Seems nothing I’m currently working on makes for pretty pictures. I picked up the Spiral Sock on Saturday night because I was tired after painting a deck and needed undemanding stocking stitch, then continued the next night because I was up to the heel and had recovered enough to want something more interesting to knit. But it definitely looks nicer on the foot than off:

The second sock will be interesting. I’ve reached the point with Cat’s instructions where I got fed up with the reliance on markers, which were always being moved around. I read through the instructions, which continued to involve a lot of flicking to different parts of the book, and when I thought I had the gist of it I all but abandoned the book and start winging it. Well, I had to wing it to a point, as the spirally bit met up with the back of the heel and I didn’t see any explanation for what to do if that happens. I hope I can remember what I did for the second sock!

This New Pathways book is going to have to be one I look at for conceptual inspiration, but nothing more. I’m finding the way the patterns are set out to be unnecessarily complex and annoying. But I don’t regret buying the book, as I have learned some interesting and useful things about sock construction.

(Wow, I wasn’t intending that to turn into a book review.)

I’m still crocheting away at the Musical Baby Blanket. Oh man, this is so mind-numbingly boring now. I should stop and make some musical notes to sew on later to remind myself this is going to be a cute finshed object, but that would delay finishing the base blanket and I SO want it over with! (Mind you, I think the recipient may be feeling a little bit the same way about the pregnancy.) I swear, after this I’m weaving baby blankets instead. Much. Faster.

On the more optimistic side, I bought this:

A book of lessons for the 4-shaft loom. And I don’t have a 4-shaft loom. Yet.

I have to confess, I didn’t realise it was a book of lessons, or that they were for the 4-shaft loom. I’d just seen so many recommendations for the book that when I was ordering some other books for work I decided I should get it too.

But it’s a little pointless without a 4-shaft loom. So should I finally go ahead and buy one?

I’ve been wanting to for nearly a year now to decide that. I even have projects lined up that require a bigger loom than my Knitters Loom. But I was making myself wait until I had lessons and could make absolutely sure I enjoyed weaving enough to justify both the cost and the space it’ll take up. And so I could pick the brains of the teacher on which loom to buy, or find one second hand through the guild.

But when I was free to attend lessons, there weren’t any. And when lessons were available they were at a time I can’t easily make. And all my internet searching has failed to come up with any brand of 4-shaft table loom available in Australia but Ashford’s. And the only second had looms I’ve seen up for sale are big floor looms.

I’m pretty sure I do enjoy weaving. I love my Knitters Loom. I find weaving soothing and meditative in the way that spinners say they find spinning (but I never did). I’m tired of waiting. So I’m going to buy the Ashford 4-shaft loom and teach myself to weave on it.

There. Decided.

And here’s more weaving inspiration:

A lovely, generous gift from Meagan at s’n’b. She says it doesn’t knit up all that nicely, so she thought of me and how I’ve said that yarns like that often work better woven. It’s soft and chunky. I’m thinking a manly scarf with a twisted fringe, with either chocolate or pale mocha warp.

Mmm. Chocolate…