Two weeks on a Beach (I wish!)

So, in record time (the second one took a full week), I have my next socks:



Beach part b) was grafted up last night, and they were worn today. Next?

Well, Grasshoppers are ongoing, but have slowed even more because:



a) being knee socks they're getting long, and heavy, and I can no longer really walk'n'knit them
b) doing two at once on a long circ, they're heavier, I can no longer walk'n'knit them
c) even switching from a p2tog to k2tog, the stitches are a bit tight and fiddly to do, and they're hurting my hands.

Oh well. I'm halfway through the 6th of 7 increase chart repetitions, then we'll see if I need more length. But they now need to be at-home socks so I can work with the weight of them on my lap or table.

So, what's the new portable project?



This is the Bird of Paradise yarn from the Pick Up Sticks club June package. The pattern will be Fawkes from Sockotpia, however. I discovered Socktopia today after a Rockin' Sock Clubber pointed out the Fawkes pattern suggesting the RSC Firebird yarn would go nicely (and it would!) but all in the theme of flaming birds, I thought Bird of Paradise would too, and my conscience is clearer in doing so.

You see, when I joined TWO sock clubs to feed my obsession, I promised myself I would make up the kits to the club specifications - club yarn, club pattern (alterations for fit and fidget notwithstanding). So, using Firebird for Fawkes - not quite right. But I got an inadvertent out with Bird of Paradise. Due to completely reasonable personal circumstances, the Pick Up Sticks exclusive "club" pattern didn't get produced for June. Connie was super and to make up for it sent us TWO alternate patterns along with the June yarn. But since neither was a special "club" pattern anyway, I'm OK doing this one in Fawkes. Flaming Birds of Summer it is! (Firebird will be done next in the Solstice Slip).

And, Today's Gratuitous Cat:



This is the view from my bathtub. Maui is the Bath Monitor. While the tub is filling, he runs back and forth from bathroom to the nearest person with progress reports. While someone (me, nearly always) is bathing, he regularly checks to make sure no one has drowned, and reports to other people (Adam, pretty much) that the Stupid Human is Still In The Big Water Bowl.

Perhaps he was a lifeguard, or a Newfoundland dog, in a past life. Or perhaps he is aspiring to be one in his next life.

Or perhaps he really is the evil little beast we sometimes think he is, and is yelling: "Is it done yet? Is my soup done? Turn up the heat and throw in some pepper, dammit, that big lobster-like thing is still moving around in there!"