Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Toma-toe
Now that the new baby is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, the nesting urge has set in. Which is why I decided to organize my knitting needles. What? That's not how I'm suppose to nest? Well, the let's instead say my crazy got the best of me.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Poke
In an attempt to woo the as of yet unborn boy child out of my womb and into the world, I decided to knit him a hat and booties. I mean come on, right? Handknits? Better than my dark lumpy insides. Right? In any event, the bootie pattern that I'm using will not work on two circs. I mean it. Will. Not. Work. Perhaps it is the pattern. Perhaps it is the smallness of the booties, which yah, I've knit baby socks before so I know this isn't true. Perhaps it is me. Whatever the reason, I'm being forced to use double point and Hi! Ho! They suck. I'm forever being poked and trying to maneuver around the stupid things. This is a true act of love I've got going on over here. You hear that Schickabibble? So come on out already!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Made In America
I've only posted about one hundred gazillion dozen times about my Turkish Bed Socks. So instead of re-hashing the whole process, I thought I would recap my overall thoughts ... be ye not as dumb as me, READ THE PATTERN.
Having knit, reknit, cut, grafted, and re-reknit these socks some more, I finally ended up with a finished pair of socks, and an extra heel cup area, and thought I was done. So then I went out and purchased (an early Valentine's Day gift from my awesome husband) a pair of ugly shoes only to find (really??) that my socks are too long for the look I wanted. Because I still, AFTER ALL OF MY SCREW UPS, DISREGARDED THE PATTERN!?!
So, if I want my socks to look like this, my initial inspiration, the whole reason that I wanted to knit the socks, some sort of strange handknit sock porn for me, if I want that, I have to fold over an inch or so of the sock and tuck them under my toes. Which you know, NOT comfortable. Yes, the pattern said knit them shorter than normal and I said shorter schmorter. Again, be ye not as dumb as me, READ THE PATTERN. I could cut them and regraft them, you know AGAIN but I am done. D. O. N. E. done. I'm just gonna wear them with other shoes and call it a day.
Yarn: SHIBUI Sock, color orchid, #4021, lot #5787, slightly less than 1
skein
Needles: Addi Turbo Circs, size 3.0 mm (US 2.5)
Pattern: Churchmouse Yarn's Turkish Bed Socks
Modifications: Too many. Next time, follow the directions EXACTLY
Time: 5 days.
Care: Machine wash, gentle cycle, cold water. Dry flat.
Having knit, reknit, cut, grafted, and re-reknit these socks some more, I finally ended up with a finished pair of socks, and an extra heel cup area, and thought I was done. So then I went out and purchased (an early Valentine's Day gift from my awesome husband) a pair of ugly shoes only to find (really??) that my socks are too long for the look I wanted. Because I still, AFTER ALL OF MY SCREW UPS, DISREGARDED THE PATTERN!?!
So, if I want my socks to look like this, my initial inspiration, the whole reason that I wanted to knit the socks, some sort of strange handknit sock porn for me, if I want that, I have to fold over an inch or so of the sock and tuck them under my toes. Which you know, NOT comfortable. Yes, the pattern said knit them shorter than normal and I said shorter schmorter. Again, be ye not as dumb as me, READ THE PATTERN. I could cut them and regraft them, you know AGAIN but I am done. D. O. N. E. done. I'm just gonna wear them with other shoes and call it a day.
Needles: Addi Turbo Circs, size 3.0 mm (US 2.5)
Pattern: Churchmouse Yarn's Turkish Bed Socks
Modifications: Too many. Next time, follow the directions EXACTLY
Time: 5 days.
Care: Machine wash, gentle cycle, cold water. Dry flat.
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
10oT: Knitting Spot
Today's Ten on Tuesday topic is 10 Things You Can See From Your Favorite Knitting Spot. Years ago (back in 2006 ... woah!), I posted about my favorite knitting spots. At that time I was fancy free and had no kids. I could knit anywhere I wanted, when I wanted, however I wanted. I also had a fetish for the bathroom it seems? My apologies. Nowadays I can't even sit on the toilet without someone wanting to sit on my lap. I. KNOW. And also, more bathrooms? Really?!? Anyway, no one tells you this when you say you want to have kids. But be not as foolish as me, enjoy your lone bathroom time while you can! Anyway, I digress.
When I knit now, it is either at Starbucks on Wednesday night with my lady friends or it is on the couch after I've put the kids to bed. No longer is my venue chosen by style or ambiance, nope it is 100% easy access, drop where you're standing, comfort. Also known as the couch in my family room. It's not as exciting as it use to be, I mean it is no Stiltsville, but it is functional. So, 10 things I see when looking straight ahead, to the right, and to the left are ...
1) A current WiP: These are the skew socks. And, like the Turkish Bed Socks, they have an unusual construction. It's taken me several tries to get the sizing right but now that the left foot fits, I can move on to the right and (hopefully) motor down the home stretch.
2) The TV: Awww. Mark Harmon. How I love thee.
3) Kid Toys: They take up a third of the living room. At least that is what I try to limit them too. I may be deluding myself.
4) Knitting Notions: I've recently separated my stitch holders into two containers, one for the closed kind and one for the removable kind. This pleases my OCD.
5) The TV Remote: You know, so I can pause on Mark Harmon when I'm using my mobile phone to take photos of my tv.
6) The Dog: Once the kids are in bed (the only time I can safely knit at home), I let the dog join me on the couch. We snuggle and reminisce about our day. Or she naps.
7) My iPad: You can't see it in the photos but I have the pattern I'm working on in there. Also, I can check my email, facebook and pinterest. You know, the important things.
8) The Baby Monitor: Because even when I'm off the clock, I'm not. Also, I get a kick out of eavesdropping on my kids. J1 knows I do it but forgets and J2 is clueless. They like to hatch up crazy plans and I like to thwart them. I'm supportive that way.
9) Hand Sanitizer & Lotion: We've all been sick up in these parts (hence the nebulizer too) and so I've been sanitizing the heck out of everyone. And then lotioning them too. All that sanitizing is kind of drying.
10) The Phone: Yes, we do indeed have a landline. And I use it. Call me old fashion, but I prefer it to my mobile phone.
When I knit now, it is either at Starbucks on Wednesday night with my lady friends or it is on the couch after I've put the kids to bed. No longer is my venue chosen by style or ambiance, nope it is 100% easy access, drop where you're standing, comfort. Also known as the couch in my family room. It's not as exciting as it use to be, I mean it is no Stiltsville, but it is functional. So, 10 things I see when looking straight ahead, to the right, and to the left are ...
