knit and tonic

Knitting Two Socks at a Time: Making Heels the No-Fuss Way

The only time things can get tricky when knitting two socks at a time is when you do the heel flap, turn and gusset shaping. That's why I get out my trusty dpn's or skewers and place one cuff on hold while I work the heel flap on the other sock. Now, that doesn't mean you can't do the two heel flaps and heel turns at once, because it is totally do-able. In fact, I'll do them that way depending upon my mood or if I'm a car and I don't want to transfer the stitches, or for whatever reason that pops up. I'll show you how I do it one at a time here. Note the one completed heel on hold in the picture below.

Working a heel flap works the same as if you were using double-points, except one half the sock stitches are placed on one needle for the instep and the other half are placed on a needle for the heel. Once the cuff is the correct length, with the wrong side facing you, begin working your heel flap on one needle only, the one that you designate as the "heel" needle. Continue working your heel flap on one needle only (with the other needle dangling and unused) until the flap is complete. On the next wrong side row, begin to turn your heel the way you normally turn it (using short rows, typically). Once that is complete, you will have one last right side row to finish.

Work to the end of the last right side row to complete the heel turn, then, using the same "heel" needle, pick up and knit stitches up the gusset to the "instep" stitches. Drop the "heel" needle and knit across the instep stitches.

 

To complete the process, drop your "instep" needle and pick up the working side of the "heel" needle and pick up and knit stitches along the free gusset down to the heel. Then, knit the stitches on the "heel" needle to the last three stitches and make your first gusset decrease, usually a k2tog, then k1. Drop your "heel" needle and then knit the instep stitches on your "instep" needle to the end. Drop it, then, using the working end of the "heel' needle, k1, then ssk to complete your first decrease "round" of gusset shaping. Continue working this way and work your gusset decreases on every other round until the number of heel stitches match the number of stitches on the "instep" needle.

Work one round even and then place these stitches on "hold" and work the other sock on the two circulars as before. Once both heels are complete, carefully place the on-hold stitches back onto the two circulars in tandem as you did with the cuffs and work the body of the sock until you are ready to make the toe decreases, which are done at the same time and are super easy and fast to do when the two socks are worked at the same time.

 

There is no hard and fast rule about how to separate your stitches. Some guides will tell you to place one half of the instep stitches onto one needle, and to place one-half of the heel stitches on that same needle with a stitch marker to separate them. For me, it makes more sense to devote one needle for the insteps and one needle for the heels and to remember to make decreases for the gusset one stitch before the beginning and end of the "heel" needle, but if it makes more sense for you to use markers and separate the two sides, go ahead and do that, instead.

Stay Tuned for "Knitting Two Socks at a Time: Aren't You Glad You're Finished?"

Knitting Two Socks at a Time: Getting Started

I wonder if the reason some people avoid knitting two socks at one time is because getting started seems difficult or confusing. "How do you cast on for two socks at once?" is a question I hear over and over, and guess what? I don't know how to cast on for two socks at once, and to be honest, I don't really want to know. There's already too much stuff floating around in my brain and the fewer facts, moves and tricks in there to confuse me, the better.

I'm sure there are tons of super hero knitters who can cast on for two at once without even looking, but when I finally decided that I couldn't allow the so-called Second Sock Syndrome to enter my home ever again and that the only solution was to work two at one time, I skipped right over the fancy casting-on part and took the practical and no-nonsense approach, instead.

 

The first step? I cast on for one sock onto two circulars, (one half of the stitches are on one needle and the other half are on the other) and work the cuff, in the round, for about four rounds. Then, I simply get two double point needles or a couple skewers and transfer the stitches on over. Then, I cast on for the other sock onto the two circulars and work the second cuff, in the round, for the same number of rounds.

 

The second step I take is to carefully transfer the first cuff back onto the two circulars, being sure that the working yarn is on the back needles, as shown, so both socks are ready to go, and in the same starting place.

I begin working the cuff, two socks at a time, in tandem. (See my last post for resources on working in the round using two circulars.) Working two at a time is easy, but you have to pay attention. You work the first half of one cuff, drop its yarn, and then scoot the second cuff toward your left needle tip and pick up the next ball of yarn and work the front part of the second cuff.

Carefully, turn the needles clockwise so that the working balls of yarn are again on the back needle (see pic above) and repeat the process. When this side is complete, turn the whole shebang counter-clockwise so you don't twist the yarn. Repeat. Continue working the cuffs, side by side, until you are ready to work the heels.

