Summer knitting

If it ever gets here. While the moisture the drizzle has brought is welcome, it's a strange sight in Northern California in June.


pattern nickname: Nori (for a mermaid in Barbie Fairtopia Mermaidia, not the dried seaweed sushi wrap)
yarn: Tahki Palma & Caribbean (4 balls) & Fuchsia (1 ball)
size: somewhere in a girls 12-14 range
overall design by: Monkey1


My contribution was to add bias tape to the neckline because I purposely made it wider than the few patterns out there for conservative coverage reasons. Not sure how well the bias tape will keep the neckline from drooping over the course of a day of wearing. There's the distinct possibility that it would make the neckline too stiff and gape open. If it happens, there's going to be some ripping and re-knitting of the neckline.


Monkey1 wanted the tank top to be more close-fitting and less A-line. I wanted a little growing room, but also wanted to take cotton's droop/growth factor into account. I hope I balanced that right. I'm sure I broke a lot of cotton knitting rules however.


The spaghetti straps were Monkey1's idea which makes me nervous. I almost knit the i-cord around a piece of elastic or cord for stability, but I took a chance and decided not to. The cute decorative buttons placement were her idea since she decided against thicker straps with adjustable buttonholes.

While it was fun knitting without a pattern (not that there was one - or two if I also upsized - to deviate from), it was a little stressful for me. I didn't mind the frogging back some here and there to adjust the decreases to work for Monkey1 (cotton is so forgiving that way), but I can see how I wouldn't be cut out to be a fledging knitwear designer that needs to adjust the pattern for the whole depth & breathe of sizes per some industry standard.


Now that one of Monkey1's summer knit items is done, I'm working on Monkey2's Twirly Skirt in some Cotton Fleece I bought on sale when a lys owner closed her San Leandro location and re-opened in Alameda. I went up one size too many since I was going off finished pattern measurements noted in the INKnitter's version (now defunct) with no garment sizes noted and my inaccurate measurements of a squirmy Monkey2. I didn't double-check the Barefoot Knits site which also gave garment sizes along with the finished measurements, otherwise I would've gone for the correct size. With a little help from some elastic tape, at least she'll have lots of growing room. And worse comes to worse, the Twirly Skirt is also billed as a poncho.

Swatching around

In between whittling down my sock WIP list, tapmouse & I were having a little bit of fun combining various STR skeins for the STR Ulmus KAL on Ravelry.

My first choice based on a stash pic I took a few months back is Dutch Canyon & Mossay:


My original second choice was Potomac and Petrified Wood. I discovered this while rooting around my stash and talking to tapmouse about her potential Potomac combinations.


She then suggested Potomac & Mossay, while perfectly fine, didn't give me the aha! or instant love reaction for me.


So then I started seeing knitters starting their Ulmus,' especially tapmouse's Footzey Foo & Harlotty combo and someone's Petrified Wood & Lucky combo and was inspired to try Potomac and Falcon's Eye. Now this was interesting.


So the swatching began with Dutch Canyon/Mossay first:


I then started the Potomac/Falcon's Eye swatch with the intention of also swatching Potomac & Petrified Wood, but because my Dutch Canyon/Mossay was already coming out deeper & darker than I had anticipated, I decided to stop with just the 2 swatches.


In fact, I've already decided that both swatches will eventually become full-blown Ulmus shawl/shawlettes (depending how far I get with the lightweight yardage). What'll be fun & interesting is when I get further along to take a pic of the "back" side of the shawl. Sometimes, the color combo on the reverse side is just as interesting, if not more so.


While up at the cabin for the long holiday weekend, we stopped in downtown Sonora to do some business. Usually we drive through downtown on the way to one of our family adventures, so I took the opportunity to drag the family into By Hand Yarn which I've only managed to get to once before. It's a really nice roomy lys in the Sierra foothills.


I went in with the intention of just browsing & checking out stuff for inspiration when I momentarily fell off the yarn diet wagon. I will say however, that I forgot that my Monkeys can be quite the yarn enablers. Monkey1 directed my attention away from their Shibui stock (no Wasabi!) to a cute little baby sundress store sample done in the Caribbean & Fuchsia colors in Tahki Palma yarn. It's their new organic cotton yarn (I assume the base only as I'm doubtful of the dyes are) and the store sample felt quite lovely.


I grabbed what was left of the Caribbean & a few Fuchsias in hopes that I have enough for a tank top for Monkey1. I'm sorta winging it based on a couple free online patterns & my gauge since Monkey1 is in that dreaded tween size range where there are barely any free or pay patterns around.

