Sunday, August 17, 2008

A Swell Yarn Shop Kinda Day

**** SPOILER ALERT FOR LUCKY LURKERS --- AUGUST 2008 WELCOME PACKAGE PICTURE BELOW ****


 


Yesterday, I cast on for 2-at-a-time socks using the Opps yarn I got a couple of weeks ago from A Swell Yarn Shop which is owned by my friend Angi from my Renton Knitters group. She is an awesome yarn dyer and has the best sense of color I've seen. Her coordinating sock yarn, Duets, have the best colors!

So far the socks are coming along pretty well. I'm kinda improvising these socks as I go. But so far I've cast on 14 stitches using the brown coordinating socks yarn with size US 1 DPNs. The yarn is a deep chocolate brown. I increased every other round until I had 24 stitches. I then changed to a size US 0 circular needle and increased every other round until I got to 28 stitches. I knit a couple more rounds and then switched to the main yarn which is a combination of deep red, pink, and the chocolate brown. I knit the coordinating yarn for one round and then on the top of the sock I started knitting in K2P2.

As I was knitting these socks, I kept thinking that they look like chocolate sundae colors. Since I don't eat sugar, these socks will be the closest I'll get to a chocolate sundae, so I'm really appreciating them!

My plan is to decrease a couple stitches on each side on both the front and back of each sock now that I'm at the instep. Also, I'm going to do an afterthought heel with the coordinating yarn. I may increase back when I get to the leg, but I'll try as I go to see what I need to do.

**** SPOILER ALERT FOR LUCKY LURKERS --- AUGUST 2008 WELCOME PACKAGE PICTURE BELOW ****

















Also, yesterday, I received my welcome package from the September-October-November Lucky Lurker Yarn Club hosted by A Swell Yarn Shop. Usually, Angi doesn't send yarn in the welcome package, but this time she sent a sample 1/2 skein each of coordinating and main color yarn in her new line of sock yarn called DeKAY in a lovely colorway called Mystic Calm. It also came with a pattern called Save Your Sole Footy Pattern by Tori Barnhart.

**** SPOILER ALERT FOR LUCKY LURKERS --- AUGUST 2008 WELCOME PACKAGE PICTURE BELOW ****










 


Aren't the colors just lovely and calming looking!?! And the yarn feels fantastic. I think the twist is a bit more tight then the original DK Duet yarn. Now I need to finish up my current sock pattern so I can work wit this yarn!

4 comments:

Angela said...

So how are your side stitches coming as you do two at a time? Are they working better for you? Do you have the Basic Duet pattern? I used instep increases and decreases in it very similar to what you described!!! Those are looking so pretty!

Rhonda said...

The side stitches are going well, they aren't laddering. Yeah! I don't have the Basic Duet pattern. I think it is sold out on your site or I'd buy it. Hint, hint.

Jana said...

I am a lurker and have to comment about those great socks. I am trying the 2 at time thing too, tho I am slow as Methoosla. You are zipping right along. Great job and what a fast learner. I too love my welcome package and wound it up so I can CO that cute pattern for footlets. Keep up the good work with your sundae socks.

Knitting in the Rain said...

Ooooo! Love, love, love the welcome package! So glad that someone will be posting spoilers this round - I got totally spoiled seeing the lovely colors in person when Emiko used to bring them to knit night.