 

Tips for keeping the two balls of yarn from twisting:

• keep one ball of yarn on your right side and one ball of yarn on your left
• do not turn the work in the same direction each "row," instead turn back and forth
• when it isn't convenient to have balls of yarn on either side of you, place one ball of yarn in your project bag on your lap, and place the other ball of yarn outside of it, also on your lap
• OR, put the yarn balls in two separate ziploc bags inside your project bag and keep all bags slightly open on your lap

Tips for keeping needles separate*

• use two different lengths of circulars
• use two different types of circulars, i.e., one bamboo, one metal or plastic
• use two different colors of circular needles
• each time you begin knitting a new "row" tug on the left-hand needle to make sure that you feel the "tug" on the other side. If not, you may have picked up the wrong needle.

*If you prefer to use the magic loop method, and understand how to do it, by all means, use just one long needle instead of two!

Next Post: Knitting Two Socks at a Time: Making the Heels the No-Fuss Way

EDITED TO ADD: Here is a pic of what it would look like if you are working with two socks on Magic Loop. Note, the needles shown are a bit too short for comfortable "Magic Loop." (I think they're about 20")

Knitting Two Socks at a Time: Supplies

When I knit two socks at a time (or two mittens or two hats, etc.), I typically use the same few items. And because I have a lot of knitting supplies around, it isn't too much of a burden to me. Yet, if you don't have all the junk that I have, you can still knit two socks at time provided you have at least one long circular needle or two circular needles of the same size (it's actually preferable to have them at different lengths though; will explain later).

Understanding how to knit in the round with one long circular or two circulars is something I'm going to assume that you know how to do. If you are looking for advice on how to go about it, Google it, or look at many of the online knitting help sites. Trust me, there are tons. The way I learned was to read an article or two online; I don't know if they're there anymore because this was a long time ago, but it isn't as "magical" as one would think. It works the same way that double-points work, but with just two ends of one needle or two needles and their four ends.

Here are some videos.

A list of supplies:

• Enough sock yarn for a pair of socks, wound into two balls
• Two circular needles in the same size, but preferably with two different lengths* OR one long circular
• Two double pointed needles in the same size as the circulars (smaller is okay)

If you don't have the double points, then go find yourself a couple skewers from the kitchen or a tapestry needle with some waste yarn. These will fill in nicely if you don't have the double points on hand.

Why the extra needles? I use double points to place one of the sock stitches of one sock on hold while I perform certain tasks that are easier when working just one sock at time, such as casting on, getting a cuff started in the round, and working heel short rows. The double points basically act as a "holder." If you don't have double points, use skewers or place the stitches on hold using waste yarn and a tapestry needle. You could even use stitch holders.

*When working in the round using two circulars instead of just one long one, sometimes it is easier to find your working needle's end if the needles are differing lengths. When reaching for the working needle, especially if one of them is shorter than the other, it'll be easier to identify. Further, a lot of knitters don't like to buy two of one item (especially if it isn't totally necessary). When purchasing two needles with two different lengths, you can use the shorter one for sleeves or items with smaller circumferences. I typically use one that is about 16-20" long and another that is about 29" long. I've even been known to use one metal and one bamboo, just to make the "reaching for" a bit easier.

BTW: I will compile all the information that I'm putting forth in blog posts into a pdf tutorial thingy. So, don't think you have to knit along or anything.

Bad Yogis/Bad Knitters

I just came from lunch with a friend. Before we met she was at the drug store and called me on the phone and asked me what I'd suggest she have her pre-pubescent son use on his face (he's beginning to break out). I said some sort of mild wash, blah blah blah, and when we met up, she pulled a packet of Oil of Olay make-up wipes out of her purse and said: "I got him these, what do you think?"

I read the package out loud: "Removes make-up, . . and leaves behind a fresh, dewy feeling," or something to that effect.

. . . Any rate, that whole "I hate yoga" thing: I don't hate it per se, I just don't like what it does to my brain, or who I become when I'm laying there anticipating more interruptions. I don't mind the occasional moaner or snorer; those are bonuses, if you ask me. But the anticipation of rudeness makes me lay there all stiff kinda like a dog who knows they're being dragged out into the backyard for a bath, and I don't like it. I'm not a good yogi like others seem to be. I'm on the fence if I will continue it, but I figure, at least, I'm recognizing some of my weaknesses and will shut up about it, soon, I promise.

