In actuality I don't have socks, not anymore because they were being made for Sunny and she, like Elvis, has left the building. Over a year ago I made these little footed things which incorporated a short row toe and heel. The knitty.com pattern, Loulou Socks were a nice introduction, though as you can see I had some difficulty with the heel having gaps. I considered these a tester version as I used Cleckheaton's Country yarn (a gift of leftover yarn from Jennie (In a colourway they no longer make, a shame IMO) and I believe size 6 double points. Given the size of the needles, the thickness of yarn, these babies flew off the needles as they say.
Some months later I found a good deal on Regia Surf yarn, a cotton/wool blend for socks in purples that I knew would delight Sunny. But then the fear set in of making "real" socks (thin yarn and size 1 needles!) and the obsession for just the right pattern. A plain stockinette leg was too dull but what could one do with striping yarn that would not be too busy? Months, months I tell you went by before I finally cast on which I did in late February. I did Wendy's figure 8 cast on because I wanted to make toe-up socks but wanted to learn something different from the short row that I had tackled before. The first had to be ripped and restarted but still has an obvious error in the toe. My short row heel was perfect on one side and a little less so on the other leaving me happy enough
.
The feather & fan pattern (also from Wendy) of the leg is exceedingly quick to knit and was a lovely bit of frill for the sock.
The second sock's toe went much smoother but the heel, oh the heel. Let's just say that there wasn't patience or time for ripping and restarting the heel. Creative weaving helped the sock look a bit less awkward. I did also take care to try to match the striping as closely as possible.
This pair of socks took less than one ball of the Regia so I still have two more complete balls but I don't want to make more socks from this, at least not adult socks, as I over the striping, lovely as it is. I know several young girls (under the age of 7) who would probably love these colours and dang that would be a quick knit, even using size 1 needles.
All in all it was great fun and I am plotting my next pair of socks, in a more subtle colourway (still searching for the right one) as a gift for a friend. I think maybe Pomatomus, Falling Leaves, or maybe Anastasia.
In the meantime I am still trudging through my other secret project which is a lovely knit, I just am not meant to be a monogamous knitter. I have swatched for T'Mane's Summer Swing Top and have been eying my stash for other things to start. Interweave's Clementine in this varigated mystery yarn (I think it's a rayon mix) is calling for swatch. I suspect I have enough of this yarn, but need to measure and weigh to guesstimate, then see if the colours or the pattern get lost when combined.
A related note, I have meant to create a scrapbook using photos of my projects, yarn labels and sample for some time. This weekend, on a splurge I bought a small scrapbook album to start such a project - eventually. I even reorganized my knitting photos my computer. From here I am certain the project will languish in a corner for some time to come but in theory I could begin anytime now!
It's been awhile since I posted about knitting, just a little line here or there so without further ado....
My first official finished in 2007 project was the scarf that had a matching hat - both for my mother-out-law.
Pattern: Creative Knitting, January 2007 issueYarn: Cascade 220 Heather in Mallard, and regular Cascade 220 in a nice deep gray.
Needles: straight aluminum, vintage size 10
I might make it again as it is an easy pattern and interesting to look at.
Several posts ago I mention fighting with yarn, again. Hanks of yarn and I do not seem to get along very well. I started winding this yarn before I left for my school conference and finished long after.
Here it is less than midway through. Jennie says I need a swift, though I know that doesn't always help. Yet again, I do not care to think how many hours I spent untangling yarn.
It looks lovely on the winder, no?
I have two good size balls of this yarn which I am guessing is a rayon boucle, perhaps with a bit silk though I have no way of knowing. It looks a lot like Fiesta Rayon Boucle, though none of the coloursways are a match for what I have in my stash. If anyone has a good idea for gauging the yardage please let me know! I am guessing anywhere between 350-600 yards. In glancing around the web for potential patterns the new issue of Interweave Knits has a shawl pattern called Clementine that might look lovely in this yarn.
I have been plodding along with my secret project, though now that I have new (read borrowed) needles from Jennie the work goes faster. I have to say that I {heart} this yarn. For a minute or two I thought I would have enough left over to make socks with it but I am rethinking my math. Fearless Fibers has won my heart with the superwash sock yarn, I yearn to try other yarns. I see more purchases in my future. Yes, yes, I know you can't see anything really, but look at the colours! They absolutely make my heart sing. Once the recipient has ooh'ed and ahh'ed over it I promise better photos.
