Thursday, January 22, 2009

Can I Get a Little Traveling Music, Please?

The parade of finishing continues.

These socks have been on the needles since the Pleistocene Era. Not because they're complicated, but because they're not complicated. I kept falling asleep over them.

Boring Socks

The yarn is KnitPicks Felici in Schooner (a colorway now sadly discontinued). This was my first tango with self-striping yarn, because I'm a control freak. When I'm knitting, I want to be the one making the Big Decisions. I don't want my socks to stripe themselves. To me, self-striping yarn is like an uppity little kid who insists I join him to play "Heart and Soul" on the piano when I'd rather take a nap.

Kinda makes you wonder why I knit a whole pair of socks with the stuff, doesn't it?

Well,
  1. these are colors I'd choose if I were any good at picking colors;
  2. Felici stripes are bold, strong stripes and not wimpy, indeterminate stripes;
  3. the yarn was at hand when I reached into the stash cupboard; and
  4. it was free.
To show off the striping I limited the texture to k1b, p1 rib–all the way down the leg and instep. I will never do that again. After I finished the second sock, I did a bit of hunting around and discovered that forcing prisoners of war to work k1b, p1 rib for more than 15 minutes at a time is a violation of the Geneva Convention.

On the Road Again

Departure is imminent for my trip to Threadbear Fiber Arts Studio in Lansing, Michigan. On Saturday the 24th, I'll be teaching a day-long class on Elizabeth Zimmermann's Tomten Jacket (which is sold out, they tell me). On Sunday the 25th from 1–4 pm, I'll be doing a meet-and-greet and signing copies of the little book.

In late February, I'll be going back to the land of my birth (southwestern Pennsylvania) for two events at Natural Stitches in Pittsburgh. On February 28 at 4:30 p.m., we'll have a book signing/reading. The next morning, at 11 a.m., I'll be teaching a three-hour introduction to lace knitting. (Class sign-ups open on February 2–contact the shop.) There will also be a community service project going on during my visit, so check out the shop's site for more information.

And I am still working on responding to 100+ good people who sent suggestions for venues in North Carolina. Thanks to all of you–who knew so many North Carolinians were reading this? Something is in the works, and when everything is confirmed I'll make a great big noise about it in here.

(By the way, I also appreciate the folks who leave comments saying, "Why don't you come to [name of place]?" I'd love to, darlings, but until my real parents turn up and hand me the key to the vault containing my small private fortune, I can usually only travel if a shop or guild has me out to speak or teach a class. So if you'd like to see me, just ask your shop or guild to contact me at franklin at franklinhabit daht cahm, and I'll send them my information.)

48 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:52 PM

    Just commenting to say that you have peeps in South Carolina, too! Beautiful socks, by the way, and I love a little mindless ribbing. (Hee!)

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  2. the socks may have been boring to knit, but they look smashing on you and I bet they feel good too.

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  3. Sigh. No shops or guilds here, I'm afraid...

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  4. sure, name some lovely yarn that's discontinued!
    Wish I could be at Threadbear this weekend...

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  5. I just want to point out that it was sunny and 70 in Northern California last week. **HINT HINT**

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  6. Anonymous8:00 PM

    I admire your persistence in getting your socks to be identical -- I've given up and just do fraternal socks with striped yarns. You did a lovely job of matching the socks up, and they look terrific.

    At least you'll wear colors. My husband wants socks knit on 2 mm needles, in nothing but assorted shades of muddy brown, with a 12-inch leg. Surely that falls under the new "no torture" standards in the president's executive order today!

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  7. Oh how do they feel, I have the same yarn in the same colorway. I was wondering how warm they yarn knits up.

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  8. Kentucky is on the way to NC, trust me. And I now have a copy of the Little Book which needs a signature.

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  9. ACK! ACK! ACK! You're comming to Pittsburgh. Oh joy, oh joy, oh joy!! Oh... you're coming two days before my dissertation is due. Oh dear... Well, if you see a rumpled woman with a serious need for undereye cream at your book signing, you'll know who it is.