Like the bad yogis, there are the bad knitters who scream: "HELP! SOS! Dropped stitch! Need help NOW!" on the online boards and don't bother to post a pic of their troubles so others can help them. Or the ones who drive two hours to go to a LYS so someone else can bind off a few stitches for them. These same knitters will often tell you that they've been knitting for 20 years but just don't like the binding off part.  Worse, I met someone who told me she had been knitting for something like 10 years and then asked someone to show her how to purl. (I guess she was speaking literally when she said she'd been "knitting" for something like 10 years.)

There are many knitters out there who are "like that" (sort of like I'm one of those yoga people who are "like that"), and some days I wonder why they bother to knit, anyway. I mean, if it causes so much stress, why bother? Is the February Lady sweater that important? Why not pick something up that gives you pleasure and doesn't send you screaming into the night?

Okay. Rant over. I guess what made me think of bad yogis and bad knitters was this little Buddha Cat that my friend gave me this past weekend (you should check out his Buddha Cat Soap of Enlightenment, hysterical). She read my last post and knew of a potter in Venice who makes these yogi animals and picked one up for me. The potter, Gary Steinborn at Venice Clay, writes that these little figures are meant to help you to remember to approach your practice with humor.

I shall remember that.

BTW: I'm trying to get started on that Two Socks thing and HWWV set up a little studio for me so I could take clear pictures. This is what it looks like. I better get moving because guests are arriving on Sunday.

Sweet Dreams 'till "Sunbeams" Find You

There must be something wrong with me because whenever I find a spot on the floor over there at that fancy yoga joint I go to, the first thing that comes to mind as I prepare myself for the hour and a half to come and all that it entails is: "Hey! Real Housewife of [insert the name of my home town here]: Don't you dare come in late with all your crap and drop it next to my head when I'm busy setting my intention and desperately turning my zen on!"

And truth be told, every practice, as I lay there worrying and wondering if that sort of thing will happen, and squeezing my eyes closed, five minutes into the beginning mediation six Real Housewives of [insert the name of my home town here] do that very thing. Plus, they slam the door behind them. Six times, six different times.

Now, the teacher of this particular class has said a thing or two about this sort of behavior. Thing is, it helps for about five sessions and then it comes back again.

But this past Wednesday, after a slew of fancy bags were dropped around us during moments when they shouldn't have, I got to wondering if anyone else in the room cared or noticed. Am I the only one who notices? Is everyone else in the room blissful and honestly focusing their thoughts into the general area of their third eye and being at One with, uh, whatever it is that one is supposed to be at One with?

Friends, I am convinced that I'm the only one who has issues. Because, and I'm telling this to you in all honesty and confidentiality, that I have, during these portions of the class, opened up my eyes and looked around at everyone and checked everyone out. Seriously. I have even sat up when everyone else is laying there so I could see for sure. No one, not even the teacher, had their eyes open during these moments of my cheeky behavior. So, bottom line (and it doesn't hurt that at least three people--almost always men--are snoring when I'm doing my peeking), I'm convinced that I am the only one who is stressed, cannot let go, and suffering through every ever-lovin' moment of those damn yoga classes. Not to mention the looking to your third eye part.

Whenever I try to look at my inner third eye, I get a vertigo attack. Seriously.

I try. I try. I do try. But I keep going to that place, thinking that some day some fairy will sprinkle his stardust on me and make me into a blissful human being, one who doesn't fall into a panic at a stop light for no reason, miss her mom like crazy and break into tears at a grocery checkout, or look in the mirror and see a pile of "stuff" that doesn't fit together into what she always thought would be a nice, neat Pottery Barn Moment.

I hate yoga.

Not to mention, I pulled a box of those "ready-to-go" wax strips out of my bathroom closet and let's just say, I think I just ripped a bit of skin off from under my nose.

BTW: This is yarn I'm swatching for an upcoming project. So far, I don't know what it will be, but this Madeline Tosh yarn is fascinating. The depth of the colors, the iridescent quality of the blue you see here. The deep red is Tosh Merino in Oxblood (a bit deeper than my old doc marten's; the yarn reminds me of Malabrigo but it seems to be a bit sturdier, if you will) and the blue colorway is Wren in Caspean. I asked for samples and they sent me these. I'll keep you posted on this...as well as that two socks thing. I have a friend, who wants to learn, and is coming to stay the weekend. While I show her, I'll try to take some pics, or at least some notes on the process so it is relevant. HWWV will be gone, shooting a fight, so you'll have to put up with my pictures.