May RSC kit

As usual, I'm throwing up a few non-Rockin' Sock Club pics up first so that my fellow club members who haven't gotten their kit yet can avoid spoilers if they so choose.


Pixie Park lightweight in skein form.


Pixie Park opened up.


Pixie Park purposely knit up a little snug to avoid striping. Not sure you can see it, but it stripes in the 2x2 ribbed cuff. It also striped when I accidently decreased down to 66 instead of 64 sts on the foot. However, I did rip the foot back when I noticed the error so I don't think I have any photgraphic evidence of it.

I can also get STR lightweight to stripe when I use 2.50 mm needles at 64 sts in St st. I am not, however, as experienced with making the mediumweight stripe or not on my command since I prefer to play with the lightweight.


pattern: Sock Recipe by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka The Yarn Harlot
size 2.25 mm KP Harmony circs


Needless to say, I love my May RSC kit.


And it's no wonder that I was one of the many mentioned (Even Cat Bordhi liked it. ;) ) who asked for Carrie's Rare Gems to be replicated. All I needed to do was look at one of the skeins I dyed at Sock Camp. I obviously love that section of the color wheel.


It was a pleasant surprise since I expected all our lobbying to culminate in the colorway being added to the website at some point in the future. I'm totally looking forward to knitting this up and see what it does in JC's fun pattern.

Tested by a Nebula

Sometimes, supposedly knitting a second sock at a "relaxed" pace doesn't always mean things go smoothly. I've had to tink & rip back so many more times on the second sock (the right) than the time-crunched test-knit-on-a-tight-deadline left sock. Apparently, relaxed doesn't mean I'm allowed to lose my focus on the pattern. But I'm happy the pair is done.


Nebula by Cookie A
pattern size medium
Dream in Color Smooshy in Wisterious
size 2.75 (US 2) Knit Picks nickel-plated dpns

only mod: less pointy toe


With the long holiday weekend, I get to get a bunch of knitting done & finally finished my first Cat Bordhi secret sock as well. The foot construction is her new sock architecture to be released via book form at Sock Summit.


The varying blues & blacks of the STR Rare Gem lightweight I bought at Sock Camp reminded me of how the Pacific Ocean changes colors as you gaze at it from a tropical beach - from the turquoise & aqua shades near the shore to the dark blue of the deep ocean, to the black shadows on the surface caused by the clouds overhead. So I ended up nicknaming the Rare Gem My Deep Blue Sea. I then decided the Crest of the Wave pattern (using the chart in More Sensational Knitted Socks) more fitting than the 2 Cat patterns I initially had in mind for the leg.

Jubilant Shawl

I finished the shawl on Mother's Day, but didn't get around to blocking it 'til the next day. Monkey1 decided to be the model rather than the photographer, so scale the shawl against a 4'9" grade school child.


Shawl that Jazz by Samro, one of the loveliest knitters around
BMFA BFL Sport in Jubilation - ~1.35 skeins
size 9 & 11 KP Harmony circs
version: the rufflier one


I was initially concerned about a slight difference between the 2 skeins I had bought at Sock Camp. (Pic immediately below.) Since it was a last minute buy (as in the last day before BMFA packed up), I rushed through and didn't check carefully. With the shaping involving short rows, it would've been a total PITA to alternate the 2 skeins, so I took a chance and started with just one.

It didn't matter at the end because I didn't need to start the second skein 'til the edging. (Obviously, gauge came to the rescue 'cause I knit a little tighter than the pattern spec.)


What it look like unblocked:


And as a Mother's Day gift to myself I got another Namaste Laguna in Eggplant from Woolgirl's Mother's Day sale. I was definitely in a color-coordinating mood.


One of these days, I will knit a matching pair of socks in the Jubilation mill end that I got at Stitches West the month before Sock Camp which matches so well. Sometimes it's more surprising when hand dyed yarns actually do match across fibers and dye lots.

Now back to my sock WIP's which haven't moved forward very quickly and to a new shawl KAL. Ulmus, here I come.

Pixies, Roses & Stars

I don't mean to be all about the sock knitting, but I somehow started way too many and I'm in the mood to finish some so my WIP number is closer to my comfort level.

