live4rabbits's blog

New sock pattern: Winding Way

Not very long ago, I reached a point in my knitting where I felt confident enough to try my hand at a few small original designs including my Step Lively Beret (Ravelry link) and an as yet unpublished colorwork cowl. Then I saw the notice from Wendee of HazelKnits about the Socks Revived contest where she most graciously offered a discount on a skein of her Artisan sock yarn for those interested in entering the contest. As I already knew her yarn to be lovely, I didn't hesitate. Instead, I ordered skeins of Chuckanut Drive and Spanish Wine thinking that they would look good together. The wild variegation of the Chuckanut Drive is lovely in the skein but maybe a bit bright for my semi-solid tendencies. The Spanish Wine meshed so nicely and made the colors in the Chuckanut pop. I had to fiddle about with a couple of patterns before settling on one that played to the strengths of the yarns together. I took my husband's comment on my first attempt that if he squinted he could see Andean llamas frolicking about as an indication that I needed to frog and try again!

I ended up with a simple overall zigzag pattern that was easy to work without being dull. I designed these socks in my favorite way, toe-up with a short row heel on two circular needles. I love being able to try on as I go, not have to kitchener, and use up as much yarn as possible. I am really happy with the final pattern and loved using the HazelKnits Artisan sock yarn. I made the smaller size and used approximately 65g of the main color (Chuckanut Drive) and 62g of the contrast color (Spanish Wine). These socks would be good for a first colorwork pattern as there aren't any long floats and the chart is easy. Pattern is available for free on Ravelry: download now

Dear Mom,

I am trying to decide what project I'd like to tackle for the 2010 Ravelympics which begin in 17 days. I have joined Team Sundara so that I may finally knit up some of the beautiful yarn I have collected. At first I was certain that I would cast on a beret of my own design using the color Deadly Nightshade. However, I have been enjoying my fair isle pirate mittens so much that I am thinking some more colorwork might be in order. Here are some of my choices for the event (notes available if you click through to flickr):

What do you think of these? Any thoughts? I was thinking that the Tulip and whatever might look nice in a Selbu Modern or La Parisienne beret. The other two might make a nice Daybreak shawl. And then there is always using my Deadly Nightshade to knit an Ishbel. I have been wanting to knit these patterns for a while, so any of them would be fun. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Dear Mom,

With the cold weather snap, I found that I was without a decent cowl. My previous one was always way too loose and slouchy to provide any real neck warming power. Thanks to Ravelry I found this wonderful free pattern: Darkside Cowl. My Malabrigo Worsted in Velvet Grapes was a perfect match for this project and a couple of days later I had a finished object!

It is really wonderful, soft, and a great fit. I cast on fewer stitches to get a snugger cowl and it worked perfectly (full details here). It needs a quick bath, but will be a terrific cold weather accessory. I still have over half a skein left of the yarn, so enough for another small project!

Dear Mom,

Well I finally finished the little Fair Isle cardigan for Bee. It was a challenge and a delight to make. The weaving in of ends was almost too much, but it is done. Here are some shots of it washed and blocked. I hope she will wear it over the holidays. Not much else to say and too much work to do for a full final project write up. Details can be found on Ravelry: here. Now what to start next????

Dear Mom,

I have a major case of knitter's distraction. I am filled with the desire to start new projects even though I need to just finish up a couple of old WIP's and one Christmas gift (socks for the husband). Despite having too much to do for the foreseeable future, I am convinced that what my life needs is for me to cast on a new cardigan for myself. So here are the projects I am currently debating all of which can come out of my stash (mostly ravelry links):

• Amelia from the Winter Edition of Knitty. Simple, beautiful, and feminine. I really really love this pattern.




• Lady of the Lake Jacket. I bought this as a kit a couple of years ago and just haven't gotten around to making it. I am a little nervous about the boucle and the amount of variegation being flattering, but it would be a quick and easy pattern.




