The graph for the socks was hard to make. I never realized how hard it is to knit circles. I hope they turn out.
It was also a challenge to think of how I was actually going to knit them. I knit a solitary circle to see if it was even possible. I think they will turn out ok.
The plan is to knit all the balls halfway separately and then join them in one piece. It will have to be flat knitting for a little bit before I can join in the round. I also found it challenging to make sure that when I joined them all the pieces had ended with a right side facing. I had to change the graph several times to get it right.
So I am thinking funny socks that mimic the Tree of Utah. Here is a first blush of a sketch that I did. I am thinking the sock top could have some colorful balls and the sock body would be the trunk.
I then went out and bought some good sock yarn that would help with the color blocks I am going to make.
I mapped out more precisely where the balls would go on the sock. Tomorrow I will try to tackle a graph.
Karl Momen created a 87 foot high minimalist sculpture in the West Desert of Utah. In the broad expanse of the salt flats, the only vertical element for miles is this Tree.
I saw the tree many times driving through the Salt Flats to California where I was going to graduate school. But the first time I actually stopped to look at it close up was about 10 years ago. That was when you could actually walk right up to it. Now, it is surrounded by a fence. It was always a marker for us as we drove. We knew we were almost to Nevada when we saw the Tree.
The Tree of Utah was created in 1986 and has a plaque on it with a quote that looks like it is from Karl Momen. Many places say it is from Schiller's Ode to Joy, as sung in the choral climax of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, but I could not find these words in Ode to Joy to save my life. So, I think it is a perpetuated myth.
“A hymn to our universe, whose glory and dimension is beyond all myth and imagination.”
The Tree itself is made of concrete, crushed rocks, and tile. It is in bad repair right now but I heard rumors that the state was trying to raise money to restore it. It is overseen by State Parks and Recreation and not the Utah Arts Council as one would assume.
Many people do not like this sculpture. I am partial to Minimalist art and do like it but I have to admit it is not my favorite work. But as part of the landscape of the Great Salt Lake, it is intriguing. I would love to play with the shapes and colors to knit something whimsical.
Finished the neckwarmer the day after Thanksgiving thanks to my days off. The silk blend yarn is beautiful and soft. Aesthetically, this is my favorite pattern I have created. The cables, the deep brown yarn, all make for a texture that appeals to me. The cable pattern looks just like the Lucin Cutoff Trestle too. Once again, the pattern is on my pattern page.
I found a cable pattern in Stitchionary Cables that is very similar to the trestle lines. I did a swatch to see what it looked like:
At first I thought of doing a knit/purl pattern but I really like these cables. They will look great in a neckwarmer. I also played around with ribbed edging. The bottom edging of the scarf is 4/4 rib and the top is 2/2 rib. The 2/2 rib is definitely the best. My swatch turned out different than in the book, but, I think, to my advantage. It looks more like a trestle than a trellis.
I am using a merino/silk blend to make the neckwarmer. I want to give it to my husband and he hates anything even remotely itchy. I hope this is soft enough for him. This is Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend in brown. Obviously the picture below is a little washed out. The swatch is more indicative of the true color.