new wip – socks for my dh

first 2011 wip – hp socks for dh
looks like more frequent blogging will commence at the expense of picture quality
…look for more “lap pictures”…i’ll try for better photo shoots later

my husband’s love for knitted socks has evolved over time.  at first he wasn’t too keen on the wild colors and wooly feel. but i slowly added hand knitted socks into his drawer (and he truly appreciated the time i put into my quest to keep HIS feet warm).

anyway, knitting production dropped drastically in 2009-10 and as a result, the wool socks in his rotation were starting to wear out.  i pulled a pair with a large hole at the toe and put them in my darning pile…imagine my surprise when he pulled his foot out of his shoe – wearing the offending sock!  when asked why he was wearing them, he sheepishly replied, “my feet were cold and i HAD to wear my knitted socks!”

suffice it to say, i’m amping up knitting production on his socks.  these are knitted in a special edition harry potter colorway in hedgewig of opal.  i’m leaning toward nylon blend yarn these days since the all merino sock yarns tend to wear rather quickly.  (don’t you think so too? in fact, i’m knitting in wooly nylon into toes and heels of that yarn since i’ve had so many sock fails…er…holes…recently).

knitting notes: cuff down, co72 using long tail cast on, k2p2 cuff, start cable pattern (my own)

watermelon clown vomit

More socks are on the needles…and this time I have a picture! (forgive the lighting…my phone’s camera is a pretty poor excuse for a camera).  I realized that I am in dire need for new socks. Many of my old ones are showing signs of wear with bare spots, little holes, big holes, and felting. Yup, even the superwash socks are felting.

I normally machine wash but hang dry them…but even so…they are probably aging faster than they should. I think this may mean I will be gravitating toward german sock yarn with some sort of nylon in it.  The socks made of this type of yarn in my collection have fared best. Sigh. But I love merino superwash! Too bad I’m too lazy to hand wash!

The socks above were based on a stitch pattern I saw on Ravelry (but for the life of me can’t remember what it was from).  Here are the details:

Yarn:  from KnitPicks.com in Watermelon (aka clown vomit)
Needles: US1 dpns
Pattern: my own
Details: CO 72, k2p2 cuff, ribbed leg with single stitch cross over every 5 to 6 rows, slipped heel stitch, dec to 12 on toe, kitchener closed.
Notes: don’t you just hate the color pooling?

First 2010 WIP and Post!

<eta…I found this post marinating in my drafts and decided to post it.  yes, i realize that this was a *january* post…but, i decided to just let it out there.>

Yo.

I’m here!  I actually managed a post! (And my photostudio is still not fully functional…so I’ll be limiting the pictures initially).

As I’ve mentioned before, most of my current projects have been socks.  (Duh.)  I’ve found that I’ve settled into my favorite sock recipe…toe-up, JMCO, with wooly nylon, short row heel, JSSBO.  When I see a pattern I love, I cringe because inevitably it is missing a piece of my “goto” pattern. (Wow, that sounds pathetic, do I need out of this rut?)

<insert photo here…that is, if i ever get around to it.

the yarn is very cute, folks.  use your imagination until i move my lazy a$$>

Soxie Socks

Pattern: my own

The Great Adirondack Yarn Company Inc. Soxie in Bahama Mama

1 skein  | 360 yds : 100 g | 100 merino superwash wool

Started: January 2010

Needles: US #0 knitpicks nickel plated circulars

Notes: JMCO 12 st, inc to 30 st (60 total, cat bordhi method), navy wooly nylon knit into toe and heel, JSSBO

This is a lovely simple pattern for the yarn – a find from my most early days of knitting.  (In fact, this is the FIRST sock yarn purchase I made in person outside of my lys.  I was visiting my BFF and she took me here to support my newly found obsession.  Get this.  They only had 2 kinds of sock yarn.  Soxie and some yucky old & pilly louet gem fingering. This was of course on the cusp of the sock knitting craze).

Soxie is a beautiful 100% merino superwash.  It’s somewhat thinnish with a good twist. .  I like the yarn but doubt that I will purchase again, I don’t imagine it will hold up well because it is so soft!  In the Ravelry comments, many have mentioned bleeding – I haven’t experienced this in the least.  Nothing on my needles or fingers!  However…the first soak and wash (and wear) will tell the true tale.

