Here are some close-ups of the Monkey pattern in case you want to take a good look at the stitch pattern. Click for bigger.
For those of you who asked, the shoes are from 9 West. I bought them 2 years ago from an outlet store, so I doubt they still stock them. Sorry! Also, I have to give Amy the credit for the naming and the idea for the photo shoot. I suck at naming stuff. I mean really, Pomatomus? Nobody knows how to pronounce that!
Moving on, I wasn't really forthcoming with the details on Knitty Gritty because I was afraid that I would suck hardcore and not want anyone to know. You know, sort of pretend it never happened if I was that bad. The whole experience was actually a lot of fun if you don't count the nervous freak-out portions and the frantic preparation knitting. Or when my car broke down on me in the middle of traffic on the highway. That part really sucked.
My producer Lorelei was very helpful and walked me through everything a bunch of times. I got to hang out with awesome knitters. And there was stash enhancement (pictures of that in a later post, I'm a bit backlogged on photo taking). Oh yeah, my episode (I'm a guest, not a knitster) is on toe-up socks that are basically a modified version (using thicker yarn and therefore involving less knitting) of the Baudelaire pattern in STR heavyweight. I'm glad to report that it rates "Advanced" on the knit-o-meter, which is interesting because in knitblogworld I think they'd rate intermediate but it's difficult to demonstrate all that stuff in 3 short segments.
I was most freaked out that Stephanie was also doing socks for her episode, and that she did it with much more wit than I could. Oh well, I have to learn to live with the fact that I am witless. I am however easily consoled by yarn. I know you've already seen a lot of these, but I'm happy to knit them myself. Look at how pretty the Fleece Artist is!!!! Totally worth almost puking. I finally wound the last bit today, so I can finish them. It was a tangled mess, but definitely worth it. I mean, look at these colors.
I started on some Xmas socks. I'm using a really boring pattern, size 1 needles, and some of the Shelridge Farm Soft Touch Ultra I dyed in Ontario. Not sure who these are going to yet.
This seems to be boring sock season for me, but I find it wonderfully soothing. They go well with a big cup of hot tea. Mmm.
Nice socks! I could use a cup of tea... You'll have to show me your episode sometime, because I don't have TV.
Posted by: Margit at December 12, 2006 5:34 PMI love this pattern! But really when do I not love a pattern of yours?
I can't wait for your episode! Thank goodness for TIVO!
Posted by: Leah at December 12, 2006 5:44 PMthose fleece artist socks are amazing. i don't know if i could have given that away. Stephanie is a greater soul than mine.
Posted by: string at December 12, 2006 6:13 PMLove the monkey socks and the 'boring pattern' socks look great too. :)
Posted by: Jen at December 12, 2006 6:14 PMThe Fleece Artist colorway is to die for, and I love the Sheldrige socks, too. There's so much to see on your blog, it's like Christmas morning for me, going from package to package, can't wait to get to the next. Needless to say, I love your blog.
Posted by: Leslie at December 12, 2006 6:25 PMThe Fleece Artist colorway is to die for, and I love the Sheldrige socks, too. There's so much to see on your blog, it's like Christmas morning for me, going from package to package, can't wait to get to the next. Needless to say, I love your blog.
Posted by: [no author] at December 12, 2006 6:25 PMThe Fleece Artist colorway is to die for, and I love the Sheldrige socks, too. There's so much to see on your blog, it's like Christmas morning for me, going from package to package, can't wait to get to the next. Needless to say, I love your blog.
Posted by: Leslie at December 12, 2006 6:26 PMThanks for stopping by! I had the flu, so I'm just emerging into the world again. Awww Cookie, you couldn't suck if you tried! I can't wait to see that episode! I've already seen a couple of folks starting the Monkey Pattern Socks too. Every knitter knows what Pomatomus is, even if we can't say it;) If I had that color of Fleese Artist, I'd never leave the house, really nice socks!
Posted by: Carol at December 12, 2006 6:29 PMLove the new pattern! And very cool that you got to be on KG...oh how I wish I had cable now. Think they'll put it out on dvd eventually?
Posted by: Elli at December 12, 2006 6:47 PMThat Fleece Artist colourway is just beautiful, peaceful and soothing. I could sit and look at that all day and just sigh (in-between waxing lyrical).
Posted by: Paisley at December 12, 2006 7:14 PMCongrats on your Knitty Gritty taping!
Ooh the Shelridge looks nice (as does the Fleece Artist of course). Maybe I'll make my monkey socks in some other Shelridge you dyed while there. Curse you enabler you.
By the way, I'm the one who knits with Annabel.
Posted by: moirae at December 12, 2006 7:18 PMI love your new pattern Monkey! Great job. I just finished knitting your Poma-socks (I call them that cos I also don't know how to pronounce it,lol)
Posted by: Bee at December 12, 2006 7:34 PMI'm so excited that you're going to be on Knitty Gritty. I think you're going to be fabulous. Stephanie may be a great fan of yours, but no one does socks like you do. Your new pattern rocks the house.
Posted by: Opal at December 12, 2006 8:51 PMI just got home from dinner after spending 9 hours at the studio. I'm so glad my show is DONE!
Posted by: scout at December 12, 2006 9:48 PMlove the fleece artist. I think that I'm knitting that colour way right now. Is it forest?
monkey is a really nice pattern..
Posted by: polly at December 12, 2006 10:20 PMI am glad that you mercifully did not go into detail about how I managed to get my dinner in Neil's eye... There's a reason why I have an entire category on my blog dedicated to 'dorkery'!
