Today is a very good friend’s birthday and I have to disclaim that I haven’t knit socks for her….yet. But, this yarn, my fair readers, is going to become socks for her just as soon as I find a pattern that suits her…it will have to be a special pattern because she is one special lady.

She’s a fantastic friend…the kind of friend that will listen to your woes without judgement and then calmly come up with a creative solution while making you feel like it was your idea.

She’s beautiful and funny in a way that would make you swear she’s British if she didn’t have the smooth accents of a true Texas girl.

People talk about her superpower (staying calm in times of crisis), and they’re right, it’s amazing, but she’s so much more than that.

She knows how to make the best of any situation (because if nothing else, you can laugh about it later).

She’ll laugh with you. and cry.

She’ll keep a secret.

She’ll inspire you to be a better person.

She’ll pick you up to celebrate your birthday (even if she’s a little under the weather).

She’ll understand where you’re coming from.

She’s proof that blondes can be smart as a whip.

She’s patient and kind and cares about the less fortunate.
….and when you’ve given up on knitting because you’re just too slow, ladies and gentlemen, she’s the person that will tell you, “You should try continental.”

Tags: birthday, friend

When working with yarn that might bleed, you’re going to want to wash it before you knit to make sure it isn’t going to bleed AFTER you’ve wrestled with it for eons.


Here’s the back story on that priceless tip:
I WAS thrilled with the Vanessa socks and gave them a quick cold bath (I’d let the water sit for a day so it would be cool since it is like 105 degrees out and my tap water is warm). While taking them out of slightly brown water they’d been in less than 5 minutes, I hoped/prayed the yellow would be less green when they dried and tried to ignore the sick feeling in my stomach. No such luck. The colors next to the yellow bled and there was a darkish stain down the middle. I resisted a frustrated cry and wrapped the less than satisfactory socks up for Turtle.
God bless her, she opened them and exclaimed over them like they were the Sistine Chapel. Only a day later when I mentioned the stain during the photo shoot did she even acknowledge it. She agreed that if she didn’t crease them on that line when she washed them, the stain might fade. I offered to overdye them so they’d be semi-solid but she declined, declaring that she still loved them which made me feel worlds better. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why she is now the proud owner of a second pair of socks knit by yours truly.

Tags: hunter hammersen, Lorna's Laces, Rainbow, solemate, Vanessa antiopa Socks

I also had a lovely time playing Marco Polo in the pool with my brother and nephews and niece. The gray socks fit my niece; I was so pleased to find them a home with someone I love enough to give hand knit socks to….and it healed my heart to have them go to someone that knows and loves my dad (the intended recipient).

To see what other folks have finished, check out Tami’s Amis, Wisdom begins in Wonder, and Natural Suburbia.

Tags: hunter hammersen, Lorna's Laces, Rainbow, solemate, Vanessa antiopa Socks, Whippersnapper