Many More Socks

Since coming to college, I have knit socks, socks, socks. Some are for Christmas, so recipients will not be mentioned!

Hermione's Socks, in Knit Picks Stroll, Sparkle Heather. I think these are some of the most beautiful socks that I have ever made! The stitch looks like beading, and this color is to die for.

Bow Ties Are Cool, in Stroll Scarlet, I think. Not my favorite. I was bored halfway through knitting them, and the arch is too high. I should have known better and knit it shorter, but now I know to follow my instincts next time.

More Upside-Down Leyburns. I'm so glad that I revamped this pattern for top-down. The fit is ten times better (though they are big on me, because they aren't for me),and I love a standard top-down heel flap and toe. I used Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome in Cabin Fever. This color and yarn were great, complex without being too much, and very soft. I think it ought to hold up well.

Paul Atwell Socks, in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Fuchsia. I think Peppermint would be a better color name, but I have no complaints about this yarn. It's harder and rounder than the Sockittome, but the semi-solid colors are gorgeously blended. The red is a deeply saturated cherry, and the pink is almost as pale as I think it could be, while still be being considered pink. This pattern is a major yarn-eater, but I love the effect of the slipped stitches. It's similar to the Edwardian Boating Socks. Next time though, I want to stick to my usual toe with decreases every other row. The faster decreases suggested do make a nice rounded toe, but my feet just don't fit in it as we'll.

A crappy picture, but these are men's socks in Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome in Tropical Storm. I didn't notice the purple bits until I started knitting, but I think the man in question can live with it. I like the random thin striping on these socks, and I still had plenty of yarn left over.

Currently I'm using some Trekking XXL. I don't love the colors, but the yarn was majorly on sale, and they will still be warm when they are concealed under my boots this winter. Pictures later!

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Christmas in July

Well, in August. I have officially begun my Christmas knitting early, knowing full well that this need to churn out presents won't last, and I had better take advantage of it while it lasts. Here is what I have so far...

3 1/2 pairs of socks. Not too bad, especially considering one pair is a men's 14. I plan on either socks or a hat for each family member, since socks for each would be ambitious on both the knitting and financial front. Here I present to you, Leyburns! In something Knitpicks, ball band lost.

(Recipients will remain anonymous...for now). Rogers! In Knitpicks Multi, Lucky Multi (I think).

(Both modeled by my lovely assistant, Isabelle). Thermal Waffle-y Socks! In Knit Picks Stroll, Fedora.

And finally, reverse-engineered-upside-down-Leyburns! Well, one of a pair. Knitpicks Stroll Multi in Sunset Multi.

In the midst of all of this gift knitting, I managed to pick up some gifts for myself online (not that it was that difficult). Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn!

Supersock in Winterberry, which I think is the coolest yarn name ever.

Super sock in Fuchsia, although I think it is reminiscent of peppermint.

Stockittome in Wild Cherry,

and Stockittome in Tropical Storm. I'm not sure about this one, but it has more purple in person, so the black and blue contrast isn't as strong as the picture shows.

On top of this, I still have more Knitpicks sock yarn in my knitting basket. The sad part? I don't know how long into the school year this will last me! I suppose I will just have to make a trip to Knit One in Pittsburgh once I get there...

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Cavallo Point

My mom's shawl is done! I used a lighter yarn than called for, but it still blocked out a full shawl and not a shawlette. I hope my mom likes it!

The first and second pictures show the color the best. The yarn is silky soft with and a fantastic color. Actually, it was the only yarn I paid full price for in my order, and it was definitely worth it.

The pattern was a great travel knit. I memorized the pattern on the seventh or eight repeat, and I never tired of it. I was actually going to add a few more repeats since I had more yarn and liked the pattern so much. I followed the pattern in the end, and I would definitely use this pattern again.

Look what the mailman brought!

Ten skeins of yarn and an afternoon of wool winding.