I’m almost to the heel of the second sock…knit knit knit.  I will post FO pictures when I’m done!

<oh!  by the way, i’m done and the socks did NOT bleed.  i have other FO’s but i’m not sure they’ll get posted…all in due time, i guess>

more sock mojo…a photo vignette

i love it when you find the right combination!  this was attempt #2 with the variegated yarn on the right.  i have been dying to knit with the sundara yarn, too.  my records say i bought it from ebay, but i don’t remember buying it.  anyway…a photo story:

lovely yarn.

lovely pattern.

lovely start.

grey spot socks
pattern: spot check socks by beth parrot (my ravelry link)
in knitting socks with handpainted yarn
sundara sock yarn ochre over lime & cth supersock in african grey
started: january 28, 2008
needles: US 2.5 and 2.75 mm knitpicks harmony dpns
notes: started with the smaller needles…my guage gets smaller with two colors.

look! new wip!

beep! beep!!

hey you! don’t look!!

(ha! made you look!) drive by posting….

simple socks
pattern: my own (my ravelry link)
knitpicks simple stripes in vineyard
2 skeins | 231 yds : 50 g | 75 wool : 25 nylon
started: January 10, 2009
needles: US #1 2.25 mm knitpicks nickel plated options
notes: figure 8, toe up cast on 10, increased to 64.  basic 2×2 rib.

this is a discontinued yarn.  i loved the old knitpicks sock yarn.   very durable and not squeaky like the new essential.  the new essential is just okay.  and i would knit with it if i *loved* the colorway, which i do in the kettle dyes.

i happen to love knitpicks.  yarn snobs be damned!!  the lace yarns (gloss and shadow) are fantastic and while in the past the color choices were not to my taste, they are now becoming more sophisticated.  add to that the pointy and inexpensive options needles….and an obsession is born.

wooly nylon

hooray for the ability to schedule posts!!  this allows for more regular content and takes the pressure off.  it actually feels nice to be consistent with this thing.

ANYWAY…have you ever had a sock that wore thin in places?  i have.  and was i upset!  i barely even used the socks.  (sniff).  i think the problem was a combination of too loose a guage and super soft merino yarn.  the stuff is like crack but doesn’t wear like it’s nylon-blended counterparts.  (yes, i could knit in a tighter guage…and i do now!).  but there is also another solution.  wooly nylon.

wooly nylon is a a type of serger thread, i think.  you can buy it in craft stores like joann fabrics and the like.  it is relative inexpensive and comes in a multitude of colors.  i did a quick search on ravelry to see what people had to say about the stuff and i found that many sock knitters use it for their 100% merino sock yarn (the short staple and softness lend to its propensity to wear through more quickly).  it is a very thin and airy thread that you use as a carry along (or weave in) for added strength and durability. i heard that people knit it just into the soles with long floats – then cut out the floats and NOT weave in ends cuz they fuzz and stay in place!  i even read somewhere that people ply it into their handspun yarn for some elasticity!

wooley nylon still life
the purse was the most convenient back drop at the time.

now i chose this color for no particular reason.  i think i was going for neutral = will go with more yarns.  however, in the two applications that i have tried this particular color, i have been unhappy.  the first was with the knotty or knice socks.  i chose to attempt to weave it into the finished toe of one of the socks.  i found i hated this technique…too fiddly and i did not have the patience to reinforce every stitch.  plus, although it was hidden, i found it to be very ugly looking.

this time i chose to carry it along with my heel stitches.

it looks marled and messy!
see the little fuzz bug?

i’m not happy with the result…but i’m not UNhappy, either.  i just didn’t want a marled look.  hmm. if i get around to it and i like the end result, maybe i’ll buy more colors.  well, my ultimate goal was to extend the life of my socks (i LOVE the yarn and feel of the finished product, you see).  so we’ll see how that works out.  more details to come on this sock…

what have your exeriences been with wooly nylon?

