Transmission has resumed. I’m back knitting socks after months off air, and it’s due to these two green-speckled suspects. The wool is the German-made Opal which is dyed in such a way that one ball produces two socks in a mock fair-isle pattern. It’s the original of the self-patterning yarns, and still the best.
There must have been a bug, however, in the computer programmed-dyeing of this ball. Halfway through the second sock the green speckles turned into great green gobs and looked very ugly compared to the first sock. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to get another ball of the wool, I did what any knitter would do: plunged the whole thing deep into my knitting bag and had a sulk. I only dragged it into the daylight a few weeks ago.
Deciding to explore the problem, I found the green gobs became speckles again further along in the ball. So I recommenced knitting from that point and for several days held my breath I wouldn’t be foiled again by running out of wool. But this time all was well, and finally after many months, I’ve finished them. Very, very pleased. They’re finished and they’re pretty.
*****
As well as emotional drama, knitting produces another curious effect. Do it in public, and you’ll have a man ask you out. Foolproof. 100% guaranteed. When not holding some knitting, I’ve been asked out probably only five or six times in the last few years, and that’s giving the benefit of the doubt to the ones who merely smile and start asking about husbands. But give me some knitting and put me in a tramstop, a bus, a deserted park on a midweek noon (as happened today), and a man will emerge from somewhere, always with what I can only describe as the fondest smile, and ask me out. Every single time. Many of them are European-born and tell me nostalgic stories about homelands and mothers; many of them, finding themselves with a woolly, innocent buffer, become loquacious in a way that surprises them so much they look for a cause and fasten on me.
Never mind laneway bars, the trivia night or the Wednesday night running, if you’re a woman looking for a date, take up knitting and do it on public transport. Guaranteed man magnet.
hahhahahaa! No wonder husband approves and helps me out with it,lol.
btw, that pair is really cute! I am very fond of socks. I have very quirky ones for winter reserved for just home use. I wear my old, worn out, comfy sweater, my crazy socks and curl up in bed reading, knitting or watching a movie.
Did your aunt like?
Haha. See it even works with husbands ;) You paint such an inviting picture of winter I could almost like it. Aunt has been very quiet; am having visions of the socks in some dead letter office. Lucky I’ve got the pictures.