FOs: Socks!

let me just say that both pairs of socks you're about to see have been finished. For months. Back in January, I talked a little about my knitting goals for the year. My sock yarn bin is overflowing, and I've been trying to make some sort of dent in it. There's no dent, but hey, look! Socks!

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First, Hermoine's Everyday Socks in Squoosh Ultra Sock-Vintage (available at ESK). This pair was fun to knit, and I love them, except that I would only cast on 60 stitches for a future pair. I've found that's my magic number on a size 1 needle.

I finished this pair in a month, which is big news for me.

Pair number two is Charade in Spun Right Round, Sparky the Sock, Rah Rah colorway. These are just about the most perfect sock ever. The fit is great (60 stitch cast on), the pattern was siumple enough to memorize, and the yarn. The yarn!

Yeah, I love them.

Charade socks & some drawstring bags

I don't know how I did it (since I'm the slowest sock knitter ever), but I started and finished a pair of socks in January. I immediately cast on for a second pair, and even though it is proving to be a slower knit (or maybe I've had more distractions), I am in LOVE with the yarn/pattern combo.

This is some Sparky the Sock in Rah Rah, by Spun Right Round. The sock pattern is Sandra Park's Charade. And as you can see, I have a new project bag!

I made a few new ones, again from Jeni's Drawstring Bag pattern. I sent two of these to some favorite friends, and kept one for myself.

Knitting/yarn goals

Well, it's only 22 days into the new year, so I can still proclaim my crafty intents for the year, right? In the yarn realm of my interests, I finally learned to weave!

I received the Ashford Sample-It loom from a very sweet friend a year ago, and on January 1st, Elliott helped me set up my first warp. The pictured piece is now a finished scarf, but I haven't taken FO shots yet. It was very quick and enjoyable to weave the scarf, and I see lots of weaving in my 2015 forecast.

After discovering that I have a BOATLOAD of sock yarn (boatload is a technical term, btw), I want to focus on sock yarn projects this year.
I purchased a reed for the loom to weave with sock yarn, which will be a part of my plan.
I also intend to make at least four pairs of socks this year. For me, that's a pretty lofty goal, since socks are my kryptonite.

But I'm halfway through the second sock on this pair, which I started January 2nd. It's Hermoine's Everyday Socks (free pattern), and I'm using Squoosh Ultra Sock in the Vintage colorway. I hope to finish this pair in the next week or so.

my ravelry project

Additionally, Eat Sleep Knit is doing another year of the yarnathon. I participated in many of their challenges last year, and I intend to do the same this year, as some of the KALs were already in my knitting plans.
Unfortunately, projects like my Scrappy Hue Shift won't count, since the majority of the yarn used has to be from ESK. But I still plan on finishing that blanket this year!

I also intend to finish Backshore (bottom of the post), the choose your own adventure shawl and these mitts.

So, you know, normal ambitious dreams of knitting and weaving all of the things. Nbd.

A backlog of knits

I haven't shared knitting here in months, even though there's been lots of knitting.

Most recently, I finished an Elis cowl, a free pattern using a new-to-me stitch, Indian cross stitch. It's very simple (although it took a little getting used to), and I think it's lovely in this semi-solid Madeline Tosh Sport.

I've also been working on the Ysolda mystery shawl, Follow your arrow. I'm nearly finished (although those last rows seem to take ages to complete! I have this and another shawl still on the back burner.

I knit this fingering-weight hat, the Serpentine, and promptly gifted it to a sweet friend.

I kept this one (Facets for myself, though. It's gotten lots of wear in the last few months!

This three-year-old pair of socks finally got finished. I really want to be a sock knitter. But they just drag for me.

Finally, I knit Andi's Iz cowl. And I actually got good use of it this winter. Note: this picture was not taken in Houston, but in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with actual snow!

This year, I made a goal for myself to stash LESS. Note I'm not saying NONE! My rule is that I can purchase one skein for each three that I use. So far, there have been no yarn purchases for the year. I've used enough (and destashed a few) to buy, but I'm really attempting to use the yarn I have, which is abundant. It's been a great incentive to knit more often!

How about some socks?

After knitting for FIVE years now, I can proudly say I just finished my THIRD pair of socks. As in, one, two, THREE.

Is it cheating that these are knit in sport weight instead of fingering weight?

Is it cheating that they are knit in the decadent Plucky Knitter Primo Sport?