1) A current WiP: These are the skew socks. And, like the Turkish Bed Socks, they have an unusual construction. It's taken me several tries to get the sizing right but now that the left foot fits, I can move on to the right and (hopefully) motor down the home stretch.
2) The TV: Awww. Mark Harmon. How I love thee.
3) Kid Toys: They take up a third of the living room. At least that is what I try to limit them too. I may be deluding myself.
4) Knitting Notions: I've recently separated my stitch holders into two containers, one for the closed kind and one for the removable kind. This pleases my OCD.
5) The TV Remote: You know, so I can pause on Mark Harmon when I'm using my mobile phone to take photos of my tv.
6) The Dog: Once the kids are in bed (the only time I can safely knit at home), I let the dog join me on the couch. We snuggle and reminisce about our day. Or she naps.
7) My iPad: You can't see it in the photos but I have the pattern I'm working on in there. Also, I can check my email, facebook and pinterest. You know, the important things.
8) The Baby Monitor: Because even when I'm off the clock, I'm not. Also, I get a kick out of eavesdropping on my kids. J1 knows I do it but forgets and J2 is clueless. They like to hatch up crazy plans and I like to thwart them. I'm supportive that way.
9) Hand Sanitizer & Lotion: We've all been sick up in these parts (hence the nebulizer too) and so I've been sanitizing the heck out of everyone. And then lotioning them too. All that sanitizing is kind of drying.
10) The Phone: Yes, we do indeed have a landline. And I use it. Call me old fashion, but I prefer it to my mobile phone.
Monday, February 06, 2012
Snip!
Yes. I did it. I couldn't help myself. I cut my sock in half. I knit a new top and then cut the old top off in the hopes of making my socks a nice uniform pair. Having invested the time to knit these babies, I decided that anything worth doing, was worth doing well. Sadly, there are several levels of "well" but that is for my finished these friggen objects post. For now, I shall show you my fearlessness of the scissor.
Step one, knit a second heel and then make sure the second heel a) matches the heel you are trying to duplicate (a/k/a you read the instructions and follow them), and b) lines up with the half of the dud sock you are keeping.
Step two, cut into that baby. These are small socks so there was no need for a fortifying shot of rum (also, that is frowned on in the third trimester and I don't want to have Schickabibbles sprout a third ear at this late date). I did cut all of my old rows on not-per-instruction-cuff which made for several random strings of yarn in the pulling out process. Mistake on my part. Perhaps I should have fortified with something.
Step three, spend an eternity pulling out the yarn you cut so that you have two separate pieces.
Step four, put the keeper piece of sock (in my case this was the foot) onto a set of needles and get the direction of everything all squared up properly. Count to make sure your number of stitches on your new keeper part is the same as on your old keeper part. An equal number of stitches on the old sock foot and new heel is needed for proper grafting (she says to herself in a stern DUH voice). I also likes looking at my old top and knowing it contained my extra yarn cushion. Should I need such a cushion. Which since I never make mistakes, hahahaha, I wouldn't.
Step five, line up the old bit on its needles with the new bit on its needles and start to graft. On the first stitch I (inserted the darning needle like I had) knitted the bottom off and then (inserted the darning needle like I had) purled the top off, which is actually the first, but not final, step for each needle when grafting because I figured at the end when I was back over here I would be doing the other step.
Step six, graft, graft, kitchner, kitchner. Over and over again. Seriously. There are like sixty or so stitches you are meshing together. This ain't no eight stitches toe. Actually, it is not that hard when you chant in your head "KNIT OFF, PURL ON, PURL OFF, KNIT ON." When you have a two year old, sick, snot laden, toddler using you for a jungle gym it does amp up the difficulty level. And perhaps, with absolutely no knowledge of how, you may end up kitchnering a pearl stitch two or three random times. Mind you, I could not kitchner a pearl stitch if you paid me, so I am not sure exactly how that happened. In any event, it is good enough for me and not (I hope) that noticeable when all is said and done. I'll let you judge for yourself when I do a finished object post.
Step one, knit a second heel and then make sure the second heel a) matches the heel you are trying to duplicate (a/k/a you read the instructions and follow them), and b) lines up with the half of the dud sock you are keeping.
Step two, cut into that baby. These are small socks so there was no need for a fortifying shot of rum (also, that is frowned on in the third trimester and I don't want to have Schickabibbles sprout a third ear at this late date). I did cut all of my old rows on not-per-instruction-cuff which made for several random strings of yarn in the pulling out process. Mistake on my part. Perhaps I should have fortified with something.
Step three, spend an eternity pulling out the yarn you cut so that you have two separate pieces.
Step four, put the keeper piece of sock (in my case this was the foot) onto a set of needles and get the direction of everything all squared up properly. Count to make sure your number of stitches on your new keeper part is the same as on your old keeper part. An equal number of stitches on the old sock foot and new heel is needed for proper grafting (she says to herself in a stern DUH voice). I also likes looking at my old top and knowing it contained my extra yarn cushion. Should I need such a cushion. Which since I never make mistakes, hahahaha, I wouldn't.
Step five, line up the old bit on its needles with the new bit on its needles and start to graft. On the first stitch I (inserted the darning needle like I had) knitted the bottom off and then (inserted the darning needle like I had) purled the top off, which is actually the first, but not final, step for each needle when grafting because I figured at the end when I was back over here I would be doing the other step.
Step six, graft, graft, kitchner, kitchner. Over and over again. Seriously. There are like sixty or so stitches you are meshing together. This ain't no eight stitches toe. Actually, it is not that hard when you chant in your head "KNIT OFF, PURL ON, PURL OFF, KNIT ON." When you have a two year old, sick, snot laden, toddler using you for a jungle gym it does amp up the difficulty level. And perhaps, with absolutely no knowledge of how, you may end up kitchnering a pearl stitch two or three random times. Mind you, I could not kitchner a pearl stitch if you paid me, so I am not sure exactly how that happened. In any event, it is good enough for me and not (I hope) that noticeable when all is said and done. I'll let you judge for yourself when I do a finished object post.
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Hubris
It turns out that if I was half as smart as I thought I was, I'd be twice as smart as I actually am. Huh? Yah, I know.