Did I mention Rogue Roses is a fast pattern? That and it's in medium weight. The only issue I have is because I didn't start the second sock at the "same" spot in the color progression and knowing my gauge for the second leg would be different than the first, the second leg vertically flashed, with much of the orange, even tempered with the pink, ending up in the front. It's a bit uncomfortable for me, but not so much that I want to rip it out & start over. Also, the foot patterning of the second ended up close enough to the first.


Recap:
March Rockin' Sock Club Kit
pattern: Rogue Roses by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka The Yarn Harlot)
pattern size: medium
yarn: Socks That Rock medium weight in Gertrude Skein
needle sizes: 2.50 mm KP metal dpns (for the inside of the picot hem) & 2.75 mm KP metal dpns for the rest orf the sock
no mods otherwise


Also completed is my Pixie Park plain vanilla sock. Started on our Disneyland trip and worked on off and on since then, with a few rows of practicing the Yarn Harlot's lever method here and there. I finally got around to finishing off the toe. Since it's my only vanilla sock WIP, the second sock will also be worked on intermittently with the occasional row or 2 of lever knitting.


The Yarn Harlot's sock recipe
STR lightweight in Pixie Park
size 2.25 mm KP Harmony circs (got my replacement for the one that broke)


Part of the reason why the second vanilla sock will be done at a casual pace is that I need to pace myself with this sock.


Nebula by Cookie A - available on her website today!
Dream in Color Smooshy in Wisteria
size 2.75 mm KP dpns to get 8 spi
Left sock in the medium size
No mods as this was my test knit
test knit period for test sock: April 14 to April 19


With all the twisted stitches and cabling, the test knit period was a little tough on my hands. So to avoid hand fatigue and to try to address my other issues with Smooshy, the right sock will be going at a more leisurely pace.

Despite the lovely color palette and squooshiness of the yarn, I have a distinct dislike for knitting it into socks for some reason. I love Dream In Color's worsted weight, but the Smooshy requires a lot more work than I want to do to get the gauge or the fabric I want. Unfortunately, I succumbed to the lemming rush for this yarn when it became much more widely available and bought way too many without knitting one first. I am somewhat at a loss as to what to do with the rest of my Smooshy stash. I've got a bunch for Jeanie, but that's a stole. I seem to be okay with knitting Dream In Color Baby (uh, whenever I get back to the second half of my MS4), so I am assuming I should be okay knitting the Smooshy as a lace yarn.

I also am having an aversion to destash for some reason. I have not had a bad swap or cp (custom purchase) in either my makeup or knitting experience, but my inner voice tells me that I am due for one. So I am avoiding destashing for a long while, if not permanently, unless it's with close knitterly friends. The only option for the rest of the single skeins for now is to use them doubled to make hats & fingerless mitts instead of socks.

A Roguish Rose

My knitting focus is not as it usually is, but at least I'm back to 1 sock/week roughly.


I managed to get my March Rockin' Sock Club kit the day before I headed to Camp Knitty Haha and get it started at Camp. Unfortunately, I only got to half a repeat of the pattern (1 little rosebud) before I put it down for all the Sock Camp activities and other knitting responsibilities. I even had to rip back once due to using the wrong chart. I hastily copied the pattern & didn't staple them in order.


Once organized at home, the sock flew. And except for a little bit of wonkiness in gauge due to not working on this sock for awhile, it does fit nicely.


Quick deets:
March Rockin' Sock Club Kit
pattern: Rogue Roses by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka The Yarn Harlot)
pattern size: medium
yarn: Socks That Rock medium weight in Gertrude Skein
needle sizes: 2.50 mm KP metal dpns (for the inside of the picot hem) & 2.75 mm KP metal dpns for the rest orf the sock
no mods otherwise


Also completed 'cept for the lack of stylish wardrobe according to Monkey1 is her Knitted Babe. And just like my Monkeys, the Knitted Babe's hair is in need of a haircut and a good styling.

Some deets:
Knitted Babe
yarns:
various shades of Knit Picks Palette for the body & clothes
Patons Classic Wool for the hair
size 2.75 KP circs
eye & mouth felt pieces by Monkey1

C is for Cookie

I got my signed copy of Cookie A's book today!


The pattern I sample knit for Cookie:


Lindsay (Rav link)
Hand Jive Nature's Palette in Walnut - 2 skeins
size 2.50 mm KP Harmony dpns

Love the pattern. Not as simple as her Monkey socks, but with the triangular shapes, it had that certain feel. It was actually a pretty quick knit for me despite doing k4togs & ssskp's on the KP Harmony's. I would've preferred my KP nickel-plated but I was aiming for pattern gauge. For my own pair, I will definitely go with my metal dpns.

