Frohe Weihnachten from Munich everyone. Me and Snicket 1 hope you and your family are happy and healthy for the holiday season and the new year. :)

And we´re off!

Yesterday morning I dragged myself out of bed at the ungodly hour of 4.25 (eeeww), showered, and headed for Keleti. I found my train, but was convinced I was at the wrong platform since I could only see sleeper cars (that´s what I get for hopping on the night train from Romania). So I meandered purposefully back to the head of the platform, where who should I meet... D.A.V., on his way to Croatia. I was necessarily pretty happy about this, since I thought I wouldn´t see him again (or for at least three weeks) when his train from Bratislava came too late for him to join our final farewell. It was relatively cathartic.

So, after kissing him goodbye (on the cheek), I finally found the right car and headed on my way to Wien, Österreich - that's Vienna to you!

I think I did a decent job of checking out the major sights in one day. Snicket 1 and I checked out Schloss Schönbrun, the Hapsburgs' summer palace... and even though my hands were freezing I knit a couple stitches for the novelty. Then into the city to see Neue Hofburg (another Hapsburg palace) and the museums of arms and armor and archaic musical instruments contained within. Also, I went to MUMOK, a museum of modern art that I'm soooo glad D.A.V. isn't with me for- I found most of it aesthetically pleasing (although the Vienna Group was a bit out there for even me), and he HATES modern art. Like, anything Impressionism and later. I checked out Stephansdom (not really much to see- a very beautiful church like the scores of beautiful churches in Europe, and you can't go more than maybe 50 feet in), and the Opera (I don't have Opera-appropriate clothing or an Opera-appropriate wallet, sadly). I also had espresso and Sachertorte at the famous Cafe Sacher... WAY too classy for how I was dressed, but the cloakroom guy helped me put on my coat and the younger of the two waiters was very courteous (the older stared daggers at me and my hoodie). Just a hint, though- if you really want to buy me a nice cup of coffee and cake and spend way too much on it, get me the Esterházy torta at Cafe Gerbeaud in Budapest instead. Sachertorte is good, but I didn't actually think the most famous chocolate cake in the world was all that special.

I then returned to my hostel and met some people! Nina and Dimitrios from Greece, Maki from Japan, and SEVENTY-TWO THOUSAND HYPERACTIVE ROMANIAN CHILDREN (one of whom, incidentally, was fluent in three languages). It was a good time, and I made it about halfway through the second pattern repeat on Snicket 1. I think I'm still on pace with the socks!

Off to Munich today at noonish with a stopover in Salzburg. I haven't checked exactly how long it is, but I might get a chance to check out a little bit of the city.

Auf Wiedersehen!

The Prologue, or, Ice Skating

I, Jaxypants R. Sanders, was way too smitten with D.A.V. This is a fact. In fact, my smittenness-to-reason ratio is still way too high. However, I have an analogy- ice skating.

Being happy on your own is a lot like ice skating. Some people never learn. Some people get really good and stay that way. Some people, like me, learned how to do it when they were young, but never mastered it.

When I get out to ice-skate, there's always that lurch in my stomach- "do I remember how to do this?" I'm nervous. I don't want to go on the ice...

Then I do. And everything comes back to me- I remember how to switch edges, skate backwards, cloverleaf, turn...

I'm going ice skating. Both literally and figuratively- literally at City Park Friday, and figuratively Sunday, when I depart, Eurail pass in hand, on a three-week backpacking trip. This backpacking trip, since I mention it here, has to have something to do with knitting...

Welcome to the Great European Sock Adventure.

Herein lies the challenge-

4 pairs of socks.
11 countries.
21 days.

Although as D.A.V. said, I'm trying to take half the stuff and twice the money, my DPNs and notions take up almost negligible space, the yarn will provide hours of entertainment, and the socks will be immediately usable.

The Countries:

Hungary! Ok, this teccccchnically shouldn't count since I live here. But it does.

