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

Transformation of Noro Kureyon

First, buy 20 skeins of Noro Kureyon for the Lizard Ridge Afghan from Knitty.com. Then discover that you can't stand short rows.

20 skeins of Noro Kureyon

 Then start the Lady Eleanor Wrap from Scarf Style.

Lady Eleanor Wrap

Put nearly 10 skeins of Noro in the knitting of the wrap. Try it on your shoulders, it is very heavy. Study the color combinations. Very bright.

Close-up

Again, frog the project.  

Rewound yarn

Search the web and Ravelry for another idea. Finally, find the log cabin squares from Knitting-and.com.

Start of a Log Cabin Square

Start another afghan.

Finished squares

Squares completed so far. I am considering the stain glass look from "get your hook on" blog. Check it out. Just beautiful.

It is a good thing that I am a process knitter. I can knit a couple of years on one project, ripp-it and start again. It is the yarn that keeps on giving.

In Search of the Perfect Sock Knitting Method

I love to knit socks.  But it takes sooo long to make a pair.  I am trying several methods to see if I can turn them out quicker.

Hobby Lobby Walk About Yarn

1. Double pointed needles. Juggling 3-4 needles. Slow.

Nina's Hand-dyed Yarn

2. Two circular needles. Faster. Still dealing with 4 ends.

Regia Design Line

3. 9" circular. Working in the round. Seems to go quicker but sort of awkward using such a short circular needle.

4.  Magic Loop. One long circular needle. When I tried using it in the past, I had a hard time keeping my place in the pattern. Also, it was hard to keep ladders from forming.

Now to finish the socks without starting another pair!!

What is your favorite method for knitting socks???

Updated Look

Well, it has been a while since I posted. I decided to update the old blog with a new template. What do you think??

Happy New Year

Wow, another year has come to an end and a new year has started. I guess that my New Years resolution this year has to include knitting from my stash. I went through all my yarn recently. Whoa, I have accumulated quite a stash over the last few years. So no new purchases for a while. My new mantra is: must knit from stash, must knit from stash. I wonder how long I can last?? Probably not very long, but I'll try. That is unless a store has a really good sale.


On another note, I finished a lot of Christmas gifts at the last minute. Most were almost completed except for the bear. I ran out of time to work on him. If I knit this pattern again, I will embroider the face in a darker color.


This is the 3rd Sitcom Chic that I have completed. It is for my SIL. It turned out very nice and I think she really liked it.

The Jaipur Socks are for my MIL. I finally found something that she likes and doesn't want to return to the store. She likes the warmth and the fit of the wool socks. The stripes almost match this time.

The Baby Bobbi Bear has more knitting that I thought. I started it on Monday night and finished it Wednesday afternoon. Wrapped it up and gave it to my great-niece that night. I think she liked it.

Finally, this is the other present I completed shortly before Christmas. It is a Baby Tweed Blanket by Jared Flood. Very easy knit. The middle is knitted on the diagonal in garter stitch and then the edging is picked up all around the sides. An I-cord edging completes the blanket construction. I have never done an I-cord edging before so that was kind of neat.

Another Craft???

Just what I need. Another craft hobby. But here it is. The drop spindle bug has bitten and here are the first results. (Of course, I must remind everyone that I tried this craft a couple of years ago with a bottom whorl spindle. Never could get the hang of it.)


The pictures aren't that good. But for a first try with the top whorl, I am pleasantly surprised. I found a video on youtube that explains pre-drafting. I found that to be VERY helpful.

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Pretty good, huh??

I think that I will spin the rest of the this wool and maybe make a scarf with my own homespun!! Of course that depends on the yardage I end up with.

Where has the time gone?

What happened to the fall?? Here it is already the middle of October and I haven't made a post in ages. Well, the kids have been sick on and off since school started and I've been busy taking the kids to band practice, soccer practice, gymnastics, music lessons, football practice, etc. etc. There really isn't room for more after school activities.

I have managed to complete a couple of items. (Of course, I have others that I only posted to Ravelry.)

This is a pair of fuzzy slipper socks for my Mom. They will keep her feet nice and warm this winter. ssh. Don't tell her, but it's her Christmas present.







The yarn is Regia Softy sock yarn. I used size 4 needles and did a 1x1 rib for 1o rounds and then a 3x1 rib pattern for the cuff. The cuffs measured about 5". I tried a short row heel for the first time and carried the 3x1 rib pattern down the top of the foot. The socks aren't very pretty, but they're cosy!!


I also finished my Sally Melville's Simple Cardigan. My goodness, it only took me a couple of years to finish this. But hey a FO is a FO no matter how long it takes.

The camera lighting stinks for this picture. The color is more of a deep purple with slubs of red, blue, green and yellow. When I used more flash, the sweater looked bright blue and you couldn't even see the buttons. All the details are on my ravelry page here. I don't know if I will make this again. The bottom tends to curl and the sleeves are really too roomy. This is an over sized garment, which I don't really care for. I went down a size, so it wouldn't look so sloppy on me.

