Shortening a toe-up sock

I finished my entrelac vacation socks. They are gorgeous, but too long. It's pretty easy to adjust sock length on cuff-down socks, but toe-ups and afterthought heels are a bit of a challenge. I'm never willing to unravel a whole sock to shorten it 2 cm and I'm not afraid of grafting, so I do surgery on my socks to get them just right.

I had a camera handy, so I decided to document my process.

The first step is to mark the sock where you want to shorten it. A locking stitch marker works great. Then you start picking up the entire row by putting the right leg of each stitch onto spare sock needles.

Lookin' good!

The you pick up a stitch one row above the picked up row and pull it until it's about an inch long. Cut this stitch. Now unravel the clipped row. I used a crochet hook to pull out the stitches. (It won't unravel the same way as regular knitting because you're working in the opposite direction. You'll need to pull the end though each stitch.)

Ah, that's better!


Now you graft the toe shut. You could use the tail you just unraveled, but I didn't want to deal with kinky yarn. I cut a new length of fresh yarn and wove in the ends.

Brand new toes! They fit.

I love lunch.

I came back from Korea obsessed with two things: crochet and cooking. Even though we are home for lunch every day, I've been packing the Korean version of bento, dosirak, like a mad woman. The fact that I have a daughter who love white rice more than any other food is only encouraging me. (The girl could live on rice balls.)

I want to share my love of lunch-packing with everyone, so I crocheted this little buddy for my friend's birthday.

All I had to do was crochet a square with cotton yarn. Then I added a few rows of mesh. I crocheted a few lengths of chain to thread through the mesh. When open, the square protects the diner's lap. When the chains are pulled tight, the lunchbox is safe and secure.


I found this box at Walmart for about $7. The lid can be frozen to keep food cool all morning. The silverware were included. The sides secure with clips and seem to be fairly sturdy.

I hope she likes it. I might consider making some more for Christmas. What would you think if someone gave you a lunchbox as a gift?

Catching up a bit

I'm in the mood for a bit of housekeeping, so I took a few pictures.

I worked on these entrelac socks on my many airplane and bus rides on vacation. I even took them out a few times on the subway. This was the perfect project to bring with me. Sock knitting will always remind me of Korea. They had many stores dedicated to fancy, cute socks. Since you have to take off your shoes a lot in Korea, you need nice socks.

I sewed this purse for my trip. I wanted a crossbody bag that would keep my hands free. I made a zippered interior pocket to protect my passport, money, and boarding passes. (I lose things easily and it was a relief to know that they were safe and sound.)

I got the fabric at Joann's with a 40% off coupon. I really loved the colors. I got more compliments on this bag than anything I've ever made.

I also put a pocket on the strap for my iPod or camera. It was really handy. The pleats on the outside were an accident. I cut the lining too small. I love the look of the gathering. I plan to make other bags with deliberate pleats.

Months ago, I joined the Phat Quarter ATC Swap. I got my package late because the artist lives in England. The card she sent me was funny, a little sad, and very pretty. I was really honored to receive this.

Her packaging was also a treat. She wrapped everything, including some vintage buttons on a handmade card, in sewing patterns. Then she tied it all together with floss and a big button. It was such a treat to open a package like that. I am really inspired by Megan to pay more attention to how I mail things. There is no reason to be plain and boring.

Downtime

I am back from Korea. I had a marvelous time. Eventually I need to sort out everything I did and saw. I actually got some crafting done. I didn't actually finish anything, so I won't blog about it until I do.

I bought some bento lunch boxes in Seoul. My new hobby is packing cute little lunches to eat outdoors. I hope your summer is as great as mine!

Warning: some vacation photos ahead.

I'm still in Korea, but we downloaded the SD card, so I thought I'd share a few pictures with everyone. We visited the Teddy Bear Museum. It was very cute. I really wish I could have brought Isabel with me.

Hootchie bear.

Annual design contest entries.

I took entirely too many photos of the bears, but they were really adorable. Kyooto.

The Asian aesthetic I am so fond of is everywhere in Korea. I bought a few craft supplies in Dungdeamun Market and I can't wait to put them to good use. I'll write a much more thorough blog entry later. I'm having an amazing time.

