I'm back...

This sock knitter has been knitting sweaters for the last six months and thus, have ignored this blog completely. With Santa having sat on my computer, I'm trying to refind everything and stumbled upon this blog, so sorely out of date.

It was a scurry, but I managed to make three adult aran sweaters for Christmas gifts, along with a skating jacket for little Sarah, 3 lace smokerings, a baby fisherman knit for Johnathan, two pairs of mittens and a pair of socks! Good thing I hit the sale at Webs last spring! The buttons alone for the sweaters was a small fortune. But they were all gratefully and lovingly appreciated. Too bad I didn't get photos before the 'puter crash......

Currently working on another aran (for me!), a mobius scarf, another smokering and just jointed an aran KAL with Janet Szabo...follow the leader. Should be fun.

I'll try to get this ancient old beast to download photos but that may have to wait for the new computer...which will have to wait until some Xmas bills get paid off!

Arrggghhhh......

....I'm running out of yarn on the Honeymoon Cami. Worse still, my LYS has none and are in flux with ordering since Susan is out with back problems, so I had to order more online. After searching around forever, I found the right colorway and at a reasonable price, but the shipping! Grrr...I could have gotten two more skeins for what I paid. Grrr....

After a glorious few days of 60+, we are back into the cold. Nothing like a month ago, but it hardly feels like spring either. Just I can't be happy today....

Progress

The cami is moving along nicely....having Sharon and Denise over yesterday for hours of knitting and chatting sure helped! I wish my monitor showed the colors better...it's much richer in purples than it looks. And I'm not finding the yarn so tricksy...when it splits, it IS a pain but, for the most part it's pretty easy to keep it together.

Honeymoon Cami

I have decided (after several attempts) to make this cami for Amy. I'm not sure how much of a challenge it will be to have her 1000 miles away and thus not able to try it on as I go, but I'm willing to give it a shot. The different patterns I tried using the Mission Falls cotton just didn't work, I'll be making this in Berocco Cotton Twist which I recently got off Ebay. It's a great colorway - blues and purples - called "Tiedye" and I like the sheen. Now if only I can get gauge, I'll be off and running.

I joined a KAL for this pattern and can't wait to get started!

Chelsea's "Senior Socks"

Rather than do a sports theme for the "Go Team" pattern (the newest 6sox), I decided to honor my daughter (a senior next year) with socks using her school colors, logo and date. Nice to know I nearly have one Christmas gift done!

Maxi Ringels

Finished! I never dreamed I do an entire pair of socks in ribbing, but I love the way these turned out and, even more, the way they fit! I needed something brainless after the Opal sweater.

Questions and answers

I'm going to attempt to answer all the questions about the Opal sweater in one shot.

First of all, the pattern is listed at the end of the original entry...the incredible custom fit raglan....it's a fabulous pattern with plug-in-the-number blanks for all kinds of sizes. It can be found here.

And the stashbuster spirals pattern - one of the Six Sock KALs can be found here.

I used just one skein of Opal yarn, with some Phildar Preface (blue), Special Blauband (white) and some Regia (yellow) added. All but the Opal were incomplete skeins left over from other things. I used all but about 6-7 feet of the Opal!

To use the stashbusters technique, what I did was to pull off the skein four separate sections of one complete pattern repeat. In my case, it was easy as it went from red to red. Each section was probably 10-12 feet (but that's a guess...it was enough to wind up but not nearly enough to really wind on the ball winder.) I figured out how to divide this up around the total sweater....(220 sts divided by 4 = 55 sts a section) and knew that the last round was the longest (ie, double the quadrant or 110 sts in total). So in the middle of the front, I added a piece of Opal, starting with the red section of the pattern. I knit for 55 sts (or to the shoulder) and added another piece, dropping the first yarn and kept knitting. Midway across the back (or 55 sts later) I added another section of yarn and knit with it to the other shoulder. Here I added my last piece of yarn and since I needed to knit with this piece all the way around to where I had dropped the first one, it took me all the way across the front to the other shoulder. The "job" was barely noticeable once I got it going and I was able to make rounds of one color (in this case the red) 3-4 times before the pattern changed. Doing it this way, I have fewer ends to weave in (which I wish I could say about the top of the sweater!) and I think I was able to use the yarn much more effectively. Not only are the color rounds bigger, but only in a few cases did the yarn not match up like it should. When I ran out of the pattern repeat, I simply added a solid and knit a few rows with that before starting the process over.