Knitted socks are a luxury, because they just take so long to knit. I'm amazed at knitters that can quickly zip through them. I guess I'm just a slow knitter.

The pattern is by my friend Sam. It's a free pattern called Duckies, which is the cutest name ever.

I feel a sense of accomplishment, and upon finishing the second sock, I immediately cast on for a sweater.

In a very similar shade of red.

Mid-week

I've got a few quick things to share with you today.

First up, the winner of the Kona card giveaway!
Courtesy of Brenda and Pink Castle Fabrics, the winner of the new Kona color card is #60, Tonya, who said her new favorite is poppy, since she has two girls to sew for.
Lovely choice, and congratulations! I sent you an email Tonya, so please send me your address to collect your prize!
Thanks to all who entered!

Over the weekend, I knit for several hours on this second sock! I actually finished, and the socks are blocking now. Hopefully, I can share the finish soon!

I also had a second go at Anna's lovely Gathered Clutch pattern. Funnily enough, my first gathered clutch was made last August, and I ended up sending it to Nicke.

For this version, I used two Lizzy House - Outfoxed prints, and I lined with a Kaffe Fassett Spot. I love those Spot prints!

Ignore my finger that needs lotion and just look at those soft Spots. And that great zipper tab!

Here's the other side, which I just could not get right. I tried several times, but it wasn't happening on this end. Anna's instructions are very clear; I think this mistake resulted from an error I made earlier in the pattern. Hopefully, my tabe will look nicer the next time!

I still love it, though!

I hope your week is going well!

Weekend happenings

I don't know about you, but I was not ready for the weekend to be over. E and I drove down to Galveston (just about an hour away) to visit with his family. They rented a beach house for the weekend, and it was wonderful to see them all.

We returned home Saturday afternoon, and I spent most of the day in the sewing room. I finished a big project, and then Jill came over for another little sewing adventure. She wanted to make some bibs for a good friend. This friend is adopting a baby in the upcoming weeks, and Jill really wanted to give her a handmade gift.

Here's her first bib, in an adorable Laurie Wisbrun print. We used a template found here. We made pizza, too, using my favorite dough recipe!

Sunday, I woke up early, got some errands done, and finished bee blocks for Sara, wonky houses.

I don't know why, but house blocks always intimidate me. I think the finished quilt will be very fun!

After making some tortilla soup to enjoy this week, I quilted a little project I finished a few weeks ago and Olias promptly tested it for me.

This will be a baby gift for someone in the next few months.

I finished the evening with some knitting and a little Mad Men. I was able to finish this first sock, and I'm determined to cast on the second very soon. Pattern and yarn info here.

So, how was YOUR weekend?

Another WIP

Good morning friends!

I hope you had a wonderfully productive weekend. I had a great weekend with family, so not much crafting got done. I worked on my Duckies sock in the car yesterday, and sewed last night (I made a gift for a friend!), which I'll share soon.

There were a couple of things I forgot to mention here.

Last month, some of my guild mates invited me to join them on a quick project.

We covered TV tables with batting and fabric to make portable ironing boards! I used a favorite Echino print and I love looking at it everyday! You can find these tables at Target, and you need less than a fat quarter of fabric, batting scraps, and a staple gun.

I also wanted to share a fun project I started on the retreat. Several months ago, I purchased some foundation muslin from Brenda. Using scraps, I sewed my first of many Prairie Braids.

Pink Castle doesn't have this any more, but you can find it here. It's called Foundation by the Yard, by Benartex. It's really fun and simple to use, and is used similarly to foundation paper piecing. You don't have to remove the muslin after piecing, though, so it's faster. I intend to make several braids and use them together in a quilt. I'll share more braids as they're completed.

I hope your Monday treats you well! ETA: Prairie braid panels still in Brenda's shop!

WIPs to finish

Like most of you crafters, I want to make all of the things! I tweeted the other day that I feel directionally challenged when it comes to crafting.
I feel pulled to several projects and crafts. To find some direction, I first want to document my list of outstanding WIPs.

There are a few I'm not listing, but these are the items I most desire to finish.

Knitting

First up, the embarrassing 3.5-year-old Central Park Hoodie. I'm so painfully close to finishing. All it needs is for me to finish picking up the second side of stitches and knit that button band. Then, seaming.

Second, the Gray Skies Cardigan. This one is another nearly-finished sweater. I think I have one partial sleeve to finish and seaming.
COME ON.