I have knit a gazillion pairs of socks in the last five or so years. Okay, maybe not a gazillion pairs, but easily two dozen pairs. When it gets cold, I can go two weeks in hand knit sock and not have to wash any. I've done toe up, I've done cuff down, I've done funky Cat Bordhi style, I've done heel flaps and short row heels. Hell, I have cut socks in half and ripped out the middle when they were too big. Which I suppose is why after a quick skimming of the Turkish Bed Sock patter, I dove in and didn't look back. When I couldn't make the pattern work, I search high and low for errata. It wasn't out there. Only when I tried to solve the problem on my own did I think that perhaps I was intuiting a wee smidge too much. And it was on this, my third attempt, that I realized that one of my many issues was that I was knitting in the round and NO WHERE in the directions was I told to do so. Whoops.
In a normal person this type of fatal error would act as a reminder to READ THE PATTERN, not even closely, just you know READ IT. But, well, I have never claimed normalcy. And I didn't read the pattern, closely, or otherwise. Which is why when I got to the foot part of the first sock (which had a few "tweeks" to make it work), I realized that my knitting was aligned backwards. I decided to ignore it, assumed my second sock would have the same directional issues, finished the sock, tried it on with mediocre results, assumed mediocre results were due to my lack of clogs, and started the second sock.
And well then ... hello there instructions! For some reason when I skimmed the instructions for the second sock some light bulb went off in the deep recesses of my brain and I realized a few things. Like that one of my MANY problems was due to my inability to follow instructions for the FIRST THREE ROWS. Was that a communal groan? It should be. So, I (mostly) followed the directions for the second sock and now have two socks that are more like kissing cousins that twins (of the fraternal or identical variety). The big differences are in how the top part of the sock fits which means that the first one, it doesn't fit so well and shloops down into a funky heel thing. What you ask, well this:
The sock on the right is the dud. So now I have a conundrum. What to do? If there was no seaming in the sock (let alone two seams and a kitchner), this wouldn't be a post as I would have ripped out that first sock and been on my way ... again. But there is seaming and I hate ripping our seaming, sooooo, I am not sure what my next step will be. I think I have enough yarn left over that I am toying with the idea of knitting a third top part and then cutting the top (and seamed bits off) and somehow sticking them all back together. This may be too grandiose of a plan.
Perhaps I should just buy the stupid clogs. I'd like to think that if the socks were in the clogs then their reality would miraculously converge with their intent and BAM, I'd be in business with my new socks. But then again, if I was half as smart as I think I am ...
I have knit a gazillion pairs of socks in the last five or so years. Okay, maybe not a gazillion pairs, but easily two dozen pairs. When it gets cold, I can go two weeks in hand knit sock and not have to wash any. I've done toe up, I've done cuff down, I've done funky Cat Bordhi style, I've done heel flaps and short row heels. Hell, I have cut socks in half and ripped out the middle when they were too big. Which I suppose is why after a quick skimming of the Turkish Bed Sock patter, I dove in and didn't look back. When I couldn't make the pattern work, I search high and low for errata. It wasn't out there. Only when I tried to solve the problem on my own did I think that perhaps I was intuiting a wee smidge too much. And it was on this, my third attempt, that I realized that one of my many issues was that I was knitting in the round and NO WHERE in the directions was I told to do so. Whoops.
In a normal person this type of fatal error would act as a reminder to READ THE PATTERN, not even closely, just you know READ IT. But, well, I have never claimed normalcy. And I didn't read the pattern, closely, or otherwise. Which is why when I got to the foot part of the first sock (which had a few "tweeks" to make it work), I realized that my knitting was aligned backwards. I decided to ignore it, assumed my second sock would have the same directional issues, finished the sock, tried it on with mediocre results, assumed mediocre results were due to my lack of clogs, and started the second sock.
And well then ... hello there instructions! For some reason when I skimmed the instructions for the second sock some light bulb went off in the deep recesses of my brain and I realized a few things. Like that one of my MANY problems was due to my inability to follow instructions for the FIRST THREE ROWS. Was that a communal groan? It should be. So, I (mostly) followed the directions for the second sock and now have two socks that are more like kissing cousins that twins (of the fraternal or identical variety). The big differences are in how the top part of the sock fits which means that the first one, it doesn't fit so well and shloops down into a funky heel thing. What you ask, well this:
The sock on the right is the dud. So now I have a conundrum. What to do? If there was no seaming in the sock (let alone two seams and a kitchner), this wouldn't be a post as I would have ripped out that first sock and been on my way ... again. But there is seaming and I hate ripping our seaming, sooooo, I am not sure what my next step will be. I think I have enough yarn left over that I am toying with the idea of knitting a third top part and then cutting the top (and seamed bits off) and somehow sticking them all back together. This may be too grandiose of a plan.
Perhaps I should just buy the stupid clogs. I'd like to think that if the socks were in the clogs then their reality would miraculously converge with their intent and BAM, I'd be in business with my new socks. But then again, if I was half as smart as I think I am ...
Monday, January 30, 2012
Gobble gobble
I've started on a pair of Churchmouse's Turkish Bed Socks.
Not because I have nothing to work on. Nope. Not even because I don't have any socks to work on. Noooo, I started them because I LOVE this picture that is on the pattern. It makes me warm, fuzzy, and envious. I've hated those clogs for years thinking, despite several of my friends' claims to the contrary, that they are THE. UGLIEST. SHOES. EVER. But something has been eating away at my brain the last two winters (cooped up in a house with the kids perhaps) and now it seems that I want a pair. Very much so. And well, if I am going to have a pair, I need some of the socks too. Sadly, whatever has been eating at my brain and convincing it that I need me some ugly shoes, has also affected my ability to read a pattern and follow directions. Three tries to get me to the point above and that is after I decided that yes, I could live the with the fact that the sock is backwards, or upside down, or whatever word means that I am knitting in the wrong direction. Whoopsie!
Not because I have nothing to work on. Nope. Not even because I don't have any socks to work on. Noooo, I started them because I LOVE this picture that is on the pattern. It makes me warm, fuzzy, and envious. I've hated those clogs for years thinking, despite several of my friends' claims to the contrary, that they are THE. UGLIEST. SHOES. EVER. But something has been eating away at my brain the last two winters (cooped up in a house with the kids perhaps) and now it seems that I want a pair. Very much so. And well, if I am going to have a pair, I need some of the socks too. Sadly, whatever has been eating at my brain and convincing it that I need me some ugly shoes, has also affected my ability to read a pattern and follow directions. Three tries to get me to the point above and that is after I decided that yes, I could live the with the fact that the sock is backwards, or upside down, or whatever word means that I am knitting in the wrong direction. Whoopsie!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Prickly
Another day, another cowl? Perhaps. It seems to be a thing for me lately. Because, you know, this, my second cowl makes two, which is a thing? Oh Jenna. Anywho ...