Austria! I'm spending December 23 and part of Christmas Eve in Vienna- one of the most beautiful towns for Christmas in the world!

Germany! Christmas in Munich, followed by adventures in Berlin!

Denmark! Visiting a friend in Copenhagen as I pass through to the north, then New Year's on the way back!

Sweden! Because Stockholm is there!

Norway! I've had an enduring desire to go to Oslo since the Winter Olympics! I don't care if it doesn't make sense, D.A.V.!

The Netherlands! Because Amsterdam is there!

France! Because I haven't seen the Louvre yet despite having spent more than a month total in Ile-de-France/Loire!

Spain! Visiting Cait in Caceres and going to Madrid and Barcelona because they're there!

Switzerland! Chocolate, CERN, and a new Swiss Army Knife!

Italy! Because Venice will be awesome and has direct service to Budapest!

The Socks!

Socks the First: Sabine Riefler's Snicket Socks from the September '06 MagKnits.

I saw this yarn and thought "hmm, Snicket socks". I didn't remember they were knit in grey, but at any rate... they will be lovely socks. A nice easy warm-up pattern.

Socks the Second: Suzanne Kitzmann's Rainbow Socks from the October '07 MagKnits

A bright, cheerful sock yarn to carry me through the darkness of wintry Scandinavia. Also, I've been dying to try this pattern for ages, now I can!

Socks the Third: Cookie A's Baudelaire, from Summer 2006 Knitty

I love black, but not much shows stitch-wise... lacy black socks, however, will be ridiculously sexy.

Socks the Fourth: Cookie A's Monkey, from Winter 2006 Knitty

This yarn reminds me of Venice for some reason. Maybe it's the "Italian Collection"... even though it's named "Maine", as in where D.A.V. is going back to soon enough.

I'm pretty sure the socks will go in this order, although that's up for change at any time. And the best thing...?

After pouring 2.1 skeins of gorgeous Regia Silk and way too much knitting time into my last pair of socks, when I'm not even sure if D.A.V. appreciates them, these are ALL FOR ME :D. All size seven, all with long legs and narrow feet... I'm getting misty-eyed just thinking about them! Also, major stash-busting means I don't have to feel guilty about any 'acquisitions' I make... and maybe if I'm a good knitter Maman will bring me some Noro sock yarn when she comes to visit in February?

Knitting!?

Well, let's see. Broke up with D.A.V. a few days after Prague, szomoru.

but damn have I been knitting.

- replacement Fetching for Babcia
- hat for me
- hat for Eva
- my Jaywalkers
- started RC's scarf again
- knit one Eolmitten
- cast on for a sweater

YAY Package!!

I liberated my package from customs today, which puts me at a lot less dire of a knitting position. So, here's the checklist of stuff I'll be knitting here in Hungary (take me up on these if I don't finish them!!)

- 2 lace scarves/shawls of indeterminate pattern
- RC's scarf
- Eol's socks
- My Jaywalkers
- Davidam's socks
- a hat for me (which may happen sooner than later, it's cold!!)
- mittens for me and Eol

I finished the first Davidamsokja and have started on the second one. It looks exactly like the one in the post below right now. I have also started a pair of Jaywalkers with my Lorna's Laces I got for myself, and will probably be taking them on the train to Prague. That or the hat. I'm debating, because although I want to get stuff off the needles, I can't take the Davidamsokja and the hat is good for the cold. However, traveling sock group might want to see the sock in Prague... ok, I suppose I'm taking the sock.

So yeah, I'm going to Prague this weekend Daviddel. I am also writing Magyar endingekkel. Time for me to stop.

You Know What They Say About Big Feet...

It takes way too many stitches to make a sock!!

I present to you... Davidsox.







David is 6'2" and wears a size 12 shoe. I'm knitting Alice Bell's "Boyfriend Socks" in size large. TWENTY STITCHES PER NEEDLE. I'm just starting the cables, and would have more on them if I hadn't left my fifth size 1 DPN at home when I came to the kaveso to post.