When You Wanna Hold a Sigh (Try to Forget the Current Sweater)

I have a few fellow bloggers who use quotes here and there and I usually don't, but here you go:

"Love gotta hold on me baby... and it feels like a ball and chain." [twice]

Work even for about two minutes and yadda, yadda, yadda, and then:

". . . So you gotta, when you wanna hold a sigh, . .
You gotta hold him like it's the last minute in your life, baby. You gotta hold, whoa, whoa, hold him 'cause someday some weight's gonna come on your shoulders, babe, it's gonna feel too heavy, it's gonna weigh on you, it's gonna feel just like a ball, ball, ball, oh daddy, . . And a chain."

See you on the other side of this sweater. Because, my friends, it is kicking my butt, big time. (I will say, however, it will be fabulous . . . and it better be fabulous . . . by Wednesday.)

Meantime, we've had house guests, which contributes to some of my silence. If any of you remember The Garter Belt, know that one of the other Wendy's is in the house and doing fine. She's stateside now and is in the midst of few things, including relocating. And yes, I know that I seem to be holding a cigar an awful lot, but what the heck? My grandpa Herman the German (who wasn't German or named Herman) always had one and they make me happy. I don't really smoke them for real, but I confess that I use them as props. Plus, HWWV is always very happy to finish one for me.

BTW: Working on a photo essay, if you can call it a "photo essay," of how I happen to do two socks at one time. There are a lot of online resources, but if you want to see my wonky way of doing it, by all means . . .I will show you . . . (as long as you dpn people don't get all huffy.)

Don't Ever Believe What They Tell You. . . (and the Beauty of Knitting Two at a Time)

Whether you're knitting socks on four double pointed needles, five double pointed needles, a large circular, a tiny circular or two circulars, never believe what anyone tells you about knitting socks. Unless they live underneath your skin, their advice means nothing. Because, as far as I can tell, one's most favorite method for knitting socks may as well be a factor in their DNA and nothing else.

Now, I'm no expert and I never did go to a Sock Summit or read any book on knitting socks except for maybe two, but that's it. And I have never knit a pair of toe-up socks, so you may as well just click away right now, because, obviously, since I've never knit a pair of toe-ups, I have no idea about knitting socks.

Except for this: When I first started knitting, I'd go to my LYS and there would be a gal there who, at least every two weeks or so, would finish up a sock, weave in the ends, and throw it into the center of the table. With aplomb, she'd announce: "I'm done!"

And then someone (who wasn't a regular and not in-the-know) would say, "but don't you have to knit a second sock?"

"Oh no," she'd reply. "These are for my uncle, and he only has one foot."

So if you're like me and don't have one-footed relatives to knit for, and if you choose to knit socks, you will have to decide the best way to go about knitting a pair of socks. Some people do it the way most people do it: They cast on one sock at a time, and mostly on double point needles. They knit these sometimes slow and sometimes fast. Most--and I'm thinking it may be a bit of reach here, but not too much of a reach--don't finish a second sock right away when they do it this way. Why? Because, once one knits the first sock, the thrill is gone and casting on for that second sock is just too dire. Not rich enough. A trial. It's sort of like finishing up that perfect cup of coffee and not quite knowing if the second one will be as good. And then when you go get that second cup of coffee, sure enough, one sip, and you're done.

But this is just my opinion--the second cup of coffee opinion.

A Sock on Double Points

• portable
• can cause "ladders" if your tension isn't great
• double points can double as a weapon
• people think that double points are quicker than the alternative; they say that with circs they have to "adjust" too often, but my argument is that you have to adjust at least two times as much with double points
• some double points come in beautiful woods that are wonderful to work with
• you can only work one sock at one time (unless you're Houdini)
• My LYS owner has said that she prefers knitting a pair of socks on double points but mixes it up this way to keep things interesting: Work one cuff, place on hold. Work the second cuff (in the case of someone requiring two socks), place it on hold. Then work the ankle portion, place it on hold. Work the second ankle portion. Place it on hold...and so on...

