2/12

I finished another WIP started in 2011. A second pair of socks. Can you tell that I like knitting socks??


Cappuccino Sneaker Socks

 

 

These were knitted with 1 ball (50gr) of Regia Design Line sock yarn that was left over from another pair.



Closeup of the cuff

Stupid me, I knit the first sock on a 2.5mm needle (US 1.5) and the second on a 2.25 (US1). Hopefully, they will fit my Mom, who has a smaller foot than me.

So this makes 2 finished projects of 12 for 2012. I wonder if it counts because I started 2 more?? Hmmm.

12 for 2012

I am off to a good start. The socks I started in December are finished!! One project down, eleven to go.



Thuja Socks

 Knitted using the Thuja pattern from Knitty.com. The yarn is raggi from Jarbo Garn and I used size US6 needles. The socks are nice and squishy and hopefully super warm. I could use them for boot socks, but we really don't have boot weather here in the Mid-South, so I will wear them in bed. My feet stay cold all winter in bed.

2012

Happy New Year!!

Wow, where has 2011 gone?? As I get older the years are starting to pile up faster and faster.

What could New Years be without some Resolutions??  Here are a few of mine.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

1. Get a handle on the housework.
2. Reorganize my kitchen.
3. Destash my craft supplies.
4. Lose weight ( the universal resolution)
5. Complete 12 WIP's for 2012.

Maybe this a list I can really get behind and accomplish this year.

But there was  a large WIP that I completed December 30, 2011 after 4 1/2 years of work.



Sock Yarn Blanket

5" blocks, 140 blocks. All sock yarn scraps and odd balls. Size US 2, 3mm. needle. I used Shelly Kang's pattern from her blog: The Heathen Housewife. I changed up the pattern by making larger blocks (Cast on 71 Sts. per block), knitting on the diagonal to produce a square blanket and I used a black crochet border. Thank you Shelly for your inspiration.
 



Socks and More Socks

I finally finished the Simple Trekking Socks from mimknits....

Simple Trekking Socks

And started another pair of socks: The Ultimate Mystery Socks. This is Plymouth Happy Choices. It is a sock blank pre-dyed. Who knows how the socks will knit up??



Dyed Sock Blank

This time, I am going to use a baby cable rib pattern.

Repairing Cuffs & Sleeves

I looked for a visual on-line tutorial to repair the cuff and sleeve of a cardigan. After searching around, I found the instructions but not with pictures. So without further a-do, here is how I repaired my sweater.


Problem:


Favorite sweater sleeves are too long. Temporary solution was to fold the cuff. After wearing for several years, the fold between the cuff and sleeve has developed holes.

Solution:

Open the sleeve seam 3-4 inches.


Measure how far to cut off from the cuff.

Take a deep breath and CLIP a thread.

Slowly remove the thread and place the live sleeve stitches on a needle.

Continue until all stitches have been picked up. The yarn that was removed can be used again. But, since my yarn had thin places and was broken in several spots, I used the original unused yarn.

Knit a new cuff and weave the two parts together using the Kitchener Stitch. Sew the sleeve seam together, weave in all ends.

Bask in the glory and then repeat for the second sleeve.

I then washed the sweater in Wool Mix and blocked to dry.  Looks great. And no more holes!!!

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

Wow, look what came in the mail today!! A newsletter, a clover pin, tape measure and a set of 9" US 7 knitting needles from Clover-USA.  I had filled out a customer survey several months ago, and this was a thank you gift. What a nice thing to do.

Knitting Goodies

Finished Socks

I have finally finished the Cascading Leaves Socks by Jeanie Townsend. It is a very well written pattern and easily followed. I used the handdyed yarn I purchased from my friend Nina's etsy shop in Finland. Details can be found on my ravelry page. Unfortunately, the pair is too small for me. Hopefully my Mom will be able to wear them.  Now to finish another project.

Note: Thanks for all the comments on my In Search of the Perfect Sock Knitting Method.  I guess it boils down to personal preference. Also, it helps to work on the socks occasionally and perhaps not having too many items on the needles.

Cascading Leaves