The dragon decided that I should just cast off and make the toe a hat for him.

The Long-Awaited Knitting Post

Currently on my needles:

STEPHISOX!!

The socks are top down, the leg pattern is Chevron from Sensational Knitted Socks, the foot is stockinette, the yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Jungle Stripe. One is done, one is yet to be cast on.






THE RIDICULOUSLY PHALLIC EPEE BAG!!

Yeah, I didn't quite get how phallic this would look until I was already knitting it. It's improvised, using a basic toe-up sock technique, and the grey Palette I was going to use for argylesox.





This should be done by Wednesday. Actually, it needs to be done by Wednesday.

So I've been working on these argyle socks for over a month. Argyle is lovely to knit and very soothing. Then I realized...

FUCK.

These are never going on my feet. I stared at them, frowning, for a long, long time.

Then I took them off the needles, and started knitting a different sock. A new sock for a new era. A bold sock- top-down, unlike my previous toe-up efforts. With a stitch pattern, unlike my previous stockinette efforts. With a forethought heel, unlike my previous flapped efforts. In three days, after not casting anything off for a month... I had a sock. The most obnoxious, amazing purple-and-lime-green sock with Chevron leg and stockinette feet. It fits me perfectly, which means it will be just as lovely for my little sister Stephi.

Pictures, sadly, are not yet forthcoming, as I continually forget to make my camera, my link cable, my computer, and a wireless network all be in the same place at once. However, once I have cast on for the other sock, great deeds shall be done!!

Budapest is a yarn sinkhole. There is not one skein of yarn that I have seen and wanted to buy. In fact, I have seen less than 100 skeins of yarn in less than 6 types in a month of dedicated searching. It is quite depressing. However, I have a parcel from the Loopy Ewe on the way- 3 skeins of burgundy Regia Silk for Davidsox and 2 skeins of ShibuiKnits for the Ravelry Caffeine Addicts yarn swap. It will be difficult giving away the lovely electric blue sockyarn, but I know I will be getting some in return, which I will make into socks for me! I actually have some yarn for myself sitting in my desk drawer- Lorna's Laces in Sassy Stripe (hot pink and yellow). I just need to find a pattern for it- I was thinking RPM maybe?

Also, I have found the button in Blogger that makes all the writing be English and not Magyar. This makes me happy. What makes me unhappy is I have to rewrite/format my entire paper for LIGO between today and tomorrow D: No casting on for sock 2 tonight (if I'm good ^_-)

A Mini-Update!

I have dial-up. Dial-up is slow. Dial-up is expensive. Hence, you will be getting one image-low post for a while.

Budapest is beautiful. I can't find a yarn store D:

I'm knitting argyle socks.

And one other question- is it considered bad luck to knit socks for one's boyfriend?



I'm looking in Sensational Knitted Socks for inspiration no matter what the answer is :D

This is NOT FAIR.

I finished my beautiful lovely punky "Robert Frost" Knucks yesterday. They are slightly uneven and I forgot to go down a needle size for the ribbing on one side, but they are so thoroughly embroidered with bright and shiny colors that no-one will notice except me.

The unfair part is that I can't find my camera cable to show you! It does strike me now that I haven't looked in the cable pouch that came with my Brookstone laptop sleeve (that saved my ass in Las Vegas when I noticed that the strap of the one I bought before freshman year was maintaining its structural integrity by approximately ten very fragile-looking threads), so I'll check there when I get back home and see if I can take pictures.

I'm going to Seattle tomorrow! However, I am going with non-knitters, so I am hoping that I will be able to stumble across a yarn store and sneak in for yet more sock yarn. Yes, more. Even though I just bought enough Lorna's Laces to make two pairs of lovely socks- hot pink and highlighter yellow for me, lime green and purple for Miss Stephanie. I am being somewhat good though- I'm trying to cast off on everything I can. Fetching will be finished tonight or Sunday, and I'm taking what I've dubbed the Kerr Kilt Hose on our road trip to Seattle. I do wonder about the wisdom of knitting Aran braids in the semidark.