That said, when Christmas is over I am going to knit the "monkey" socks (minemineminemine). I even have some other delicious fleece artist sock yarn in my stash earmarked for it.
Thanks again for dinner lady. You and John (and Neil) were awesome.
Posted by: Wen at December 12, 2006 10:51 PMI love the yarn you dyed. That came out beautifully, and it looks even better as socks than it did as yarn!
Posted by: G. Knerd at December 12, 2006 11:54 PMThe yarn and the socks are amazing! I love the colours, especially the one you dyed. Thanks for the monkey pattern too. I'm going to try it as soon as I've perfected the sock knitting with a few more boring socks.
Posted by: Ruth at December 13, 2006 12:26 AMOh, and here I'd given up socks for a while. I can't resist anything called Monkey. Will this Christmas knitting never cease so that I can get back to my selfish projects?
Posted by: JulieFrick at December 13, 2006 5:39 AMOh, when will this blasted Christmas knitting be over so that I can make those socks?
Posted by: JulieFrick at December 13, 2006 5:41 AMI'm sure you were fantastic on the show!
Anyway, that Fleece Artist is gorgeous!! and I say that no handmade socks are boring....especially with those beautiful colors!
From one lacking wit, I sympathize.... :)
I wouldn't call them boring socks, just simple, return to the roots socks. We all need a trip back once and a while! The shelridge you dyed knit up great - nice job!
Posted by: stacey at December 13, 2006 6:35 AMI totally loved the photo shoot and name for the socks. I never really had a problem pronouncing Pomatomus (just spelling it) because I have three kids and used to say Tater Pichs insteads of Potato Chips....*cough*
Anyway, now that you know I'm crazy..."Oooo look at the socks!" And I wish I had Knitty Gritty still.
Posted by: shadkitty at December 13, 2006 7:45 AMi love the new pattern! should come in handy for plenty of sock knitting in my future :)
Posted by: gleek at December 13, 2006 8:00 AMI started your Monkey sock pattern and am absolutely loving it! I'm using Claudia Hand Painted yarn and it is turning out beautiful. These are supposed to be a gift .... but I don't know if I can part with them.
Posted by: Lori at December 13, 2006 8:02 AMDon't worry, I don't think the Christmas socks are boring. Sometimes an easy pattern and a couch are all that's required for an evening full of fun :)
Posted by: Adam at December 13, 2006 9:05 AMWith the stress and craziness of the upcoming holidays and the KG appearance, it's no wonder you want some simple socks. Sometimes, you just need something a bit plainer and easier to work on.
I love how your hand dyed yarn turned out! The colors are wonderful, very tropical.
Witless? hardly Cookie! ;)
Give yourself some credit - I mean, you posed yourself with mannequin legs in crazy positions. That is quite witty and clever in my book!!
Posted by: Lolly at December 13, 2006 10:26 AMI've been recording every episode of Knitty Gritty since I heard that Stephanie was going to be on it. But wow! You're going to be a guest on it too! Any idea when it will air?
Monkey looks really cool. It will be my next sock. I have to free up some needles first.
Posted by: pauline at December 13, 2006 10:29 AMSo YOU are who they were talking about when I went to the taping yesterday! One of the girls was saying how determined some people were to get on the show! I bet you did great! I can't wait to see your episode! And they yarn...yummO!
Posted by: aj at December 13, 2006 10:25 PMPerhaps no one can pronounce Pomatomus, but it sure is fun to watch them try! It's a great pattern, as is the new Monkey. Now that all the Christmas knitting is done, I look forward to casting on for Pomatomus over the holiday break. Finally! They've been in the queue for months but I've been too busy knitting socks for everyone else.
Posted by: Denise in Kent, WA at December 14, 2006 7:48 AMAh well, so much for my so-called plans. I have one of my designs on one set of needles, and had big plans for 2 yarns that I spun last month. But, oh-no. Can't just plod along and do what I'd planned, can I? Not with Monkey rearing her ol' head. Crikey, Cookie, your designs are just TOO GOOD. This is another pattern for Border Leicester singles. (I knit the Bauds in natural BL singles.) Mmmhmm. Hm. I have some pokeberry, some sumac, some goldenrod and some annatto dyed locks. Hm. Oh...I got the feelin'! Thanks, deary!
Posted by: Elle at December 14, 2006 12:40 PMI have been moved to try one of your sock patterns. As soon as the holidays are over. They are great.
Posted by: nik at December 14, 2006 2:03 PMI don't see how anyone can look at your photos and not consider you witless!
Is that Fleece Artist Woodland or Forest? I'm itching to wind up mine ('cept it says Woodland/Forest) since I've seen yours knitted up. How awesome and generous is the Yarn Harlot for giving that to you.
And I love how your self-dyed Shelridge came out.
Oh, and I've been meaning to ask if the monkey pattern is stretchy enough for those of us w/rather thick ankles? Or will we need to do a little conversion? Thanks!
Posted by: C. at December 14, 2006 3:13 PMI look forward to seeing your show. I'm sure you did a great job.
Did you notice us SJ gals representing in winter Knitty...you, me, Chloe and Sandi!
Posted by: Jordana at December 14, 2006 7:50 PMThese socks are so beautiful, and I wish I didn't have so many gifts to knit so I could get them onto my needles right away.
Posted by: RIka at December 15, 2006 9:24 AMCookie, love, love LOVE the Monkey pattern. Beautiful work.
Posted by: claudia at December 20, 2006 6:09 PM