Springing the knitting forward

Quite simply, I'm sold on hand-knit socks. After wearing nothing but for the past couple of months, my feet are both healthier and happier. However, the season is getting a little too warm for wool socks, spurring me to see if I can produce socks that I can wear into the spring.

To this end, I've bought blends--one wool with sea silk, and two wool with bamboo. That should take me through the next few months of sock knitting. Above is the wool with sea silk (Red Rocks Fiber Works' San Diego in the color, New Aspen Tree). I'd swear this yarn is greener than that in the photo, but the plant's color looks correct. Although it doesn't dominate the skein, there is gray in the yarn. I assume it is named for the gray bark and green leaves of a young Aspen.

At the first, I didn't like knitting with the San Diego. It doesn't have the elasticity of other sock yarns and made my hands a bit sore. I wasn't too crazy about the Spring Forward pattern, either. I struggled with modifications immediately, reknitting the change from cuff to pattern twice before I got it right. By now, both yarn and pattern have grown on me, and I'm happy with the result, at least for the leg. The instep, with its fewer stitches, may warrant a simpler design.

Athough I had to learn to enjoy the Spring Forward sock pattern, I was immediately amused with knitting it over the same weekend that I had to spring forward all my clocks. That's been a two-day project. I think I've changed over a dozen clocks so far, but I'm not done yet. Clocks on appliances, clocks for decoration, gift clocks, award clocks--it's clock city here. This weekend also gave me an opportunity to try out my recently completed spring-green scarf. While I'm not too crazy about it with the spring coat,

I really like it with my greenish shirt, a combination that looks good under my camel jacket.

While I'm springing forward with these two knits, I'm balancing them by continuing to work on my brown alpaca sweater. Having finished the body, I decided to give it a bath prior to knitting the neck and button bands.

The results were satisfying. A light blocking, without a lot of tension on it, made it about two inches wider. It will fit, but due to the twists and cables, it will be form-fitting. It seems that the drape and elasticity may compensate for the lack of waist shaping. The sleeves are all I have left to knit, but even finishing them as quickly as possible won't beat out the Spring. I won't get much wear out of this knit until next fall.

Doesn't matter. Knitting this yarn is such a treat, any wearable result will just be a bonus. The 100% alpaca is so soft, so smooth, so plush, it is pure pleasure moving through my fingers. When I purchased it at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, I thought the seller told me that it was hand spun by Jo (or was it Joe?). If so, I am thrilled with my first experience with hand-spun yarn.

Whether it is hand-spun or not, my imagination is inspired by visions of the spinning process as I knit. The first skein had a good bit of vm, making me pause frequently to try to pick out the little bits of straw remaining, and providing me with thoughts of the forage and bedding Bailey the alpaca enjoyed. The next skein had a few spots that were loosely spun, making me curious about the spinning--did her attention wander, or was she joining lengths to even out the yardage? The third skein had two spots where a ply had broken--was it a problem in the ply or just a little extra tension? All are such pleasant little scenes to envision as I knit.

In spite of these few problems, the vast majority of what I have knit thus far has been expertly spun and plied. If I ever take up spinning, I'd be thrilled to produce yarn half this good.