Elizabeth and the Mystery of the Kitschy Plates
Elizabeth sent me the prettiest sock!
A Drunken Bee, knit just for me!
She also sent the rest of her yarn (J Knits, in the Massachusetts colorway) and the pattern, so I can knit the second one for myself.
And put the whole lot in a beautifully-made, fully-lined tote that she sewed herself, talented woman that she is. And included a matching handmade notepad cover. Thank you so much Elizabeth!! I feel very special.
So all that is very, very cool. I love the pattern and the yarn, and can’t wait to knit the second sock. I think I’ll have to go up a needle size from what I usually use, to match Elizabeth’s gauge, but the challenge was part of the fun of our swap.
The thing is, the package she sent? Also included these:
Four glass plates, with fabric glued to the backs. Horses, turkeys, butterflies, fish… Not exactly her style or mine, but I just figured they were a kitschy gift she threw in out of kindness and/or silliness.
Not so.
Elizabeth has no idea where these plates came from. She sent the box with only the sock, yarn, pattern, and bag inside. Somewhere, somehow, along the way, these plates found their way into a taped, sealed box.
But, wait, there’s a clue! Each plate has a label on the back, with the name and address of a woman in Texas. She will be getting a friendly letter from me, and I’ll definitely keep ya’ll posted…
For my part, I sent a single sock today to a certain other knitter friend, who will knit the mate and keep the pair. I hope she likes it, and that it fits…
pattern: Knitty’s magic cast-on, and Wendy’s toe-up gusset heel [pdf],
with Kate’s “Ode to Eames” mosaic pattern.
yarn: Sundara sock yarn in Crimson, and Mama Blue sock yarn in Mermaid
[the guts]
needles: 2.5 and 2.75 mm circulars
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November 6th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Oh my. If only Christmas colors were red and aqua, I might be less of a Scrooge.
I’m loving the wine colored Drunken Bee…I think it’s an absolute must for that pattern to be knit in an alcohol inspired color.
And WTF w/ the plates? That is about the strangest thing ever. Only a branch of the US Government could accomplish that.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Excellent socks! And that tote is very cool, too!
November 7th, 2007 at 12:21 am
What an odd plate mystery; I’m so intrigued. The drunken bee sock is so pretty in that colorway. And your mosaic sock is very cool. I’ve never quite mastered keeping my stranded knitting neat on the flip side. Your looks almost as pretty inside out.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:25 am
That is…bizarre!
Love that J.Knits color. But I’m a little biased…
November 7th, 2007 at 12:32 am
As I said on flickr, those are some kick-ass socks (in my fav colors too — just painted my “office” in these shades). I might need to make myself a pair…
The thing with the plates is downright weird. Please keep us posted!!
November 7th, 2007 at 12:43 am
Oooh wow! The Drunken Bees are beautiful - as are your socks [that you kept a surprise from us all]. I’m sure your pal will love them.
And those plates?? I can’t wait for the update.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Wow, today must be the day of the Drunken Bees socks!
That plate thing - whoa.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:51 am
so the usps opens boxes and throws another lady’s plates in there?
weird.
loving the socks, both of them.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:53 am
that plate story has be intrigued indeed!!!
elizabeth is awesome. you lucky duck!
November 7th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Dude, the title of your post should totally be the title of a Nancy Drew book.
And also, that sock! and that cute bag! from Elizabeth! She is so talented, for realz.
But the plates! SO STRANGE. I can’t wait to hear where they came from.
Your sock is also beautiful - did you have to knit a really, really hard sock in this swap? Because you both rocked that.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:49 am
I LOVE the mosaic sock! and how lucky to get Elizabeth - she is great! I have read her blog for years
That plate story is WEIRD! must update us!
November 7th, 2007 at 1:53 am
Both socks are fantastic! I love the color of the Drunken Bees sock.
Very nice knitting on the mosaic sock!