A Sock on One Long Circular (Magic Loop)

• portable
• fiddly when casting on, but not a big deal, really
• it's a good idea to have a nice quality circular needle that has a flexible and thin cable
• unless you are adept at Magic Loop, it can be tedious (knit for 30 sts, do a flip, knit for 30 sts, do a flip. aye, aye, aye, aye)
• after a few rounds you will wonder why you're not doing two socks at at a time, what with all this flipping and do-hicking
• a circular needle can double as a weapon. . . or a tourniquet in a pinch, come to think of it.

One Sock on a Short Circular (like 8" long. Oy.)

• portable
• your hands will cramp up so badly that you will die
• . . . or when you do die, the last thought in your head will have something to do with these super-short circulars
• if your hands do not cramp up, then you can go to the LYS and brag about it . . . for years. They may even give you free yarn or a trip to Disneyland
• perfect for working socks underneath your desk at work because you need practically no arm movement to knit a stitch
• Buy Hiya Hiya needles if you're interested
• You can only knit one sock at a time (unless you are Houdini knitting socks for miniature rats)
• Not so good as weapons

Two Socks at one Time on Two Circulars

• this is my chosen method, but it isn't perfect
• portable
• requires investing in two same-sized needles, although having them at two different lengths is a plus
• you'll want to cast on one cuff, work a few rounds, place on hold, then do so with the second sock. Thread the two on the two needles to work in tandem. Then, work the heels and gussets separately, and then work again in tandem to the end.
• if you aren't careful, the two yarn balls can get tangled
• you will always have stripes that match
• the socks will be the same size
• second sock syndrome? Forget about it!
• must know and understand Magic Loop-ish knitting technique, although you're using two circular needles
• you can impress your friends (although dpn's are impressive on their own)
• when someone asks you why the needles you're using are connected, just tell them that they are that way so you won't lose one of them
• finished or not, there will always be two socks

Knitting One Sock Inside the Other (Two at a time)

• portable
• only for people who enjoy the idea of plucking their eyebrow hairs out. . . in entirety, and drawing them back on perfectly so they don't look surprised
• no, I'm kidding. This technique isn't for people who enjoy the pain of plucking their eyebrows out. More like it's only for people who like to take a lot of tests, hard tests, in high school, college and those IQ tests on Facebook that aren't so hard, but heck. If you're taking Facebook IQ tests, then you must be a glutton for punishment and might like this technique
• Not too much fun unless you enjoy taking tests and discussing quantum physics while under water
• Shoot. You could probably brag about these socks, but you won't be getting a trip to Disneyland from your LYS, that's for sure

If you want me to, I will cast on for socks and show you how I go about it. I can't teach you magic loop, but I can, at least, show you how the two-at-a-time-thing is done.

Tweens

It's official. I have finally hit the wall when it comes to my wardrobe. I can no longer shop in the department I used to shop. I try. I do try. But the leggings. Those skinny jeans. I can't for the life of me get used to "the look," or the idea of "the look," on me. For one, I'm no longer a teenager or youthful in the sense of "youthful." Sure, you might look at me and say I'm youthful, but when you say it, you're comparing me to my closer-to-fifty-than-forty counterparts.

I guess, when it comes to those skinny jeans, I can't get out of my mind how hard I used to have to point my toes to get on the 80's version of skinny jeans. Of course, they were by Jordache and totally fantastic, but when I wore those, I was at the age where it didn't bother me that, after a 10-minute struggle to get the suckers over my heels, I still had to lay down on the bed and use a wrench to pull up the zipper.

These days, the mere thought of wrenching myself into a pair of jeans just sends me.

At least, with all the knitting, I can spend hours and hours dreaming of how great I'll look and feel with the object on. Shoot, come to think of it, in the long run, all the unfinished projects laying over there in a heap just might be a good thing.

BTW: Girlfriend's Candy Corn Socks (Vesper Sock Yarn) are complete! Funny, I keep making her socks a little too short and small. I must think that she's smaller than she really is. Those kids, they do grow fast and next thing I know, *shudder,* she'll be shopping in the junior department.

EDITED TO ADD: A couple of weeks ago when we were in that garage, Mina's garage, for her going-away garage sale, a lady was looking at some mini carpet stain buster contraption.  She asked Mina if it was ever used, and Mina said she used it once, so she would ask for a firm fifteen bucks. The lady then stood there for a second, thinking about the whole thing and next thing I knew, about five of us gals were talking about tight jeans. . . there was wine involved so I can't remember how it came up.