I've also got two single socks that need buddies.

I'm also close to finishing my Stripe Study shawl.

Quilting

I have four quilts-in-progress at the moment.

There's Single Girl, which I haven't touched since April.

There's Bottled Rainbows. I've completed four of the sixteen blocks, and this is a long-term project. I like to do a block every now and then, but it would be rad to finish this before the end of the year. The bright side is that it's quilt as you go, so, once the top is complete, the rest should go really quickly.

There's Rain or Shine, which is probably the closest to being finished. I only have six more blocks to make for the top. I've actually been working on this one for the past few days. I'll have an updated progress photo to share soon.

And of course, there is Swoon.

I've made six out of nine blocks, which you can see in my Swoon flickr set. Lucky for me (and you!), Katy has assembled a group of (300+) quilters for a Swoon-along! Feel free to join in on the fun and make your own Swoon!

In the next few days, I'm going to share my additional goals for 2012. But you can surely expect to see progress on these nine projects in the upcoming months!

Much better than last month

Considering my June knitting progress, it's amazing that I was able to knit an entire sock in July. Not a pair, but one sock.

It's a very fun sock, and I hope to make it a match very soon.

In other sock news, I got this incredible skein of handspun sock yarn in the mail.

It was completely unexpected, and guess who spun and sent it? Sara! She said the colors reminded her of my recently finished Wonky Bee quilt. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it, Sara! It's beautiful. Thanks so much for thinking of me. I will definitely have to pick a fun pattern for these, although maybe plain stockinette is best for the handspun. Hmm. I'll let that marinate a while while I decide!

And even though it's not handspun, you've still got a little time to enter the giveaway for some sock yarn and a pattern!

Pour le weekend

Even though my weekend plans include some work time tomorrow (and possibly Sunday, depending on how productive my Saturday time is), I also have some fun things planned.

I want to start this small project for a gift. I've already picked out my fabrics and started ironing. I think the cutting will be the most time-consuming part.
I'll be quilting my Wonky Bee Quilt.

I've actually already started the quilting and I'm so excited to finish this project! It will definitely be happening soon-ish.
I hope to knit more on my new sock.
I get to see an amazing concert tomorrow night with Jiller.

Also, thanks for sharing your favorite cast-ons in my last post. I'm definitely going to have to give Judy's Magic Cast-on a try, as it seems to be a favorite.

Have a great weekend, all!

One sock on, one sock off...

Sometimes, you just have to admit defeat (or defeet, if you're super corny). After months of languishing on the needles, I decided to frog my Marlene sock progress.

I had concerns about how saggy this sock was on my foot, and I finally frogged it last week. The lovely MadelineTosh Sock yarn will go back into the stash, and I'll try again. It might have been the needle size, or maybe I'll try casting on with less stitches, but it just didn't work out.

It was pretty calming to rip this baby apart and rewind the yarn cake. I would rather destroy progress than be unhappy with the finished sock.

I also cast on for a new sock on the 4th of July. While my boyfriend watched some soccer, I worked on this beauty.

This yarn is The Plucky Knitter's MCN Fingering in Nautical Mile, a perfect way to start July's Project Spectrum focus on blue. It's the perfect blue and just slightly semi-solid. I'm using a pattern from Wendy Johnson's Socks from the Toe Up called the Trilobite Sock. Kind of a perfect match, I think. [Side note: It's hard to get your hands on Plucky Knitter yarn, but damn, is it ever worth it. It's so soft and vibrant.]

The stitch pattern is really lovely so far. I'm hoping to get an actual sock completed before the end of July. Whoa. That would be amazing for me. If you're new to sock knitting, Wendy's book is a great resource. There is a section at the front dedicated to explaining the various cast on and bind off methods for socks, as well as some variations on the heel.

I love the Turkish Cast-on best, and that's what I'm using here.

If you knit socks, what's your favorite cast on for a toe-up sock, or do you prefer knitting from the cuff-down?

Casting On: Red Hedera

I couldn't resist.

This skein of Madeline Tosh sock yarn has been sitting in the stash since last fall.
Granted, I have several projects on the needles, countless skeins of yarn, sitting patiently in the stash, but this gorgeous red hue was calling to me. I blame Lolly and of course, Project Spectrum. It got me thinking about red. Lolly said it best when she talked here about being mindful. Take a moment. Breathe. Enjoy the color in your life.

