In the new year

Some gifts got made on time during the holiday season & delivered on time:

Hill Country Hat
Knit Picks Swish Bulky in Squirrel Heather
1 extra repeat of pattern

Some gifts got made in time, but not exactly delivered on time, but then that was an address thing:

Scarf to coordinate with the Norwegian Star Hat - motif on the 2 ends only
Knit Picks Swish DK in Coal & Dove Heather
size 8 & 9 KP circs
CO 64 & knit in the round for 60"

Some didn't make it on time & stilll need to get to the giftee:

Baudelaire by Cookie A
Curious Creek Wasonga in Ruby Slippers - special put up of 78 g/360 yds for a Woolgirl kit
size 2.50 mm KP circs
pattern size small - for my cousin

mods:
- Judy's Magic Cast On for the toes
- sl1, k1 on right side of reverse heel flap

Despite that, I somehow have an extra. This'll be for next year:

Burberry Inspired Cowl
Patons Shetland Chunky Tweed in Charcoal
size 10 KP circs
4 repeats

Since it's a fun & quick pattern, I foresee 1-2 more of these for future gifts, maybe in a drapier yarn.

So I'm now onto a little bit of selfish knitting for me.  Though Monkey1 had decided this is now hers:

Wesley
pattern size 2
The Fibre Company Organik in Magma, Desert Canyon & Heather Moorland
no mods

This is definitely for me, though it's in need of blocking:

Ishbel by Ysolda Teague

Madelinetosh Pashmina in Tart

size 6 KP circs

pattern size small

mod: Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind off

I have quite a bit left over, I may see if I can make the matching Ishbel beret.  

Hope everyone had a nice start to the new year and wishing everyone health & happiness in the upcoming year.

knit.sock.love

I'm so excited that Cookie A has her new book out on her website available for hard copy pre-order and pdf download. I knit one sample pair and test knit another:

new pattern: Wedge

yarn: Socks that Rock lightweight in Mr Greenjeans

size 2.50 mm KP circs

I loved how Mr Greenjeans knit up so much in this pattern that I saved my own skein of Mr Greenjeans for my own pair.  I'll be digging this out of my stash & winding this up to knit ASAP.

Also in her book are 12 (I think) previously published patterns that were re-written for more sizes and different presentation.  In some cases, like the Thelonious sock pattern that I test knit, Cookie improved the charts so they're much easier to read.  I bought the original Thelonious when it was first released, but never got around to it since I wanted to find a good copier that could increase the chart size w/o losing print integrity.  The charts had all the sizes on it & were hard to read in their original size. 

However, my caveat is that attention to marker placement is a must for Thelonious and also Strikken, based on a few comments by other test knitters working on Strikken concurrently with us Thelonious test knitters.

While I've only taken pics of the first sock for the test knit, the pair is completed.

pattern: Thelonious (knit.sock.love version)

yarn: Shelridge Farms Soft Touch Heather in Highland Mist

size: medium

needles: 2.25 mm Signature Stilletto dpns

mods: none since I was test-knitting

Ten on Tuesday

Nartian-style:


One, Two, & Three:
One more newborn sun hat & 2 pairs of coordinating baby booties for a couple California summer babies, all in need of a wash & block. (The almond sun hat's a previous FO, so I'm not counting it.) -
Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Almond & Stone - yeah, it's summer, but I am so over this yarn at the moment
size 5 & 7 KP circs
A Sun Hat & Waves of Baby Booties (seamless!)


Four:
A finished pair of Lindsays from Cookie A's Sock Innovation -
size 2.50 mm KP Harmony dpns - I broke one of them doing a k3tog
Hand Jive Nature's Palette in Medium Indigo


Five:
Cascadia Sock One (pardon the un-woven end)-
STR lightweight in Happy Go Lucky
Rockin' Sock Club Jan 2010 kit
size 2.25 mm KP circs
Finally trying Jenny's surprisingly stretchy bind-off. Like!


Six:
My informal foray into Tour de Fleece w/my avfkw Polwarth on my Kundert spindle. Doing a 2-ply & it's coming out sport/DK-ish, but it needs to be washed & thwacked.


Seven:
Sunshine Yarns merino tencel roving in Stained Glass - pretty!


Eight:
Golding Cherry Tsunami spindle - Love!


Nine:
Navajo-ply on the fly using my new Golding & the merino-tencel - Going slowly since this is my first foray into a wool blend, though not my first wool blend roving purchase.


Ten:
3G Woodworks custom-requested Curly Koa spindle -
It has a larger shaft than I expected. I'm guessing the shaft & whorl shape makes it more center-weighted as opposed to the more rim-weighted Kundert & Golding. So while this spins very fast, it doesn't spin long. This will take a lot of getting used to. I think I'll have to go back to park & draft 'til I figure out a way to adjust my method so I'm happy with this. It's definitely a lesson for me to do a little more research (found a Ravelry comment after about the larger diameter shaft) and not be lured by my desire for a spindle made of koa.

I've been better focused

When one of the Cookie A Ravelry fan groups began the year-long KAL for all her socks in Sock Innovation, I told myself that I would knit my own pair of Lindsays, the pair I sample knit. Unfortunately, I'm a month behind and only one sock to show for it.


Lindsay right sock
size 2.50 mm KP Harmony dpns
Hand Jive Knits Nature's Palette in Medium Indigo - stash yarn from a lys closing


Mods:
Knitting per Cookie's original instructions since I don't believe Interweave had published the errata for their omissions to the editing. What's missing? These instructions:

The definition for ssskp: slip stitch knitwise 3 times, knit 1, pass 3 slipped stitches over

and:

Leg: Set-up round: K2, p2, (k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k3)5 times, p2.

