Monday, August 13, 2007

The B.M.L. era* and a Kenric update

Jaywalkers--finito, baby!!
If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will know how utterly thrilled I am to be writing the following words: I have finished the Jaywalkers. This project had been on my needles for over 14 months and taunted me at every turn. But now I have subdued them into submission, and I owe it all to my trusty Hitachi Magic Wand Magic Loop method! You see, I started these socks in the B.M.L.* era and made scant progress on them. Indeed I spent many hours toiling away on these. After what would seem like an eternity, I'd look up from my work, which was starting to feel like a sort of knitting chain gang, only to discover that I had knit an inch at the most.
Enter the size 1 Addi Turbo (40 inches--because I am a size queen). Hello sailor! Yes, this past weekend my Magic Loop and I were able to make mincemeat of the Jaywalkers . And I am delighted.
Jaywalkers, in the can!
The Specs
Pattern: The Jaywalkers
Yarn: Opal Hand painted. I began this project so long ago that the person who hand painted the skein is most likely pushing up daisies. But I think the color is #20.
Needles: First they were on size 1 dpns. Two of them broke, and the manufacturer replaced them. Then I wised up and broke out the Loop. Nirvana ensued.
Notes: The socks are tight as hell, so they are destined for a friend with a dainty foot. If there is ever a next time, I'll definitely use a softer yarn like maybe Sundara or Brooklyn Handspun. The Opal Hand painted was too twine-like for my tastes.

*Before Magic Loop era. A time when knitting was dominated by frustration, sluggishness and a general lack of progress. Also referred to as the Dark Ages and the Sad period.

kenric
I am sure many of you remember my super pal Kenric. You know, the guy who knit a purse in a day after about 4 minutes of knitting instruction? Well, he's become very active in The Lifestyle. He has knit about 3 more purses. He has joined a Men's Knitting Group in San Jose. He has made friends with other local knitters and is making plans for an LYS yarn crawl. He is on Ravelry--check him out! He is making a cabled sweater. Yeah, his first sweater has cables. Alice Starmore you better watch out, sister, because I'm sure he'll be doing stranding before Labor Day.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very pretty Jaywalkers. It's so true. The Magic Loop saved me from being a sock outcast! It's like, well, Magic! I don't think I'll ever use a dpn again.

You are really whipping right through the projects, making me feel all the more concerned about my lack of progress. Someday I shall finish that Kipling sweater...

I bow to Kenric and his newbie knitting powers. He is truly amazing.

Oh, and why is it so hard to take sock pictures?

sophanne said...

That Kenric is really just amazing, as are your Jaywalkers. Did you do 2 at a time? Please lie and say no if you did. That super cable magic loop i still so kicking my butt.

Karen said...

Good for you, showing those Jaywalkers who is boss. There's nothing you and your Magic Loop can't do. (Is it just me, or does that sound vaguely dirty??) As for Kenric - I'm green with envy over his knitting abilities.

Erin said...

Love the colorway on those Jaywalkers! I still haven't started socks yet, maybe I'll take a magic loop class to avoid frustration from the get-go. :)

-Erin
www.knitcore.com

Angela said...

Hitachi Magic Wand...you crack me up! Congrats on finishing the Jaywalkers. I ripped mine and haven't started another pair yet. I think that the pattern is so simple that I don't pay attention and then--BAM--I've screwed up.

Anonymous said...

i couldn't knit a sock without magic loop. it's just too good.
i only use dpns to fend off attackers these days.

the socks look great!

YawnOver said...

Yay, Magic Loop! Go, Kenric!

Diane said...

Your Jaywalkers came out beautifully. I love the colors in that yarn.

Some people are just born with mad skills when it comes to knitting. It's clear to see that Kenric was just passing time waiting until someone taught him a couple stitches.

carrie said...

you know, i started a pair of jaywalkers about then and just never finished them. finally just wound the yarn and gave it away. not a sock knitter, no siree. and my pre magic loop days were SCARY!

Anonymous said...

Yay for finishing the pretty jaywalkers! Yay for Kenric getting into the lifestyle!

WonderMike said...

Magic Loop RULES!!!!

Laura said...

I have to learn this Magic Loop trickery...

love the Jaywalkers!

Anonymous said...

Hey, congrats for finally taming them!! Now there's no limit to your sock ambition. How about these ? Or these ?

