Snow Socks

It has been snowing like crazy here in Seattle for a week now. As I type, it is snowing again.

 

I took the above picture from my backdoor. It shows an accumulation of all the snow we've had since a week ago yesterday. I'm guessing it is a least a foot of snow.

 

There is a crust of about an 1/8 of an inch to 1/4 of an inch over the top of the snow which you can see broken up from where my dog, Pachebel, walked when I let her out earlier.

 

She was none to fond to be outside!

 

The snow has been good for one thing though. I was able to finish a pair of socks that I started when I was teaching a friend how to knit socks. If you think your monitor is off or the lighting in my picture is off, because the two socks are different shades, you'd be wrong. They are actually different shades of the same colorway. One of the socks is much darker then the other. Something I didn't notice until I started knitting the second one. Don't know if they are from different dyelots or not since I threw away one of the ball bands.

The yarn is Lane Cervinia Calzetteria and I used size 1 DPNs. I just used a K2P2 stitch pattern. I like to knit socks with that stitch pattern because it is easy to remember and is pretty forgiving in size. Since they are socks I'm not to worried that they are so different in shade. Not many people will seeing them on my feet anyway!

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!

Los Monos Locos Finished

 

I finished my Los Monos Locos socks this morning. I know, I know. I should be working on my Ravelmpics Japanese Cable Cushion Cover, but it was hot and I have no AC, and the thought of a pile of Alpaca yarn in my lap did not appeal to me!

I finished the knitting last night and the weaving in ends this morning. I knit each separately and once again one is bigger then the other. It is longer and wider because the stitches are larger. Ugh! I'm really going to have to try knitting 2 socks at the same time again. When I tried it back in February and March I was just going through the beginning of my break up when I couldn't eat, sleep, or hardly concentrate. Maybe now that I'm a bit better, I can do it.

 

I do like the Los Monos Locos pattern better then the original Monkey. The original has a lot of purling, where as Los Monos Locos does not.

I'm not too thrilled with the color of the yarn of these Blue Moon STR yarn. However, I did buy them at their seconds sale last year, so maybe they weren't up to snuff for them either. All my other skeins had wonderful colors though.

I think these socks will be my at home or in boots shoes. I don't think I'll be showing them off by wearing clogs.

But I am glad I'm done, because now I can start on another pair of socks. I think I'm going to start a pair with either my Duet sock yarn or my Noro sock yarn. The colors in both are beautiful. And I'm going to try knitting both at the same time. Please wish me luck on that!

Broadripple Socks

I finished a pair of Broadripple Socks tonight. I did an afterthought heel instead of a heel flap and I like it so much better. I think I'm going to do all my socks with an afterthought heel from now on. I used this Afterthought Sock pattern(PDF) as a guide on how to knit the heel.

The socks are knit with Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight. The color is called Hen Pecked I just love how they turned out. And they feel comfy too!

 

Pachebel approves!

Current WIPs

I'm making progress on Mr Greenjeans. At first I was a little worried that I was making it too small and the the armholes would be too tight. But when I tried it on I was hiking it up all the way to my neck. The sweater design is a v-neck and there is still a button band to pick up and knit. So when I take that into account, and try it on the way I'll actually wear it, it fits fine.

Now I am a little worried about the bottom half being wide enough. I did pick the size based on the bust measurement, but my hips are a few inches wider so I think I'm going to increase now that I'm getting past the waist. I'm just not sure I know the best way to increase in the cable and ribbing pattern. Will need to look that up.

Also, I've started a toe-up sock. I used the formula from the Sock-ra-tease by Renaissance Yarns pattern to figure out the number of stitches to cast on and increase to. But I'm not sure I want to do a plain stockinette stitch sock. I may do K2P2 ribbing on the top of the sock for a better fit. I have another pair of socks that I did that way and I like how they fit.

I don't want to make this pair of socks too complicated because I'm going to knit both socks at the same time on two circulars. I'm tired of my socks not being the same size and so I'm hoping that by knitting them at the same time I'll avoid having significantly different tension.

I've finished the first sock's increases and I'm going to cast on the second sock tonight. Then I'll move both socks to the circulars and start knitting them at the same time. I may try the afterthought heel on these too. I haven't been completely satisfied of either version of heel gussets I've knitted on socks so far. Maybe I'll like this version better.

Finished Gifts

Yesterday I finished My So Called Scarf for my MIL's birthday which is next week. I need to send it priority this week so it will get there on time.



I also finished Hedgerow Socks for my mom which I gave to her today for her birthday.



I had her try on her Wickedly Foolish cardigan and I'm really bummed because it isn't wide enough. It is okay at the bust but I need to add about 4 more inches around the stomach and lengthen it by another 4 inches. So I'm going to have to rip out a ton of rows. I have no idea if I'll get it done for Xmas now.

I just can't face the ripping and reknitting right now. So I startd the Hoodie Scarf to take my mind off it. I'm using Cascade 220 in Maroon. I wanted a smallish project that I can carry with me and knit at knitting group.

Monkey Socks Complete

Just completed tonight! I love how these turned out.

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.
Yarn: Fly*Dyed Shoefly, Petrol - 1 Skein

First Monkey Sock

Got the first of the pair of Monkey socks done this morning. I'm worried that I won't have enough for the second sock though.

I may knit it with one less repeat on the top of the sock. Then I'll have to take out the extra one on this sock and reknit the ribbing.