the one where i talk about earth day….late

so you’ll notice that earth day was actually on 22 april 08 and not today. actually, it’s the day after earth day but you’re reading this a week or so later because i can schedule publishing of my posts. i’m making the effort to be more consistent. and instead of posting, say, every three days or every other day, i’ll write up a rash of posts so that there will be fresh content consistently.. at least that is the plan. (you see, i can only write when inspired and i can’t schedule to be inspired every other day…so says the drama queen slash ar-TIST).

anyway…green is the color of the moment. it’s spring!! how can you NOT want to see it everywhere? so fresh, so clean, so beautiful! it’s inspiring. it’s no wonder then, that i would want to make the effort to preserve this freshy-goodness. yes recycling folks. i’m not one to get up on a soapbox and lecture you about the virtues of consumerism. hell, i’m probably more guilty of it than most who will read this post. but a little effort on everyone’s part will make a difference. don’t think you’ll make a difference? try this attitude shift.

we quietly celebrated earth day by reaffirming our committment to the mantra: reduce, reuse, recycle!! then i knit green. (um. mostly just green yarn…but get this….)

lamb’s pride yarn label – 100% recyclable!!

i’ve also started another project. admittedly, it’s the wrong time to knit it but i’ve been itching to start so i cast on. i’ve been sweating bullets with this monster on my lap:

oscar, the green monster
pattern: einstein coat by sally melville in the knit stitch
lamb’s pride bulky in old sage
9 skeins | 125 yds : 4 oz | 85 wool : 15 mohair
started: april 21, 2008
needles: US #10 knitpicks nickel plated options
notes: miles and miles of garter (dear lord when will it end!!)

oooo….and check out this green stuff

yummy by fibranatura
100% superwash merino | 130 g : 370 yds | 4 skeins
purchased at knitter’s mercantile, columbus, oh

the plan for this yarn is an oversize stole that will double as a blanket on car trips and plane rides where the AC is on overdrive. i can’t wait to knit it up…i just need to find a pattern soon.

go green!

hello scarf

scarves have traditionally not been know to hold my attention. well, they’re so rectangular. and the monotony just kills me. but given my knitting mojo has been waning, and the fact that i’ve been itching to knit with my kp gloss yarn…i think i’ve found a nice little pattern to keep my knitting A-D-D at bay.

the lace ribbon scarf by veronik avery (ravelry link) from knitty.com.

once you get through the pattern repeat, you start to blaze through the rest of the scarf. i’m almost up to 20″ after the biggest loser finale and a night ‘on call’. this will make great car/travel knitting…it’s hard to make a mistake once you get a hang of the pattern. and BONUS!! i can knit backwards on non-patterned rows.

lace ribbon scarf
pattern: the lace ribbon scarf by veronik avery
knit picks gloss in cocoa
2 skeins | 220 yds : 50 g | silk merino 4 ply
started: april 13, 2008
needles: 1 – #3 (3.25 mm) knitpicks nickle plated fixed circs

incidentally do you have any other favorite lace scarf patterns for fingering weight yarns? i think i’m going to have knit more scarves!

noro kureyon sock yarn

just because i haven’ been online doesn’t mean i haven’t heard about the relatively new noro sock yarn.

as an aside, i must say that i am SO elated that the sock craze is still going strong. my lys’s all have decent, even spectacular selections of sock yarn. my heart goes a-pitter-patter just thinking about the possibilities. remember when it was so hard to get your hands on some good sock yarn?!? not so much anymore!

where was i? oh yes, noro sock yarn. i caved immediately when i saw it on the shelf. what’s that?…oh, yes, i know it’s not superwash. i broke one of my cardinal rules of knitting socks. but it’s noro! who can resist the color? here is the colorway i got from my lys in columbus:

noro kureyon sock yarn, color S164
70% wool : 30% nylon | 100 g : 420 m | 1 skein
purchased at heavenly creations

um….i also caved and bought another skein of it when i spied it at a lys in greensboro, nc.

noro kureyon sock yarn, color xxx
70% wool : 30% nylon | 100 g : 420 m | 1 skein
purchase on vaca in greensboro, nc

aren’t the colors just gorgeous? so saturated. so noro. since i’m not so much a sweater person i’ve never even considered buying any type of noro. their yarn didn’t fit my scope of projects (um, socks) and while the colorways are almost all beautiful, they were too bold for my conservative tastes….in a sweater or accessory….but not for a sock!

