Friday, 26 October 2007

Stuck on socks


Hi there, well I'm stuck on socks and loving it but all my other projects are suffering. Am off for a UFO weekend this weekend. Yes, it is for finished unfinished projects and starting new ones. The best thing is, no housework and no cooking for two whole days. Yayyyy! I'm planning to finish piecing a very large log cabin quilt I have been making for a friend and hopefully layer it ready for quilting. Picture next time.

Have finished a couple of pairs of socks one pair for DH in size 12! See above. Took forever so hope he wears them. Yarn details etc are in my previous blog.


Also finished a pair of baby socks. Such fun to knit. Did them on one 2.00 mm circular and before the baby was born. In Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Child's Play left over from my Jaywalkers. The pattern is Better than Bootees socks that are free on Knitting Daily. You can see my Jaywalkers and other projects on Ravelry, I'm Diantee. Have also started another pair of socks using a free Wendy Knits' pattern, Southwestern Socks which I downloaded from The Loopy Ewe. It's an easy pattern, toe up and great when you don't know how far the yarn will go. Yarn is Cider Moon Glacier in Victoria (purple). It's a "sport" weight - seems like an NZ DK. I'm using two 2.75 mm circulars. Have finished one and about halfway up the foot with the other. Knits up pretty quickly.
I notice that the preview for the next Interweave Knits magazine is up. Some lovely pullovers (jerseys, jumpers or sweaters) and a nice assortment of other patterns. This magazine is just so good. I don't subscribe but Magnetix in Lambton Quay, Wellington has it about a week after it is released in the US.

Well, got to go, have to make sure there is plenty of food in the house for the troops.

Cheers


Friday, 5 October 2007

Southern Summer of Socks

Hi, a short one this time. I wanted to say I have joined the Southern Summer of Socks KAL so I will get some of my largish stash of sock yarn knitted up. Some of it I'm saving for the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts which is gorgeous. I'll have to pick the yarn for that first.

We're supposed to set some goals for this KAL and these are mine:

1. Knit a pair of socks from every type of yarn I have.
2. Practise toe up socks at least twice.
3.Knit a pair of socks for every member of my family and some of my friends.
4. Try a new technique - maybe fair isle socks.

Here's my first pair which I cast on on Monday. I'm just decreasing the gusset after turning the heel and I think I am going to run out of wool because they are for DH who has very large feet. Here's where I am now. The wool is Sheldridge Farm Soft Touch Sock from the Simply Socks Yarn Company

I'm hoping to make a pair of baby socks next. There's an imminent arrival for one of my workmates!

I'm making progress with my cozy v-necked pullover from Fitted Knits. Have finished the body and started on a sleeve. Will have to rip it a bit as I don't like the ribbing starting so soon. I think it would be better below my elbow.

Cheers

Thursday, 4 October 2007

Finished Objects

I finished the lacy cardigan from the Cleckheaton Vintage Hues pattern book. I love it and its quite warm and cozy. It took 8 skeins of Cleckheaton Vintage Hues which I got half price at Spotlight. Love this colour combination but have not yet found the right pin for the cardigan. I knitted the pattern as written and it went very fast on 6 mm needles and the bulky wool. The size is 12-14.

I also finished my sidewinder socks. I found these really fun to knit and the hand-painted yarn looks so good knitted sideways. The yarn was the Celebration colourway from the Spunky Yarn Club in Tough Sock. I knitted the largest size and the socks are too big but they can stay that way. Probably shrink a bit anyway.

I have also finished these recently. They are made from Patons Patonyle in colourway 4309 which is very pretty. I used the On-Your_Toes sock pattern from Interweave Knits Summer 2007. I found the Turkish cast on with the pattern used left a bit of a hole in the toe which I had to darn up later. Probably my inexperience with the cast on.

I also went to a really great class last weekend. It was a experimental knitting class with Prudence Mapstone. I've been aware of her work for some time but was thrilled when Nancy's, one of our local embroidery and quilt shops offered a class. I found it was a lot of fun and came away with a couple of small pieces from a day's work. Think it would take a while to make something larger but I thought I might incorporate these into one of my quilts.