I bought new yarn on Sunday, and started making stuff right away!
With my skein of A Hundred Raves Danu in “Briar Rose,” I’m making a Trestle Cowl (changed to working in the round, rather than flat):
With my skein of A Hundred Raves Danu in “Maple,” I’m making a Greyhaven cowl — but fewer repeats and taller (for warmth).
I also cast on for pair of socks 2 of 5 for my mom — purple Alpaca Sox in the Gush pattern:
Introducing my latest pattern: Canobie Cable Socks!
Pattern: Canobie Cable Socks
Designer: Rachel Henry (that’s me!)
Available: $2.99 at Knit Picks / $3.50 on Ravelry
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in Springtime
Design/Skills Needed: The sinuous twisted-stitch cables that undulate around the leg and instep of these socks evoke the roller coasters at my favorite family amusement park: Canobie Lake Park. They are top-down socks with a traditional heel-flap and gusset. The cable pattern is unbroken around the leg and continues seamlessly into a ribbed heel and twines over the instep to the toe.
Because of the complex cables, this sock is not easily re-sized by changing the stitch count. Rather, the knitter is advised to go up or down a needle size to achieve a different leg circumference.
The cable pattern is charted, but full written directions are also provided for the knitter who prefers to knit from words. The pattern is technique-neutral — I hold no religious preference regarding DPNs, two circs, Magic Loop, tiny circs, etc. when I write patterns.
Many thanks to my friend’s little girl, Sara, who modeled the socks for me. I have extra-large, square-toed feet (thank you, Dutch ancestors) — not exactly the prettiest things to be shoving into socks for show. She had the perfect shoes to go with them, and as soon as the sample socks are back from Knit Picks, they will go home with Sara.
Inspiration: An age and an eon ago, I spotted a cool sweater while standing in line at Canobie Lake Park. I took a surreptitious photo of the woman’s sweater … I hope she didn’t think I was stalking her. But the cables were neat! 🙂 They reminded me of the roller coasters. I swatched and swatched and eventually tamed the pattern to the much-smaller canvas of socks.
Here is my first draft:
I think the final version is more refined and lively! 🙂
See my pretty purple sock yarn? It’s Mad Tosh Sock in “Flashdance” — yum!
This week I cast on for a pair of Fringe Socks from California Revival Knits (Stephannie Tallent).
I’m using some ancient stash (Reynold’s Wash Day Wool in Cream) for the contrast color. I’m about to do the the fringe bit — very cool!
My May 2012 shipment of Socks That Rock arrived as I was speeding down the toe of my 2nd sock from the March 2012 shipment … I did manage to finish one before starting the other!
Project: March 2012 Socks That Rock Socks
Pattern: redbud
Designer: Linda Welch
Available: available after March 2013
Yarn: BMFA Socks That Rock Mediumweight in Budding Twig
Socks are worked cuff-down with a turned hem. I used a provisional cast-on for the hem, to reduce bulk. I love the cuff pattern and the simple lace pattern too. The yarn is lovely and spring-y and was just the thing, back in March! 🙂 My older STR socks have been shrinking a bit over time and many wearings/washings, so I decided to use the recommended needle size (instead of going down a size) and making size M.
Welcome to CO Monday, or (as it shall be known this week) “Have I Lost My Mind?” I started four new projects this week, even though I already have multiple projects already actively in progress. Perhaps I am crazy, and believe I have grown extra arms, and need even more projects to keep my extra arms busy. I hope those extra arms already know how to knit.
I think the cause is simple: I’m getting near the end of many of those WIPs, and I’m anticipating the lull that follows — the panic that sets in when I don’t have enough projects! Eek!
So, here are the four newbies:
Purple Hedgehog Hat — I bought a skein of Mushishi as a courtesy purchase when I checked out Aunt Margaret’s Yarn Shop in Chelmsford, MA. The main draw of this shop (for me) is that they carry a full line of Knit Picks needles, including interchangeable tips and cables! But, I didn’t need any needles on this visit, so I chose a big cushy skein of purpley yarn. It has long color repeats, but they aren’t that different from each other. I’m taking full advantage of the color repeats with the short-row bumps in this hat. I have two bumps done so far :).
Next up: Berringbone Patch Socks. I haven’t made a pair of socks in quite a while. It was time. I’ve had this skein of Stroll Hand-painted around for a while, earmarked for socks … I did change my mind about the socks I was going to make, though. I’ve decided I really don’t like lacy sock patterns, because they don’t wear as well as more solid patterns. I’ve finish the cuff and gotten about four rows into the herringbone pattern.
I also cast on for a store sample for Hub Mills of my upcoming CEY design, tentatively called Branches. The pattern sample is in cranberry, but the store sample will be this gorgeous purple:
I cast on for this project, because I had finished the cape I was making as a store sample. The pattern book won’t be out until June, so I have plenty of time to work on it. But, when I work in the shop, I can only knit on projects for the store — I wanted to make sure I had something to do with my hands if it turned out to be a slow day. As it happened, it WAS a slow day … but I didn’t work on the purple project at all. Instead, I cast on (and then finished) a Sliver Ribband for the store. We recently got in several kits by Laura Nelkin, and I got to make this one:
I stranded the beads and knit it up in a single day — the kit comes complete with the yarn, beads, clasp, pattern, and even a little threader to help put beads on the yarn. I give it high marks!
