After many plane rides, the sockpaloooza socks are almost finished (I'll save the photos for the finished product). I've been on 14 planes this month, and if I never fly again, that will be just fine. I have yet to encounter other knitters in my travels. I've seen one or two going through security, but I've never seen anyone else actually knit on a plane. One woman stopped to ask me if I ever had any problems getting through security with my knitting and I told her my secret. If you travel with a viola, the security people will pretty much ignore the knitting needles. On this trip, I took a little vacation from my viola and left it at home, and even so, no one seemed to care that I was carrying a backpack full of small metal spears attached by plastic cords onto the plane. For this, I am grateful because knitting really does make the time on the plane go faster.
When I got home last night, my latest eBay yarn purchase was waiting for me. It's Regia Canadian Color sock yarn! It was all the rage in knitblogland a couple months ago and I've been coveting it ever since. I'm sure I paid way too much for it, but it's impossible to find in the US. The yarn came from an eBay seller in the UK, so the shipping wasn't cheap either. The nice lady who sent it to me did include a little bag of Haribo Gold gummi bears in the package which I thought was a nice touch. Haribo Gummis are the best and fortunately you can find those quite easily in the US. I've found that there is usually a very good selection at World Market.
After reading about yarn dyeing on Scout's blog and seeing her excellent results, I've decided that it's something I need to try. I really like self striping yarns, but I don't like the ones that have the fake fair isle looking stripe in the pattern. Unfortunately, this type of self striping yarn seems to be the easiest to find. I think it would be great fun to custom dye my very own yarn so I ordered a few skeins of Color Your Own from KnitPicks the other day. I also ordered The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook from Amazon and I'm eagerly awaiting their delivery. I think I'll start with KoolAide dyeing and see how that goes. I can just see my mom shuddering as she reads this, and I'm reminded that one of the best things about being a grown-up is that I can make whatever kind of mess I want in my kitchen, especially my rented kitchen. I was thinking of ordering another book on dyeing yarn and was considering Yarns to Dye For and/or Dyeing to Knit. Can anyone recommend either of these?
I've been wanting to try hand-dying too. Hope yours turns out well!
Posted by: Emma | April 18, 2006 at 03:39 PM
There are times, for certain work projects, when I'm on four airplanes and in six airports a WEEK, every week, for months. That definitely gets old. I agree that knitting on the plane is a great way to pass the time. I've never seen another airplane knitter either, but have had a few knitters talk to me in airports - asking about security or about the yarn I'm using. The only hassle I've EVER had about my knitting needles was one flight attendant who snottily told me to put them away during take-off and landing. I think she made that rule up. I've always carried bamboo needles on the plane, for which TSA gives their blessings, but I think I heard that metal needles are allowed again, and I know scissors with 4" (or smaller) blades are allowed again.
In my recent sock yarn quest, I visited or called all the LYS's to find out what they had. The only folks who had Regia was Unravelled, and even then they only had two skeins of it, and one of the skeins had a swatch attached to it! I would have bought them anyway, (it was the best sock yarn they had), but I didn't like the colorway. I love the pink one you got! I may have to peruse ebay to see if there's any in a teal/turquoise colorway. But not until I finish my current pair!
And I totally agree with you on the "faux isle" sock yarns - yuck.
I'm "dyeing" to try Kool-Aid dyeing. Can't wait to see you blog about it!
Posted by: Mary | April 18, 2006 at 06:54 PM
Scout had me over for dyeing and dinner last night...I'll post my results in the next day or two. It is SO fun! Can't wait to see what you do...
Posted by: Beverly | April 18, 2006 at 11:39 PM
wow dyeing yarn sounds so fun. my inner tie dyeing camp counselor is itching to try it.
Molly and I just got the new book "one skein" that just came out. I have been waiting for it. I love it. I am excited. In fact I am so fercited i could fry and fry and fry.
Posted by: ashley | April 19, 2006 at 11:57 AM
I am totally planning on doing some serious plane knitting here soon. I just started another wavy scarf because it is mindless enough for a plane ride. I've got my bamboo sticks all ready to rock.
Posted by: Kitty | April 20, 2006 at 10:14 PM