Finished socks!

I have pictures of them cutely packaged but that would give away my Sockapalooza's Pal's name, so that will wait until they arrive. I had to mail them out today since they were still drying yesterday on the official mailout day.

Specs:
Cherry Tree Hill Sport (Dusk colorway)
Needles: 2 pair size 3 Knitpicks classic circulars
Priscilla's Dream Socks out of Favorite Knits
Mods: my normal toes, garter short row heel

On these, I learned how to unknit a finished sock *groan* and how to finally do short heels! They are awfully squooshy but I could not figure out why the second one pooled differently... I knitted it from the center just like the first one was and tried to start it several times at different points.

Next on my to-do list... some major dyeing :) And socks for charity. Maybe this lonely baby sock can find its mate.

short row heel frustration

Argh. Four times I've knitted this heel and I'm STILL getting holes once I start picking up the wraps. How on earth can I avoid it? Any suggestions are welcome (and desperately needed).

My sock pal only likes the short row heels so this is my only option. But I'm worried about being able to make two socks with these heels (with no holes).

Socks, socks, socks!

First, I finished a baby sock and cast on the mate. It's so cute!

Yarn: leftover scraps of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Child's Play

Pattern: Baby Socks

Needles: size 1 Knitpicks classic circulars







Then, I finally found the pattern I want to use for my Sockapalooza socks, which fits my criteria (sport weight, cuff down, short row heels). It's Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' "Priscilla's Dream Socks" from my new Favorite Socks book.

I've made pretty good progress so far:
(the color on this yarn is absolutely beautiful- deep jewel tones in violet, green and blue)

Quick sock progress shot

Not much to accompany this since I'm on my way to bed. But I'm very happy with this pattern (although it is not the easiest thing to knit while watching a TV show about a road race).

But it did have Nathan Fillion in it. Yum.

I hope my sock buddy is enjoying the pattern too! Let me know how it is going for you.

Change of Plans...

I'm knitting Ampersand with my sock knitting buddy, who also has STR Medium Weight and knits about the same pace I do! This should be fun. :) So no Jaywalkers for a while. Tonight, I am going to swatch from the other end of my yarn on size 2 needles to see how that works.

That will leave me time to also do Sockapalooza 4
Signups are later today, I think.


I did however find a new pattern that will probably be my next sock project after this:
Thuja in Artyarns Supermerino (worsted weight for a quick knit, woohoooo!)

I had about 2 hours of sleep last night- worrying/stress sucks.
So does waking up at 5 a.m. to work out. And yet, I'm doing it again on Thursday. (I'm insane)

The start of startitis...

I cast on my ampersand socks out of STR Mediumweight Watermelon Tourmaline (pattern found on Kirsten's sidebar here). I'm really liking the pattern- the chart is only two lines but after only knitting stockinette and basic ribbed socks, this one is a lot of fun without being overly complex. I'm going to double check gauge before I continue.

You know, I've been pretty lucky with the yarn I've used so far- tried Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock and loved it. Tried CTH Sport and loved it. And this yarn is absolutely amazing- it is so sproingy and soft that I am really enjoying the act of knitting itself. The colors in the picture are a bit washed out- they are a gorgeous combination that reminds me of Easter Eggs.

I have a sneaking suspicion I will be buying more STR even before I finish these socks, maybe in Nodding Violet or Scottish Highlands. Or Rocktober. It's really bad when you are enjoying the yarn so much that you stop your knitting to go see what other colorways this yarn comes in!

I decided to cast on two different pairs of socks, to prevent boredom and to have one to take with me to work, and one to keep at home. So tonight, I'm starting to swatch for Jaywalkers with some Lorna's Laces that my Secret Pal purchased me last round. I've found someone interested in making those as well, so it will be fun to have a buddy to knit along with.

I still haven't cast on for the Feather and Fan bamboo stole yet, so I'm going to try to get that done this week as well.

Cool pattern: Ampersand Socks

I haven't knit since I mailed off my Sockret Pal Reveal Package. I've been under the weather which has just left me exhausted, so I've been more 'futzy' than 'productive'. Mostly I've pored over the stash and different patterns to see what I wanted to do next (sockwise), and started winding the Bamboo yarn for the Feather and Fan Shawl but have not cast on.

I knew I wanted to use the Medium Weight STR that Kirsten (my Sockret Pal Spoiler) gave me but I wanted to make sure I picked a pattern that would complement the colors, not accentuate pooling. And since it was my only skein of STR I wanted to be sure it was the best pattern I could find for that yarn, but one that matched my skill level. I was looking at RPM but then I came across a free pattern called Ampersand on... where else... on the sidebar of Kirsten's blog! (check out her other free patterns, too- she has some great ones)!

The Ampersand pattern is exactly what I was looking for- top down, two circulars, same exact yarn so no fiddling with math for me, heel flap, simple enough pattern for me to follow. :) And I love how the sock looks.

So now I have a game plan... and will cast on this weekend.

Latest Socks

I finished my Lorna's Laces socks using the KAL Pattern (3x1 rib). The colorway is Child's Play, and I used size 1 needles (Knitpicks Classic circulars).

I loved the feel of the Lorna's Laces shepherd sock, and will definitely use it again. I might go down to size 0 needles, and look for a pattern that works well with the striping/variegation of colors.

These were definitely the socks I learned the most with: tinking, lifelines, fixing errors. If you count what I unknit, I am sure I knit an extra sock in there somewhere.

They've been washed and blocked, and shipped off to surprise the giftee. As soon as she receives her package, I'll adjust the date to make it public on the front page of the blog.

Edited to add: LaVerna received them!