Begin working from Pattern chart, beginning with row 2, as follows: K2, p2, work in Pattern to last 2 stitches of round, p2.

Continue in established pattern until Leg measures 6-7 inches...

So, why haven't I finished 1) my Basic Chic Hoodie (I am on the hood part at least) and 2) the left Lindsay sock? The test knitter in me came out and volunteered to test knit Sam's Vancouver stole.


Unfortunately, the Dream in Color (DIC) Smooshy I chose was too thin to meet gauge. I tried finding the same combination of colors in DIC Classy locally, but all the lys that I was willing to drive to that stocked DIC didn't have the same colorways I needed (Romeo Blue, Spring Tickle, and Cinnamon Girl).

So instead I was drawn to the madelinetosh Tosh DK (formerly worsted) yarn that is a staff pick for June at Article Pract:


Left to Right: Nikko Blue, Chamomile, Magenta (which is/was a bear to photograph as it kept tending to photograph blue-purple instead)


This new combo gives me more of a tropical feel than my original more sedate combo, but rather than Hawaiian scenery, it reminds me more of the explosion of colored silks in the local streets markets in Indonesia (Bali, especially). I do like it as well. And to keep me motivated to finish by the end of the month deadline, I finally used my x-mas gc DH got me from Purlescence Yarns to buy the Cricket Loom I've been wanting for awhile. Once I'm done with the test knit, I'm definitely assembling my loom. Oh, and finishing my other WIPs.

Raven Swirl

RSC November 2009
Raven Swirl by Cookie A - medium
Socks that Rock lightweight in Blackbird
size 2.25 mm KP nickel-plated dpns


unintentional mod:
1 extra repeat of the cuff because I wasn't paying attention and kept knitting on before realizing I should be doing the traveling panel portion of the leg.

And that's all I've got 'cause we've got a new member of the family:


Lots of re-arranging to puppy-proof the house for Monkey1's little Andrew. He's already snagged a stitch of my Beached LSS Shawl that Jazz, but luckily we caught him in time and no damage was done to either cute puppy or shawl. Whew.

Summertime & the living is easy?

Not necessarily, but stockinette stitch surely is.


Tiered Skirt from Barefoot Knits book
Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in:
Cotton Ball, Carribean Sea & Emperor's Robe
size 7 KP circs

Converted the pattern to top down & in the round. Also upsized the circumference to size 12/14. As with Monkey2's Twirly Skirt, I knit the waistband closed 'cept for a 1-2" gap to insert the elastic as I knit along. Did not porportionally increase the length 'cause I figured the Cotton Fleece already would be heavy. I've already adjusted the elastic band 3 times to keep the skirt from slipping. I'll have to adjust it one more time based on Monkey1's feedback after she wore it to her summer program before I washed/blocked it.

And when I did wash/block it, despite the white vinegar the dark blue bled like the dickens unlike Monkey2's pink/red Tiered Skirt. I found that totally ironic. Maybe I didn't add enough vinegar as Monkey1's skirt is much bigger.

Also done are:


Kai Mei from Cookie A's Sock Innovation
Pigeonroof Studios Siren Two sock in Midnight Haze
size 2.50 mm KP circs


I had major Second Sock Screw Up Syndrome with the left sock. For some reason I couldn't keep track of either my gusset decreases nor the paired increase/decrease stitches to make the lace panel travel. Even using tally marks on a piece of paper didn't help. While I re-did the gusset at least once, buy the time I got to the end of the foot, I lost patience & kinda winged the fix.

In any case, with the super soft merino/cashmere/nylon blend, I'll most likely wear this pair around the house rather than out & about in a pair of shoes.

Oh, and speaking of Cookie A, check out the website for her second book! Tapmouse picked up a copy of the flyer at Sock Summit and showed it to me. My sample sock isn't in any of the pics, but it is a variation so to speak of one of them. Totally looking forward to next spring ('cause someone in the know told me Feb 2010 is a little to early).

Feeling caught up...

...even though not much knitting has been done due to soccer practice starting up and helping my sister move into her new place. But her moving meant I had a clear bed to block my second Ulmus finally.


yarn: Socks that Rock lightweight in Potomac & Falcon's Eye
needles: size 5 KP nickel-plated circs as opposed to the Harmony circs used on Ulmus I
pattern size: large


And since I won't be going to Sock Summit, just living vicariously through all my knitting friends that are, I don't have homework to do and can casually work on my WIP's. So far I've got one Kai Mei sock done. Have I mentioned how much I love the squishiness of Pigeonroof Studio's Siren Two sock yarn? Lurve it.

A good Thursday

I finished my May RSC sock pair just in time. Don't scroll down too far if you don't want to be spoiled with the July RSC kit.


My back is much better, but not 100% so I'm not chancing the contortions needed to take a pic of the pair on my feet.


yarn: STR lightweight in Pepe Le Plume
pattern: Fraggle Squiggle
pattern size: medium
needle size: 2.25 mm KP dpns
mods suggested by pattern designer:
- Squiggled the gusset decreases
- Patterned toe


After an aborted attempt at the Dippers pattern (cool pattern, non-pleasing-to-me fat striping of the colorway), I cast on for another pair of Cottys, this time in STR lightweight in Plankton Ooze. Much better color patterning. I will definitely re-cast on for the Dippers, just in a more semi-solid colorway.


But while at the doctor's last week, I cast on for another Cookie A sock, Kai-Mei, since I wanted something more portable than my other WIP's and much, much easier, at least for the leg. The yarn is Pigeonroof Studio's Siren Two sock yarn in Midnight Haze.


What can I say about the July RSC kit that hasn't already been said. Bright fun colorway, interesting pattern, and kick-@ss bumper sticker.