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  10. Anonymous10:42 PM

    Unca Fwank got present!!!

    So what if you had to make them yourself -- they look great.

    My word verification is navive -- what a young seaman is if he responds to "Hey, sailor".

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  11. Anonymous11:12 PM

    Yay! Franklin is going to be within a reasonable driving distance from NE Ohio! And, I've been struggling with lace knitting for some time, so if I can get a spot in the Pittsburgh class, all the better!

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  12. Anonymous2:59 AM

    I thought the k1p1 ribbing...I thought it was only me who'd rather eat the yarn than continue it, which is why I have a long hibernating scarf in a bag in a closet...somewhere.

    Huh.

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  13. Anonymous3:12 AM

    I think those boring to knit, but nice in the end, socks are great to have to grab as you walk out the door. I cannot live without a sock shoved in my bag for unexpected waiting. I'm sure that not carrying such a sock causes waiting to occur, a theory I have confirmed many times.

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  14. Wow - I love those socks. I know you said you kept falling asleep over them, but they really are great socks.

    Hmmmm. Maybe we can entice you to come to CT. Will have to speak to my LYS soon.

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  15. I hope you can work out something in NC - I sent your information to two yarn shops, to double my chances. I can't wait!

    Your niece has got to be the cutest little girl with mittens in the history of uncles. Good work, Unca Fwank.

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  16. Hooray! You're coming to the 'Burgh! I am going to do my very best to get into that class!

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  17. Anonymous7:55 AM

    I am knitting socks from Felici that, while striped, are all very muted colours. I feel your pain.
    However, yours look spiffy, so you have given me the strength to finish!

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  18. Anonymous8:40 AM

    So, can you give a little tutorial on how a control freak like yourself gets the stripes to line up? I have never been able to make that work and I want someone to walk me through it. Dish.

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  19. Even if they were boring to knit, I bet you'll wear them and love them a lot. They look great!

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  20. I've been looking for a progress report on the picture book of knitters. You were close to the end of the photo taking process I thought. Are you, in your free time :-) working on the book?

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  21. They look lovely (Abigail's mittens are just awesome too!). But if you have any more self-striping yarn in your stash, allow me to highly recommend Charlene Schurch's Chevron socks. The pattern warps the strong stripes into interesting triangular shapes, and the pattern is much kinder to a knitter's sensibilities.

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  22. See, that's the difference between YOU (a *real* **knitter**) and me, because I LURVE me some mindless knitting. (Ex.: see 13' Dr Who Scarf). But those ARE excellent fine socks, true enough. And because I DO go for the Mindless, Brainless knitting (you know, the kind they teach in Homes for the Temporary Rest of Mothers of Seven Children Under Two) I love that self-striping yarn. Makes me feel so -- adept! Oh.....and are you saying that, if I paid your way, put you up and fed you you'd come hang out at the LYS with me and the peeps for No Pertickler Reason? {very evil grin}

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  23. Don't worry, I will certainly drop your name and contact info at my LYS! (Though I'm quite sure they know you're around, it can't hurt to give them a shove in the right direction.)

    I know what you mean about the socks. They're beautiful, though. (I'm struggling through a pair of leaf green socks in KP Essentials. Do you know how annoying a stockinette-with-faint-twisted stitch stripe is to knit? WORSE than ribbing. They'll be done by 2025, though.)

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  24. Weather willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be driving up to Lansing Sunday.

    I am so bummed that Juicy Yarn & Beads in Saugatuck closed - that would have been a much shorter drive!

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  25. Doh! And: nice socks!

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  26. Anonymous10:59 AM

    I wouldn't have been able to finish a k1b,p1 pair of men's socks. I might be able to do it in a children's size, maybe. Admiring both your socks and your perseverance, sir.

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  27. Anonymous12:04 PM

    When your real parent show up, could you ask them to contact my real parents so they can send me my set of keys too?

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  28. I hear ya on the K1 P1 rib, my friend. *shudder* But I actually enjoy knitting seed stitch. How can that be, when it's practically the same thing as K1 P1 rib? Only much prettier and less hateful?