• The cardiganized version of Wicked. This is a cool design as is, but FlintKnits, the designer of the February Lady Sweater made some awesome mods and was kind enough to post a tutorial on how to do it.




• A simple mostly open cardigan some combination of this and this. This first pattern is nice and classic, but not very fitted. The second pattern has more shaping and I love this version. Simple, wearable, easy to make.




• Finally, there is the Ropes and Picots Cardigan from the most recent IK magazine. It really did look good on all of the gallery ladies.




So which one do you think I should cast on for, after I finish the Christmas socks etc. of course??? ;-) Any of them you want to knit along with me on? I am also thinking we should make our Lady Eleanor stoles before too long. Hope you have been enjoying your knitting lately. I am completely obsessed by it at the moment even though I am not making more progress other than cruising Ravelry too much!

Dear Mom,

I finally have a new finished object (FO), my berry stripe socks. These turned out quite well if a little snug. I really like the yarn and love the colorway. I am itching to cast on another pair of socks, but haven't yet made any decisions. There is also the small matter of Bee's Fair Isle cardigan. I have the back and left front completed but have stopped all work on it. Sigh, I'd better get a move on to have it done by fall.

Dear Mom,

So I have completed the back of the Fair Isle cardigan for Bee. It wasn't as difficult as I imagined, but it is a challenging knit for sure. The shine is a very soft and pleasant yarn. It has a tendency to look a bit fuzzy even as you knit with it, so I don't know how it will hold up over the long haul. I have to say that I am happy with how it looks thus far. The back alone has at well over 60 ends to weave in!

Dear Mom,

Well I finally finished my Reed Lace Shawl (Ravelry link) in Elann's Silken Kydd (oddly I can't find any link to this yarn on their website currently) in Winter White and Rum Butter. Very nice yarn and pattern. It is warm and cozy and the yarn is luminously shiny. I blocked it using my welding wires which took some time but was well worth it. They gave me a nice straight edge with only a handful of pins.

I have also made a little progress on the Fair Isle cardigan for Bee, but I need a lot of concentration to work on it. So the second sock is on the needles and makes pleasant evening knitting. Next time I'll try doing two socks at a time just for fun. Bee wants some socks to match her daddy's so that will be fun!

Dear Mom,

With one stripped sock done, I have half of a finished object. Should have cast on for the other sock right away, but instead started a new project (Ravelry link).

This will be the Fair Isle Cardigan from Zoe Mellor's Adorable Knits for Tots. I am using Shine Sport from KnitPicks as a substitute for the Rowan yarn called for. This project is fairly advanced for me with colorwork on right and wrong sides as well as more than two colors per row. Also the cotton yarn is less forgiving than wool. However, I think the sweater is really cute and it is good to challenge yourself once in a while. So wish me luck. I am reserving the right to abandon ship if need be, but am hopeful that it will turn out fine.

Dear Mom,

So I have been working on some toe-up socks using KnitPicks Felici self-striping yarn.

Rather than do my usual short row toe, I did a Turkish cast on with half the total number of stitches and then did and increase toe. It went pretty well and certainly looks good. When I got to the part where the heel should be, I ran into a problem that I probably should have anticipated. Short row heels and self-striping sock yarn don't mix well. The sequence of the stripes gets mixed up and out of whack.

My chaos loving husband thinks this is a good look, but I am pretty Type-A so it was bothering me. I felt that there must be a better way. Ravelry to the rescue. A quick search in the forums turned up this tutorial in the exact yarn I am using.

It uses the afterthought heel which the Yarn Harlot has also blogged about and which originated with Elizabeth Zimmerman of course. I can't decide whether to try it out on the next sock and have totally mis-matched socks or to wait and use it on the next pair of self-striping socks instead. What do you think? In addition to keeping your pattern aligned, the afterthought heel can be removed separately and reknit if it develops a hole which is pretty cool though I am not sure I would venture that far into sock repair.