I ordered two skeins of Knit Picks Gloss in Port, four skeins of Shadow in Forest Heather, and four of Alpaca Cloud in Smoke Heather. I see many a lace shawl in my future...once I finish all of these socks!

Back Again

Wow, so much for having time to post this summer! I won't bother to go into depth about ALL of my WIP's. but real quick here's one FO that I've been hugely proud of!

Not the best pictures, but it's my second sweater ever! And the first to require seams! Ahhh that feels good...The pattern is Inishturk from Lion Brand Yarn, and the yarn is the recommended Fisherman's Wool. I chose Natural, though, instead of Oatmeal, since I had already used that for my first sweater. For being so cheap by weight, this wool is awesome. I love the texture, stitch definition, everything.

The pattern's gauge was kinda funky, though. I would have needed size 11 US needles, and the swatch was like a loose net. I went down to size 8 US, and just made it two sizes larger with the original lengths for the size small. It came out a tad wider than I expected after blocking, but I knew it was going to be huge anyway. The smallest chest measurement would have given me 4-5 inches of ease. But according to the new Teen Vouge, oversize knit sweaters are totally in. Sweet. And this kind of traditional garment is classic and timeless, so I'm not super concerned.

And here is my current WIP. It's become a little all-consuming, not gonna lie...

It's the Bayerische sock from See Eunny Knit!. Belgian cables with twisted stitches. Gorgeous. I used size 0 US dpn's, and Lion Brand Sock-Ease in Grape Soda. Not exactly high-end, but it's cheap and hard-wearing. Love the pattern, love the first sock.

 The only pattern error I saw was in the toe shaping. At the very end, It says to knit Row 2 6 times to decrease from 40 stitches to 16, but that would mean knitting even for six rounds. It's supposed to be knit row 1 six times.

That's all for today, but maybe I'll actually post occasionally for a little while? Yes?

Ooo! Wow!

So I had received a Barnes and Noble gift card, and upon reaching their knitting section I picked up two titles. A gorgeous hardcover, Norwegian Handknits, which is full of all sorts of patterns and historical information and even a few recipies, and Amigurumi Knits. This book led to a kind of revelation.

Now in the past year or so, I've become, if not a fiber snob, a bit prejudiced against fibers that can't be found growing in the natural world. This means my substantial stash of Red Heart Super Saver has been quite neglected as of late. Howver, when it comes to amigurumi, cheap and colorful are pretty much the only criteria the yarn needs to meet. Alright, up to the attic to grab the Super Saver. Down to my room, dump it on my bed. Sort by color...ooo! Wow!

Holy cow!!! That's a lot of yarn!

Time for some stash-busting amigurumi...

Loch Ness Monster! With a black belt for sempei!

Anglerfish!!! Can you say Finding Nemo? "I'm gonna getcha..."

A snail is up next :)

Yarn Crawl '09!

Yes yes yes, a Yarn Crawl! Four of the main yarn stores in the area came together for a day of yarn sales, demos, door prizes, and (if you visited all four venues in the set time frame), huge gift basket drawings! My birthday is coming up next month, so instead of waiting for my present, my mom suggested that she give me a budget, and take me around from store to store.

Well, what would you have chosen? :) Ben Franklin doesn't have the most sophisticated, well-known-name selection, so I had such a blast digging through the mountains of wooly, sheepy hanks. At the first shop, I petted some Rowan Felted Tweed, and dug around in some Lamb's Pride before finally settling on some ultra light alpaca.

Classic Elite Inca Alpaca, 100% alpaca, 109 yards per 50 gram skein. Two skeins of each color, for a faire isle chullo! The Cross-Country Chullo from Knitty! I've had a total ear-flap-hat obsession lately, but I'll get into that another time...

At the next shop I grabbed some Malabrigo Chunky, kettle dyed, Intenso colorway? Or at least I'm assuming? Either way, it'll make something gorgeous and warm. Maybe a skullcap or mittens.

And then while waiting in line to pay, I snagged some sock yarn...