    Your socks look fantastic, and very comfy, too!

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  29. Love the Pleistocene socks! Too bad that color way is discontinued. Being a Maine girl, I like the colors AND the name. Have you had the pleasure of running into Schooner Fare while you've been in Maine. My kinda music!

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  30. It is so good to hear someone else say that if something isn't complicated that you fall asleep! I am the same way, and I so much want to knit things that are easy, but I just can't stay awake, all that repetition just lulls me away. So, I have similar feelings about self patterning yarn. But they do look great!!

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  31. It is so good to hear someone else say that if something isn't complicated that you fall asleep! I am the same way, and I so much want to knit things that are easy, but I just can't stay awake, all that repetition just lulls me away. So, I have similar feelings about self patterning yarn. But they do look great!!

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  32. Anonymous10:12 PM

    Love the socks!
    Margie in Maryland

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  33. Anonymous9:34 AM

    Franklins coming to THREADBEAR!

    I ADORE THE BOYS AND THE SHOP!

    I'll be there:) After driving prettymuch across the state.. you're totally worth it:)

    Caution: I'm loud.

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  34. Those are some snazzy socks. Sometime boring knits look the best. I hate knitting ribbing more than anything else, so I'm impressed that you even started them. :)

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  35. Anonymous11:57 AM

    Loved the socks just shows boring can be beautiful, in fact very beautiful. Jacqueline x

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  36. Cute socks!! Looking forward to signing up for your lace class at Natural Stitches. :D

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  37. It was a pleasure talking with you today at Threadbear. I wish I had half of your historical knitting knowledge! Looking forward to the next book. And Dolores, well, I expect she'll show up when we least expect - like at Lila's kindergarten graduation.

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  38. Anonymous11:47 AM

    Great, great visit, Franklin. I was so sorry to see you go this morning, but I'll look forward to seeing you again in the spring!

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  39. Anonymous2:57 PM

    awaiting big noise

    fave photo is mittens sprawling in rocking chair

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  40. Anonymous11:13 AM

    Franklin you're a delight. Loved meeting you at Threadbear- you have been duly blogged.

    Thank you!

    May "it Itches" sell out in every shop and bookstore!

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  41. Love those socks!

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  42. Anonymous12:47 AM

    oh yeah< i feel your pain. I am knitting the Gatsby Girl sweater, which is primarily k1p1 over the entire body and IS entirely k1p1 on the sleeves. did I mention the size 2 needles
    ?

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  43. Anonymous9:28 AM

    I just had to comment after reading some of your entries. I adore the pictures of Abigail - my 7 year old daughter likes to show off her mittens and such at school. (I'm still a relative beginner)

    I also wanted to tell you that my first glimpse of Dolores prompted a laughing fit that woke my hubby, and possibly the neighbors! You have a new fan in the currently frozen hills of Vermont!

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  44. Those socks are LOVELY!! I am so sad the yarn is no longer available though, LOL. I just got your book from the library and I have to say that it is not a good read for being somewhere public as I laughed out loud several times, drawing strange looks from the people around me. I must assume they know not of the hilarity of your work, thus thinking me a crazy-kntting-bag-holding-book-reading-while-standing-and-laughin-out-loud-lady. That's okay. I was happily immersed in your cartoons and spectacular stories. Love ya hon!! ;)

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  45. Anonymous2:57 PM

    Handsome socks. Maybe they were worth the bore?

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  46. Oh heavens! I just guffawed out loud (not sure I spelled that right) when I read the comment about the Geneva convention! And there's not one to hear me but the cats. That was wonderful. Thank you!

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  47. I feel your pain with the 1x1 rib - that mindnumbingly endless torture is why I abandoned and frogged a beanie-in-progress (improvised 1x1 rib in a 3ply yarn to teach myself how to knit Magic Loop). Never again! Unless it's only for trim purposes... any then only maybe.

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  48. Anonymous5:27 AM

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