At our annual Knitting Party, this year's swap gifted me with this yarn in the Christmas Cactus colorway. Now it is sock yarn, so one might think making socks with it would be logical. I, however, am not logical. Also, I recently unearthed (in my husband's car's trunk ... weird, right?) a pair of half, or perhaps a quarter, knit socks still (obviously) on the needles. Those socks are somewhat brain-requiring and I didn't want to start another pair so I did a little search of the yarn in my colorway on Ravelry. It is not the most popular colorway out there, but I saw this, and even though the dye lot there is a lot more red than mine, I decided to give it a go. Also, I am currently addicted to cowls.
The yarn was easy to ball up and had not a single knot. Sadly this is worthy of both note and excitement. What the hell happened to quality control yarn makers?? Anyway, the big down side of this yarn was the fact that knitting more than a row turned my fingers a lovely reddish orange. I was able to wash my hands each time I finished working on it and the dye came off. But it was annoying.
The dye leaching was annoying. And perhaps a smarter person would have not only remembered that, but thought about it before starting the blocking process. I did remember it, and not wanting my neck or my collars to turn colors, I gave the cowl two good washes in Eucalan. And then I let is soak in a third batch over night. In my sink. Which is some new age product and not porcelain. The next morning the water was reddish orange and so was my sink. NOT WINNING! Several serious scrubs with Bar Keepers Friend and the sink was once again white, but I was annoyed. Even with all of this washing and soaking, the cowl left reddish stains on three consecutive towels as I rung it out in prep for blocking. Also annoying.
As noted in these instruction, the actual pattern used was this one. I used it too. My only deviation was due to my inability to pay attention. In mine, the garter rows between the yarn over rows vary from three rows to five. Reddish orange fingers and all, I am happy with this cowl. It wraps around my neck three times and is more snug than loose, but not too snug. That being said, one of my CiF folks seemed to really like the yarn at our Knitting Party, so perhaps I will CiF ... I'm undecided right now.
Yarn: Done Roving Frolicking Feet, Christmas Cactus, 1 skein
Needles: Addi Turbo Circs, size 3.5 mm (US 4)
Pattern: Garter & Eyelet Cowl
Modifications: Varied the number of garter rows between lace/yarn over rows.
Time: 18 days.
Care: Machine wash, gentle cycle, cold water. Dry flat to block it out.
At our annual Knitting Party, this year's swap gifted me with this yarn in the Christmas Cactus colorway. Now it is sock yarn, so one might think making socks with it would be logical. I, however, am not logical. Also, I recently unearthed (in my husband's car's trunk ... weird, right?) a pair of half, or perhaps a quarter, knit socks still (obviously) on the needles. Those socks are somewhat brain-requiring and I didn't want to start another pair so I did a little search of the yarn in my colorway on Ravelry. It is not the most popular colorway out there, but I saw this, and even though the dye lot there is a lot more red than mine, I decided to give it a go. Also, I am currently addicted to cowls.
The yarn was easy to ball up and had not a single knot. Sadly this is worthy of both note and excitement. What the hell happened to quality control yarn makers?? Anyway, the big down side of this yarn was the fact that knitting more than a row turned my fingers a lovely reddish orange. I was able to wash my hands each time I finished working on it and the dye came off. But it was annoying.
The dye leaching was annoying. And perhaps a smarter person would have not only remembered that, but thought about it before starting the blocking process. I did remember it, and not wanting my neck or my collars to turn colors, I gave the cowl two good washes in Eucalan. And then I let is soak in a third batch over night. In my sink. Which is some new age product and not porcelain. The next morning the water was reddish orange and so was my sink. NOT WINNING! Several serious scrubs with Bar Keepers Friend and the sink was once again white, but I was annoyed. Even with all of this washing and soaking, the cowl left reddish stains on three consecutive towels as I rung it out in prep for blocking. Also annoying.
As noted in these instruction, the actual pattern used was this one. I used it too. My only deviation was due to my inability to pay attention. In mine, the garter rows between the yarn over rows vary from three rows to five. Reddish orange fingers and all, I am happy with this cowl. It wraps around my neck three times and is more snug than loose, but not too snug. That being said, one of my CiF folks seemed to really like the yarn at our Knitting Party, so perhaps I will CiF ... I'm undecided right now.
Yarn: Done Roving Frolicking Feet, Christmas Cactus, 1 skein
Needles: Addi Turbo Circs, size 3.5 mm (US 4)
Pattern: Garter & Eyelet Cowl
Modifications: Varied the number of garter rows between lace/yarn over rows.
Time: 18 days.
Care: Machine wash, gentle cycle, cold water. Dry flat to block it out.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Not As Intended
Despite the insanely warm temperatures (Damn you Global Warming!), I knit myself a warm and bulky cowl. In my mind I knew EXACTLY what I wanted. I wanted it to stripe, but not too obnoxiously. I want it to be neutral, but not boring. I wanted it to wrap around my neck twice, but not have too much extra play. I wanted it to be seamless and soft. Sadly, that which is in my head is not necessarily one with reality.
I used Jared Flood's Noro Striped Scarf as a jumping off point. But I did jump off quite a bit. Which is to say I knit two rows per color, and did so in a 1x1 rib. I didn't do any of his pretty edging, or use his pattern numbers.
The knitting of this baby was pretty darn quick. I enjoyed watching the shades of the Noro pop in and out. I did not, however, enjoy picking the twigs out of the Noro or dealing with the random breaks and knots in the yarn. In fact, that part was really friggen annoying. Not as annoying as trying to seam this monster together though. While my provisional cast on seemed quite normal, it wasn't. I used a crochet chain. Used the bumps and started my 1x1 rib. Which, I learned at 11:45pm on New Year's Eve, was an epic fail. It looked normal before I took out the chain, but it wasn't.
In fact, it was almost as if it was not actual knitting. This may have been daunting to some, but not me. Oh no. I was sure it would be fine once I got to grafting. Ha! And HAHAHA. I had about 10 resources on grafting in a rib, none of which were actually spot on, and tried to cobble something pretty together. I tried. Over. And over. Never really stopping. Well, that's not quite true. I did take a quick break to ring in the New Year with a smooch for my husband and a chug of some iced tea, but that was it. And that is perhaps why, at 1:00 a.m. I said 'to Hell with you' and weaved in my ends. I wasn't thrilled, but I was tired and I wanted to be done.