The Perwinkle Sheep, Watercolors Sock Yarn, 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon. There's 420 yards to a skein, all of it hand dyes Caramel. Either it was renamed or mismarked originally though, because right under that is a crossed-out butter cream. Either way, I think it's gorgeous, and just subtle enough for a cable maybe.

I shall continue this another time, or I fear I'll never finish another post...

I Lied.

I re-watched The Prisoner of Azkaban, and the movie scarves are dark dark dark dark DARK burgundy. Oh well. I still like my colors :) Luna's scarf is still waiting to be started, but I fear she'll have to wait a bit longer...while crochet projects are quick, a one-day-only 20% off all yarns sale at Ben Franklin means an opportunity for more Christmas gift materials!

Ok, SOOOO...

Gwynedd is finished, and she was quite the marathon! (Or, at the very least, a 5K).

Super thick and warm, this scarf will be a gorgeous staple in my wardrobe this winter, I do believe.

Al so finished a while ago was my Fern Glade, the slouchy version, and while it's a bit big (shocking, I know. Usually my cranium is beyond any other sizewise), it's pretty and a nice change for boring outfit days when I want to funk it up a little bit.

Lovely.

When I needed a small, easy project to work on while on the recumbent bike, I cast on some easy handwarmers in Knitpicks Peruvian Highland Wool, color Cherry Blossom. The picture turned out terrible, I'll take another one later, but these have proved super useful. The pattern is called Emerald Green Handwarmers, but obviously these aren't. The wool is inexpensive, and the pair was knit in two or three hours, so these have become my workhorse handwarmers. I can wear them in the frigid school basement when writing essays during study hall, and if they start to pill or lose texture on the right hand from friction it won't be too large a loss. I even have two more skeins of the yarn if I want an exact replacement! (This pair took less than one skein).

Lastly, I finally started my Harry Potter scarf!

I picked up four skeins of Paton Classic Wool Merino in Burgundy and one in Old Gold, and so far the colors are pretty close to that of the movie. Some of the others I've seen looked too cranberry or plain red, and that was something I wanted to avoid. The 1x1 ribbing isn't boring yet, as the stripes keep it interesting at regular intervals and I'm a relatively quick knitter. It's fabulous mindless knitting for just before or after school, right before bed, or while watching tv. (These also happen to be the only times I'm really able to knit these days, so it all works out perfectly).

The merino is so much softer than the new Patons Classic Wool-I so wish they hadn't changed it! But of course they have, and I'll just have to resign myself to the fact that any other house scarves I make may not be quite as comforting on a cold winter day. I can't wait for this to be finished so I can wear it! (And start the Ravenclaw one soon after I finish Luna's)!

Sorry, Sorry...

Camera is acting screwy, too much homework. Just had to share I finally bought the yarn for both the Year 3-4 Gryffindor House Scarf (I plan on making a Ravenclaw one later), and Luna Lovegood's crocheted scarf from the fifth movie. I'm happy as a clam. Gotta run.

Partial Luck and Substitution

Alright, so after some debate I finally decided to knit my year-three-and-up Harry Potter scarf from Lion Brand Wool-Ease, in Gryffindor colors for now and maybe another house once I recover from the ribbing coma. But my paycheck has a week or so to show up, so I've been knitting this scarf only in my daydreams. I thought about it all the time--the stripes, the rib, the fringe, how it would wash. Then the other day when I was antiquing with my Grandma Helen and my sister, I was thinking extra hard. Wishing and hoping for Wool-Ease. How much would I need for the main color? Four skeins? Certainly the contrasting color would only need one. Wool-Ease...Wool-Ease...Wool-Ease...I paused in one of the little booths to peek in an old trunk. Rug kit, embroidery...oh my gosh NO WAY! What did I find?

Four skeins of Wool-Ease, for $7.20. That's only $1.80 a skein, folks! Granted, it's not the right color for any kind of Hogwarts house scarf, but I think I've found something to divert me for a good long time while I wait. After a search on Ravelry, I pulled up the Gwynedd pattern from Knitty winter 2008. It's a gorgeous reversible cable scarf, super thick to hold up against winter winds. It's sure to take quite a while, but I figure it'll be the perfect landscape to try out this new technique on, and get an awesome result at the end of it!