Notion Review

You know, I am a sucker for buying knitting needles, bags and notions. So, recently when I was in a local LYS, I found a new knitting notion. It was the new Lantern Moon repair hook. After carefully adding up my purchases, I decided that it wouldn't break the yarn budget.

This is the hook. It's nice and smooth and easy to use.

I just used it tonight to change a knit stitch to a purl stitch in my fuzzy socks. (The wrong stitch was about 4" down the leg of the sock.) The hook works great. It is not awkward to use like a regular hook. It is short and sleek and a real pleasure to use. Great job Lantern Moon.

Another Bag

I promised the little girl a pink crocheted bag. Here is the result.


This is another bag from a free pattern off of a Japanese Site. I used Reynolds Saucy Sport purchased from Hank of Yarn in Southaven, MS. It is a 100% mercerized cotton yarn. It took a tad over 1 skein. I added the new skein at the first handle. She liked it, I hope.

New books

Who has time to clean house and do laundry? I'm going to blame the Japanese craft books. I have started crocheting again. As long as I don't overdo, it doesn't seem to hurt the arthritis in my hands.




This is one of my new purchases. Of course, it is not new but vintage. Unfortunately it doesn't have charts, but there are great patterns.

I looked at this book for a long time before I purchased it. I almost waited too long. But thank goodness, I was able to find a copy from my favorite etsy dealer. The patterns are in Japanese but all are charted. The book is full of hats and bags. I see more WIP's in my future.

This is my last new book: a Japanese sewing book. It is full of tote bags, book bags, pencil cases, makeup bags, etc. It's time to dust off the sewing machine and get my sewing mojo back!! All the books have detailed diagrams. I think it won't be too hard to follow.

New Quiz

Take Clara's new quiz. Which ewe are you?

I am a Perendale. Now I need to look it up and see what kind of sheep this is. Enjoy.



Didn't you just enjoy Clara Parkes' other book Knitter's Book of Yarn?

Oops, wrong size!!

Well, I finished the second Sitcom Chic for my SIL (Christmas present last year), but oops, it's the wrong size. But, no ripping another sweater for me. My mom tried it on and loved it. So, I gifted it to her and will knit SIL another sweater. It really turned out nice. Instead of using reverse stockinette on the bands, I used 4 rows of garter stitch. Maybe that will help it stay flat without using the ribbon underneath to hold the shape.

Mom didn't want a button loop or button. No problem, as I hadn't made it yet.



On this sweater, I didn't graft the underarm seams like my turquoise one. It was seamed as the instructions stated. This should help keep the shape under the arms.

I lengthened the body and sleeves and did a 2x2 edge on the sleeves and hem. It fits Mom just right.

I can tell that my knitting skills have really improved since finishing the first Sitcom.

Chasing Shiny Objects

I have a confession to make. Whenever I browse patterns, I find things that I just have to start. For instance, this is the Hemlock Ring Doily Throw as modified by Jared Flood. Someone on Ravelry had made it for a baby blanket using Lion Brand Organic Cotton yarn. That's all it took. I found a good source for the yarn and ordered it. The package came in yesterday. With all the socks, sweaters and shawls already on needles, I cast on.

It is a very fast knit. I have already finished the flower part and started the feather and fan chart.





Also, I started the Mountain Stream Scarf the other day. I am using some leftover Knit Picks Shadow lace yarn. Well, that made the DH happy because I didn't buy more yarn. This is an interesting pattern. You start with the bottom border then pick up the edge stitches to begin the body. The side borders are knitted with the body section and then the top border is added at the end. This scarf uses "techniques from traditional Orenberg shawls" ....and is "a nice introduction to the Orenberg construction". I really like how the scarf is starting to look.

The pattern can be found here.

Maybe I should put these down and go finish my second Sitcom Chic Sweater. Only need to weave in all the ends, sew up the underarm seam, add the button and crochet the button loop.

Finished Results

Here is the process I used to dye this yarn.



Put up in the hank. Before starting.

Washed & rinsed, soaked in plain water for 30 minutes.

I didn't have Kool Aid Brand so I used the Aldi's store brand. 2 packs per 50 grams. (Of course, I didn't read this correct and had to add 2 more packs during the dye bath).

The kool aid mixed with water.

Add the yarn and cover with water.

After microwaved for 2 minutes and then rested for 5 minutes and repeated.

Yarn rinsed and hung to dry in my jungle of a back yard.

Final product. I don't know, it may need to be redyed with more blue. But wait, it is just for socks. I'll try dyeing some Knit Picks Bare that I have had for a couple of years.

It is a little time consuming, but overall, very fun. The kids enjoyed "helping" me too.