After far too much pondering over patterns and techniques, even asking for guidance from my knit list, and great apprehension on my part I have cast on for socks. I knew that I wanted to do a "toe-up" pattern, but I wanted something a little bit more exciting than stockinette stitch for the leg but nothing to complex for my brain or interfere with the self-striping yarn (Regia Surf cotton, in Purple). I will either use this pattern or this one. Previously I had done a crochet provisional cast on square toe but I wanted to learn a new technique - one that used nothing extra. 
Using larger needles than I would ultimately need and spare yarn I practiced the Magic 8 cast-on. Convinced for no reason that I needed size 2 double points, I searched my home high and low for such creatures, only to find that 1- I had none, and 2 - I needed size 1 anyway. Finally I began the first sock only to make an error that bothered me. I looked at the sock and pronounced it "ungraceful", to which TGF scoffed and replied, "It's a sock. It doesn't need to be graceful." What does she know? The problem was that I had not been doing a regular knit row between the increase rows. It was ghastly I tell you. Frogging ensued until, well I had to start over completely. The second toe has an error but I decided it was okay, not perfect and I have to live with that as I remember it is the first time I am attempting this technique, and one has to start somewhere. Unfortunately somewhere is not perfection. I am enjoying the process however.
With two projects that will take some time given how little I have been knitting lately I wanted something quick, using large needles and thicker yarn. Casting about (ha ha) my stash I dug out the remainder of the Lion Brand Wool in midnight blue that I used for my father's cabled beanie. TGF really seemed to like that colour and I thought it would look great against her skin, so a Calorimetry was begun. It became apparent that there was not enough of the yarn so once again a dash through the stash was in order to find something that ideally was wool, similar weight, and a good colour match. I used some of the Brown Sheep superwash in Japanese Plum leftover f
rom the beret I made for Sunny two years ago. It seemed best to double the yarn to make the best match and would keep my beloved's head warmer. There has been talk about the gauge being odd for this project and though my gauge matched the pattern it does seem a tad big, so I placed the button a bit up from the point. It is a large improvement in terms of warmth and coverage over that first tiny little headband I made over two years ago. It is a satisfying little project and may consider making myself one someday but I will cast on fewer stitches next time around.
It is hard to believe but I only have one project (shhh, it's a surprise) on the needles right now. It feels odd to be so monogamous with my knitting, it's really not my nature. Really there are a ton of things I want to get started. A better handband thingy for TGF, she really could have used one today when we at the park. Calorimetry seems just perfect and simple from reports on the web. Just need to dig around in the stash. Also she could use some fingerless glove-like items.
Way up on the top of the list of things I want to make is another surprise project - socks! Using sock yarn, you know the thin stuff. One issue is I'm already using fingering weight yarn on the first surprise project and I am yearning for something quick and easy. The project on the needles is fairly simple but progress can only go so fast with that weight. Many moons ago I found a pattern that I copied from an old, hang on...Vogue Winter 1997. Yes, you read that right, the pattern is even by Todd Oldham, remember him? It's a simple chunky garter stitch cropped turtle neck sweater. I think I have yarn that would work, but have I pull it from my closet to check? No. The other issue is I can't decide on a pattern. I want to do toe-up style, thinking about double points as I don't have two circulars that right size but dread the second sock syndrome.
I suppose if I would just get that damn ethics paper out of the way I would feel like there was breathing room, or permission or something and I could move forward. Yeah, that would certainly help. Anyone want to write it for me? Yeah, I didn't think so especially since it's about the formulation of my ethical stance. Okay, okay, I promise tomorrow a lot of reading that you won't have to read.
In actuality I don't have socks, not anymore because they were being made for Sunny and she, like Elvis, has left the building. Over a year ago I made these little footed things which incorporated a short row toe and heel. The knitty.com pattern, Loulou Socks were a nice introduction, though as you can see I had some difficulty with the heel having gaps. I considered these a tester version as I used Cleckheaton's Country yarn (a gift of leftover yarn from Jennie (In a colourway they no longer make, a shame IMO) and I believe size 6 double points. Given the size of the needles, the thickness of yarn, these babies flew off the needles as they say.
. 
This pair of socks took less than one ball of the Regia so I still have two more complete balls but I don't want to make more socks from this, at least not adult socks, as I over the striping, lovely as it is. I know several young girls (under the age of 7) who would probably love these colours and dang that would be a quick knit, even using size 1 needles.