Another Hermione Hat Finished!

I finished this hat while stitching and bitching at a emmydee's for a sleepover:

I had been worried that my overly large head would tug open gaps around the cables and make it a little less warm, but I think my fears were unfounded. I'm sure I'll find out for real when the mercury dips below 32 degrees, but for now I am a happy camper! The cabling is as addicting as the pattern description said, and very impressive yet tasteful, bobbles and all. Even one of my Flogging-Molly-loving fire-fighting friends agreed that it was "badass" (or was at least able to convince me that was his opinion), and informed me that I am to wear it when we go sledding this winter :) Can't wait!

And of course, the now discontinued Patons Classic Wool Merino (I still can't get over that...) performed beautifully. I have just started a pair of Tridactyl gloves from Knitty using the replacement line, Patons Classic Wool, and it definitely seems coarser and more dense. At least the color is nice. "Aquarium" to pair with the wave pattern on the back. Will probably be a present for one of two people for Christmas...can't say who yet, of course.

An Alteration of Fates

Well, it does seem that my scarf wish came true! Digging through the stash, praying for some red wool, (though I knew from the get-go I only had one skein of red wool and it was being utilized for the black belts' Christmas presents, but hey, dare to dream), I stumbled upon an unexpected alternative.


100% pure spun alpaca, in a sport weight. Two hanks my dad had picked up for me a little while back. It's softness matched the many descriptions I have read, as well as it's lightweight feel. I had planned to save it for just the right project. Every time I saw it I would smile and wonder what it would become! A cabled hat? Mittens or gloves light enough for fall? A lacy little shawlette? I would hold out until I found the project worthy of it! And I do believe I have!

(Picture wouldn't load, sorry :P)

The scarf I was craving, knit on size 5US straight needles. (Can you believe it? Straights! I haven't used straights in such a long time! I found them sitting in the attic, pouting and collecting dust). This scarf, or swatch as it stands right now, is light yet warm, with a slight soft halo of fuzz and many different shades of grey. It will go with anything I decide to throw on, which is always helpful considering just how many mismatched cold-weather items a knitter accumulates. It is just thin enough to be tucked inside my pea coat, yet thick enough to stand on its own on top of a sweatshirt in the fall. This scarf will be absolutely, utterly perfect!


And to think. Just a little while ago, I would have never pictured this yarn or this project crossing paths.

Xmas!

By now my family knows that anything knit related will be warmly received on Christmas-an of course, responded in kind :) Here's what I scored this year...

• Lion Brand Homespun in the Mediterranean colorway.
• Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky. One skein Oatmeal, two Charcoal, and an olive-y color I forgot the name of.
• An 11oz skein of colorful brushed yarn
• The book Cables, Diamonds, Herringbone on the construction of Fisher men's sweaters.
• $50 to my local Ben Franklin :0
• Two skeins of Red Heart Classic in white and an electric blue

Not bad...not bad...lol I already have plans for some of it! The Wool-Ease has already been turned ino half a scarf for my dad. The brushed rainbow is already on the needles for a knit Fall Shawl. It's meant to mimic the crochet version, and isn't the funnest pattern I've ever worked on by any means. I'm still debating whether to frog it or keep going.

Here you tell me...if you were working on a shawl with 75% of the rows being purled (ew) when you knit continental, and the few knit rows only contained ONE plain knit stitch each, and you loathe the pattern with every fiber of your being...but the picture really looks warm...what would you do? Oh, and the yarn doesn't frog well. But you don't have any square, rectangular, or circular shawls and want to give one a try. Well? Lemme know!

Let It Snow!!!