Wait: I do know how it came up. Maybe it was me, or maybe it was someone else, not Mina, who complained about the warmth in the garage and blamed it on a hot flash. The gal holding the stain buster said she worked at an OB-GYN and knew a thing or two about hot flashes. Then someone said, "Hey, I must need some sort of hormone replacement what with all the discomfort (here in the garage) and she said, the lady with the stain-buster said, "oh, I see a lot of that, and I took a lot of those hormones and gained a lot of weight in the process!" Then someone said, "Well, it's been a long time since I took those hormones, it must have been, oh,  back during the disco days when those tight, shiny pants were in style," and then the lady holding the stain-buster said: "Oh yeah, I remember those tight pants. They gave us a lot of business, there at the office."

Feeding Time

It was dark outside and rainy all day today. But, by 3:50 p.m., Chuck walked into my office and sniffed and then walked out again. Rock-o, who is just learning about old-dog behavior, followed him in and gave me a "look" and promptly left in a huff.

Ten minutes later, they arrived again. Chuck sniffed, louder this time, and shook his head so his ears flapped audibly, and then Rock-o came in after him and stood there looking at me, and basically said, with his eyes: "Ditto."

What's up with the dogs knowing what time of day it is? Girlfriend can hardly tell the time at age seven. But, these guys?

I promise you, when we give up Daylight Saving Time or whatever the heck they call it, in a couple/few weeks, those guys will still know when it is four p.m. and time to be fed. I have tested different homing modes, i.e., having the TV on or not having it on during that time slot. I have tried acting differently or coming home in different clothing, meaning, wearing a gym outfit in the p.m. when I normally don't work out, but the dogs, they just know. Shoot. I could come home wearing a wig, high heels and a wet suit and they'd still clue in.

Now. I know this has nothing at all to do with knitting, but I've had a lot of requests for more pictures of Chuck. He's still around, but ever since we brought Rock-o home, he is a little less interested in the limelight. HWWV ("He Who Wears Versace," previously, but now I think we will call him "He Who WORE Versace," because we can no longer afford it since I gave up my "real" job seven years ago) has always taken pics for this blog (except for the crap ones: those are by me), and after just a few short years, he has found himself a second profession: photography. 

I'm not sure that this blog had anything to do with his budding "new" profession, but my guess is, that we gave him some practice, just like my happy opportunity to write a book and sell a few patterns.

I know, there are some out there who don't really like that bloggers found their way into a new profession, be it writing fiction, designing, or photography, but the two of us, being on the "receiving end" are thankful, happy, and hopefully won't let anyone down.

Meantime, HWWV has been working in/breaking into the photographic profession for a few years now and even though he could have done it all on his own, I still want to thank you for all the great comments and encouragement.

Value-Added

Two weeks ago, we, the three of us, went to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. As we sat there, I realized that a gal with maracas and a guy with a guitar were singin' songs and making the rounds. Now, this is a nice thing, going to a restaurant and hearing live music. Somehow I think that back in the day there used to be a lot more good live restaurant music than there is today, and we used to even see Mariachis wandering around, in and out of, the Mexican Restaurant Scene. So, the other night I accepted it happily, and ordered dinner feeling all festive.

So, the singing duo arrived at our table and began a song. It was a nice song; she belted out a tune not unlike those you hear at the many mariachi competitions you see on TV, full of stories of love, death, machismo, loss and betrayal. But boy, this gal, wow, she could really belt it out. And although my Spanish is limited to food-related or digestive disorder discussions, or perhaps the various and sundry comment regarding someone's appealing figure or the English equivalent to "dang!" or "Check. It. Out." all I can say is, that woman must have had a really horrible series of personal relationships, what with the tears and the gnashing of teeth that was going on, not to mention her maracas. She didn't even break the beat when she came to a particularly heart-wrenching verse about how her man left her and didn't even have the decency to leave a note or a forwarding email address. Plus, her dog died.

So we smiled pleasantly as they sang. Then they finished their number and began another. HWWV and I looked at each other, shrugged and smiled. But that woman with the maracas and lungs that could put any great opera singer to shame kept on singing. And she made good eye contact, too.

Such good eye contact she made, that after another five minutes I began to desperately seek out a way out of the situation. I looked at HWWV and basically begged, with my eyes, "do something!" and so he pulled out some money and handed it to the guitar player.