I don't know if I've described this well, but that's how I did it!

Opal sweater

I am so thrilled with the way this is turning out! There is no doubt the technique from the stashbuster's spiral has changed the way I work this...wish I'd known it sooner! Just a few rows of ribbing at the bottom and around the neck and this puppy is done! I love the pattern....the incredible, customfit raglan sweater -definitely a keeper!

Deb's LL "Tuscanny"

I finally finished these for Debbie. I do love the Broadripple pattern for these LL colorways. I just wish the timing were better...spring is really making itself felt, but hey...winter will come again.!

Catching up

I've been so busy knitting, I have failed to stay current on this blog 'o mine. Let's see...what have I done since I last wrote?

Well, the Frolicking Shamrocks are done and all delivered in time for St. Patrick's Day....all three pair! They were fun to do, but the solid color, straight knitting about drove me nuts! Boring with a capital B. I can't see beading all that often, but it's nice to have done it just the same.

I finished the cashmere smoke ring and managed to knock off a pair of warm woolie Bartletts for my dear sis and bro-in-law which I gave them when they came with the oodles of stuff from my aunt's estate.

My gift cert to the LYS was burning a hole in my pocket, so I grabbed some Maxi-Ringel in blues and green that I just love. So much so, I'm doing a k2, p2 for the whole sock! Talk about boring, but at least the colors keep it interesting. And I finally found a colorway and pattern for Debbie...Broadripples in LL Tuscanny.

Speaking of LL, I can't believe what my gorgeous socks look like after just three washings. The whole cuff and leg is all pilled and fuzzy looking...not felted, just looking frayed and crappy. I loved them so much and now they look like junk. I am so disappointed...not to mention embarrassed when I think of all the ones I have given as gifts. What a pleasant thing....handmade socks that look like crap after wearing them a few times. I can't imagine why this is happening. Gauge? Pattern? Yarn? The foot is fine...nice and tight and not a bit of pilling or fuzziness, but the leg looks like I've had them for 20 years. So much for the high price on that stuff! Unfortunately, I still love it. I love the colors, the way it works up and feels. But I won't be making anymore until I figure how to avoid this disappointing final product.

Frog Pond Redeaux

I just completely frogged both Friday Harbor socks. Both were on the second round of the instep pattern and now they are back to being just balls of yarn. What happened? Well, a couple of days ago, it became clear they were too long in the leg, so I ripped both back past the gussets, past the heels and a good 2" into the cuff and started over. Last night I got both heels done and was working my way down the foot once more feeling pretty stupid that I hadn't noticed this extra length earlier. When I picked them up today, it dawned on me that I just didn't like them...period. I love the pattern. I love the yarn. But I just didn't like them together and was concerned about fit. I had worked out the pattern to use fingering yarn instead of DK or sport or whatever she used and I just didn't like the way they felt. So it's back to square one with those.

On a brighter note, the Frolicking Shamrocks are coming along fine and I got more beads for a few more pair. These beads are much nicer than the ones I got locally...ordered them from Auntie's Beads online. A great selection and super colors. I actually got four different shades of green-three of which I love.

So I'm happy there and will sit on the gorgeous CTH yarn until some other pattern strikes me. In the meantime, I may try the Friday Harbor again with some of the Peruvian Collection Baby Silk I just ordered from Elann. Yahoo! Four balls of four colors...I'm in heaven!!

Full speed ahead

Well, i did frog the shamrock sock, took the beading section down a needle and I am very happy with the results. They are too cute for words. I will begin the second later today. I'm also making great progress on the Friday Harbors...both are almost ready for the heels and I am so in love with the color. Happy, happy, happy me!

