Saturday, March 15, 2008

Hello!

Hi - this is my very first post on this blog. My name is Christine and I live in Maple Grove, MN. I've been lurking on this blog for a few months and finally emailed Sarah to join the KAL. I'm on Ravelry a lot and has joined some of the KALs there. I suffer from SSS and have 3 completed socks (singles!!) plus 3 socks on needles that are hidden in a basket behind the couch. Currently, I have 3 other socks I'm "actively" working on this month. I knit my socks using 2 cirs so you can imagine how many needles I have! I recently found Hiya Hiya needles, which is 1/2 the price of the Addi's, but Addi's are still my favorite. I've been using the Hiya, as needed, as stitch holders! These are the 3 socks I'm currently working on and hope that one of them will be completed before the end of this month!

1. Annetrelac by Sandle Beadle (Interweave Holiday 2007 Issue) using Koigu Multi and Koigu Teal Blue.
knitting 420
2. Mystery Sock from Ravelry (clues are posted weekly). Yarn is Socks That Rock Lightweight in Socktopus from Blue Moon Fiber Arts.
knitting 419
3. Nine to Five Socks by Nicole Hindes, using Dream In Color Smooshy - Cloud Jungle
knitting 397

I hope to post back before the end of the month of my completed socks! I also have a knitting blog at http://christinepetterson.typepad.com/knitting if you would like to visit...

Did I Show You My Potato?

Not much finishing going on here. I am putting heels in, getting some toes in, etc. and being mostly distracted by pre-knitting processing for a Kauni (buying needles in the correct size, length, reading the pattern, considering cast-on methods, reading the pattern, looking at the yarn, etc.).

And, I am also distracted by attempts to naalbind. This is not new, it is re-learning. You can re-teach an old dog.

During all this flaggle-babble around the house, My Husband found this heart-shaped potato at our LGS. Aaaaw.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Starting a New Pair

I am not knitting these up very quickly, but I did start a new pair of socks:



The pattern is called "Cable Lattice Socks" from an old issue of Knitnet. It's a fairly simple but still interesting to knit pattern. The yarn is Socks That Rock in the Little Bunny Foo Foo colorway. Totally loving this yarn again.

Pretty soon it'll be time to put away the socks and take out the sandals!!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Finished Yarn Harlot Socks

Here they are, my first Yarn Harlot basic recipe socks in Austermann Step. The photos aren't the greatest, but good enough to show that they're good, basic socks in a fun yarn. The best thing about this pattern/recipe might be that it went really fast. I finished these in a couple of weeks, granted with some airport and plane time, still spending time on other projects. My second sock usually languishes for a long time when I tire of the stitch pattern. I guess I don't tire of plain old stockinette. Back to basics.
I followed the recipe to a T, except adjusting length, and I think I'll make a couple of modifications next time. I might do a few more stitches or use bigger needles, if I use this yarn again. I think I knit a little more tightly than our dear Harlot. You can sort of see in these pics that they're stretching a little too much, and almost looking ribbed. I like tight socks, but to a point. I'll also decrease in every row as I near the end to make them a little less pointy.

I'd like to try them out in a different yarn, maybe a little thicker and not so smooth, to see how the results might change. I'll definitely try using this as a foundation for socks with different stitches.

Ultimately, my opinion is that the Yarn Harlot's basic sock recipe is just what she says it is: basic and a good starting place for lots of sock knitting fun.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Finally done!


Redux
Originally uploaded by blacksheepknits
These are the Sock Wars II scar socks done as anklets. Yarn is Nashua Handknits Creative Focus on size 3 dpns. These only took about 4 months to knit, LOL! They were a "when I can squeeze in a stitch or two" project, so I expected them to take awhile. I am still thrilled to be done with them and now I can concentrate on my husband's socks in Noro Kureyon Sock. :)

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Hello from a New Knitter!

Hello! This is my first post and I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Sarah and I just finished my very first knitting class at the Yarnery. It went so well, that I ended up working on my first ever pair of socks for the last few sessions. I don't have pictures right now, but will post them soon. They are a simple ribbed pattern using DPNs and I just started the decreases for the toe last night. I made a few mistakes along the way, but it's all part of the learning process, right? Anyway, I am enjoying seeing all of the wonderful socks that everyone here has made and am making plans already for my next pair. I am open to suggestions on a good "second pair" pattern so please let me know what your favorites are. Thanks!!

Monday, March 3, 2008

Makin' sock yarn

In the last 6 weeks I've knit two pairs of socks-- and have learned how to spin sock yarn! Spinning is terribly addicting, and I wouldn't recommend it if you want your knitting time to completely dissapear.

On the left is a pair of toe-up Jitterbug socks. Here I tried Charlene Schurch's reverse heel flap. I should have started about an inch sooner-- right where the arch begins.







On the right is a pair of house/slipper socks. I knit the soles first with a dk/worsted handspun on US 3s, then I knit the instep from the toe and attached the sides as I went with another hanspun yarn on US 2s. Since the yarn was from my second & third week of spinning, it was a lumpy/bumpy knitting experience! They're incredibly warm, and great to wear in the winter on hardwood floors.




Here's some of the superwash sock yarn I've spun this month. I'm thinking there just isn't time to knit all of this up-- so I might just have to give some to friends! :)