye in all your color choices. From an ex-smoker (and heavy at that), cravings become a part of life off and on for a long time. Much to my surprise, I learned that after starting up again at 22 after having quit. It took another ten years before I was able to quit again for good. Not a lecture — but understanding, empathy, and encouragement. Just enjoy knitting with “smoke”!
I’m totally with you on the idea of your voodooSox. I’ve got a design idea in my head along a similar path. That is, the design is intended to help me heal a part of my life.
Knitting is magic.
I finished hyptoneuse yesterday. Bring on obstacles!
and you call this “not much knitting?”
🙂
I love that pix of all that red sweater- it looks so lush!
love the name for the sox- and hang in there without the smokes!
As always your progress amazes me. I quit the butts when I was preggo with #1 now more than 4 years ago, and can you guess the one craving I cannot get out of my head for this whole pregnancy? Friggin ciggarettes! Its been driving me nuts for 9 months.
Yeah, like I was going to say: non productive?
Save the lorna’s for yourself. In my experience it’s less cushiony than just about everything else out there. If your Fearless Fibers is anything like my fearless fibers (which is red like a bell) you should indulge you brother with that. I can’t wait to cast on with mine.
Mmmm, cigarette smoke. I quit almost two years ago, and I still miss it. I LOVE the smell of cigarette smoke (but only fresh, not stale!) That being said, when I’m 70, I’m starting up a 2-pack-a-day habit.
Love the voodoo sox.
I love what you say about smoke and working things into (or out of) the new socks. It harmonises with what I’ve been thinking too.
And I know what you mean about being too busy for knitting – isn’t it the case that the more we get into this knitting discussion, the less time we actually have to do it!
Jo
Celtic Memory Yarns
That colorway is gorgeous. And the pattern really does it justice. I just finished one sock in the Thoroughbred colorway and I love working with it.
I am also an ex smoker and can definitely relate. It’s been three years but I still have cravings and sometimes fresh cigarette smoke actually smells good to me! How messed up is that?
I quit smoking 12 yrs ago and suddenly this year I have wanted to smoke again. That craving thing? I know exactly what you are talking about. I actually have let myself have a cigarette here and there and they taste lousy. So now it’s the weirdest feeling — craving something I don’t want — like canned spinach ick! — but craving it none the less.
At least you are getting some creative inspiration out of this. The socks look very cool.
I quit smoking almost 19 years ago and occasionally, I still get cravings. I’ll go for years without even thinking about cigarettes, than suddenly… I’m thinking, just one won’t hurt.
The Fearless Fiber sock yarn is beautiful, I can’t wait to get my order (maybe today). I placed a large order last week and one of the yarns I ordered was Smoke sock yarn. Is that a cable stitch your using?
The Obstacles shawl is beautiful, too! I love the color.
The Obstacles shawl is lovely. No wonder it’s going so quickly! I couldn’t put that down for long either.
I never smoked, but I can appreciate that smoky-grey yarn from a purely aesthetic standpoint. 🙂
Love thay smokey grey yarn. I quit a few months ago, I had been a light smkoer or the last couple of years anyway, and quitting wasn’t really that hard. But every now and then I have a moment where all I want in the world is a cigarette. I wonder if it will be like that for my whole life. If every now and then for the rest of my lfe I’ll get that feeling.
Wow, I am so impressed that you have a sock gift stash – I haven’t been able to build one up, but it is a great idea, at least for people who don’t have odd sized feet!
ah. your addiction confession spawned a rash of sympathizers, not lectures. we all are right there with you.
I always feel the trouble with a bottom-up raglan is that suddenly, after all that knitting of body and sleeve, you think you’re ALMOST THERE and then whammo, a hundred million stitches per row. Then the compulsive decrease rounds lead you to keep.knitting. and then finishing is like finishing a great book: Oops, it was over too fast. Which explains why I like seaming; the only problem is I hate weaving in ends.
Those socks are making me swoon a little bit, they are so beautiful! As is the shawl. Lovely, lovely, lovely!
You have me a BIT freaked out. I quit smoking 11 months ago and if the cravings start back up … well, that would suck! No lecture here .. just hope!
I just purchased the FF Merino Superwash & you’re right — PURE BUTTA! I really like your colorway — what’s it named?
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