The next morning, I was still tired, but I was also horrified. What awful crap was this? What happened to the perfectionist yarn cutter I once was? At the (smart) urging of a friend, I ripped, and cut that shit out. And then I started again. I had to reknit several inches because my end weaving was that damn good (unlike my seaming) and so the stripes are now no longer perfect. This irked me. And it still kind of does. But I am going to pretend it doesn't. In any event, I reknit and then, using my pea brain, decided to use the tried and true mattress stitch instead of some new age grafting stitch I made up out of frustration.
I do have a seam, but it isn't too unseemly (hardy har har). If you put the seam in the back, you can't tell my stripes are not in perfect colorlogical pattern order. So, good enough!
Yarn: One and a quarter skeins of Noro Big Kureyon and one skein of an unknown grey yarn I received as a gift from a friend
Needles: Addi Turbo Circs, size 5.5 mm (US 9)
Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf
Modifications: Cast on 55, knit 1x1 rib, bind off, mattress stitch
Time: Two weeks
Care: Dry clean (as if)
I used Jared Flood's Noro Striped Scarf as a jumping off point. But I did jump off quite a bit. Which is to say I knit two rows per color, and did so in a 1x1 rib. I didn't do any of his pretty edging, or use his pattern numbers.
The knitting of this baby was pretty darn quick. I enjoyed watching the shades of the Noro pop in and out. I did not, however, enjoy picking the twigs out of the Noro or dealing with the random breaks and knots in the yarn. In fact, that part was really friggen annoying. Not as annoying as trying to seam this monster together though. While my provisional cast on seemed quite normal, it wasn't. I used a crochet chain. Used the bumps and started my 1x1 rib. Which, I learned at 11:45pm on New Year's Eve, was an epic fail. It looked normal before I took out the chain, but it wasn't.
The next morning, I was still tired, but I was also horrified. What awful crap was this? What happened to the perfectionist yarn cutter I once was? At the (smart) urging of a friend, I ripped, and cut that shit out. And then I started again. I had to reknit several inches because my end weaving was that damn good (unlike my seaming) and so the stripes are now no longer perfect. This irked me. And it still kind of does. But I am going to pretend it doesn't. In any event, I reknit and then, using my pea brain, decided to use the tried and true mattress stitch instead of some new age grafting stitch I made up out of frustration.
I do have a seam, but it isn't too unseemly (hardy har har). If you put the seam in the back, you can't tell my stripes are not in perfect colorlogical pattern order. So, good enough!
Yarn: One and a quarter skeins of Noro Big Kureyon and one skein of an unknown grey yarn I received as a gift from a friend
Needles: Addi Turbo Circs, size 5.5 mm (US 9)
Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf
Modifications: Cast on 55, knit 1x1 rib, bind off, mattress stitch
Time: Two weeks
Care: Dry clean (as if)
Thursday, January 05, 2012
One of Four
So remember when I mentioned that cruel, cruel mistress, Craft It Forward (CIF) 2011, which incidentally has not been seen anywhere in 2012 because people learned their lesson? No? Did I mention it? Well if not in short (heh, as if) there was a status on facebook that read something along the lines of:
It's time to Craft-It-Forward! Would you like me to make you something special in my oh-so-abundant-free-time? I have had way to much wine and am feeling friendly. I also smoked crack and dined on magic mushrooms. Life is a rainbow, experienced on the back of a unicorn. I will plan to craft something for the first five people that write a comment AND re-post this status on their own walls. Even as I type this, I suspect it isn't going to end well but I want something awesome from someone else. I am selfish. I will pay for this selfishness. Eventually your craft will get done, but only after I feel so guilty for being a slacker and have received a craft from you or someone else. Please pass the dutchie from the left hand side.
Perhaps it was a bit more succient. In any event, I had CIF well under control (read: no one had crafted me so I felt comfortable not having crafted someone else). But then. But then I was having a crochet issue with the Sweet Pea Shawl and joked that a friend could crochet my shawl for me as my CIF gift ... AND SHE DID. But then my other friend randomly appeared with an awesome felted gnome bag, with the gnome modeled after a real life one, well real life statute, obviously. So then my feet were to the fire. I am working on something for the crocheter, but in the meantime, gnomey said she saw a bandana cowl at a LYS and wanted to make one some day and I thought to myself I AM ON THIS. Except this is me we are talking about and so by on this I mean I had a month to feel guilty for not going to look at the cowl or picking yarn or starting the knit. But somehow I got off my rump and got to knitting.
It took me a week and a half to get her done, but I did it. I followed the pattern EXACTLY but because my yarn wasn't bulky, I doubled it. While this makes the fabric warm and dense, it does inhibit the drape to some extent. Having never seen the thing in real life, I was constantly checking other people's versions on Ravelry and kept thinking mine looked loooonnnnnggggg. And now that I have seen the one in the LYS, I can say my version IS long.
But my friend swears she likes it, so I am going to assume this is true. When she tried it one she gave it a little swagger. A swish and a wosh. Or something. It does not look as long and about-to-get-caught-between-the-boobs on her, as it did when I tried it on. I consider this a good thing.
As an aside, the yarn I used, Rios, while lovely to knit with, SUCKED BIG MONKEY LIPS to wind. Before I realized that CIF was a really stupid idea, I bought this yarn with various CIF ideas in mind. The first skein was twisted and knotted and took me an hour or so to wind due to having to manually untangle the shit. I figured it was a fluke. WRONG. The second skein? A FUCKING NIGHTMARE. There were so many knots and twists and tangles, I had to cut the yarn to get it out of the skein. I had to ball it by hand because it was so tangled on the swift that every turn made it worse. It took me DAYS to get it into a manageable ball. I have NEVER EVER NEVER NEVER seen such a disaster of yarn in a normal unassuming looking skein. If, and that is a big if, IF I ever buy this yarn again, it will be with the insistence that the yarn store ball it for me.
Yarn: Malabrigo Rios, almost 2 skeins, 52 Paris Night
Needles: Addi Turbo Circs, size 6.5 mm (US 10)
Pattern: Bandana Cowl
Modifications: Doubled the yarn
Time: A week and a half.
Care: Machine wash, gentle cycle, cold water. Dry flat.
It's time to Craft-It-Forward! Would you like me to make you something special in my oh-so-abundant-free-time? I have had way to much wine and am feeling friendly. I also smoked crack and dined on magic mushrooms. Life is a rainbow, experienced on the back of a unicorn. I will plan to craft something for the first five people that write a comment AND re-post this status on their own walls. Even as I type this, I suspect it isn't going to end well but I want something awesome from someone else. I am selfish. I will pay for this selfishness. Eventually your craft will get done, but only after I feel so guilty for being a slacker and have received a craft from you or someone else. Please pass the dutchie from the left hand side.
