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A Year of Sock Knitting, part 2 – 2012

Posted on 19 December 2012
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I was originally shooting for 12 in 2012, and I just squeaked by with a quick pair of DK weight socks for grandma.  I could probably do another pair, but I don’t think I’ll have the time.  Anyway, the lineup is below!

Rick Socks Pattern: Rick
Designer: Cookie A
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits Sheepy Feet in, “Tangerine Tango”
-Ravelry Project Link-
I ended up having to cast on more to make the sock fit.  Cast on 72, and then had to finagle around the heel to get the pattern to line up.  The socks don’t exactly match since I’m a lazy knitter who tends not to write down good enough notes to do the second sock the same, but it worked out well enough, and they’re bright and fun to wear.
DSC_9418_color Pattern: Dayflower Socks
Designer: Dayflower Socks
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits Grab Bag Mystery Yarn in, “Electric Blueberry”
-Ravelry Project Link-
These worked up pretty quickly and were the right combination of lace and ribbing so that it was interesting without being boring.  The color and the pattern just matched up perfectly and I couldn’t have been happier with how they turned out.  The yarn was a neat thing too since it was from a club that offered a ‘grab bag’ option – list the weight of yarn you want and the dyer picked out something that would work.  It did!  I really like how lofty and airy this particular yarn is and it was fun to try something completely different.
DSC_1153 Pattern: Primavera Socks
Designer: natalja
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Little Red Bicycle Tricycle Sock in, “Mistletoe Grope”
-Ravelry Project Link-
A friend gifted me the yarn for these socks a few years ago as part of a set where the yarn matched two pots of eye shadow.  Pretty neat!  I finally got around to using the yarn and love how it knit up in this pattern.  It’s totally holiday-yarn-barf, but somehow, the pattern breaks up any pooling and keeps it interesting.  I do love the little spot of pooling on the heel since it kinda looks like a candy cane stripe.
DSC_1261 Pattern: Jaywalker
Designer: Grumperina
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Lang Yarns Jawoll Magic in colorway 1001
-Ravelry Project Link-
Because no year is complete without a pair of Jaywalkers.  Am I right or am I right?  My brother brought back the yarn from a trip to the Netherlands and it was just SO much fun to knit with.  The colors are spectacular and made for a fun sock.  I had worn them before getting a picture, so they’re not as crisp as they were right off the needles, but they sure are cozy.
DSC_1274 Pattern: Pointelle
Designer: Cookie A
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits Sheepy Time MCN in “Driftwood”
-Ravelry Project Link-
These probably rank as my #3 most difficult pair of the year.  It wasn’t that the chart was particularly difficult, but it did involve actually looking at the chart instead of knitting away.  I knit the larger size, but probably could’ve done the smaller size since there’s a lot of extra room, especially around the foot.  I do love them, and love the subtle variation in the yarn that works well to show off the pattern without swallowing it up.
DSC_1199 Pattern: Simple Skyp Socks
Designer: Adrienne Ku
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Regia Design Line Kaffe Fassett 6-fädig 6ply in colorway 05958
-Ravelry Project Link-
These were very simple and quick two-day socks.  We were going to visit grandma and I needed something quick to knit up for her that she’d enjoy, hence these socks.  The bright colors really jumped out at me and the pattern has a neat almost herringbone style motif inbetween the ribbing.  Grandma was very happy with them and tried them right on – they fit perfectly!  Gotta love ending the year with a fun pair of socks like these.
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A Year of Sock Knitting, part 1 – 2012

Posted on 7 December 2012
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I was originally shooting for 12 in 2012, and I just squeaked by with a quick pair of DK weight socks for grandma.  I could probably do another pair, but I don’t think I’ll have the time.  Anyway, the lineup is below!

