Woohoo! :)

Another pair of socks is DONE! :)

I'm so not fast with these, so it's a real joy when a pair comes off the needles. Without further ado, here they are:

These are Monkey socks - Pattern by Cookie A. (pattern here), yarn is Claudia Handpainted Sport from The Loopy Ewe (link in the sidebar) in Blue Terracotta, knitted on size 3mm needles. They are absolutely wonderful on my feet, and I think I'll truly enjoy them this winter.

I also finished a hat for Andrew - will get pictures of that a bit later. All in all? A wonderful knitting week for me! (Yes, both projects took longer than a week. WAY longer...)

Getting some knitting done...

These socks are made with Fiesta Boomerang, in the Alaska colorway. I purchased the yarn from The Loopy Ewe (see the button on the side). Fabulous yarns there - sock and lace. The pattern is my own generic top down sock with a short row heel. Nothing earth-shaking, just pieces put together to fit my own foot.

I've finished another pair of socks recently, but don't have photos unfortunately. I was knitting them on vacation, and my aunt admired them... So they're living with her now. :)

Progress update

Goodness - it's been a long time since I've updated! I've kept busy - I've made 2 pairs of newborn baby booties for friends that are expecting, and a baby sweater for one of the sets of friends. I'm mostly pleased with how it came out, although it really does highlight how much I have to learn about getting sleeves to work for me. No pictures to share, sadly, as I'm lousy at remembering to take pictures and upload them.

I do have pics of my current work(s) in progress:


This is a sock for me, using Artyarns Supermerino. Not sure which colorway, as I don't have the ball band at my desk, but it's a pretty mix of lime green, grass green, teal blue, and purple. I've just picked up the gusset stitches, and will start the decreases on the next round. This is a sample for a class I'm teaching at my (fabulous) LYS - Crazy for Ewe. I'll be doing a few more, with step-outs to show the students how to work a particular feature.


This is a Stripey Slipper for my son (yep, no stripes) - pattern from Little Turtle Knits. I''ll be working the next one this week. They're a reasonably quick knit, as I'm using a size 9 needle and Blue Sky Cotton yarn. The chances that he'll actually wear them? Probably none, but at least I've tried. :)

I've been a busy knitter...

Finally. All the Christmas knitting is done. Of course, I had to drastically scale back my knitting plans, but still. It's done. (woohoo!)

I completely forgot to take pictures - I'm lousy that way. I made a pair of socks for my mother in a really pretty DK weight Blueface Leicester yarn. They're mostly a teal blue, but varying shades. I got the yarn from Colorsong Yarn - they have wonderful service, and yarns to die for. I'm a sucker for a good hand dyed yarn. :) I also finished a cabled scarf for my grandmother - I used Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb, which is a wool and silk blend. I bought 4 skeins around a year ago, thinking I'd make a Clapotis out of it but it just never panned out. I still have 2 1/2 skeins of it - a pretty purple/blue/green mix. I don't know what, if anything, that I'll use it for - I may give it to my mom, and see if it's happier with her. It's nice yarn, but I'm finding that I prefer a multi-ply yarn, and this is a single ply (making it a bit splitty).

I'm not sure what's next on the project list, because I don't really feel like knitting anything right now. I might swatch up the cable pattern my husband picked out for his sweater. Or maybe I'll swatch up some of the yarn I bought for my sweater(s). Or I could knit my son a hat that he won't wear (he's 3). Or I could re-knit a hat for my husband (since the first one looks funny because it's too short). I like having options.

Stocking Pattern

I'm still tweaking it, so please feel free to send me any corrections you might see.

Directions:
Slip all stitches purl-wise unless otherwise specified.

