Another FO

Saturday zipped by this weekend - I had to work, but I took off a couple of hours midday to go ride with Bhen at our lesson.  It's amazing what a little collection will do.  His trot, which had been bouncy (but frankly, compared to Diggs, who is a gaited horse and doesn't trot, everything is bouncy), has smoothed out remarkably by just adding a little "brake" to his front end and a little more "go" to his rear end.  When I got him from Sally, she said he had the world's worst lope and canter - very hard to ride because it was so rough, but I'm encouraged we can smooth that out too with a little more time working on collection with Jerry.  By the end of our lesson (and we trotted for almost an hour), Bhen was overstepping by about 2 hoof lengths, and I was having to work much less hard at posting.  Nice!  We then ran home to meet Dan and John, and the boys helped D off-load another 75 bales of hay that got delivered to be sure we'll have enough to get through until spring.  (We had bought our main load of hay before we knew we'd have a third horse for the winter and it's been COLD here, so the crew has been getting some extra at night to help stay warm.)

Sunday was also a work day for me, but I managed to get finished with work in time to watch the Patriots advanced into the Superbowl (go Pats!) and then moved on to the Packers/Giants game with sock knitting firmly in hand.  I was feeling like something mindless, so I just sat and knit around and around on my socks for the orphanage, and by the time the Giants had clinched their Superbowl spot, I was able to cast off the toe, darn in the ends and call this pair done.  (They look a little funky in the photos as they don't fit on my blockers very well.)

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS:

• Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch in a cinnamon red colorway.  I like this yarn.  I like it a lot.  Great yardage (these are big enough for a men's 10-1/2 shoe size, and I still have about 50 yards left of the skein) and nice subtle color transitions.  It's just slightly beefier than the sock yarn I usually work with, so it knits up pretty quickly.
• Pattern:  Just a simple 2x2 rib with a short-row heel and rounded toe.  I cast on 76 stitches onto size 2s and then after 5 inches of rib for the leg, switched to size 1.5s to finish the leg and knit the foot.
• Needles:  Size 1.5 and 2 US bamboo DPNs.

These are destined for a care package for an orphanage in Akkol, Kazakhstan.  They are soliciting socks for some of the older kids (larger feet sizes) between now and March, so these are ready to go.

Today's a day off for me, coincidental to the MLK holiday, and D is home.  Overnight, we've gotten about 5 or 6 inches of snow already, with more coming down, so I think we are going to hibernate inside and wait out the storm today.   

All for now.....

Comments

[Marcia Cooke]

I LOVE the Mega Boots Stretch! I think I have socks in that very colorway. Been using them around here lately, for sure!

[Nicole]

Nice socks in some of my favorite colors!

It's blowing and snowing like crazy up here. I had hoped to run a few errands today, but I think I'm stuck at home until the weather improves.

I'm glad the lessons are going well. I think Bhen is going to be a great horse for you.

[minnie]

i love that colorway! i think i may have to try that yarn, too. hmmmmm.

[Amanda]

Those socks are lovely. I wish I could get myself to do more sock knitting.

[Liz]

Bhen's a good horsie... and love the colours of the socks. It's pouring here, you know, when it rains so hard that it's hard to hear inside the house, that kind of rain... it's nice. My brothers are SO happy about the Patriots, I bask in their happiness, (and the husband's) but you won't find me watching it... I like the roar of the crowd from the other room.

[Alarming Female]

I've got a ball of that in the stash--I'll have to give it a go soon.

[Sheepish Annie]

Love the socks! I think they will be a wonderful gift for a child with cold feet. The colors are just amazing!

Cold here, too. No snow at the moment, but I'm fine with that. We've had enough for the time being! Stay warm!

[Margaret]

Great socks! Just the thing for gloomy winter. I learned to ride English, though it's been many years, I can still remember that amazing feeling of sittin up a litle, tightening the reins just a bit, and really getting the horse pulled together under you.

[Norma]

Mmmm, those socks are GREAT. I'm currently knitting .... wait for it .... a sock! And it's been so long that I am having a hard time figuring out the short-row heel. Bleh. I'm a sock dufus.

[AmyP]

Lovely socks, and for a great cause!

[Karen]

Really nice socks. It's a wonderful colorway!