Perhaps it was a bit more succient. In any event, I had CIF well under control (read: no one had crafted me so I felt comfortable not having crafted someone else). But then. But then I was having a crochet issue with the Sweet Pea Shawl and joked that a friend could crochet my shawl for me as my CIF gift ... AND SHE DID. But then my other friend randomly appeared with an awesome felted gnome bag, with the gnome modeled after a real life one, well real life statute, obviously. So then my feet were to the fire. I am working on something for the crocheter, but in the meantime, gnomey said she saw a bandana cowl at a LYS and wanted to make one some day and I thought to myself I AM ON THIS. Except this is me we are talking about and so by on this I mean I had a month to feel guilty for not going to look at the cowl or picking yarn or starting the knit. But somehow I got off my rump and got to knitting.
It took me a week and a half to get her done, but I did it. I followed the pattern EXACTLY but because my yarn wasn't bulky, I doubled it. While this makes the fabric warm and dense, it does inhibit the drape to some extent. Having never seen the thing in real life, I was constantly checking other people's versions on Ravelry and kept thinking mine looked loooonnnnnggggg. And now that I have seen the one in the LYS, I can say my version IS long.
But my friend swears she likes it, so I am going to assume this is true. When she tried it one she gave it a little swagger. A swish and a wosh. Or something. It does not look as long and about-to-get-caught-between-the-boobs on her, as it did when I tried it on. I consider this a good thing.
As an aside, the yarn I used, Rios, while lovely to knit with, SUCKED BIG MONKEY LIPS to wind. Before I realized that CIF was a really stupid idea, I bought this yarn with various CIF ideas in mind. The first skein was twisted and knotted and took me an hour or so to wind due to having to manually untangle the shit. I figured it was a fluke. WRONG. The second skein? A FUCKING NIGHTMARE. There were so many knots and twists and tangles, I had to cut the yarn to get it out of the skein. I had to ball it by hand because it was so tangled on the swift that every turn made it worse. It took me DAYS to get it into a manageable ball. I have NEVER EVER NEVER NEVER seen such a disaster of yarn in a normal unassuming looking skein. If, and that is a big if, IF I ever buy this yarn again, it will be with the insistence that the yarn store ball it for me.
Needles: Addi Turbo Circs, size 6.5 mm (US 10)
Pattern: Bandana Cowl
Modifications: Doubled the yarn
Time: A week and a half.
Care: Machine wash, gentle cycle, cold water. Dry flat.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Foggy
I've been so damn slow at blogging my knits, in this case more than two years, that the details of what I did are some what ... foggy. NOT THAT I AM OLD AND LOSING MY MIND. I'm not. Advanced maternal age my arse. I'm a spring chicken dammit. Now, what was I talking about?
So, another Christmas stocking. I've blabbered on about Christmas stocking knitting. A lot. The stuff about the first stocking was useful. The stuff about the second stocking was not really present so I guess I can't say it wasn't useful. Anywho, I am going to shake out the cobwebs and hope for the best. I plan on knitting a third stocking next year for our third baby, who is due in April. A boy child?!?!? I go forth optimistically thinking I will remember something useful.
The stocking. It was fine to knit. No surprises or deviations. I started at the top and worked my way down, like the pattern calls for and unlike I did for the first one, where I went from the toe up. Once the stocking was knit, I went ahead and bedazzled it. I DID NOT BLOCK IT. Short of a tsunami, that sucker is never going to see water.
I have an "In Progress" knitting photo and an "In Progress" post-knitting, pre-seaming, damn what a mess photo.
These are of no help, and I am not exactly sure why I took them. Though the bedazzling was not difficult, it, combined with my inexpert color work, made for quite the train wreck on the oh-so-very-wrong side of the stocking. Also, I am not the best bedazzler ever. Or, maybe I *meant* for the boy snowman's arms to have muscles ...
What? Snowmen aren't JACKED? Well mine is. So there! Other than some creative bedazzling, the only other issue with the stocking that I had was its length. Having actually loaded that sucker up with goodies this year, I can say that the thing is HUGE. It is at least an inch longer than the first stocking.
It's the second to last one on the right. The one practically dragging on the ground. To fill it seems like a MASSIVE undertaking. I thought I was going to have extra stuff sticking out of the top. Instead? Instead it was like a cavernous black hole. It looked sad and kind of gaping in the middle.
There was another slight hiccup with the lining. As in the first one I cut, and a sweet friend sewed for me, was too small. I didn't account for the space the seam would take up. Duh. Not winning. My second go around turned out fine size wise, though my seaming it into the stocking itself was a little ghetto-riffic. Sometime I will tell you about the story of my sewing machine, the five+ year belief that I had lost the power cord, and the startling revelation that I actually didn't. In the meantime, I like the stocking a lot. It was not nearly the pain in the ass that I experienced my first go around and I am glad I knit it and hope my daughter enjoys it. If she doesn't, I'll just pinch her.
Yarn: Elegant Heirlooms, Googleheims Stocking Kit purchased from Angelika's Yarn Store
Needles: Addi Turbo Lace Circs, size 3.25 mm (US 4)
Pattern: "Moonflakes"
Modifications: Added extra stripe around white name band so both top and bottom had a red and green stripe. This matched the first stocking I knit.
Time: Ummm, two years total. EMBARASSING. But also due to my sewing, or lack thereof.
Care: Only use it once a year and don't let anyone touch it.
So, another Christmas stocking. I've blabbered on about Christmas stocking knitting. A lot. The stuff about the first stocking was useful. The stuff about the second stocking was not really present so I guess I can't say it wasn't useful. Anywho, I am going to shake out the cobwebs and hope for the best. I plan on knitting a third stocking next year for our third baby, who is due in April. A boy child?!?!? I go forth optimistically thinking I will remember something useful.
The stocking. It was fine to knit. No surprises or deviations. I started at the top and worked my way down, like the pattern calls for and unlike I did for the first one, where I went from the toe up. Once the stocking was knit, I went ahead and bedazzled it. I DID NOT BLOCK IT. Short of a tsunami, that sucker is never going to see water.
I have an "In Progress" knitting photo and an "In Progress" post-knitting, pre-seaming, damn what a mess photo.