Means snipping a stitch and unraveling. But I've done it before on a sweater when I didn't like the bottom and wanted to reknit it to make it longer.

It is a bit disconcerting (wasn't I just saying it is fun to rip out other people's knitting but not your own?!?) but if you just put in a life line it works out okay and you only lose a little bit of yarn.

Monkey Socks and Sweater Progress

I've started on a new pair of socks. They are Monkey by Cookie A from the Winter 2006 issue of Knitty.

I'm using the Fly Dyed ShoeFly yarn I bought last month at the Payallup fair. This is a great yarn. If feels soft and I love how it is knitting up. It is 80% wool and 20% nylon which I prefer over 100% wool for my socks.

I've also been making good progress on the Wickedly Foolish Cardigan I'm making for my mom. I got a few more inches knitted on it at the Renton Knitting Group last night.

Sabbath is making a Wicked Cardigan too. I love the yarn she is using. It has a great color and feels yummy!

I'm thinking of knitting Silver Belle next for myself. I think it will be a wonderful challenge with all those cables and the construction of the cardigan. I've seen several finished on Ravelry that look awesome.

I'm on the lookout for just the right yarn. I want to use a quality yarn but not one that is too expensive. The pattern calls for between 1400 - 1700 yards of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. And at $8 for a 100 yard ball that means the cardigan could cost between $112 to $136. Ouch!

Andean Silk by Knit Picks is about half the cost of Debbie Bliss at $4.29 for 96 yards. It is 55% Super Fine Alpaca, 23% Silk, 22% Merino Wool. I may choose that yarn or find another suitable substitute.

I'm also thinking about an 100% wool yarn like Knit Picks Wool of the Andes ($1.99 for 110 yards) or Cascade 220 ($7 for 220 yards). I'm just worried that those may be too scratchy.

I may go to Renaissance Yarn in Kent this weekend and check out their selection of yarns. They are having a Louet Fashion Show on Saturday that sounds like fun.

On Your Toes Socks

So I've really gotten into Ravelry, a new online knitting and crotchet community. Call it the MySpace for knitters! It is in beta right now so you have to get on a waiting list in order to join. I signed up in July and got my invitation last week. So it was about a two 2 month wait.

My user name is RhondaB, so if you are already on, you could add me as a friend ;)
My designer page is http://www.ravelry.com/designers/rhonda-bell. All I have up on my designer page is the Wrist Warmer Generator I created. But now that I have a place to publish patterns to, I may get motivated to try out some designs I've been thinking about.

Anyway, one of the things you do is post all your projects to a notebook to keep track of them. You include the pattern source, yarn used, needle used, and comments. There are then links to other people who made the same pattern or used the same yarn.

You can also associate blog entries with each project. So that is the motivation for this post.

This is a first of a pair of socks I started in July. They are toe up socks from a pattern in the Summer 2007 issue of Interweave. The pattern is "On Your Toes Socks" by Ann Budd. I've started the second pair but I'm just past the toes.

I got distracted from them when the yarn for my Josephine Top came and I started knitting on that project.

I think they will be a great project to take to my knitting group meetings because they are small and a rather easy knit. I'll just have to work on the heel section at home because I need to concentrate when I do that part. But the rest of the sock is ribbing or stockinette, so I should be able to chat without messing up.

I can't remember the name of the yarn I'm using. I bought it at the Artisian store in Burnet before I left Texas. I'm hoping I'll see the same yarn at a store here so I can put it in my Ravelry notebook.

The thing about Ravelry though, is that I spend time on there when I could be knitting!

Ankle Socks

I've started knitting socks. This is one of the third pair I've knitted in the last month.

I have another pair using the same yarn but they are crew style socks. I had some left over from each ball so I'd thought I'd try some toe up socks to insure I had enough yarn.

I specifically bought the latest issue of Interweave Knit for the Ann Budd article on toe-up socks. I don't buy many knitting magazines much because I don't seem to end up knitting anything in them. But the toe-sock article with step-by-step directions and a chart for knitting different size socks with different gauges is worth the $7!

The directions and picture for the toe-up cast on, a Turkish or eastern cast-on, was very confusing in the article. I just couldn't figure it out. Luckily, after a little bit of surfing, I found a great tutorial on the Knitty site called Magic cast-on for toe-up socks. I used DPNs though.

Today I drove over to Burnet which is about 20 miles from where I live. I saw a yarn store listed in the latest phone directory that came out last month. It is called Artisan's and is wonderful!

Carrie owns the store and is into cleaning and carding fiber. I talked to her about doing something with the alpaca fiber we have from this year's shearing. She'd like to buy some so we might be able to work out a deal where she'll clean and card some and we'll give her some in exchange. She also knows someone who spins so we may be able to get it turned into yarn too!

Peggy works at the store and helps people with their knitting. She has somewhat informal classes on Saturdays. I may start attending one next Saturday. It will be the Road Scarf pattern from the Lion Brand's website. I'm sure I could teach myself how to do the stitches required but I like the idea of knitting with others and learning from more experienced people as well.

Peggy also told me about two groups that meet at the store. One group meets at 11 am on Fridays and the other group meets at 1 pm on Wednesdays. I'm so excited that I'll have an opportunity to get together with other knitters like I did with my groups in Austin when I worked there.

Speaking of which (or is writing as such?!?!?!), I'm going into Austin tomorrow with Amy so she can take a karate class. And I plan to go to Cafe Caffeine at 10 am for the Austin Knitting and Crochet Meet Up.