And what did they do?

They played another song. And then another.

Later, when they finally left us--and I know it isn't because I took one of her maracas away. . . she didn't even blink when I did that--I asked HWWV how much money he gave them.

"Five bucks."

I think you and I know why they sang us an extra couple of songs. . . Now, if only HWWV would have read that particular memo.

So, anyway, I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by. I think, to date, I have only made three pair of socks. Considering that I am a serial sock knitter, this is not good news.

Wait: Now that I think of it, I have knit just two pair of socks. I have one pair that are "on hold," and then I have another where I knit just one sock at a time. So I have one sock complete on the third pair this year while the other is languishing over there on the table. Since it is a theme sock (Halloween), if I leave this computer now, and go sit down for a few hours, I should get it done.

ETA: I am sitting here laughing. I got an email from a reader who asked me if I had intended to do two different ribbings on the socks. Nope, I did not. So, for those of you asking why I like knitting two at a time best, there's part of the answer, right there, for you. If you knit them at one time, you're less likely to forget that the other sock has 2x2 ribbing, not 1x1...

I Hate(d) Corporate Life.

We are slowly marching on to the departure of my good friend Mina, the one who I talk about in my book, the one who inspired the "Mina's Tuxedo Vest" pattern. No, she isn't dying or anything. She is moving away.

I don't know why I am so sad. After all, she lives a mere 10 minutes away, yet we really only see each other every few months, if that. We usually write emails or talk on the phone, briefly. But still: The idea that she will no longer be a mile down the hill, four miles to the left and a block just past a street that has a name that would crack me up if I had a few chardonnays, some sushi, and mixed company in the back of a bus, makes me super sad.

But she decided to leave us, Mina. She's going to Oregon to start the next part of her life. I think she told me that she didn't want to die in the house that she has lived in for so long. Or maybe she said that she would die in the house that she lived in for so long if she didn't have a new adventure to look forward to? . . Yeah, that is what she said.

So we had a garage sale at her house yesterday. It was fun. And a lot of work. I was surprised to see a gal there who Mina and I used to work with, back, right before I had Girlfriend. She was in her early-ish 20's at the time (me, my late-30's). She laughed after an hour or so of conversation there in the garage while things died down. Reflecting at our time together at "the corporation," she looked at me and said: "I always thought you were so driven and buttoned up and on the fast track corporate-wise, if you know what I mean...and here, you're so, uhm, not like that."

Surprised at her assessment (I was always pretty irreverent while in the corporate world and I won't dare tell you what I was up to most of the time), I told her how wrong she was, and that it was all an act. I hated the corporate life and while I was at that particular company, my main goal was to expose the "book lady," as I called her. She was the Call Center Manager, and instead of working, she'd put a book in her drawer and lean over and read it all day, except for, of course, when she was taking those important cigarette/mailroom breaks.

Every time I'd round the corner outside her office, she'd slam the drawer closed and look busy. After I clued in on her ploy, I got a lot of exercise, just leaving my office and turning around and walking toward hers so that she'd slam the drawer. Over and over and over again, she'd slam her drawer. Oh, I used to dream of replacing her current book with something like "Who Stole My Cheese?" or maybe a book on venereal disease, but when I actually got the chance, it turned out, her drawer was locked.

So after that exchange, we sat in silence in the garage while HWWV blew a cigar smoke ring and Mina's husband puffed on his pipe. And after a few minutes and a couple of hums Mina looked at me and said: "All those call center managers, they hated you. They really hated you."

Oh, the things we say in garages when a dear friend is moving away. I think I feel sort of bad that the call center managers hated me, but then again, I suppose, I feel ever so slightly invigorated, too...

BTW: The other day, I spotted some Vesper Sock Yarn, some Halloween Vesper sock yarn, and ordered it quick. This one is in Candy Corn and I think I need to place some other socks on hold so I can get started on these so they are finished before Halloween. Not that anyone will notice that Girlfriend is wearing them--she refuses to wear anything but long pants these days--but still.

And the Chevron Love mittens? Honestly, When I visited the Knitterly Things site I had to order the pattern and the little skeins, too. Normally, I don't like doing colorwork of any type, but these are too precious to pass up. I think I'll make these for Girlfriend's older cousin, the one who lives just down a few hundred miles and a maybe a couple hundred miles to the right of where Mina is going to go. It snows there and it is cold.