WormSoup

Yes, I started another project, and I decided I'm ok with that.

I've been trying to finish up some of my many works in progress, but then I slipped and started another one. And I decided it's ok. This is my "fun", so why ruin it by insisting on self-control? There is enough of that in the rest of my life!

So, please let me introduce you to my new WIP:

• Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn in Pioneer, two hanks wound into one skein
• Pattern: Victorian Lace Today "Scarf with a Wide and Handsome Border for a Mantel Drape form Weldon's, Series 6, Volume 2, 1887"
• Needle: 4mm wood circular

Thanks for the yarn, Jen!!

On another topic, I received my invitation to Ravelry about a week ago. Honestly I was a little bit afraid to sign in - after all I've read about it, I feared it would be too much fun and all I need is another time sink in my life!! On my first visit I managed to simply dip my toe in the water. I signed in, made a simple profile page, and looked around. Wow. There sure is a lot there. Not sure which of the many features will become my favorites, but I'll start sampling soon. Any suggestions?

One of my failings is being a little too closed, too private, too quiet, which gets to be, well, too boring. So, in an effort to work on that, I'm going to tell you one topic I feel strongly about. I also believe in taking "baby steps" to go somewhere new, so I'm going to start with something very safe :-) Metric. Why haven't we in the U.S. completely switched to metric yet? I think we all know enough about this already - I won't bore you with the arguments or the links to all the Web sites discussing the topic. I'm going to try to do my part. Here, on WormSoup, going forward, it will be all metric, all the time. Metric yardage, measurements, and needle sizes. Remind me if I forget, ok?? In knitting news, an update on The Rockin' Sock Club. I've finished the 2nd and 3rd pairs. The the first one pictured, in Silkie, I changed the instep to stockinette because I prefer a plain foot. The next picture, in STR Lightweight, I used the pattern's basic shape, but changed the cable into a simple rib, because I felt like doing a simple knit at that time. Both socks were knit on 2.5mm dpns.

	Remember the Wollmeise I showed you a few posts ago? Three skeins were for me. Two of them I wound up almost immediately, and both of them are in work. The laceweight in color Brombeere looks like this wound up:
I'm making the Fiber Trends Cocoon Lace Scarf or Wrap by Evelyn A. Clark. This shows how it is knitting up on a US size 5 needle. Since it's not stretched or blocked, it looks like a lumpy mess, as all my lace does before blocking.
	Before I knit on this for months, I wanted some assurance that it will look good after it's blocked. So here it is again, stretched and pinned.

I, too, am enjoying Cat Bordhi's book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters. I have my first project all planned out. It will be the Coriolis pattern in Wollmeise for my daughter.

I've swatched, so I thought I was ready to go, but then Wendy posted the stitch markers she found on Etsy. Stitch markers?? I can make those. My daughter must have lettered beads, I have quite a collection of fancy beads, put those together with a bit of string or wire, and I should be all set, right?

Wrong, of course. We had lettered beads, but they were too large. Went to the store to buy beads. Right there next to the beads were special wires with stoppers at the end, had to have those, too. At the end of the day, my "simple, free, stitch markers", ended up costing:

• $6.50 for lettered beads and special wire;
• Used fancy beads from the stash and very small needle nose pliers;
• An hour of prep time, hunting down materials at home and at the store;
• An hour of time to make the markers.

My conclusion? I really like my little markers, but the stitch markers on Etsy look like a great value now!!