Hoo boy! The snow is here! We had to go to school, but left a little early to compensate for any busing delay. As is, plows can't keep up, cars are stuck, and the tree outside my window is barely visible. On the plus side however, a full foot of the fluffy stuff sure is pretty, and great for sledding once the storm abates :)

I had forgotten that in the back of the Chicks With Sticks books is always a few knitting patterns, and once I rediscovered this I started the Butterfly Socks with a denim multi of sock yarn, one of Emily's contributions. I also found some leftover turquoise Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, and made a test swatch of the Edge-Anything Lace. I'm dying to knit up some Selbuvotter items, but I have yet to find any kind of dk wool in decent colors locally. Will have to go on Knitpicks and wait for the mail...

Anyway back to knitting gifts. Time is running out!

Birthday Bliss!

Ahhh what a day! At school I was the lucky recipient of hugs and well wishes from many of my friends, and will be again tonight at the Music Department Christmas party :) I was going to have my party around now, but who can throw a better or bigger bash than all my chorus and musical friends?

Before I left for school though, I was already treated to chocolate cake for breakfast and a bunch of new knitting books!

• Chicks with Sticks (Knit Two Together)
• Charmed Knits
• Selbuvotter
• Knitting Without Tears

My dad also picked me up a copy of Interview With A Vampire by Anne Rice, which is so great already and will become this marking period's English project subject.

Some of my friends know me better than others-my neighbor Andy, who I've known for practically forever, showed up to carpool with two skeins of Light and Lofty yarn, in blue and white. He was rewarded with cake. Later in chorus, Emily showed up with two colorways of sock yarn! Yay!

Haha I'm going to go sift through all of my new books and yarn now...and then get ready to go see my friends all over again! Woot!

Plain and Simple

In the interest of getting Sensai Nancy's socks to her as soon as I could, I chose to knit a pair of the YH's Basic Sock Recipe again. I'm using Heart and Sole from Red Heart, and I don't know what colorway this is but it ROCKS and almost makes up for the lack of fancy stitching! I'm on the gusset of the second sock, no SSS problems here, and was about to get back to work on it with a movie. First, though, I have to take inventory...

I have no time or money for Xmas gifts this year :'( However my immediate family is in need of the following...

Dad-He has a sudden desire for a scarf, ideally one similar to a scarf he saw in the Gap. Different ribbings and blocks of manly colors.

Mom-Someone accidentally ran her Center Square hat through the wash, sooo...felted. Unevenly so. Another one of those is in order.

Lil' Sis-Not sure. I made her dolls clothes recently so she hasn't asked for anything.

Me!-A copycat Noro scarf. You know, the 2 row 1x1 rib scarves everyone is making? Like the Yarn Harlot for example? Only Noro of any kind is way out of my price range, so I'll follow the advice of a Ravelry forum I saw and try Paton's SWS instead. Never used it, but it seems beyond soft! And unlike Noro, is much more affordable and is carried by a shop right down the street!

Anyway, must finish socks!

Ooooooo...pretty!

Omg wow! Wow wow wow wow wow!

Okay...so the other day I got a super duper surprise in the mail :)

My great aunt, you know, the one who owns the amazing yarn store out out Oregon?

She sent me a goodie bag full of yummy stuff!

First up was some Cascade Fixation in different shades of purple for even more sock-filled fun! Omg I gotta run around and dig out another fabulous pattern, only for myself for once.

The next skein I pulled out was PINK! Like my room! Haha it's imported alpaca that was hand dyed that beautiful color, and I have four whole skeins of it to myself!

Last, but by no means least, as it is possibly my favorite, was two big fat skeins of hand spun beige llama, from when my aunt used to own a llama ranch! It's so pretty...I'm thinking something aran-ish, but I'm not sure yet. Regardless, it will all be safe in my stash while I figure it out :)

Thanks again Aunt Nancy!

Lot's and Lot's of News!

Ok, for starters here's the promised Froot Loop pic.

I know you can't see the pattern at all, but we were rushing home from karate, and my recipient/model has started JV swimming and is too sore to stand for very long. Excuse the pants in the way, our uniforms were still on.