DSC_5178-picsay.jpg Pattern: Steampunkery
Designer: Heatherly Walker
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Holiday Yarns FlockSock Sock Yarn in, “Vanilla” – purchased as a kit
-Ravelry Project Link-
They were an absolute PAIN to knit.  I must’ve gotten an early version of the kit because there were errors and omissions throughout the pattern.  No errata supplied, nothing.  I am happy with the finished product though since they’re SO pretty, and what a neat idea to have the fully functional button up flap on the leg.
DSC_0491 Pattern: Child’s Sock in Miranda Pattern
Designer: Nancy Bush
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Little Red Bicycle’s Boneshaker BFL Sock in, “Oh, Io”
-Ravelry Project Link-
These were meant to be children’s socks, but I cast on 64 stitches and worked the pattern as normal, ignoring the calf shaping.  They came out great, and I love that the pattern is replicated from a historical pattern.
DSC_5455 Pattern: Gentleman’s Fancy Socks
Designer: Nancy Bush
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Knit Picks Essential Solids & Twists in, “Sarge”
-Ravelry Project Link-
A friend requested socks ages ago and I finally got around to knitting them.  What took so long?  The requestor has a size 14 men’s shoe!  Yikes!  Took the better part of 2.25 skeins, but he commented in a thank you note that they are, “easily the coolest pair of socks I’ve ever owned.”  WIN!
DSC_5717 Pattern: 14 Karat
Designer: Glenna C.
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits, All Your Base in “Sunken Treasure”
-Ravelry Project Link-
Twisted stitches Ahoy!  The chart was easy to follow, just time consuming, and I’m not good at memorizing charts with cables.  Still though, they came out beautifully and I love the color depth in the yarn – there are so many colors that pop out of that yarn.
DSC_5712 Pattern: Business Casual
Designer: Tanis Lavallée
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits, All Your Base in “Fathoms Below”
-Ravelry Project Link-
They were easy enough to knit, but the photo doesn’t show the pattern very well.  The diamond pattern shows up just fine in real life but didn’t photograph very well.  The color is a favorite – I love the greens and black together.
DSC_6385 Pattern: Escher-Würfel (Escher’s cube)
Designer: Stephanie van der Linden
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits, Pearl Necklace in “Grey Matter”
-Ravelry Project Link-
The pattern is really just a stitch pattern to create the cube effect.  I cast on 60 and knit a basic cuff-down sock.  I was a little worried that 60 wouldn’t be enough stitches, but it was perfect with enough room (and a little extra) to stretch around my calves.  Very happy with how these came out!
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Knitting Update – finished objects!

Posted on 20 May 2012
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DSC_5717   DSC_5712
So I actually have been knitting, honest.  I just haven’t posted everything here.  So, here’s a quick post with a few recent finished objects.

On the top above, is 14 Karat.  The yarn is from the club I’ve been a member of for a while now, and is a colorway called “Sunken Treasure.”  I figured a pattern referencing jewels would work nicely with a color referencing treasure.  They were pretty labor intensive and required working from the computer with the chart, but they’re well worth it!

On the bottom above is Business Casual, using another yarn from the club, this time the colorway was, “Fathoms Below.”  Easy to knit, and they worked up pretty quickly.  These two pairs of socks were worked at the same time, but the Business Casual socks didn’t require looking at a chart and were taken along with me everywhere.  The faux-argyle diamond pattern shows up more in person than it did in the photo, and I really love how they came out.

 

DSC_5873_color   DSC_5837_color
This is the big project that I’ve had sitting in my Works in Progress (WIP) queue for a while.  I started the Royale sweater in November of 2010 for the National Knit a Sweater Month (NaKniSweMo).  I got about 5 inches up from the bottom and set it aside.  With Ravelympics 2012 coming up soon, the team I joined decided that we should spend the month prior to the Ravelympics ‘training’ and finishing up WIPs.  This one isn’t my oldest one, but it was a huge undertaking – the cables, twisted stitches!  All the hard work was totally worth it though, I mean, just look at that!  It’s sort of unfortunate that I finished now, mid-May, when I won’t be able to wear it all summer long.  The pattern and charts were easy to follow.  My only big mistake is that I usually don’t do as many increases for the bust as the pattern sizing calls for – everyone has different measurements and should adjust a knit pattern to suit their individual measurements for a best fit.  Nooo I just kept trucking along!  So, the bust is a little loose, but it’s not a dealbreaker, and there’s NO WAY I am going to go back and work all that over.  The yarn used was Valley Yarns Northampton in the color, “Twilight Heather.”  The photos above are pretty color accurate, and I’d call the color kind of a purpley maroon heather.  I over estimated on the yarn purchase, so I have three skeins left – I’ve got a short torso, so while most folks have 4 or more repeats of that center cable pattern, I only needed three, cutting down drastically on the yarn requirement.  Love this to bits, and I’m so glad I finally finished it!

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Owlie Gloves

Posted on 7 February 2012
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Owlie Gloves! They’re just too cute, and a great way to use up my growing stash of handspun.