Voila! Dulaan socks

I was burned out working on tiny needles, so I took a break to finally finish my Lamb's Pride socks. It only took an hour or so, and I feel much better having finished a WIP (and making my March deadline for Sock a Month 3)

Here's the info:
Lamb's Pride Worsted (Orchid Thistle)
Size 5 circulars (Denise, Knitpicks Options)
CIC children's sock pattern

These didn't make the sock deadline for Afghans for Afghans sock drive, so I'm including them in my shipment for Dulaan with the hats I've been making. The picture is washed out due to the flash... it's more of a rose/deep lilac color.

And these are REALLY thick socks, very durable and warm. I'm not sure I could wear socks this warm, but then I'm not in that type of climate. But they will keep someone's feet very warm and snuggly.

Upcoming projects

I've come to the sad conclusion I am not making my deadline for the sock a month KAL for February (which was tonight). I'm pretty sure I could have finished my sockret pal socks if I had kept going (I'm nearly at my toe decreases on my first sock) but I stopped that and started some socks for Afghans for Afghans out of worsted weight Lamb's Pride. I'm on the second sock, about to start the heel flap. I'll update with pictures tomorrow.

But with two final projects and assorted other homework due before March 12 on top of organizing an event at work for March 18, I'm going to have limited time. So instead I will focus on finishing these socks to mail out by Monday so they can arrive by the March 7 deadline, and then switch back to my sockret pal socks to finish before March 31. I think I can do it! Sadly, they aren't blue, grey or white for Project Spectrum but they are colors my sockret pal will like, and in a good quality yarn.

I was looking at Project Spectrum's upcoming colors:

April / May
Green, Yellow, Pink

June / July
Red, Black, Metallics

August / September
Brown, Orange, Purple

and I think I have my next few socks mapped out. Starting in April, I am treating myself to the Socks That Rock Watermelon Tourmaline from my awesome Sockret Pal (I can't wait to get closer to starting this... I've been coveting this yarn bigtime!!)

I'm not sure what May's socks will be, but my June ones will most likely be my Foxy Lady SuperGlitz (red, black AND metallic- how cool is that?)

And much farther down the road... either August or September will be the Lorna's Laces my secret pal sent me (in Irving Park) which seems to match the orange/purple/brown theme pretty well!

So I still have some flexibility in the upcoming months, but some idea of what I'd like to make to match the Project Spectrum colors.

This could be a fixation....

I was rummaging around in the stash looking for items to donate, when I noticed my stash of Cascade Fixation I bought some time ago when I found the Cascade Fixation Ankle Sock KAL

I loved the idea of cotton ankle socks that knit up quickly on size 3 needles (especially ones made out of only one skein)! I especially love cotton socks for after pedicures, etc... wool just seems strange to wear.

Sock progress (or lack thereof)

Well, I was making good progress on my socks for my Sockret Pal, until I noticed an inch back there was this strange hole in the space between my two circulars. I counted my stitches on each needle and sure enough, I had picked up a stitch. I tried dropping the extra stitch down and re-knitting the side stitches. But then I had extra yarn there that looked like a ladder. So I unknit, very slowly, and finally got back to the row where it messed up.

At least I am learning how to recognize problems and fix them with these socks! I've done the heel twice and now this. But the end result looks pretty good... it was a bit tedious but I was worrying about doing a lifeline and then ripping it back. So now I have a few more inches to finish before starting the toe decreases. Hopefully I can still finish these in February for my Sock a Month KAL.

Sweet Georgia is going on hiatus. I've heard wonderful things about her yarns and had hoped to try them on one of my allotted shopping sprees but maybe this will let me put a dent in my stash until she returns.

Project Updates

I'm trying to turn the heel on my sock and I'm not sure I am understanding the pattern, so it's on hold until I receive an answer on how to proceed. I wish I could get to that point where I logically can figure out what to do when stuck in a pattern but I'm not there yet. I tend to follow the pattern like a recipe until I can really understand the construction and techniques, but once I understand the basic components, I can branch out a bit.

I don't want to make a wrong turn when so far they are looking really nice. (especially considering I had about 4 false starts and frogged a LOT to get these started right). This is my first sock that is not all stockinette, I did a 3 x 1 rib down the cuff. I'd like to try jaywalkers or a pattern sock that would work well with Lorna's Laces (and minimize any pooling) next. Or that gorgeous skein of Socks that Rock I received... I can't figure out what type of beginner sock pattern would work best for the STR.

I tried to start on the Austermann Step socks for my sister but I don't know what it is about 1x1 ribbing- it killed me. So I frogged (again) and set it aside while knitting up these other socks. The idea behind that was that this is sport weight yarn (the Cherry Tree Hill Sport I was raving about earlier) and so ideally they would knit up much faster than the Step. I want to get to the point where I am more comfortable with the lighter weight yarns- I like thicker socks to some extent but ultimately, the thinner ones are my preference. I have some really interesting yarns to entice me, so I plan on casting on some fingering weight yarn on my 1's today while I wait for answers about my gusset issues.

I ordered Spa and Bath Sets to Knit from Frugal Haus. I have some Knitpicks Shine Worsted in coral and reef that I thought might make some wonderfully soft bath mitts /headbands/soap bags, and the patterns in the Spa Set pamphlet looked so pretty with the eyelets.

I'm so annoyed that I've not been able to upload pictures for nearly a month. The dock for my camera was ordered two weeks ago and its still not here. I adore my camera, but this has been a nuisance. I have dyed yarn, sock progress, saturday skies and my knit mitt kit to share. Anyway, my Saturday sky is grey and cold, and the chill has settled into my bones.