The Frolicking Shamrocks

Hmm....I can do this! The pattern is so well written probably anyone could, but still.... I do notice however that my purling seems to have increased my stitch gauge considerably. That or the beads are too big. Hmmm...this may be headed to the frog pond.......

Friday Harbor in progress

This is the endlot yarn I got from CTH...I absolutely LOVE the colors! The Friday Harbor pattern (from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush) is proving to be challenging....but then I have added stitches to make it work with fingering weight yarn so what do I expect?? I'm liking the progress so far! I just wish the lighting was better so you could really see the gorgeous colors....

I'm bad...

..but I couldn't help myself. Not only did I send another order in to Elann, but I just did one to KnitPicks too. Yikes!

From Elann I ordered four more skeins of the Sock it to Me Colori in Highland Heather and Northern Forest as well as the Heartstrings Pattern for the "Frolicking Shamrocks" socks. St. Paddy's day is coming after all! If I can get them done, they will be nice gifts for Maureen and Nola.

Then I read about this new KnitPicks yarn and once I saw it, I had to try it. What prices!! Just $3.99 for merino in what look like fabulous colorways. I got two each of the Landscape in Redwood Forest, Yukon and Cape Cod...lovely, lovely. THEN I looked at their lace weight and fell for their "Shimmer" (70% baby alpaca, 30% silk) which I ordered in Morning Mist and Turquoise Splendor. At 440 yds for just $4.99, how can you beat it?? And it got really good reviews from the knittersreview.com. WTH, it's only money.

So the Glitzies are done and I love them! Now I'm finishing up the dreadful Opal Magic. I am sooo disappointed in this yarn. Clearly it was wound before it was completely dry and there are blue blobs of color where they clearly shouldn't be. Luckily DD won't care and will wear them happily as her toes stay warm.

And I pulled the needles off the purple Opals...I just wasn't happy with the way they were looking. Time to tos them back in the stash and attempt them another time. It also frees me up to finish the cashmere smoke ring while I wait for the shamrock pattern to arrive. I have plenty of Nylamb in a great green so I can get right on those when it arrives. The beading will be a new challenge, but I'm excited about doing it. We'll see if I can stay that way once I begin.

Off to watch "Shall We Dance?"

torture

I don't like making a second sock and can totally understand the much maligned "second sock syndrome". Once I'm done with that yarn, that color, that pattern...I'm done. I learned this a long time ago and if it wasn't for the fact that I was afraid these gilitzies wouldn't fit, I would have done what I always do...a little of one, a little of the other and finished them both within minutes of each other. I can barely stand making myself knit this second one...there are so many other things I'd rather be working on. But for now, I'm being good. Even I can see that I have too many projects going at once here.

But my blue/purple endlot of CTH supersock arrived today and omg, am I itching to work that up! The colors are simply sumptuous! One will be the Friday Harbor for sure. (I think.) It's nearly 15 oz and I paid just a few dollars more than what 4 usually costs. Gotta love that bargain!

There is snow coming tonight, tomorrow and into tomorrow night....a snow day tomorrow for sure. Except that I will probably venture out early to work...if I go at all as it will most likely deteriorate as the day progresses. Gosh, how I love snow days!

One Down, One to Go...

A silly looking sock..the foot looks enormous with the ribbing back all scrunched up! But here's one done...my CTH SuperGlitz in the Whitby pattern from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush. I love it! But I hate that I now have to make another one just like it. Now I remember why I always do them both together. I was just afraid they wouldn't fit...I've never done so few stitches (48) on such small needles (2 & 3) before. But they do fit! I learned something though...don't question the pros. When she asked for 17 heel repeats, that seemed like way too many so I stopped at 14. Sure enough, the heel is a bit short. But I was running very close on the yarn from my two guess-it-looks-about-the-same balls so I'll get the other nearly done before I consider frogging it back to the heel.

Now if the weather would just stop being the near 50s!!

Closeup of two front cables. There was supposed to be some purl stitches in this large space between the cables, but I opted to leave that out. I had plenty of purling as it was!

A super closeup of one of the two front cables

Are they cute or what??

My gorgeous LL sock...after many washings!