First, the Fiber:

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Fiber is by Gnomespun and is Polwarth in colorway, “Hidcote” – I picked this up at Rhinbeck in October 2010

 

Second, the spun yarn:

DSC_0130

Yarn was chain plied, and came out to 328 yards.  It probably falls between worsted and DK and is pretty slubby and uneven, but it’s got a very handspun quality to it which is perfect for gloves.  The unevenness seems to disappear, especially when knit at a smaller/tighter gauge.  The yarn is lofty and squishy and perfect for gloves.

 

Thirdly, the gloves!:

DSC_0479
Pattern is Owlie Mitts that I added fingers to so that I’d have gloves.  I love fingerless gloves and mitts, but really, it’s my fingers that get cold, and adding fingers to mitts is pretty easy!  They fit perfectly.  The gauge is pretty tight (think knitting a thick DK yarn on US 1.5 needles), but there’s no way the cold is getting in through these.  The beads were sewn on later rather than knitted in since I didn’t have the crochet hook or floss necessary to add them during the knitting.  No big deal.  Here’s the Ravelry Project Link if you want to see my short bit of notes.

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Go With the Flow Socks

Posted on 16 April 2011
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Finally, another spun-to-finished project.  I’ve been accumulating quite the stash of handspun, and I figured it was time to put some to use.  The yarn is dyed by Meg at Twisted Fiber Art, and she’s really quite the magician with dye.  The colorway is called, “Intrigue,” and was part of a club Meg ran for 3 months.  I spun the superwash merino roving into a thin single and then chain or navajo plied the yarn so that the colors would stay together as they were dyed.  I ended up with about 425 yards of fingering weight yarn that was then turned into a really squishy pair of Go With the Flow socks.  The pattern knitted up quickly, and I only made a few modifications – worked a plain slip-stitch heel and didn’t turn the work inside out after the heel flap was done.  I love the way they came out and refuse to take them off now that the photos are taken.  Yeah, it’s almost not-sock season, but that won’t stop me from stocking up for the winter!

 

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DSC_5054

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The Year in Knitting, 2010 Edition

Posted on 13 January 2011
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I suppose it’s time to go back and review my 2010 knitting resolutions, even though I didn’t make them all. Also, letting the blog go for two months without a post is so not good. Need to get back on that.

1. The American Aran Afghan. This is the beast that I will tackle and finish this year.
YEAH NO. I got three squares in and ended up somehow injuring myself and couldn’t knit for a solid month or two. Pretty much killed that project. I’m sure it’ll be done eventually, just not any time soon.

2. Knit /spin any club yarn/fiber in the month it is received.
I hit this one out of the ballpark. All the club yarn was knit into socks, and all the club fiber was spun. Let’s just not talk about my stash equilibrium that I was hoping to work on by doing this.

3. Knit two sweaters.
Not just two, but THREE. One of those was a sweater knit out of handspun. Still need to get that post up, but I DID IT.

4. Knit one double-knitted item.
Missed this one for a second year in a row. It’ll happen when it happens, I guess.

And lastly, because the post needs some eye candy, a flickr slideshow of my Finished Objects from this year.

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Speshul Snowflakes

Posted on 7 November 2010
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Since the club cycle had completed for the year, I figured I ought to update on all the socks I’ve knit from the club yarn. The club is Sheepy Time Knits Speshul Snowflakes Yarn Club.  I really love how the club is set up, that there are two colorway choices and a wide variety of yarn choices every shipment.  You pick the yarn/colorway one month and then it’s shipped the next month making for 6 total shipments.  Back at the beginning of the club, I decided that I’d kit each shipment as it came in so that I’d still be knitting socks and the yarn wouldn’t go into the stash and be forgotten.  I’m really glad I kept up with it, and here are the results from a year’s worth of shipments.  Looking forward to next year’s club again and knitting more socks!

DSC_8490 Pattern: Hanging Vines Socks
Designer: Kelly Porpiglia
Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits, Sheepy Feet in, “Green Eyed Monster”
-Ravelry Project Link-

They are GREEN green for sure.  These have already gotten a ton of wear and I think I love them a little more every time I wear them.  The base yarn feels strong yet still soft and has incredible stitch definition.  Also, not even one little bit of pooling in that variegated colorway.  Not a single bit.
DSC_0519 Pattern: Komet
Designer: Stephanie van der Linden
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits, Yarn That Shall Not Be Named in, “Teel Deer”
-Ravelry Project Link-