My pic of the first sock I knit for her:


Pic of the other side of the sock:


I was jamming in the sock pair for her deadline, so I forgot to take a pic of both socks. But I did remember to take a pic of the latest pair I knit from her patterns, one I can share. I have one more I can share after May 1 and another pair I can share after her second book gets published. That's right. She's working on her second sock book. Woohoo!


Hedera socks
Fleece Artist merino wool in Lily Pond
size 2.50 mm KP nickel-plated dpns

Unintentional mod: Didn't move 1 stitch on each side of the instep for the gusset decreases thinking I didn't need to decrease as much. I was wrong. So my gusset doesn't look as pretty as the pattern.

Post Camp

My super secret knitting is done, but I've had a lapse of judgement and signed up to do a rush test knit as well. At least there are others that are test knitting with me, so if I punt by the deadline, the designer's good with other feedback.

So that means I have nothing new to show except a few remaining things that are Sock Camp related. The end of Camp was my Monkey1's birthday so that day was spent knitting her a little gift, the Tutu Mouse kit from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas, the totally adorable yarn store on Bainbridge Island that we visited on the way to Camp.


The kit contained one skein of pink GGH Soft Kid, the Mouse, the matching ribbon, a set of size 10.5 straights & a tapestry needle. Marcy and I both bought the kit for our respective childrens' birthdays. However, since we didn't think we needed the tapestry needle & the straight needles, Churchmouse was really accomodating and let us switch out those items for the Night Night outfit pattern that they also wrote for the Mouse.


For Cat's new sock architecture class, I chose one of the STR Rare Gems I bought - one of a series of My Blue Heaven related experiments that got overdyed. Next time I pick a yarn for Cat's class, I'll need to pick something a bit lighter. Made for reading my stitches a little tough sometimes in the cloudy Washington lighting.

I got all the way to the leg during Camp since there are a few critical points that we needed to check in with her. I then stopped 'cause I was undecided on the pattern for the leg. I've narrowed it down to 2 elements, both coincidently from her New Pathways for Sock Knitters.


Lastly, I just finished my ipod sock that we started at Camp. It was Cat's idea that for our extra-curricular activity that we take a bit of STR heavyweight yarn provided to us (mine's Thraven) to make either a cell phone or mp3 player case using techniques we covered at Camp. It was a total blast knitting something without a pattern and just winging it.

So I started with Judy's Magic Cast On with a little refresher from Cat with a little story that somehow involved a burglar. Some practiced the Turkish Cast On that she taught us in her actual class. The case ended with an i-cord bind off that flowed into the i-cord strap. I added the pocket after Camp, but it would've been easier if I had planned ahead and did a little double knitting to start the pocket. Picking up stitches for the pocket gets to be a little fiddly, especially since once again I picked a dark yarn.

All good things must come to an end

The view from my room on the last day. Some clouds but also some nice blue sky & sun.


On the last night, our crabs came out to play. Mine's resting next to Virginia's on her lovely little beachy quilt. Not sure whose one is on the other side. Maybe Sock Camper Kristen's?


Lastly, but not least, my 3 skeins dyed in Tina's class. We dyed 2 skeins in our comfortable colors and one in our uncomfortable color, with the uncomfortable one done second.


Can you tell which one was my uncomfortable skein? They are not in dye order. Other Sock Campers can 'cause it was a common shade of discomfort.

So that's it for this year's Sock Camp. Not many pictures taken, especially of my new and old Sock Camp friends, but the warm memories will always be there.

Off to finish laundry & decompress from all the creative fun and excitement.

Still excited

I got to dye with Tina today! OMG! And woohoo! I'll have to link to another Sock Camper who's got good pics of their lesson with Tina yesterday as I was too busy to think of pulling out my dinky little camera. So I'll show other Camp stuff.


The view from my room. So nautical!


Double eagle! Literally. On the totem pole no less. And then we saw the male later on again, but on a schooner mast.


So. New colors I acquired (all lightweight as is my wont):
Pond Bubbles, Sunkissed Sand, Claw, Beached, and Plankton Ooze


Beached again, this time in LSS and the lightweight.

Oh, and the LSS in Pond Bubbles & Sunkissed Sand at the Camp store were also equally lovely and hopefully other Sock Campers will post theirs sometime soon to share. Seriously lovely stuff.

And that's it for now!