Anyway, I babysat my two younger cousins for two days so the oldest could stay at a friend's house, and as I sat on the couch with my first Monkey sock they all ended up bringing out various projects of their own. They all sat down with me, and soon were asking if we could start a knitting group. Later that day, I was chaperoning a trip to the yarn section of Ben Franklin, supervising the purchase of yarn and the appropriate needles, and doling out patterns from the library I am attempting to build.

My sister is working on a shawl for our older cousin's baby, with some ambitious finishing for her consisting of backing the shawl and embroidering the baby girl's name onto the fabric. I didn't attempt that at her skill level, and although she refuses to acknowledge the fact that a quarter yard won't be enough to back the whole shawl, I'm proud of her for doing her own thing. I have a feeling she'll get into free forming as she learns more and more about garment construction.

The middle cousin was working on a rectangular shawl for her mom, with stripes of normal and reverse stockinette in kinky white cotton. She desperately wanted it over with and begged me to think of any way at all she could end it NOW. I suggested a doll blanket, so she happily cast off and handed it to my sis for her American Girl doll. She picked up a ball of sock yarn at the store, and with my size 2 US needles and a written copy of one of my patterns, she's working on a sweater each for her and her sister's American Girls.

The youngest had been knitting a simple potholder, a solution to avoid a whole scarf, but her yarn tangled and she cut it off. So at Ben Franklin, she grabbed two skeins of Grande yarn in white and navy, her school colors, and size 13 US needles for a striped school spirit scarf. (She also got some thick woolly tweed I'm unbelievably jealous of, and will have to buy at some point before it sells out).

I? Well...sock yarn for a change...haha I was restricted to two skeins each of different brands by my wallet, and had to pass up that gorgeous tweed :( I think I'm starting to understand that lecture I received from my mom before we left. Something about me never having money, and a yarn addiction...nope never mind. There's no way she was talking to me. She must have been on the phone with someone. I also finished one of the Monkey socks, and aside from varying tightness in my kitchener stitch that made for a wonky toe, they look fairly good. I like the lace pattern a lot, and knitting thought the back loops of the picked-up gusset stitches works better than I had expected. I could kick myself for not listening to that advice when I heard it months ago. The heel was giving me aneurysms for not being reinforced, but I think it would take attention from the lace and we wouldn't want that, now would we? Besides, tall-ish socks look funny in shoes. I prefer to bum around the house in them, where a reinforced heel isn't needed. I can only hope my friend agrees with me.

And by the way...Ugg boots are really comfy with hand knit socks for anyone interested. Just thought I'd throw it out there.

Temporary Deviation

Oh my gooseness Phelps broke the record with EIGHT gold medals in a single Olympics!

Now back to knitting...

Like I said earlier I can't say much about my current project, since it's my youngest cousin's Christmas gift. I can say a bit though, like it's made out of variegated Super Saver in a tan and raspberry pink colorway that's super cute, and it's constructed out of mitered garter stitch squares all knit in one piece. Her sister will probably receive a replica made out of a blue-and-brown colorway, and while I know their brother's present will be green-and-brown and the same type of garment, I need to find a more manly pattern for him. :) I don't think he'd appreciate receiving the same item as his sisters.

I was completely geeking out earlier, oh wow. I decided to check out the Llamas and Llambs Boutique web page, a really nice yarn and craft store my great aunt owns out in Oregon. I was checking out the list of suppliers for fiber and needles, and oOoOoOoOo I almost swooned when I saw all of the names I covet! Cascade? I've never used it, but the colors are b-e-a-u-tiful! (To quote Bruce Almighty). Opal sock yarn? Crystal Palace? As I said-geeking out. If I actually saw the shop I'd probably start drooling. If I ever can afford a plane ticket to Oregon I'll have to bring a bucket.

Well it's my little cousin's birthday party today, so getting dressed sounds like a nice idea. (Of course, some non-secret knitting project will be stashed in my purse)!