I finished these socks a few weeks ago. I’ve been wearing them LOTS — so I guess it’s about time I FO-Friday-ed them. “Shoreward” was one of two patterns from the September shipment of the Rockin’ Sock Club from Blue Moon Fiber Arts.
Project: Shoreward Socks
Pattern: Shoreward Socks
Designer: Sivia Harding
Available: sometime after September 2012
Yarn: Socks that Rock Mediumweight in Drop Dead Gorgeous
The pattern doesn’t photograph easily — you’ll have to trust me when I say how pretty the twisted stitches and curved recurves are. The construction is fairly traditional toe-up style, with a nice heel flap. I love how she makes sure the leg pattern lines up, no matter where you started the gusset etc. The waffle-ish pattern on the instep and leg front make these socks a little heavy/bulky, but also super warm and squishy. It’s a trade-off I’m willing to make.
Best of all (from my point of view) is the yarn — the colorway is, as advertised, Drop Dead Gorgeous. I mean, look at this stuff!
The first time I saw it, I thought ZOMBIE! 🙂
I made some socks!
Project: Yoga Socks
Pattern: Monkey
Designer: Cookie A.
Available: free via Knitty.com
Yarn: Jo-Ann Sensations Bamboo and Ewe Pattern #73
These socks are for my mother-in-law, requested by her for her yoga class. I love how Cookie’s “Monkey” pattern interacts with self-striping yarn. It’s a great pattern, now available with additional sizing in the book Knit. Sock. Love. — Cookie’s sock books are among my favorites! The yarn surprised me — I picked it up on deep discount at my local Jo-Ann’s, and it was very nice to knit with. I must go take a second look at the other Bamboo and Ewe yarns I stashed away.
I continue to enjoy my Blue Moon Fiber Arts sock club socks. This yarn is deceptively pretty, with purples and lime greens hidden in the foilage.
Project: July 2011 STR Socks
Pattern: Fences
Designer: JC Briar
Available: sometime in July 2012
Yarn: BMFA Socks That Rock Lightweight
Pattern was great, quick and easy knit. I shortened the toe (as I almost always do) to fit my squared-off Dutch feet.
In a special weekend edition of FO Friday, I bring you two projects I finished this summer….
Project: Zylphia Over Yonder
Pattern: Zylphia Cowl
Designer: Stephannie Tallent
Available: on Ravelry ($6)
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in Blue Yonder
I tech edited this pattern, and absolutely could not resist casting on almost the moment I finished the editing work. This cowl takes the stitch patterns from Stephannie’s “Zylphia Pilots Her Airship” sweater (published at the Sanguine Gryphon) and scales it down into a beautiful lacy cowl. Turned picot hems finish both ends; the cowl is knit entirely in the round. I found the lace pattern interesting and easy to memorize. It shows off tonal yarn beautifully.
Project: Sapphire Papilionoidea
Pattern: Papilionoidea
Designer: Caroline Wright
Available: on Ravelry (£2.00 GBP)
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Fingering in Sapphire Heather
I was lucky enough to test knit this pattern for the designer. I had been trying to decide what socks to make for my Dad — he’d requested “fancy” socks in Sapphire Heather with his Christmas Knit4UxMe. Then I saw these, and wow! It’s amazing how the butterfly emerges from the lacy pattern. This is another great pattern by an indy designer: well-written, clear, and definitely worth the purchase price.
Pictures from my dad, of the socks on his feet! 🙂
Last week, I sat down and took a good hard look at my Transition Point socks (from the May 2011 BMFA Sock Club shipment). I’d finished the leg on the first sock, and had started the heel turn. I had been trying on the leg obsessively as I worked, because I’d already frogged and restarted twice due to fit issues. So, the leg fit … but it didn’t feel very good the diagonal slipped-stitch lines pulled and tugged, and although I’m not crazy-sensitive, I am bothered by binding clothing. Then there the odd zig-zag pooling, which was disruptive to the pattern … which, if I am honest, I found a bit over-worked. Too much going on, without enough coherence. Seed stitch on a sock is another question mark — it just isn’t as stretchy and it’s bumpy next to the skin. I knew every time I wore these socks (which wouldn’t be that often, because of the binding problem), I would have the seed stitch impressed into my feet after I took them off. So, I took a deep breath, pulled out the needles, and sent this project to the Frog Pond for permanent retirement — consider this an un-cast-on annoucement :).
One thing I do love about knitting is that a project may be over and done, but the yarn is still salvageable. I wound the kinky frogged yarn gently around the cake, and set it aside. Then, yesterday, I realized that I do still love the colors in the skein, especially when they are mixed up together. Then I thought about how much I like all the one-skein sock yarn shawls out there, and then I thought about this great lace edging I’ve been meaning to use for something … so last night I cast on for a new Remily Knits design: a sideways-knit one-skein shawlette for variegated yarn.
In the midst of all this, the July 2011 BMFA Sock Club shipment arrived! I can’t share photos yet (there are no-spoiler rules to preserve the surprise for all club members), but I can say that I love the yarn, and that one of the two patterns REALLY appealing to me. I cast on some new socks Saturday.
Remily Knits 