Still doing too much. ><

Ok, so I DID cast off on that cuff. Then I decided "my hands are cold. I have no idea what to do with this skein..." TADAH! Fetching.

THEN I got a Box of Yarn! :D 10 balls of cotton that will become a baby blanket for Isabelle, the first member of the next generation on my dad's side of the family! I haven't seen pictures yet, but I'm sure she's very cute ^^ 11 balls of wool that will be sockses. I cast on for one of the pairs of sockses... worsted on size 1 needles!? That's crazy- like a very thick, very warm-feeling socktoe. However, I need to go to Knitty Gritty and buy more needles in general, and more size 1s in particular. And/or resurrect Vinnland so I can get them off the needles. But I do need a few straights for that blanket, so I'll do that.

Also got a package from the Budapest Semesters, and I may stay there and never come back purely because of their chocolate. They sent a bar that was like eating a perfectly blended hazelnut mocha. *bliss*

OMGEEZE RAVELRY.

I'm going to go sit in the virtual yarn fumes now kthxbai.

An Acute Case of Startitis.

I think I may have a love affair with argyle. It's so nicely geometrical and clean and fun to knit. Also, I am imposing a rule on myself that I am not allowed to post this blog until I finish my little argyle project. So, my break from the loving of argyle will be spent phreakowting over how I have too much yarn and too many ideas.

With that being said:



I have a bunch of cotton that's going to become a sweater at some point before the end of time (the pattern's been frustrating, so sue me). I have two luscious balls of handdyed laceweight that I have no idea what to do with. I have some green alpaca I similarly have no idea what to do with. I have a lovely ball of yarn that was going to be a beret, but I may just give up on that delusion and make it into socks.

I also have socks on the needles, my special argyle project, and a scarf for RC:



I blame my lack of progress on this:



If all of this isn't enough, I'm expecting a package from KnitPicks this week. Crayon in Azure and Yellow (for a baby blanket for my new cousin! :D She was born on July 10, luckily the shower isn't until September). Wool of the Andes in Cream for a surprise for my Eol. Palette in Fawn and Navy for a surprise for my Eol. Palette in Green and Fog for a similar project for me. Oh, and the Harry Potter pattern book. I am teh geek. >>

So, here's the argyle. Love it.



Also, I got to use Ravelry's cool "antsy" feature... OMG it's almost here!!111!!eleventyone11!!!!!1!

* You signed up on May 27, 2007
* You are #5588 on the list.
* 208 people are ahead of you in line.
* 10611 people are behind you in line.
* 32% of the list has been invited so far

Knitting.

I love knitting. Knitting makes my life better. Knitting is instant gratification- you can see your piece coming together with each stitch! Knitting is soothing- repetitive motions without much mental taxation. Knitting is challenging- just look at these! Gorgeous. Knitting makes for great gifts- give me a $6 skein of merino from Hand Painted Yarn, my #5 bamboo double points, and a few spare hours (in a coffeeshop, on the couch, while commuting, between classes, on a plane...) and I can turn out beautiful socks (sure, for this yarn you have to be a woman's size 7 or smaller for me to get two socks out of one skein. But the point holds). Knitting is a community- I'm anxiously waiting for Casey and Jess to get to me on the waiting list for Ravelry. Knitting is a great hobby for me- I've got just enough perfectionist to make things nice, coupled with the intellectual stamina to pick up new skills well-nigh instantly and the ability to get fascinated with simple things to keep me focused.