from what i’ve read over at ravelry, people have a sort of love/hate relationship with this yarn. it is a thinnish, single-ply yarn that is overspun, often twisting back on itself and has a sticky feel when it moves through your fingers. the yarn also has spots of underspun areas; when these are knit up you can see a definite change in the texture of the fabric. still the colors are so beautiful it’s hard to resist! Despite the ‘cons’, many people still find their finished projects to be worth the (figurative and literal) pain of knitting with kureyon sock.

for my first round with kureyon sock i attempted a figure 8 cast on for a pair of basic toe-up socks. i started with knitpicks harmony dpns but the yarn would not cooperate. i would normally cast on very loosely then tighten up the stitches later; but the yarn was so sticky it turned this process into sheer torture. i immediately put it down and walked away. i didn’t want to be disappointed.

the same evening i decided to try a slicker needle and a more stable cast-on. but which one? a light bulb went off in my head when i was browsing my bookshelf for sock patterns suitable for the long color repeats of the yarn. cat bordhi herself endorses judy’s magic cast on as her favorite for toe-up socks. how perfect! and if you get it right, you end up with a perfectly tensioned cast-on with no fiddley-ness.

noro cables & corrugation socks
pattern: cables and corrugations by cat bordhi from new pathways…
in noro kureyon sock yarn color #S164
started: april 4, 2008
needles: 1 – 32″, 2.0mm knitpicks circular needle

the fabric is somewhat stiff and scratchy; but i suppose i could go up a needle size…my worry is that the thin areas will wear disproportional to the thicker parts. we’ll see if the yarn holds my attention long enough to finish a pair of socks off. i’ll let you know how it goes!!

edit: after catching up on some of my favorite podcasts, i’ve learned that i’m not original in thinking that this pattern will go well with the colorway…and…i’m far from the first to feel ‘meh’ about the yarn. maybe my second skein will turn into a scarf? what do you think?

riding the wave…

remember i said in my last post that i had started another project before bellamonkey? actually, i tried to start a number of lace shawls. ‘tried’ being the operative word. and why wouldn’t i? the lace diamond stole was so fantastic! i wanted a shawl in every color!!

for me, though, the marriage of yarn and pattern is a sort of magical thing. i’ll troll for patterns through books, magazines and on the web, mentally noting what piques my interest. then i’ll browse the lys or e-tailers or the stash for yarn that catches my fancy. when doing one or the other, suddenly inspiration strikes, the stars align and poof! an obsession is born. at least 99% of the time. and at least until the first sock is born.

the other 1% i find a project that i love and (cough) plan to knit it up. admittedly, much less magical, but these projects also exist. meet clapotis.

2nd wave clapotis
in knitpicks bare fingering 100% merino
started: october 2007
needles: US #4 knitpicks options circular needles
notes: zzzzzzzzzzzzz

i have always wanted the have the clap (snort – sorry, i know that’s been overplayed but, come on, let a gal have some fun!). i saw clapotis as a way to stash bust. but, my stash is almost exclusively sock yarn in sock quantities. not so much with the choices. my second problem lies in the fact that i wanted a dark….scratch that….a black shawl/scarf. i may be thirty-ish but my eyes belong in a 90 year old’s eye sockets. that would be just asking for a migraine. (excuse me, waiter, i’ll have a migraine with some blurry vision. but, can you serve that on the side?).

i really wanted to make this project. it’s almost like a knitting milestone.

oh, you started knitting when? that’s fantastic! you must have knitted clapotis, didn’t you?!?

i wanted to be able to say yes to that question and be one of the hundreds that participated in the knitting web community. (i realize i have a blog…but clapotis is more than that i guess. i mean, i’m not the only one who wants to knit it). anyway, i had some kp bare lying around. it isn’t superwash so i didn’t want to dye it up for socks…instead i decided to use it for this project.

since the yarn is so plain i think the magic of clapotis is lost on me. I AM GOING TO FINISH IT, THOUGH. i’m about halfway through. i’m just not so obsessed like some people (it looks awesome carol!). once i dye it black i foresee it being used many times over.