Strangely enough I never took up to that Magic Loop business and stick to my sticks... Probably just another sign of my masochism.

Kenric rocks ! ;-D

a friend to knit with said...

Yeah to you and your jaywalkers!!!
Can you believe I havn't tried the magic look yet? What is wrong with me! :)
That Kenric...........he is awesome!

nicole said...

You and Kenric are making ME feel like a slothful and slovenly girl with all your productivity. My #%$@ jaywalkers are still languishing in my UFO basket. I made the mistake of knitting mine in cotton. Stiff, rigid, dastardly cotton!!! So magic loop is the answer hein?

Go Kenric go!

Sourire11 said...

great jaywalkers! I've never tried the magic loop before but I just ordered the needles for socks on 2 circs... is that similar?

And dude if what he is holding up is his first sweater that guy is the bravest knitter ever!

Olga said...

Ok, this Kenric HAS to get himself a blog aka Brooklyn tweed. And I think he's messin with our minds,I betcha he has been knitting for 10 years!!! But gosh darn, don't he look cute?!

Anonymous said...

Hiiiiiiii!!!!!!! Oh how I've missed my blog pals. I love your socks and the 2 sweaters! They are absolutely adorable! Kenric is amazing! I can't believe his first sweater has cables! Well, you know men were the first knitters (I've been told). Before you know it, we'll be seeing Kenric's original patterns/designs in magazines and runways.

Heather said...

Whoa, Kenric! That guy is amazing!!
As are your Jaywalkers, madame. Congratulations on finally finishing them. You have finally gotten rid of that albatross in your life.

Heather said...

P.S. I'm glad you like Magic Loop, too. It's all I do now. Why did I ever fiddle around with DPNs?

Robin said...

I am SOOOO with you on the ML and BML dark ages. I fiddled with dpns for approximately 5.2 seconds before I said, there's GOT to be a better way. Discovery of 1.) extra short circ - not.good - major hand pain 2.) 2 circs and best of all 3.) the wonderful ML method ensued.

Yay Kenric - LOL at "become active in The Lifestyle". It so is The Lifestyle. I think, talk, read and write about it all the time even when I'm not actually doing it - I think that Lifestyle is a good way to sum it up.

Unknown said...

Maybe I will try magic loop someday, but I love my dpns. I enjoy working with them. That Kenric must be cool. My first sweater was color work and the second was cables. A real life Aran. I like Kenric already....

peaknits said...

I'm so glad you could get those babies off the needles - it becomes a mission. I am always breaking needles too - I may have to venture to magic loop. Kenric is a cute knitter too!

Sandra said...

yay, all your hard work finally prevailed! woohoo! those are some damn fine daywalkers, if i do say so myself.

and yeah, jaywalkers are tight. there are a few pair that require the jaws of life to take on and off. ;) the one tip i can pass along for you on your next pair is to use a sock yarn that is slightly thinner gauge than your average sock yarn (like opal). like lorna's laces or brooklyn handspun's signature sock yarn (like you mentioned on your post). i have jaywalkers knit up in both and they both fit like a dream. the thinner yarn means fabric with a little more give. :)

Lazuli said...

Wonderful jaywalkers! I must admit, I've procrastinated on those after hearing so much about the sizing issues. One day I'm sure I'll give it a go, though! I'm glad you finished yours!

Sonya said...

Gorgeous Jaywalkers! I did mine on magic loop from start to finish and those socks still kicked my ass. I think I had Jaywalker mental block. I'm so impressed with Kenric's knitting abilities! He's definitely a Knitter.

Romi said...

Yay! They turned out great! :D

Kendric is very very impressive. Wow!

knitseashore said...

My heroine. My second and last pair of socks took me 2 1/2 years and then I gave up and frogged. YAY for you for Victory at last!

Lone Knitter said...

Your jaywalkers are so pretty. Congrats on finishing them! You know what? I think mine are a bit tight, but once they're on, they're okay. But still! They are so tight!

Anonymous said...

Dude, I love Kenric! And congrats on the Jaywalkers. Have heard they're tight as all get out - but look you have no pooling! ;)

Gingersnaps with Tea... said...

Your Kenric is quite the Wunderkind! Great Jaywalkers.

Virtuous said...

Holy Pajamas!! Kenricis a freakin prodigy!!

LOL @ dark ages before ML. I agree!! :oD