What I am currently knitting:

* This sweater (for me! ^^). The band is green with a white contrast stripe, the rest is burnt orange. Sounds strange, but you'll have to see how nicely the colors mesh when it's done. Knitting it in Mandarin Classic cotton on Addi Turbo #3 circulars.
* A double-knit scarf of my own design for RC. It's made of deep green and black Cascade 220 superwash wool, and it has a Green Lantern motif. I'm stuck as to whether to stripe it all the way around or to have a solid panel with stripes and motif at either end.
* The Vinnland Socks. I'm going to try to finish something tomorrow (since my plan is to slather on some sunscreen and sit by the pool most of the day), and since I'm done with one of these I think that it's a no-brainer to get them off the needles... so I can start another pair of socks! :D

What I want to do with the yarn I have:
# Make socks for my little sister. I don't know what pattern, but it's going to need to be fine-gauge since it's laceweight merino.
# Make a beret to replace the one I felted.
# Make a lacy scarf or stole for either me or my mommy.
# Decide on something to do with that red yarn. >>


What I want to make but don't have yarn or pattern ideas for:

* Something (a blanket? a layette?) for Isabel, my cousin's proto-daughter due in September. She's my grandma's first great-grandchild, so naturally the entire family is rather excited. I intend to send her handknits and tony intellectual gifts for each birthday and holiday. Because she is the first of the many fetuses I shall wreak my influence upon, now that I am an adult and my non-Mark-the-jackass cousins are reproducing (actually, Mark-the-jackass' oldest daughter is not only succeeding despite her circumstances, she's the sweetest, most down-to-earth person I know, and she actually started me knitting- Mouse and Cait finished the job). Suggestions for either the type of handknit or the type of tony intellectual gift are always welcome. Actually, what I really need right now is a suggestion for childrens' books that have pretty pictures and nice stories, in order to subtly nudge Aimee and her husband into reading to her. Tell me your favorites.
* A special surprise for miss Megan that will probably have to wait until I have scrap multicolor sock yarn.
* A scarf for me. A stylish, warm one for traveling in Europe.
* A sweater for me. A stylish, warm one for traveling in Europe. Either of my own design or one from Knitty.
* More socks. Sock sock sock.
* Christmas gifts. It's never too early to think about Christmas gifts. But who gets them? What will they get? Decisions, decisions...

Morning rants.

A recent BBC article on Facebook and MySpace as "class divides"

I think they're conveniently forgetting that Facebook was originally supposed to be a tool for college students. Including a requirement of a ".edu" e-mail address. Hmm, wonder why more college students are on Facebook? IT'S OBVIOUSLY A REFLECTION OF THE CLASSIST NATURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY! D: It can't be that Myspace lets any chatspeak-abusing emo camwhore over the age of 13 get a profile! Good job missing the obvious, Danah Boyd. Or should I say Dr. Danah Boyd? Why does she get a Ph.D. from noticing that a site designed to cater to college students has a greater amount of college students?

A ridiculous story about pants.

Um. Someone stab this guy in the face. He wanted $54 million over a pair of temporarily misplaced pants!?

I have been knitting too, I swear. A photo survey of the yarn taking over my apartment will follow.

Jax is are eejit! D:

I was taking laundry out of the dryer this morning and felt something staticy. A little poking around revealed...

it was my beret. D: Sure, I bought it at Meijer for $10. However, I was rather attached to it before I went and shrunk it. It looks absolutely ridiculous now, and I feel silly.

This brings me to the question of what to do about it. The obvious answer? Knit one!

This one is adorable, although I'm not one for flowery bits. I do like the shape, so I'll borrow that... and find a yarn that I don't have to make myself. I don't have a decent selection of needles yet, much less a spinning wheel!

I have a headache...

because I knit for four hours straight with my contacts in. >< Should've switched to my glasses.

Today I went to the farmer's market and bought yummy food. I have carrots, cucumber, and asparagus, which will be consumed individually and possibly in vegetarian sushi if I can get to the Asian grocery for nori and sushi rice. Bok choy will be cooked in soup, lettuce will be used for sammiches and salad, and potatoes and onions... make me wish I'd bought ring bologna. :) Maybe I'll stop by Safeway and see if they have any tomorrow.

Right, back to knitting.



Proof that holding both hands in front of the camera and hitting the shutter with your tongue DOES NOT WORK.