These are of no help, and I am not exactly sure why I took them. Though the bedazzling was not difficult, it, combined with my inexpert color work, made for quite the train wreck on the oh-so-very-wrong side of the stocking. Also, I am not the best bedazzler ever. Or, maybe I *meant* for the boy snowman's arms to have muscles ...
What? Snowmen aren't JACKED? Well mine is. So there! Other than some creative bedazzling, the only other issue with the stocking that I had was its length. Having actually loaded that sucker up with goodies this year, I can say that the thing is HUGE. It is at least an inch longer than the first stocking.
It's the second to last one on the right. The one practically dragging on the ground. To fill it seems like a MASSIVE undertaking. I thought I was going to have extra stuff sticking out of the top. Instead? Instead it was like a cavernous black hole. It looked sad and kind of gaping in the middle.
There was another slight hiccup with the lining. As in the first one I cut, and a sweet friend sewed for me, was too small. I didn't account for the space the seam would take up. Duh. Not winning. My second go around turned out fine size wise, though my seaming it into the stocking itself was a little ghetto-riffic. Sometime I will tell you about the story of my sewing machine, the five+ year belief that I had lost the power cord, and the startling revelation that I actually didn't. In the meantime, I like the stocking a lot. It was not nearly the pain in the ass that I experienced my first go around and I am glad I knit it and hope my daughter enjoys it. If she doesn't, I'll just pinch her.
Yarn: Elegant Heirlooms, Googleheims Stocking Kit purchased from Angelika's Yarn Store
Needles: Addi Turbo Lace Circs, size 3.25 mm (US 4)
Pattern: "Moonflakes"
Modifications: Added extra stripe around white name band so both top and bottom had a red and green stripe. This matched the first stocking I knit.
Time: Ummm, two years total. EMBARASSING. But also due to my sewing, or lack thereof.
Care: Only use it once a year and don't let anyone touch it.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
I Got Nothin
So two out of three of my last posts have been about ... clean laundry? Christ on a cracker! Can you say boring? This is what happens when you are home all the time with two midget tyrants and a third on the way. You start relishing things like clean laundry. Someone needs to have an intervention. And perhaps, it could involve some prime steak, chocolate and a Louis Vuitton or two? Hello? Anybody? Damn.
Last week I did have the pleasure of slipping on some black ice and landing into a position known as Tebowing (going down on one knee with your head bent forward in your hand), NOT to be confused with teabagging, that is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. Anyway, me, black ice, Tebowing. Oh, and did I mention it was right in front of about a gazillion people at ESPN? Yah. Awesome. Also, I am still immature enough that I jumped up "laughing" in an attempt to mitigate my humiliation and did not instead start crying like a baby because HOLY! SHIT! my Tebowed knee HURT. And, for the record, STILL DOES. I fear I will be that 70 year old lady who falls, breaks a hip, and insists on walking away thus causing more damage, and ends up quadriplegic.
Anyway, other than my bimonthly fall, things have been pretty quite here. There has been a bunch of finished knitting ...
Like Juliet's stocking. Which, actually, I finished knitting two years ago, seamed up last year (and made a liner that was too small) and just this year finally made a new liner which was sized right.
Like a cowl for a friend. Which I did for "Craft It Forward" a most AWFUL idea, and something that one year later I have yet to complete.
Like a different cowl for me. In which I learned that the power of my mind can not affect physics. Or, alternatively, I am an idiot.
I have put them up on my Ravelry page but have yet to blog them. Which I will. Soon. I think. In the meantime, I need to go upstairs and make sure my two year old has not dismantled the child locks on the window and attempted to scale the roof. What? That isn't normal for a two year old girl? TELL ME ABOUT IT.
Last week I did have the pleasure of slipping on some black ice and landing into a position known as Tebowing (going down on one knee with your head bent forward in your hand), NOT to be confused with teabagging, that is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. Anyway, me, black ice, Tebowing. Oh, and did I mention it was right in front of about a gazillion people at ESPN? Yah. Awesome. Also, I am still immature enough that I jumped up "laughing" in an attempt to mitigate my humiliation and did not instead start crying like a baby because HOLY! SHIT! my Tebowed knee HURT. And, for the record, STILL DOES. I fear I will be that 70 year old lady who falls, breaks a hip, and insists on walking away thus causing more damage, and ends up quadriplegic.
Anyway, other than my bimonthly fall, things have been pretty quite here. There has been a bunch of finished knitting ...
Like Juliet's stocking. Which, actually, I finished knitting two years ago, seamed up last year (and made a liner that was too small) and just this year finally made a new liner which was sized right.
Like a cowl for a friend. Which I did for "Craft It Forward" a most AWFUL idea, and something that one year later I have yet to complete.
Like a different cowl for me. In which I learned that the power of my mind can not affect physics. Or, alternatively, I am an idiot.
I have put them up on my Ravelry page but have yet to blog them. Which I will. Soon. I think. In the meantime, I need to go upstairs and make sure my two year old has not dismantled the child locks on the window and attempted to scale the roof. What? That isn't normal for a two year old girl? TELL ME ABOUT IT.
Monday, January 02, 2012
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Winning!
This morning I went to check the laundry situation and was greeted by the most heartwarming sight ... My husband had washed my hand knots and then smartly, correctly, awesomely left them out to air dry! Score!
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Done!
My version of the Moderne Baby Blanket is dooooonnnnneeeee!
My pictures leave something to be desired (to put it mildly), but I am so done with this baby, that I can't see me waiting for nice light and doing another proper photo shoot.
Yarn: Knit Picks, Swish Worsted, White, Sugar Plum, Amethyst and Parrot. Less than 3 skeins of each.
Needles: Knitters Pride Nova Circs, size 4.25 mm (US 6) ** These are a lot less expensive than Addi Turbo Circs and were just as nice **
Pattern: Moderne Baby Blanket
Modifications: Made MUCH smaller and improvised on squares once I figured out what I was doing.
Time: Less than 2 months.
Care: Machine wash and tumble dry low.
My pictures leave something to be desired (to put it mildly), but I am so done with this baby, that I can't see me waiting for nice light and doing another proper photo shoot.
Yarn: Knit Picks, Swish Worsted, White, Sugar Plum, Amethyst and Parrot. Less than 3 skeins of each.
Needles: Knitters Pride Nova Circs, size 4.25 mm (US 6) ** These are a lot less expensive than Addi Turbo Circs and were just as nice **
Pattern: Moderne Baby Blanket
Modifications: Made MUCH smaller and improvised on squares once I figured out what I was doing.
Time: Less than 2 months.
