Decisions, Decisions

My Hokie Jaywalkers are past the heel and working fast up the leg.

“But Kat,” I hear you say, “Those socks look very flat to be past the heel.”

Turn them over and you would find this:

“Where’s the heel? I don’t see any heel.”

See the row in contrasting yarn? That’s where the heel is going to go, once the rest of the socks are knit. Afterthought heels. Why, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. I really liked the way the stripe pattern was coming out. So much so that the closer I got to the heel position, the more I worried about how putting the heels in place would interrupt the striping sequence. While the stipes would re-establish themselves once I began the leg, there was no way to predict where the color sequences would align with what was already in place up the front of the foot (the bottom of the foot will be separated from the ankle by previously mentioned heel). Normally, this wouldn’t bother me too much, but for some unknown reason this time it did. Then it struck me like a bolt of lightning – afterthought heels. I could put in a strand of waste yarn, continue with the color pattern in sequence, and put the heels in after the fact. Now I just have to make sure I leave enough yarn for both heels, but that shouldn’t be a big issue. I’m about 2 inches up the leg. I’ll probably do about 6-7 inches plus about an inch and a half or so of ribbing. Then the heels. Which should resemble the toes, in terms of color distribution.

The front of the Pehuén shell is almost done. I have about 10 more rows before I bind off the shoulders. I don’t want to use this yarn for seaming because of the texture. I’ve been considering seaming options, and I think if I can find a color of embroidery floss that will blend well, that would make a good seeming yarn. Since tomorrow is my day off, I guess I’ll make a trip to the craft store and see what I can find.

I have done a bit more on the christening blanket, but haven’t touched my Mystery Stole since I finished clue 2. I think I have too many big projects going right now, and can only really do justice to one large and one or two small projects at any given time. I’ll finish my shell tonight, and hopefully can make a good dent in Clue 3. I think this is the week Melanie said she wouldn’t post a new clue, so maybe I can get caught up a bit.

Next month, I need to submit my entries for the state fair. Last year I entered for the first time, and did very well. I’ve been thinking about what I might want to enter this year. I know what some will be – I hope to have the christening blanket done in time and plan to enter it in the knitted lace category. I have a pair of Bayerische socks I finished up in January, but haven’t worn yet other than to model: our fair doesn’t have a sock category, but I will enter them in the “other knit item” category. My mystery stole will go in the shawls/stoles/capes/ponchos category, most likely. For the purse category, I will probably enter my messenger bag. Between now and the end of August, I need to decide if I want to enter any other categories. The fair doesn’t happen until early October, so I don’t necessarily have to be finished making my entries until then.