I was given a plate like that with grape fabric on the back. I’ve never used it as it ain’t pretty, and how the heck would I wash it? Looking forward to seeing you solve the mystery.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:55 am
What a great sock to send and receive! And the plate story is so intriguing…
November 7th, 2007 at 1:55 am
You already know that I love your sock ad Elizabeth’s (and that BAG!) So I will move right on to what is important here:
What. the. fuck. Those plates are mysterious! And kooky! (And hideous, but that’s a different story) What is going ON? Who is tampering with your mail? Did the box looked messed-with? Was there a loose corner anywhere? I am SO INTRIGUED. Do you want me to come over there with my owly magnifying glass to see if I can solve this mystery?
November 7th, 2007 at 1:57 am
That tote she made you! So awesome!! I want one!
November 7th, 2007 at 2:06 am
Fab socks. But the plates, WTF? That is so bizarre. Do keep us informed.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:25 am
I really want to know about the plates too
November 7th, 2007 at 2:28 am
wow - that “ode to eames” might be the coolest sock i’ve ever seen… nice!
November 7th, 2007 at 2:47 am
Those plates are hilarious! I can’t wait to hear what you find out… I’m so intrigued
Both the sock you received and the one you sent are gorgeous!
November 7th, 2007 at 3:07 am
I await the story. This is intriguing.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:10 am
That is CRAZY about the plates!!! And your Ode to Eames sock is amazing.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:22 am
Heh. I am still very weirded out by this. I’m almost tempted to go to the post office where I mailed the box and try to figure it out… only I guarantee they’d think I’M the crazy one.
I love that Eames sock - gorgeous colorwork!
November 7th, 2007 at 4:47 am
The socks (both coming and going) are freaking great. And the plates…oh dear me. Too bad super cool things, like iPods or a ball winders, don’t mysteriously end up in sealed packages.
November 7th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Ooh I cant wait to see how those plates ended up in your box. I love the little bag that your sock pal made too with the matching notebook. How cute! The sock looks awesome and I really like the one you knit too.
November 7th, 2007 at 5:39 am
How bizarre! I don’t suppose my pink sockapalooza sock showed up in your box too?
November 7th, 2007 at 6:27 am
Totally WTF? How the hell do 4 plates show up randomly in a box with a sock and bag and yarn? SO WEIRD! I can’t wait to see how it plays out.
I love both socks. They are beautimus!!
November 7th, 2007 at 8:25 am
The thing with the plate is pretty weird. How could that happen?
Lovely socks!!!
November 7th, 2007 at 9:01 am
i am rather worried about the us postal service now. and also, strangely intrigued by that horse plate … look at them go!
stunning, stunning socks all over, btw. is mosaic knitting easy? as in way easier than fairisle? because i suck at that.
November 7th, 2007 at 9:13 am
What a lovely sock and the tote and matching cover - love it! Hope you enjoy knitting the other sock.
November 7th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Both socks are gorgeous.
I love the colors you chose for the mosaic sock. Thanks for showing the guts.
You’ll have to fill us in on what happens next with the plates - very odd.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
This sounds like a “cozy” mystery… you know, intrepid knitterly type creates lovely socks and solves murders in her spare time. Well, hopefully there isn’t a body involved with those plates, but man. That is bizarre!
November 7th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Beautiful sock! Now you have Drunken bee feet!
The bag is also nice - what a great pal! This swap rocked!!!!! The plate thing - just plain weird!!
November 7th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
It’s funny how many of us knit Drunken Bees. They were the first pattern I cast on too. I cannot wait to hear the story of the plates - so bizarre.
Again, I love the mosaic sock. Really, words fail me.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
What an incredible swap package! A gorgeous sock and that little tote is groovy.
No way about the plates! Isn’t that a felony? Tampering with someone else’s mail? I cannot WAIT to hear what happens.
And your mosaic sock is incredible! Those colors really did go well together!
November 7th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
every time i see the drunken bees pattern i love it even more
it’s fun seeing what it looks like in different yarns.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
oh, and i’m totally confused about the plates.. where they in a package IN your package? did it look like your package had been opened and this package was inside? i hate the post office. i’ve never had a good experience with them!