Not a quilt anymore, it's a pillow.

I finished the piecing for my camouflage quilt top. I decided that I'd rather have a giant, huggable pillow than a tiny quilt. The pocket is for love letters. The pink words are the lyrics to "Stand by your man." The center of a log cabin square represents the hearth. Military wives are left behind to tend those fires. Sometimes it's hard to be a woman...

I'm washing and blocking the needlework right now. I'll stuff it tonight.

I'm proud of this piece. Maybe it's more craft than art, but it's something that can be part of my life and live in my house.

Waste Not, Want Not

I chopped up one of David's old uniforms from Desert Storm last week. I'm making an art quilt with a pocket to store love letters from his time overseas. It's deeply meaningful...blah, blah, blah. I had a few scraps and I'm trying to use them in everyday objects.



I crocheted a little linen purse with my handspun flax. I like the light, summery fabric. I added a little band of shells to flare out the bottom of the bag. I decided to line it so I can hold a sock knitting project without the needles poking out. The pocket and nametape from David's uniform worked out perfectly.

I got the bamboo handles with a 40% off coupon at the fabric store. I'm happy with the results. The colors worked together perfectly.

I always want something of his near me.

Division of Labor

Red Heart & Sole socks, ankle high on size 1 needles. One ball makes a pair, what a bargain. Peds are the perfect sock for showing off badass knitting tattoos.



I finished the Wellbutrin piece and blogged about it here. Other exciting self-guided art therapy projects will join it soon.

I lost a percentage of the readers at Knit-R-Done by posting so much about the personal struggle and artistic expression I experience though embroidery. I'm trying to keep the knitting, spinning, and crochet projects over here and embroidery there. I'm a bit in limbo trying to decide what to post and where.

My knitting projects are still going strong. Knitting is a constant in my life. Knitting is easy to do in a waiting room. Knitting isn't going anywhere. I decided to take my Prozac capsule to my daughter's ballet class to work on while I waited. Not. Smart. Did I mention that I live in a tiny town where people look at you like you're batshitcrazy if you're embroidering a giant antidepressant in public? There will be plenty of knitting posts in the future.

If you read this blog for the artsy fartsy stuff, most of it will be posted on my new blog from now on. http://meetmeinthedayroom.wordpress.com/

Handspun Linen Crocheted Bags

I used all of my handspun flax. I made a few sturdy bags with some of it. I like a crossbody net bag for farmers' markets and vacations.

It's light and strong. It was easy to make. I didn't bother with a pattern. I improvised a single crochet bottom, double crochet body, and a single crochet strap. I can't wait to take this baby to Korea this summer.

May Cause Drowsiness

I don't think of my years of medication as bad years. Medications can be confusing. Side effects are irritating. Drowsiness sometimes feels like chemical restraints--a straight jacket in a bottle.

The worst years of my life were the unmedicated ones. I'm not saying that I didn't take any drugs in my mid twenties, I just refused to fill prescriptions. Alcohol, weed, Ecstasy, mushrooms, LSD...I'd take anything to get away from reality.


I'm seeing life much more clearly these days. I'm not ashamed of the orange bottles that are always a part of my life. Instead of "may cause drowsiness," I see, "may prevent loss of relationships." I don't take them with alcohol because I don't need alcohol to blind my pain.

A lot of people see psychotropic medications in the same light as street drugs. I don't. A sick person doesn't usually know which antibiotic she needs and I don't know what chemicals my brain needs.

Besides, I'm married to a cop now. I live on a military base. I have a family. I'm a grownup. I'll keep dealing with psychiatrists, prescriptions, side effects, and therapy. I'm never giving up.

Staying Busy

I finished some knitting a while ago and forgot to post it. A friend sent me some ugly sock yarn that she didn't want. I didn't really like it, either. I knit it into some hand/wrist warmers and overdyed it teal blue. I love the finished hand warmers.

I'm working on another pill picture. I've already used over 50 yards of floss and it's less than half finished. I finally broke down and organized some of my threads. Organization isn't my strong suit, but I like having a palette. I also waste much less time detangling.


I've got a dozen needles threaded and waiting for me. These pills aren't going to sew themselves.