I spent the whole weekend doing nothing but going from one Christmas party to another. I drank way too much Kinderpunsch (which is alcoholfree punch, and tastes like hot sugared water). Yesterday evening some work collegues and I went to our Christkindlmarkt, and it was insanely packed. So many Italiens. I cant see what anyone thinks is special about our Christkindlmarkt, its expensive, and they are selling the same stuff everywhere anyway. Not to forget: no snow. But it was fun! Even though we were all shoving each other from one place to another.
I did not get anything done, except the first pair of socks (am I such a slow knitter? they took forever!), which turned out awesome I think, but no photo until past Christmas. I am going to start the next pair hopefully today, Conwy Socks, from Knitting On The Road, which was like the only pattern that calls for the same gauge that Opal Rainforest Tiger gives me. They will go to my brother, if I get done.
Sadly, I will definitly not get done with everything, and I am going to head off shopping again today, which is frustrating as I really would have preferred handmade things, but the things will be postboned, not cancelled.
Maybe I am going to bake the first Christmas cookies of the season tonight after Uni, hopefully. 🙂
Becka, thank you so much for the awesome Christmas Card, and I love stickers, THANK YOU!
11:41 am on December 18th, 2006
Oh I loved that pattern! I made it in Opal CanCan this summer. Also, did you know you can substitute Lorna’s Laces Shepherd sock with Opal (the normal 4ply, like the Rainforest series) at any time? I am making the Traveler’s stockings right now with LL, but it could be done with Opal. I just made sure that I knitted a gauge swatch and if the yarn does not differ to much in thickness, a change of needle size may help (I have noticed that having 2mm, 2.25mm, 2.5mm and 2.75mm around is quite useful..).
Do they throw in lots of fruit into the Kinderpunsch as well? Sugared water sounds terrible :S I have never been to a Christmas market before, I guess the Christkindlmarkt is about the same (selling the same stuff)..?
Christmas parties are fun!
2:55 pm on December 18th, 2006
I love the colors of the socks, but I really adore the brown mixed color patterns you have on the right. I think if I didn’t stop knitting that I would turn that into a scarf. 👿
7:11 pm on December 18th, 2006
Thank you ZhiWen! I always meant to ask you for sock knitting tips, as you are so good and experienced at it! I never know how many stitches to cast on when the yarns dont match. And is sock blocking necessary? So annoying that so little sock yarn is available here, Opal is almost too colourful for me, what do you think?
I really have no idea if they throw fruit in, I hope. But it really only tastes incredible sweet. I drank hot orange juice too, and its exactly that, warm orange juice. They earn themselves crazy like that!
But Christmas Markets are really nice, you should do to yours, do you have one?
10:09 pm on December 18th, 2006
I’d love to help out anytime I can 🙂 *coughs* I only started knitting socks last year.. but I’ve knitted a lot of pairs since then. I remember my first pairs, they were all Opal and my heels and toes all looked terrible. It’s nice to find out there are different ways to knitting heels and toes.
I have never blocked socks, it’s not necessary, but will make bunched up socks (especially with a lace pattern) look prettier, but hey, as soon as you wear the socks they are “blocked” because they fit around your foot & leg 😉
Also, I use Brittany dpn’s and get them in all sizes (I prefer the 5″ short ones”) on Classic Yarns (UK).
Yup, usually we can only get Opal and other European sock yarns like Lana Grossa and Regia (which I like) in Holland, but I’m bad and I spend too much money ordering from abroad. You better be careful with your new credit card 😉 Opal is very affordable, but I prefer softer wool like merino (Lorna’s Laces. I get it at http://www.ebay.com/emtnestr. Cherry Tree Hill is also nice).
As for substituting sock yarn.. just start making swatches 🙂 See if going up and down a needle size will make you match the gauge (you really don’t have to stick to the gauge estimated on the yarn wrapper).
I think the Rainforest Tiger will turn out beautifully in the Conwy pattern, do post some progress pictures 😀
I’m not sure there is a Christmas market in The Hague.. but will keep an eye open for it. Ugh, but have exams this week, probably don’t have time to visit any. Hot orange juice?? o__O Quite an experience I think.. not anything I’d like to try.. maybe the Kinderpunsch is mainly made from syrup :S
11:57 am on December 19th, 2006
Hehe, I haven’t been to any Christmas parties *feeling very unfestive :(*
I’ve been to 2 German Christmas markets in England, and they’re alright, but they all do the same kind of things. But the food they cook smells really yummy 🙂
I hope you get my parcel soon, it got sent around a week ago!
7:53 pm on December 19th, 2006
Oh Nicki, mine will be so late. Sorry! 👿 German Christmas Markets cannot be too different from ours I believe… Dont you have English Christmas Markets as well? They are really lovely in a way… Oh wait, I am going to post a link!
7:58 pm on December 19th, 2006
Oh bad ZhiWen! I already see myself ordering Brittany knitting needles!
There is so lovely sock wool available, I found a glittering one, I might have to get that one, too. *drool* I guess you get better with practice. But as always, there are people who start and are already brilliant, so frustrating. Thanks for all the good advice! I do need it, sadly.
Yikes, exam in the week before Christmas! BRUTAL!
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