Care: Machine wash and tumble dry low.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Moving Along
Slowly but surely I am making progress, and a few modifications, on the Moderne Baby Blanket.
And, truthfully, I am enjoying this. It is pretty brainless knitting I can do while I am catching up on bad television, but at the same time, the blocks are small enough that it keeps me interested. I had mapped out how I was going to knit the various colors, but I already changed that twice ... and am probably gonna do it again. Am I crazy fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants knitter or what?
And, truthfully, I am enjoying this. It is pretty brainless knitting I can do while I am catching up on bad television, but at the same time, the blocks are small enough that it keeps me interested. I had mapped out how I was going to knit the various colors, but I already changed that twice ... and am probably gonna do it again. Am I crazy fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants knitter or what?
Monday, October 10, 2011
Ribbit MDLXXXVII
SONOFABITCH! So you know how people say, "READ THE PATTERN, IN TOTAL, BEFORE YOU START KNITTING!" Yah, well I did do that. Even so I still started knitting the WRONG &^%@!$^* blanket. There is a big, adult-sized, blanket on the left page and a smaller, child-sized blanket on the right page. Some dumbass (yours truly) cast on the stitches for THE ADULT SIZED BLANKET. All that knitting I finished ...
Rrrrriiipppp. That 'swatch' up there was basically two squares, instead of one. I could have finished block two already if I was paying attention, but no, I wasn't. Dammit! I couldn't figure out why I was using up so much yarn on the first square and then it hit me that perhaps I should check the pattern again. So, note-to-self, if something seems hinky, it is!
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Being Nice
So a friend, my old personal trainer, asked me if I would knit a baby blanket for her so that she could give it to her best friend as a baby shower gift. She offered to pay me, but it seemed weird since I had just asked her an exercise question and well, now, let's say I find myself knitting a baby blanket. For a friend's friend. For free. And I need to finish it like, yesterday. Mind you, I don't knit for other people. Ever. So I had to really search far and wide for a pattern that seemed quick. And easy. And interesting. Or at least not boring. Though let's be honest here, quick was more important than interesting. So now I have this ...
And I am hopeful that it is going to turn into a Moderne Baby Blanket. Like yesterday. Oh boy.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Socky Sherbet
This weekend, while sprawled out on a couch during a girls' weekend, I finished the Sunday Swing Socks. As soon as they were done, I put them on and went for a walk along the beach hunting for sea glass. It turns out, I am a MUCH better sock knitter than I am sea glass finder ... even after consuming an entire bottle of wine and some Poochi Poochi Sake.
These socks were so unbelievably easy to knit. So easy that I never actually printed out the pattern. I looked at the pattern online and knitted from the iPad for the first round or so and then realized that the spacing was six stitches and eight stitches and that was then end of my need for the pattern. I did goof at one point and switch the eight and the six so one repeat is off, but I am pretending that it never happened and in fact, that last bit of the sentence is going to self-destruct as soon as you click away from this entry. Seriously. It will. Though you shouldn't click back and double check or my secret Sycophant Zombie Army will have to come and assimilate you into the fold.
Anyway, I digress. These socks are easy. Though I suspect that if these were your first socks, you might want to refer to the pattern a little more than me. I didn't alter anything in the pattern, except the cuff/ribbing, which I had started before I determined what pattern these socks were going to be. I'm not sure what the pattern calls for but a simple k1,p1 rib works fine.
Also fine? The yarn. It is ArtYarns and it is lovely. I am a fan of ArtYarns yarns and am bummed to hear (from several unrelated sources) that the woman who is ArtYarns is a bit of a yahoo who is trying to re-brand herself and in doing so is pricing her self out of the market. Well at least for cashmere. Which these socks are not. But still. I don't like the word on the street. Assuming the sock yarn stays affordable, and you are interested, I'd say it is a nice knit. Not splitty. Not knotty. Smooth and flowy and squishy. I'm not sure how it will wear and if the colors will fade (Koigu I'm looking at you ... fader!) as I have only used the ArtYarns cashmere and silk before, but I am hopeful. Really hopeful. I have a skein leftover, as well as a bit left over from each skein that I knit the socks from and am thinking kid socks (though these aren't superwash which could be tricky with the under three crowd).
So, as the great Charlie Sheen would say, these socks? WINNING, Duh!
Yarn: ArtYarns Ultramerino 4, less than two skeins, color 127.
Needles: Addi Circs, size 2.5 mm (US 1)
Pattern: Sunday Swing Socks
Time: 4 weeks!
Care: Hand wash and dry flat in shade.
These socks were so unbelievably easy to knit. So easy that I never actually printed out the pattern. I looked at the pattern online and knitted from the iPad for the first round or so and then realized that the spacing was six stitches and eight stitches and that was then end of my need for the pattern. I did goof at one point and switch the eight and the six so one repeat is off, but I am pretending that it never happened and in fact, that last bit of the sentence is going to self-destruct as soon as you click away from this entry. Seriously. It will. Though you shouldn't click back and double check or my secret Sycophant Zombie Army will have to come and assimilate you into the fold.
Anyway, I digress. These socks are easy. Though I suspect that if these were your first socks, you might want to refer to the pattern a little more than me. I didn't alter anything in the pattern, except the cuff/ribbing, which I had started before I determined what pattern these socks were going to be. I'm not sure what the pattern calls for but a simple k1,p1 rib works fine.
Also fine? The yarn. It is ArtYarns and it is lovely. I am a fan of ArtYarns yarns and am bummed to hear (from several unrelated sources) that the woman who is ArtYarns is a bit of a yahoo who is trying to re-brand herself and in doing so is pricing her self out of the market. Well at least for cashmere. Which these socks are not. But still. I don't like the word on the street. Assuming the sock yarn stays affordable, and you are interested, I'd say it is a nice knit. Not splitty. Not knotty. Smooth and flowy and squishy. I'm not sure how it will wear and if the colors will fade (Koigu I'm looking at you ... fader!) as I have only used the ArtYarns cashmere and silk before, but I am hopeful. Really hopeful. I have a skein leftover, as well as a bit left over from each skein that I knit the socks from and am thinking kid socks (though these aren't superwash which could be tricky with the under three crowd).
So, as the great Charlie Sheen would say, these socks? WINNING, Duh!
Yarn: ArtYarns Ultramerino 4, less than two skeins, color 127.
Needles: Addi Circs, size 2.5 mm (US 1)
Pattern: Sunday Swing Socks
Time: 4 weeks!
Care: Hand wash and dry flat in shade.
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