Smoke Ring detail

Flared Lace Smoke Ring in Baby Alpaca

Finally!

I finally found the perfect pattern for the Super Glitz!! I went to the big sale at my LYS and was so good! I bought no yarn at all....shocking! But I did buy Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road and in there found exactly what I was looking for (even if I wasn't sure what that was). The "Whitby" is exactly right and I frogged once again and started it and I am very pleased. I've done about 5" on the leg and it's precisely the look I wanted for this fabulous yarn.

The only other thing I got was three more Addi Turbos...replacing the dog-chewed #7 and getting a #8 and #5 as well. I decided this was a better use of my discounted dollars than more yarn - which I tend to find cheaper online anyway. So I'm a happy girl!

I also finished off the Flared Lace Smoke Ring which came out beautifully! I think Gwen will love it. I have already cast on a second in the baby cashmere. It's lovely and sort of this color. It will be for Bea I think since she was the one that initially inspired the thought.

Hopefully the batteries will charge and I can post pictures tomorrow.

Frustration

Well, I got squat done today. Came home, eager to have an evening to myself to knit, and I still can't seem to find a pattern for the Super Glitz. I so love the yarn, but nothing is working and the poor thing has been frogged to death! I'm beginning to think it wants to be just a plain sock...no fancy pattern...just straight knit. But will that bore me to death or what??? Truth be told though, it's probably the sock I find most comfortable.

In searching I ended up printing a bizillion patterns I have gathered off the web. That felt good since I have been meaning to do it for awhile, but it wasn't what I wanted to do, nor was it in my game plan!

Oh well, it's the weekend and maybe just a plain ole sock is the perfect thing for Superbowl watching???

Ugh...what a day

Came home today to find the little darling dog had chewed up my brand new Addis. Thank heavens she only chewed on the ends and didn't lose any of the 168 stitches on the nearly finished Flared Lace Smoke Ring for Gwen. What a brat dog! (I discovered later that she also knocked over one of the pots of bulbs I was forcing...grrr!) I managed to move the smoke ring onto the Clover needles, so I am struggling with that nasty join once again. I actually think it's nearly done...not quite 18", but I doubt I have enough yarn to do another full 8 rounds. The Misti Alpaca is amazing...soft and sooooo luxurious!

I worked on the Super Glitz and don't like this pattern either. I have been having the hardest time lately finding patterns...both the Super Glitz (in the Country Garden colorway, which I LOVE!) and the purple toned Opals have been frogged at least 3-4 each. I just can't find the right design for them. I'll know it when I see it, I'm sure.

I didn't take up the Bartletts tonight...worked on them a bit this morning. The yarn feels like iron after so much time with the alpaca!

But I did cave in (again) and start another Spiralbuster for the SixSock List...I like this combo of colors much better...a lovely blue and soft green I just got from Elann mixed with some lovely LL from my stash of leftovers. It's very subtle and quite nice...no where near as Boy Scout stripey as the last one I started, but I still don't think I like it. I would really like to participate with the list, but at the same time, why spend time making socks I won't like?? I have too many other projects I'm excited about. And I really don't think I like toe up, but maybe I'm just being stubborn.

Anyway...there's not enough hours for all the things I want to do.

Maureen's beautiful LL's Tuscanny in Everybody Wants Sox from the Sock Calendar

For Bea...Jaggerspun yarn in a Basketweave pattern

For Jillisa using the Sock Calendar's Modern Romance pattern

Chelsea's sweet socks using the Latvian pattern from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks

More LL for Lucinda  

Lorna's Laces for Bernice...I loved these socks! 

Super Glitz for Denise in Martha's Vineyard colorway...what fun to have them end up so incredibly soft and luxurious! 

the Opal Inspirations I made for Ellen 

the gorgeous reggia's I made for my sister....I was starting to get good at this! 

Chelsea's socks...one of my firsts 

its' like christmas

...better than Christmas maybe. Not only did I just splurge on yet another pair of Addi Turbos, but I got the end lot of CTH supersock AND two skeins of gorgeous lace weight merino in the mail! Hallelujah! I can really knit up a storm now!