Socktoberfest 2006! New project #38 - Playing for England Socks

My radiators are making that, ever so delightful, clank, clunk, hiss sound that indicates Autumn is nearly over and winter is on its way. Fall is my favorite season, and it's killing me that my stupid broken foot has made me miss it! I do believe a little feelling sorry for myself is in order. You would think I would get loads of knitting done during this enforced sloth, but I have not.

Perhaps Socktoberfest will get me going again. I'll skip the interesting sock knitting history questions, because, well, I've only knit one pair of socks, and it wouldn't exactly be enlightening to anyone.

Yes, Socktoberfest is nearly over. And, likely as not, I will not finish them in time, but I've started a new pair. This time I'm using the Team England* colorway from Lana Grossa's World Cup collection. I'm not exactly stretching my skills by going with another simple ribbed sock pattern, but I think the bright red and blue would be a lot too much with anything else (not that I'm likely to wear these outside the house anyway).

If you haven't knit socks yet, but want to learn, do get the Knitting Vintage Socks book. I was really worried that the turning of the heel and all of that would be horribly confusing, but there was never a moment of befuddlement while knitting my first pair. Nancy Bush's directions are clear and concise. I'm sure I'll have a similar experience with these.

*I'm not sure why the colors are red and blue, rather than red and white, but I like them. Here is the part where I'm supposed to issue all sorts of disclaimers about my feelings about the English Football team. I'll admit that I'm not exactly a supporter, but I'm also not a hater. Yes, they did rather poorly in the World Cup, and, yes I'm not supposed to like both Scotland and England, but I do. Perhaps this affinity has been brought on by my sad fractured metatarsal, but shockingly enough, I don't even hate David Beckham. So there.

The Project: Playing for England (En-ger-land) - Madder Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks
The Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Teamcolor - England colorway. Purchased from Janette's Rare Yarns
The Needles: Crystal Palance 2.5mm DPNs
Started: October 14 2006

Various and Sundry Links - October 16 2006

- 268 knitters worked to knit ethnographic mittens as souvenirs for NATO 2006 Summit delegations and media representatives (no swastikas allowed).

- The Edelman/Wal-Marting Across America scandal is all over the blog world right now. What a sleazy affair. I have often wondered if any pay per post-type things are going on in the knit blogs. Anyone have any gossip? Please? (Not that I want to encourage the undercurrent of bitchiness that seems to lurk beneath the shiny, we all love each other, veneer that surfaces the knitting world)

- Cardboard Art

- Why Robots Are the Best Employees [via]

- Pulling Up the Ladder [via]

- Tales from the Palaces was on last night. There was a great bit with the costume curators from Kensington Palace. I love fashion and textiles exhibitions. It's not as good as visiting in person, but I'm happy the web gives us online resources to view these collections. Here are a few I've enjoyed recently.
Dress for the Occasion [via A Dress A Day]
The A. & L. Tirocci Dressmakers Project [via]
Sixties Fashion at the V&A - I like the site, but I absolutely have to find a way to get to London to see this one in person before it closes!

- Project Runway's Laura Bennett is one of those women who is going to age into an excellent broad (a high compliment from me). I just love her. Her clothes are pretty too, and you may be able to make your own at home, if her comments from a Q&A with Bravo's Andy comes true.
[...]I'm even thinking I should offer women patterns, so that even if they can't afford to sort of upgrade their life through their clothing and their personal appearance in the time that they take to care for themselves that there are other ways to do it, there are patterns available and maybe you can make your own dresses like I did.

- Also, Uli revealed that our nation's greatest secret weapon is Miami Vice

- MerriMail - the first creative living publication that includes a delightful gift and thoughtful ideas in each issue. Cute!

- Pole dancing. Cuter!

- Kids at the swimming class. Cuterest!

Comments

[yahaira]

welcome back!! I missed my sundry lnks!! the socks are going to be cute :)

there's always some stupid controversy in the knitting world, Im sure someones getting paid...even if it's free yarn.

[AmyP]

Switzerland had already claimed the red-and-white colourway. I'm assuming since they're nearer to Germany (and therefore Regia) they got there first?!

[gleek]

i think that england's uniforms were red and blue? right? i don't remember! :)

i totally think that laura from PR should make patterns! i would make a dress designed by her!

[newlin]

Hey! Welcome back! How's the foot?

[Amy in Stl]

I didn't get much knitting done during my time with "the boot" either. Even though I spent a lot of time lying on the couch I didn't feel like knitting much. The best thing about not having to wear that thing anymore? Sleeping without it!

[Irene]

I'm so sorry you're stuck in that cast (even if it is a really cool one) during your favorite time of year. I kinda-sorta know how you feel -- I've done a lot of lying around lately too but haven't felt like reading or doing anything very productive.

I would be all over those Laura Bennett dress patterns. She's brilliant and I'm ready to buy anything that woman wants to sell me. "Excellent broad" is the perfect compliment. Hope you're back to 100% soon.

[melissa]

i've really missed all your sundry links! it keeps me connected when i'm crazy busy.