Cuff
- Using contrasting color yarn, cast on 36 stitches. Distribute stitches evenly among needles.
- Join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.
- Knit to the end of each round until the unrolled cuff measures approximately 1½ inches.
Leg
- Cut the contrasting color yarn, leaving about a 6” tail.
- Join main color yarn. Continue knitting in the round until the leg of the stocking measures approximately 6” from where the main color began.
- Cut main color yarn, leaving about a 6” tail.
Heel Flap
- Join contrasting color yarn, and knit 18 stitches. Combine those 18 stitches onto 1 needle.
- You will now begin working back and forth, turning your work at the end of each row.
- Turn work (you’ll be looking at the purl side).
- Row 1: slip 1 stitch and purl to end of row (17 stitches) and turn.
- Row 2: slip 1 stitch and knit to end or row (17 stitches) and turn.
- Repeat rows 1 and 2 (5) times, ending with a knit row. Turn work.
Turn the Heel
- Row 1: slip 1 stitch, purl 11, P2tog, purl 1. Turn work, leaving 4 stitches unworked.
- Row 2: slip 1 stitch, knit 5, SSK, knit 1. Turn work, leaving 4 stitches unworked.
- Row 3: slip 1 stitch, purl 6, P2tog, purl 1. (The P2tog will close the gap where you turned your work last time.) Turn work, leaving 2 stitches unworked.
- Row 4: slip 1 stitch, knit 7, SSK, knit 1. (The SSK will close the gap where you turned your work last time.) Turn work, leaving 2 stitches unworked.
- Row 5: slip 1 stitch, purl 8, P2tog, purl 1. Turn work, leaving no stitches unworked.
- Row 6: slip 1 stitch, knit 9, SSK, knit 1.
- The heel is complete. You should have 12 stitches on your needle. Cut contrasting color yarn.
Heel Gusset
- Using main color yarn, pick up and knit the slipped stitches from your heel flap (7 stitches of contrasting color). Pick up and knit one more stitch (for a total of 8) next to the slipped stitches.
- Knit across the top of the sock foot (18 stitches). Keep these 18 stitches on a separate needle (or 2 needles).
- Pick up and knit one stitch of main color next to the slipped stitches in contrasting color. Pick up and knit 7 slipped stitches (for a total of 8 stitches).
- Knit across the heel and right gusset to end of needle.
Gusset Decreases
- Round 1: Knit across the top of the sock foot, to end of needle. Starting with the next needle, knit 1, SSK, knit across left gusset, heel and right gusset until 3 stitches remain on needle, K2tog, knit 1.
- Round 2: Knit to end of round.
- Repeat rounds 1 and 2 (4) times. You should have 36 stitches remaining.
Sock Foot
- Knit 10 rounds in main color. Cut main color yarn.
- Join contrasting color yarn, and knit 5 rounds.
Toe Decreases
- The right side of the top of the foot will be the beginning of your rounds.
- Round 1: SSK, knit across until there are 2 stitches left on the left side of the foot, K2tog, SSK, knit across bottom of foot until there are 2 stitches left, K2tog.
- Round 2: Knit to end of round.
- Rounds 3 – 6: Repeat rounds 1 and 2 (2) times. You should have 12 stitches on both the top and bottom of the foot, for a total of 24 stitches.
- Round 7: SSK, knit across until there are 2 stitches left on the left side of the foot, K2tog, SSK, knit across bottom of foot until there are 2 stitches left, K2tog. (20 stitches left)
- Round 8: SSK, knit across until there are 2 stitches left on the left side of the foot, K2tog, SSK, knit across bottom of foot until there are 2 stitches left, K2tog. (16 stitches left).
Closing the Toe
- If you have stitches on 4 needles, combine the stitches so that you have 2 needles (1 for the top, 1 for the bottom) – with 8 stitches on each needle.
- Slip each of the 4 end stitches over the stitch next to it (this will prevent the pointy ends common to grafting).
- Using a darning needle and the Kitchener stitch, graft the stitches on the two needles together.
Finishing
- Weave in ends.
- Braid, crochet, or twist a cord about 8” long to use as a hanging loop for your stocking.

Christmas Stocking

I'm working on writing up the pattern, but here's a list of what you'll need for a small stocking (approximately 5” wide and 9” tall):

Materials:
- 2 skeins/balls bulky weight yarn (about 110 yards per skein/ball), one each of the main color and one of a contrasting color
- US size 9 (5.5mm) double pointed needles (or 2 circular needles or 1 long (40”) circular needle)
- yarn/darning needle (for weaving in ends)

Gauge:
3½ stitches per inch in stockinette stitch

Gauge isn't terribly important in this project, as it's not for a foot. The pattern is relatively easy to adapt to a worsted or aran weight yarn as well. Just be aware that the final measurements of your stocking may vary depending on the type of yarn you select.

I expect to have the pattern up this afternoon - just need to check my calculations on the heel gusset.

Stitches East, 2006

I found out about Stitches late - like the day it started. It was a happy coincidence for me, as my husband and I were going to be in Baltimore anyway - for the NSTA convention. Well, he was going there, I was planning to entertain our son.

Anyway, I was able to browse the market today - and it was lovely. SO many pretty yarns, and tons of different fibers. Heaven. Surprisingly, I didn't purchase all that much, although I did put a sweater's worth of yarn back after fondling it for quite some time. It was a gorgeous blue and grey - mohair, merino, and silk. I think it would have been happy here, but I have to be realistic about my time. I'm about 3 sweaters behind now. I picked up a card from the vendor, and if I ever find myself short of yarn...

No pics were allowed in the market, so you'll have to settle for a photo of the yarn that came home with me. I don't think the photo does them justice however, so I'll try to take individual photos as I work up the projects.


I hope to go next year too, and try to take some classes. Oh, and in case you don't think there's anything about coffee - there's a Starbucks right there in the convention center. It was mobbed, what with all the science teachers and knitters.