The Trouble with KALs

Knit-a-Longs (KALs) are great for digging into the stash, except…well, when they’re not. I’ve been participating in Desert Vista Dyeworks’ Officially Unofficial Monthly Sock Club. Each month, participants post a picture of their yarn accompanied by a completed pair of adult-sized socks. The KAL began in January, but it wasn’t until late February when I had my first DVD skein in hand.

Given my exceedingly large supply of fingerweight yarn, it’s only logical to assume that I would have one, or two, or ten skeins of DVD, but I confess, I did not. Since the KAL is structured into four quarters, I decided to wait until April to dive in. So far, I’ve knitted Halley’s Comet, the Entertainer, and Monopoly.

Halley's Comet

The Entertainer

Monopoly

This month, I’m quite enchanted with Harold’s Purple Crayon, and I’m surprised at how fast these socks are working up.

But the irony of expanding my stash to participate in a KAL that many others are using for stashbusting is not lost on me. In fact, two other sock knitting KALs that I’m participating in – organized around the 15 projects in 2015 theme – have also led to further stash enhancement. KALs are great for promoting community around a single pattern or type of yarn. They can even stem the urge to buy more yarn since pictures of other knitters’ colorways are posted for all to see. (Didn’t buy that reverse psychology, did ya? Yeah, me neither).

But while my approach to KALs (among other yarn acquiring oddities) may have contributed to the purchase of two more baskets to contain what was already overflowing from one large – fine, three large baskets – I must say that my knitting output has also increased. While the number of sock FOs is far greater today than before I decided to play along, the proportion of completed to not-started is most certainly unequal. (Note to self: must revisit one in, one out rule). The intention behind KALs is most certainly admirable, but I seem to recall a cliché about where that road leads…. Bon tricot

Comments

Back to Basics

The first week back after a long holiday is always the hardest. I also find it’s where I tend to lose focus of my goals…and so it went this week for journaling and the yarn diet. While I managed to journal four nights in a row, I missed three by week’s end. I also fell off the destash wagon visiting a charming LYS seven minutes from a conference I was attending for work. I don’t feel as badly about that relapse since I bought a non-fingering weight yarn in a 100% marled alpaca. They also had some knitting notions that I’ve only seen online – bamboo chunky circs and a Knit Kit. The Knitting B, Richmond, VA But how to explain the sock yarn purchase? FOMA (fear of missing out). One of my favorite dyers posted a 24-hour- only skein to celebrate her 6,000 th sale on Etsy. Those exclusive speckles did me in. Canon Hand Dyes by the amyleeshow on Etsy This week has shown me that it’s easy to get off track, so before I ...

To Frog or Not to Frog: My Foray with Fingerless Mitts

In all honesty, I did make an effort, twice, to be eccentric. Unfortunately, neither yarn worked the way I hoped it would. I’m knitting something I need, and I’ve always found that when I’m on the hunt for a particular item, I tend to leave empty handed. The same cannot be said for things I don’t need, which appear in abundance (yes, I’m looking right at you self-striping sock yarn). Fall has arrived on the east coast and the mornings are chilly, but not cold. It’s a bit overkill to wear a puffy coat and mittens at this point. But even with my coffee mug in hand as I walk the kids to the bus stop, I’m still cold and a pair of fingerless mitts would be enough, but not too much. I have small wrists, so I knew getting the right fit would be a bit of a challenge. I purchased some Quaere sport weight yarn in Tokyo Underground, but unfortunately, the density seemed more worsted, than sport. After knitting up a swatch, it felt less, o...

Outlander Sockhead Hat

So in keeping with my school year resolution, I cast on for my first Sockhead using a limited edition color of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Fraser. I love the color orange and I debated whether or not to knit up a pair of socks or cast on for something else, and I don’t know why, but a hat using yarn named after Jamie seemed most appealing. I’m a late arrival to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and when I saw all the publicity for the Starz television show this summer, I knew I had to check out the book. I was not disappointed. This is my first time making a hat with fingering weight yarn, so my patience and WIP commitment is being tested. Plus, I’m a bit unsure over the fit. I’ve read through a lot of modifications on Ravelry and I’ve cast on fewer stitches as well and have knit only 2 ¾ of the ribbing instead of 4. I will probably shorten the body of the hat from 9 to 6 inches too. I have a really small ...

Bon Tricot

Search This Blog