That's better! These are Knitty's Dashing (Spr 2007), made in Universal Yarn Inc. Classic Worsted Tapestry, colorway Forrest. Yes, it is 80% acrylic. However, it is 100% machine-washable, so these lovely fingerless gloves shall never be accidentally felted by their lovable recipient! :D I think I might try this pattern again in a different yarn- although you can feel the cables and see them up close, it might look nicer in a tighter-knit solid.


As an aside, it seems that the apartment has recognized I am a knitter... observe the trail of yarn.




(Yes, that is a Hot Topic bag. I'm cold at work, and where else do you find a sweatshirt in the middle of a desert in the summer?)

I'm possessed, I say!!!

So, remember that tiny little three-row thing last post?



This is the left half of Dashing. It's a little big on me, which means it'll probably be perfect. I find the yarn's Nordic pooling very satisfying. Also, I may have to wear these around after I finish the right and before I ship them. It's marvelously warm, and AC + Raynaud's is never a good combo.



Easier to see it in this picture.



Hangin' out on my couch.

Also, I received the largest check I've ever seen in my lifetime. I immediately started thinking about what yarn I'd buy now that I have a spending cap only limited by reason. And the need to eat and pay rent. :)

Viva Las Needles!

I KNOW I've been a tad absent. That's because I was moving across the country, from Kalamazoo to Richland, WA.



See how pretty? :D

It was a long journey- from Detroit to



LAS VEGAS!!!!!!!



See the Strip off there in the distance? Above the glare?

I was going to take a picture of my Plane Socks on a slot machine, but they wouldn't stay. :(

The Plane Socks are not the Vinnland socks, which are sitting patiently waiting for me to engineer a way to bind them off that will still go over my ankles. The Plane Socks are thoughtless-knitting socks, which I'm promptly shipping back home for my aunt.



They were finished in Portland, with a nerve-wrackingly small amount of yarn. The quarter is for scale.



They're made out of www.handpaintedyarn.com 's handpainted merino, colorway Mares y Cielos. Not quite as OMGEEZSOFT as Malabrigo, but it's about half the price and has quite a nice texture.

Today after a long day at work, I went to the yarn store here, Knitty Gritty Yarns. It's very nice and I might just go to their Fair Isle class next week Saturday. I picked out a couple of new yarns for projects...



and Taco Bell on the way back. I can only cook healthy food, almost vegetarian but definitely low-meat. The fattiest thing I'd had all week was string cheese. Also I don't have anything sweeter than orange juice around. This tasted so good.



So good, in fact, that I felt inspired to start knitting.



Because Matt is in fact, very Dashing.

I'll take some pictures of the Hanford Reservation (where I work) as soon as one of the other students gets here so I don't have to be driving. :)

Hello World.

I'm Jax. I'm 18, I'm a college student, I claim no home since I'm going to move more times than I care to over the next several years. I got introduced to knitting three months ago, and now I'm ready for a blog. :)

My first blog-worthy project: the Vinnland socks from Anti-Craft.



I started this sock yesterday. Like, went to the yarn store, bought too much green Sisu (also known as the "God Yarn"- it's fairly standard fingering-weight wool/acrylic, but it's special 'cuz it's made of 80% GOD. (god is the Norwegian word for wool, apparently.)

My first attempt to make something of this yarn was a spectacular failure. I mean, look at it. It's unattractive and unremarkable.



I was thinking about another fingering-weight yarn- a wool/silk/acrylic blend- but at almost $10 for a ball that the instructions said would be enough for one of two socks (I think they lied. Yay having a beginning of a stash?), I figured that I'd try the God Yarn once again, since it was more on the order of $6. Grumbling about how I just had to be too impatient and transient to order this project's suggested KnitPicks yarn for $4, I paid for my yarn and needles.



Casting on took ages. However, the sock itself progresses apace. It's a pleasure and an addiction to knit. :) I just hope I can manage the short-row heel. I substituted a different toe style for short-row, but I don't think that I want to muck about with a flapped heel and ruin all the pretty pattern work I've done so far.