November 7th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
WTF? this is a most interesting mystery. Esp since nothing was taken and something kitschy was added!
Lovely colourwork, btw. It’s a beautiful sock.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Ha! That’s the best laugh I’ve had all week. The thing is, those designs would be great on fabric…I’m not sure what I would do with plates, tho.
Your Drunken Bee sock is lovely; Elizabeth is such a beautiful knitter. And I’m not usually a fan of mosaic knitting, but yours are perfect.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
The sock is lovely, but I’m drooling over the little sock tote… Ooh, a mystery gift? Have fun investigating
November 7th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Heh, I love the idea of a galloping horse plate appearing out of nowhere. FlintSleuth to the rescue!
That Elizabeth is quite the seamstress! You definitely lucked out with your ssls package!
November 7th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
A sock swap mystery?! How very, very exciting!
That mosaic sock, by the way, is by far the neatest thing I have ever seen!
November 7th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
What a beautiful sock, and a lucky single swap pal too!
November 7th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
how very nancy drew!
the socks (all of them) are fabulous.
November 7th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
What an odd story–I’m interested to hear how you ended up with the plates (if you ever find out!).
Both socks look lovely–those drunken bees and great, and I love your bright mosaic, too!
November 7th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Wow, nice sock! Heh.
Those plates are hilarious.
November 7th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
The whole plate thing entertains me to no end. I love the sock Elizabeth knit for you, the effect in red is totally different. But your sock? Fabulous. Fabulous.
November 7th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
That is such a strange story! I can’t wait to find out more.
The Drunken Bees sock is beautiful! And your mosaic sock is gorgeous! I love the colors, and the pattern is just too cool.
November 7th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
First up, the drunken bee sock is a beaut, what a wonderful color. Second, I’m totally impress with your colorwork in the sock you made. Third - the plate thing is baffling, I can’t wait to hear what transpires.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:59 am
I just can’t get over how freaking *awesome* that mosaic sock is!
And your sock pal spoilt you rotten!
Umm, a little weird that those plates ended up in your parcel… but i actually quite like the one with the butterflies… :0)
November 8th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I keep falling in love with all these Drunken Bee socks…I’m going to have to knit myself a pair one of these days.
I love those mosaic socks! What a lucky pal.
I can’t wait to hear what this whole plate thing is about…too weird!
November 8th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Those plates slay me! And that bag, too cool!
*Guessing you now this but….Flint now has NON-stop NYC flights. Fly out morning return in the evening. I hear a musical and yarn stores calling my name!
November 8th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Yours is the first “ode” sock I have seen. I love it. Bright red and light blue slay me
November 8th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
How weird! Love both of the socks, though.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Poor, poor Texas plate lady who can only get people to accept her wares by tearing random postal boxes open and sneaking them inside. She must be a very sad lady. I suspect she will enjoy your letter immensely.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:17 am
Gorgeous single socks! Enjoy knitting the mate. I know that yours will be enjoyed too!
November 9th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I can’t decide if it’s funny or sad to think that someone might actually be missing those plates!
November 9th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Like the others, I am anxiously awaiting the story behind the plates. At first, I assumed Elizabeth took her package to a pack & ship office, two packages were accidentally combined, etc. But the PO? Hm. Now I’m intrigued! I love the Drunken Bees, so glad we both got that pattern! I can’t wait to try it out on sock #2. And I just love, love, love, love the stripey goodness on the soles of the sock you knit!!!
November 9th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
The sock and bag from Elizabeth are so nice. Lucky you
The plate story is strange indeed. Please keep up posted!
November 9th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Very pretty socks! Those plates are a mystery please keep us posted.
November 9th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
That is incredibly freaky. And encourages me to be more cautious about lying on my USPS postal forms. Damn, they do open the packages!
Both socks are too too gorgeous.
November 10th, 2007 at 12:14 am
GREAT package!!!!
So weird about the plates! HAHA!
Love the single sock swap! Great idea!
Awesome socks!
November 14th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Wow, saw the sock on Through the Loop’s site and it’s just gorgeous! Nice job and nice gift!