So, I did. I took a moment, and this weekend, I cast on for a long-admired Knitty A pattern, Hedera.

I love the simple four row repeat, and I LOVE the rich, saturated red.

I worked on this briefly on Saturday, while I was in Austin. Up next, I'll have some pictures to share from Sarah's graduation party. She made incredible food and Vodka-Thyme Lemonade. Whoa. That's the only word for the lemonade. And also, delicious.

Progress: Mourning Marlene

As previously mentioned, I started a sock several weeks ago using some Madeline Tosh sock yarn in the Mourning Dove colorway. I haven't had much time to work on it lately, but I did manage to snap a progress photo.

I'm hoping to work on it over the holiday weekend. The only mod I've made is to decrease a few border stitches. The sock seemed like it was going to be a little too loose on me, but that will mean a heel modification as well, since those extra stitches are needed. I'll figure it out as I go along, I suppose.

In other progress news, I managed to finish the back of my Gray Skies Cardigan and I've started a sleeve. The sleeve seems very wide to me, but I'm going to check my gauge and trust the pattern. I can always give it a wider seam if it's not to my liking.

I've also been working on some holiday potholders for coworker gifts (and a few extra). I just need to finish the quilting and bind them. Pictures to follow soon!

What's on the Needles?

Before I show you what I've been working on lately, I wanted to let you know I'm celebrating a third blogibirthday this week, and assembling a giveaway package for one of you. I'll have details at some point this week.

My attention has been divided between several projects lately, but I enjoy it, even if it means it takes me longer to finish.

Back in July, I started this pair of Impressionist Socks, but stalled out after starting the heel too soon. The sad sock sat (say that five times fast) untouched for months, but has new life now. I've knit past the length described in the pattern, but I've decided to continue the pattern until I run out of yarn, as I want to use every inch of this Koigu (which I picked up in Boston last fall). I'm excited to actually be knitting a sock during Socktoberfest; I believe that's a first. The lace pattern keeps my interest, and the variegated Koigu doesn't hurt either.

Up next, I cast on for the Emerald Isle Cardigan a few weeks ago. I've dubbed it my Gray Skies Cardigan, and I'm using Wool of the Andes in Onyx Heather. I'm currently about mid-way through the back piece. I just love the tab sleeves; it looks so wearable.

The third knitted project getting my attention is a cast-on inspired by Kara, who's been rocking the colorwork as of late. Colorwork was a 2010 goal, so I decided to jump in with Opus Spicatum, a gorgeous hat pattern.
I'm only a few rows into the colorwork, and it feels so foreign. Part of the problem is that I hold my yarn very differently than other knitters I've seen. I think it's going to hurt me on more complicated colorwork patterns, so I'm trying to be conscious and modify my hand posture.
I picked up this RYC Cashsoft Aran in a soft red and gray this weekend in Austin.

Finally, I've been working on the table runner project, and I'm nearly done with the top (and don't worry; I haven't forgotten about the quilt!). The striped squares were so much fun to make, and two more of those is all that's missing from the top pieces.

So, to recap, a lot of projects, some progress, but nothing finished.

FO: Circus Socks for Sister

I'm only six months late with Jill's socks. I intended to gift these at Christmas. In all fairness, the first one was done over Thanksgiving break, but then, well, the other one just didn't get started until January. Then, when I got to the heel on the second sock, I forgot what I was doing. I had to frog the heel three times before I got it right.
Knitting a heel is like riding a bike; you can easily forget the motions if you don't do it regularly.

The yarn is one of my favorites: Yarn Love's Juliet, in the Joy colorway. The yardage is generous (just under 500 yards!) and the colorway says CIRCUS to me. I can't explain it, but that's what I think every time I look at it.

I made Jill an iPod cozy out of this yarn previously (literally, two years ago). Luckily, even after finishing this pair of socks, I've got quite a chunk of yarn left. I'm thinking of making myself a pair of anklets with the leftovers.

I'm a big fan of toe-up socks. While I didn't really use a pattern, I used the slip-stitch formula found in this pattern (pdf link). I used a turkish cast-on, and I used a bind off described by Grumperina:

work two stitches in pattern, k2togTBL, work 1, repeat

I was going to use the EZ stretchy bind-off, but Grumperina sold me when she said this was easier to frog.

So, another sock success! There is an itch for another pair to be on the needles; maybe this weekend!