I’ve already blogged about these, but I still LOVE that colorway.  It’s funny how a knitted item can remind you of where/when you were knitting it and for me, these will always remind me of our trip to New Hampshire, knitting and cozy in the lodge while the husband was skiing.  And the epic adventure of showshoeing down Mount Washington.
DSC_1705 Pattern: Jabberwocky Socks
Designer: Mandie Harrington
Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits, All Your Base in “Blackberry Martini”
-Ravelry Project Link-

The dyer designed these socks and I just couldn’t wait to get the yarn and cast on.  The construction of the sock is not typical and I really LOVE how she got the pattern on the side to go straight down to the foot.  And again, THAT COLOR.
DSC_3020 Pattern: Angler’s Loop Socks
Designer: Andrea Mules
Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits, Panda Feet in “Creamsicle”
-Ravelry Project Link-

I probably could’ve knit the larger size on these for a little more ease around the cable, but they still fit fine.  The base is super squishy and comfortable and the cable was just enough knitting interest to keep me engaged but not overwhelmed.  Do you see what’s happening here?  Variegates, no pooling, tons of different patterns, but no pooling.  I’m still in awe.
DSC_4507 Pattern: Passerine Socks
Designer: Cookie A.
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits, All Your Base in “Foggy Dew”
-Ravelry Project Link-

So these were a challenge.  I just wasn’t feeling the pattern (it’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong) and they took FOREVER to knit.  Totally worth it in the end, and the pops of green in the grey are just perfect.  See, again?  No color pooling.
DSC_5091 Pattern: Lichen and Moss Socks
Designer: Joanna Ryan
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits, Yarn That Shall Not Be Named in “Lichen”
-Ravelry Project Link-

Well when I found the colorway and did a search for “Lichen” in Ravelry, I just had to knit the pattern named Lichen and Moss.  Seemed perfect.  The simple yet elegant pattern was SO fast to knit (under a week!) and the color worked out perfectly.  This base is a big favorite of mine (Oh that stitch definition) and feels super strong yet completely enjoyable to wear.  And of course, no color pooling again here.
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Knitting update

Posted on 14 August 2010
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I know it’s been a while since I’ve had a knitting/spinning update, in the midst of the One Local Summer fiesta I’ve been having. I’ve still been knitting and spinning, honest! Now that it’s been half the year, I suppose we should go back and look at the knitting resolutions for this year and see how things are progressing.

1. The American Aran Afghan. This is the beast that I will tackle and finish this year.
Yeahhh.. I have four squares done. I’m finding the charting and the way the book is set up to be VERY frustrating and it’s putting me off from knitting the squares. Each square goes rather quickly if I sit down and work at it, but it’s an absolute pain to copy, cut, and arrange the charts so that it makes sense to knit row-by-row.  Plus, there was this random odd injury that made knitting painful for a few months.  So, I was spinning A LOT but barely knitting a stitch.  Then there was the Tour de Fleece which took up almost a whole month of just spinning.. Not sure if I’m going to finish this afghan this year.

2. Knit /spin any club yarn/fiber in the month it is received.
Doing REALLY well with this one. I’ve had three club shipments for yarn this year that resulted in three pairs of socks so far. There was also a fiber club with three braids of roving that ended up as three skeins of yarn.

3. Knit two sweaters.
One down, one to go. I knitted the Leaf Pattern Gilet which knitted up rather quickly and will be a fall favorite when weather comes back around to actually knit. Here are the details!

DSC_0922 Leafy Cardigan
Pattern: Leaf Pattern Gilet
Needles: US 6 (4mm)
Yarn:  Balmoral by Sirdar
-Ravelry Project Link-
So incredibly pleased with this project from the color to the yarn to the pattern. It’s a really lovely and simple knit and I’m so glad I was able to grab the magazine that contained this pattern while it was available.

4. Knit one double-knitted item.
Uhhhh… Maybe this winter? I’m still feeling a little overwhelmed by the idea and it probably sounds more complicated than it really is.

