Uneven repeating

I have a sock problem.


I read on ravelry that this colorway does not repeat, and I didn't check until I was most of the way done with the second leg. Clearly, it repeats. Unfortunately for me, I decided to make this sock extra long, and it's about a 1-sock repeat, so the yarn that should be used for the top of the second sock is at the toe of the first. There are 3 options to fix this, as I see it:

1) Make the second sock the same dimentions as the first, and let the colors be off by an inch. This will look ridiculous.

2) Match the colors by making the leg of the second sock shorter. Then pick up the cast-on stitches and add ribbing to the top to make the sock long enough. The ribbing will be mismatched in both length and color. Slightly irritating, but no one will see this part of the sock unless I explicitly show it to them.

3) Rip out the whole second sock, and the first sock's foot and heel, and a good bit of the leg. Make the first sock smaller overall so that there will be enough yarn leftover at the end to start the repeat in the right place. This one has the best long term results, but it's annoying. And it's against the name of the blog.

I'm inclined to go with #2. But I might be happier in the long run if I do #3. What do you think? I've made a poll. Vote away.

For Cindy: eee!

This post is for Cindy who needs a keyboard size comparison for the EeePC and a real full-size keyboard. Sorry for the crappy cell phone cam. The comparison computer is an IBM thinkpad Z61m. It has a full size keyboard. This thinkpad is pretty big, as far as laptops go. Not like the giant 17" ones, but the next step down.



Here is my hand in normal typing position on both computers. I tried typing on the eee and was surprised at how easy it was. It doesn't feel too small to me. First pic is the thinkpad, then the eee.



Here is each keyboard with $1 for scale. Again, the first pic is the thinkpad, followed by the eee.

More pictures!

Here is the orifice. I just like that it has an orifice.

I spun this up last night. I forget what it's called. It was a batt from the Old Oaks Ranch that I got for Christmas. It has many different fibers in it-mostly wool and silk-but they are in layers, and easily separated. I have 4 batts. This one and the next one I'm spinning with all the colors mixed together. For the other two, I'll separate the different colors/fibers and spin them separately, to make more of a variegated yarn, rather than this one, which I don't know how to describe exactly. Mottled?



Sorry the picture's a little blurry. I think I broke the image stabilizer spring in my camera when I dropped it from my bike. Now everything comes out blurry. Oh well.

I love my wheel!

Blogger has decided that I can only upload 2 pictures. Boo! I have a lot more.

Well here are the two. One action shot and one (almost) finished product. This wheel is awesome. I love it. looooooooooooove it!! I was late to work this morning because I had to spin right when I got up. I've decided I need the jumbo flyer and bobbin. That's one of the reasons I got this wheel, it has options. Yay.



This is Spunky Eclectic blended wool in Mandy. It's very pink and purple, very girly. I spun some for my mom for her birthday. I would show you what she made with it if it weren't for the little photo uploading problem I'm having.
I think this has happened before, I'll try to upload more wheel pics tonight.

Kromski Sonata-First Impressions

Ok don't hate me, but I didn't take any pictures because I was spinning. And then it was time to go to bed. But here is a narrative.

First of all, this is not a small wheel. Yes it folds and fits in a backpack and all, but I don't think the backpack is going to fit in the overhead bin. I don't even know if it would clear the TSA X-ray scanner thing. Brita, when we do yarn school, I'm probably going to have to ship it to you. So that's a little bit of a bummer. But bigger is better, right? And it's still great that it folds because my apartment is not that big, so I can put it in the closet when not in use. It's like i have a full-size wheel that stores easily. So no biggie. I just won't be taking it with me every time I get on an airplane, which is sort of what I was imagining. I'll just have to knit while travelling. And really, that makes more sense anyway.

It has a couple of minor dings from shipping, but I am not going to worry about it.

When I first set it up, it was way squeaky. But I just added some oil (included) and that fixed her right up. Kromski's are supposed to be oil guzzlers. Fortunately I work on bicycles so there is always a wide variety of lubricants around the house. Shouldn't be an issue.

It treadles very nicely. Whew! I was nervous about that, just because I hadn't tried it before and I had some issues with other wheels. I got off to a rough start spinning. My yarn was thick and thin like it's never been before, especially the thick part. And then I was having trouble getting the brake band adjusted correctly. But finally I got it all figured out and it was smooth sailing. I still don't understand why if you tighten the brake band, it pulls the yarn harder, if you know what I mean. But that's ok, I'll figure it out. I spun about a bobbin full last night, maybe a little less. It was great fun. And so much faster and more relaxing than a spindle! Yay. I can't wait to spin some more!

I will try to take pictures tonight, but I have a friend in town and I'm giving her priority. So we'll see. At least by Friday, I should have some.

Wheel Watch 2009-Part 3

It's here!!!!!! All I know is that it treadles better than the other three I tried, so that's a huge relief, since I bought it sight unseen. Now I just have to spin something. Big picture-filled post later. Now it's spinning time!

Wheel Watch 2009-Part 2

The wheel is in Hodgkins, IL, and on time for delivery on Monday.