Raveled

Don't forget; there are two days left to enter the contest!

Gift knitting: For Jill

Jill already knows about this Christmas gift, so it's safe for me to show you my progress.

I started making these socks for myself, but as the sock came together, I couldn't help but think my sister would love them as much as I do. I made her an iPod cozy out of the same yarn last year, so I knew she would enjoy the crazy colors.

This is another toe-up sock (my second pair ever!), using Wendy Johnson's basic recipe.

This time, I did a slip-stitch heel, which was a bit confusing at first (mostly because I had less stitches on the needle than necessary, but I made the math work). I'm not satisfied with the bind-off, but Peter recently posted about a no-fail stretchy bind-off, so I'm going to redo that, and then the first sock is finished.

Since Jill already knows about them, and since she's a kick-ass sister, she understands that these might not be finished by Christmas day, so I've set these aside until I can clear out some of my other gift obligations.

Stop the presses! Milestone FO

Socks. I made them. Let me show you.

I finished the first one on July 18th, and now, only four months later, the second one is done!
You're not impressed by my speediness??
In all fairness, I didn't cast on for the second one right away, so I'm sure I can improve on my project duration on the next pair.

Yeah, I said it. I'm going to make another pair.

Interestingly enough, as I was nearing the end of the second sock, I couldn't put it down. In fact, from the heel on, I felt like I couldn't knit fast enough.

The heel really does feel like the beginning of the end, or the light at the end of the tunnel, or some other cliche. Speaking of heels, the above photo is my second one, and I think there is a vast improvement from the first one.

There's not much more to say about this pair, but here's the skinny:

Details:

Pattern: Really, I didn't use a pattern, but I've listed it under Wendy's Generic Toe-Up Sock on Ravelry.
I cast on 16 stitches using the Turkish cast-on, increased to 40 stitches, and then added a few increases at the widest part of the foot, and decreased by a few as the foot got more narrow.
Not very technical, am I?
Yarn: Rock Creek Super Soft Sock Yarn in Cherry Blossom, less than one skein. I don't know exactly how much I have left, but it's enough to make some booties or some other cuteness, and I'm thinking of pairing it with my Ishbel leftovers (lime-green; perfect!)
Needles:KP Harmony circular, US size 1 1/2
Time: Eh, about four months. Each sock took about a week or a week and a half to actually complete, so not as long as I thought.
Hopefully, the next pair will be faster, now that I've got the hang of it.
Recipient: me me me me!!
Thoughts/mods/notes: I really kind of winged it, but it was a good experience.

These aren't perfect, by any means. Just from the pictures, you can see that my knitting is irregular in places, and the bind off is sort of messy.

I don't care. I will wear them. With pride. And I will love them so.

Halfway to sock success!

I have a sock.
One sock complete.
You have no idea the milestone I have achieved.

I didn't weigh my yarn before hand, but instead, just knit until I felt like it was long enough. I used the turkish cast-on, increased to 44 stitches and then down to 40 before the heel. I finished the heel last weekend in Austin (under Sarah's supervision), only tinking back twice (nothing short of a miracle!) to correctly do the short row heel. I did a 3 X 1 rib for just over an inch to finish it off. My toe and heel are a little loose, but Sarah has assured me that washing does help to even out stitches. We shall see if there is truth to this.

I'm about halfway to the heel on the second sock, and already dreaming of my next pair. I hope to have this mate done by the end of the month, and I don't think that's overambitious. My second toe seems to be tighter and better-formed. It makes sense, since I had more confidence the second time around. Hopefully, the same can be said about my second heel.

Freaking Finally Socks!!

I don't know what my problem is about socks. I've tried to make them twice before, as in, cast on, plugged away for a while, enough to have the whole leg knit, start the heel, and then, screw it. I just. gave. up. I don't think it's the heel that gets me.
I think it's the fiddly double pointed needles with the teeny tiny yarn thread.

In an effort to combat that double threat, I bought this new sock book and decided to teach myself to knit from the toe-up, and not use dpns.

Saturday night, I taught myself the turkish cast-on, and using two circulars, I'm well on my way to the heel.

I'm using Rock Creek yarn in Cherry Blossom, and I've decided to just knit these in plain stockinette, although I may do some patterning on the leg portion, if I'm feeling particularly ambitious. I do think this yarn looks lovely in plain stockinette, though.

Gratuitious Olias shot above.

Here's hoping I can break the sock curse!