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Ravelympics 2010

Posted on 12 April 2010
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DSC_0308_edit

Pattern: Trevi
Designer: Anne Hanson
Needles: US 4 (3.5mm)
Yarn: Twisted Fiber Art Kabam in, “Kismet”
-Ravelry Project Link-

Wow what a project!  This was knit over the 17 days of the 2010 winter olympics in Vancouver, Canada.  Ravelry hosts a knitting olympics of sorts – I entered this project in the Short Track Shawls event and finished just in time before the end of the closing ceremonies.  It was a close one.  I finished the border as written in the pattern, but ended up a few yards short on yarn.  This isn’t exaclty a yarn that I could just go out and buy more, so I ripped out the whole border and started over, omitting one stitch from the border – instead of three stitches, I dropped down to two, and ended up with only a yard or so left over.  It blocked up beautifully and I love the angular lace pattern.  Pretty simple as far as lace goes, but enough to keep me interested and still be able to finish in two weeks.  I’m super proud of it, and yet again, Meg, the dyer, did a fabulous job dyeing up the color evolution so it fit with the shawl progression just perfectly!

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Komet

Posted on 29 March 2010
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DSC_0519 Komet tl;dr
Pattern: Komet
Designer: Stephanie van der Linden
Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)
Yarn:  Sheepy Time Yarns Yarn That Shall Not be Named in, “Teal Deer,” from the Sheepy Time Knits December 2009 Club
-Ravelry Project Link-
This is the second installation of the Sheepy Time Knits club for February 2010. I picked a different base this time, and managed to pick a pattern that worked perfectly with the yarn. These were knit over the span of a week-long vacation in New Hampshire at Attitash Mountain.  We, the husband and I, went up for our somewhat annual ski trip, but what ended up happening was him skiing three days of the week, and me spending a lot of time getting to know all the inner workings of the lodge.  I did one run down the mountain and decided that I was really out of shape and just not cut out for skiing this season.  The pattern was a touch tricky – there’s a 4×5 cable cross in there and I actually needed to break out the cable needle for that one.  This is the cable needle that I used only one before since I do all my cabling without a needle – so much faster that way.  The result is worth it though – the design is super cute and I just love the brilliant teal color of the yarn.  The base is similar to another yarn that shall not be named, but starts with a “W” in case you were wondering.  Another fun club knit!

Oh, Teal Deer or, tl;dr for short, is internet speak for, “Too Long; Didn’t Read” (or Too Long; Don’t Read) for posts on message boards that ramble on and on and on.  ie:
tl;dr – socks are awesome, yarn is lovely, vacation was great, but I’m not built for skiing.
More on that vacation though, because I really did spend a few days outside the lodge.  Tuesday, we went up to Great Glen Trails to take the Snow Coach halfway up Mount Washington.  The road up the mountain isn’t plowed through the winter and cars are only allowed to drive up in the warmer months.  During the winter, a specially built van (van + tractor treads = Snow Coach) takes visitors to a halfway point up the mountain, weather permitting.  We were having some really fantastic weather which was maybe not the best for skiing, but great for playing tourist.  It was about 45 and sunny at the base, and about -20, sunny, but the winds were blowing at around 40mph.  We decided to go for the snowshoe rental at the base and bring them with us in the coach.  Nixxed the idea of getting out at the midway point (4300 ft approximately), but jumped out somewhere around the 4 mile mark on the auto road (3500ft elevation).  We strapped in for our first time snowshoeing and headed off.  The Snow Coach driver mentioned a trail that would take us up to Lowe’s Bald Spot.  We took the trail only to find that it went nearly straight up and was pretty battered from some knucklehead who tried to hike it in plain boots (and sunk in a good foot with each step).  We managed it anyway and came up to a bald spot with some spectacular views.  Hiked back down, and made it back to base after nearly 6 miles of snowshoeing.  It was exhausting, but well worth it for the experience!  We did end up coming home with snowshoes since we loved it so much – here’s hoping we get snow again in Philadelphia (maybe not *quite* as much) next winter too.
We also took a side trip up to the LL Bean flagship store in Maine. On the way back, we stopped off at Cold River Vodka to have some samples.  Their vodka is made from potatoes and is sweeter than most other vodkas I’ve had.  The Blueberry vodka is really something special – the aftertaste is as if you’ve just squished a big, juicy blueberry in your mouth.  Perfect.  Needless to say, we took some home.
On the way home, we stopped at a winery we love – Flag Hill.  Last time we were in New Hampshire, I didn’t knit, and clearly didn’t notice the farm selling yarn and roving right down the road.  So, we stopped at Riverslea Farm too.   :)  Found some great roving and yarn.
Overall, a really great trip!  It was nice to get away from our snow and see someone else’s snow.

For more photos, click on to this Flickr photo set.

 Picture 029
Midway up Mount Washington

Picture 026
The Snow Coach

Picture 037
Husband in his snowshoes

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Cold River Vodka
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