Solid Jazz Socks

Solid Jazz Socks
Yarn: Artful Yarns Jazz (50% alpaca, 50% wool)
Color: #58 Charlie
Needles: US #7 for top, US #6 for heel flap to toe
Pattern: Cozy armchair socks designed by Norah Gaughan In Weekend Knitting, Melanie Falick, p 112 (ISBN: 1-58479-291-4)

The inspiration for these socks came from the above pattern, but I changed it a little, using 2x2 ribbing down the instep and a different heel.

I did the first one, but I don't know if I want to do the second right now. I think I'd like to work on a sweater and save the sock for KIP, but I have a history of starting and not finishing projects. I blame it on the number of lovely patterns and fine yarns.

Let's discuss works in progress:

1. Irish Hiking Scarf
2. Lace Leaf Pullover, not very far on this. Not sure that the yarn is working or that the gauge is on.
3. 2 other pairs of socks in DK weight yarn
4. 1 shawl that I haven't worked on in about 2 years.
5. 1 scarf that is so boring to work on.

Not too bad.

What I want to start on is a top-down raglan pullover with about six inches of ribbing down the sleeves and through the waist. I just got my yarn for it in the mail 2 days ago, Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Avocado.

KIP -- Avanti Socks

Knit Some Socks! Socks for my class
Yarn: Avanti 100% Merino DK weight
Color: 06 / dyelot: 6949
Needles: US #4 for leg; US #3 for heel to toe
Pattern: Knit Some Socks Sport or DK Weight by Sharon Dalebout

The above picture is of the first sock for my first knitting class knit through the heel flap. The instructor suggested that if we get this far, we should work on the ribbing for the second sock, so that we can turn our heels together in class. This makes sense to me.

I am working on these socks for a class at my LYS, Shuttles, http://www.shuttlesspindlesandskeins.com/,
This is my first sock knitting class, although I have made socks before, and I am learning a lot. The first thing I learned was that there are lots of ways to do things "right" in knitting. I also learned a new way to join stitches in the round where you stitch 1 extra stitch and knit the first and last stitches together. I also learned a join where you knit the first stitch with both the tail and your working yarn. While we were working on our ribbing, the instructor showed us examples of socks she had made, talked about taking care of hand knit socks, reinforcing with nylon, reinforcing later on with duplicate stitches. I learned a lot about a lot of different topics.

I also learned that knitting classes aren't as scary as I had thought. The people are friendly. There is so much to learn. Everyone varies quite a bit when it comes to background, creativity, technical knowledge and knowhow, but we all help each other to improve in a more structured environment than a Stitch 'n Bitch. I'm so glad I signed up!

Now it's time to finish that Irish Hiking Scarf.

I am Merino Wool!

I am Merino Wool.
I am very easygoing and sweet. People like to
keep me close because I am so softhearted.
I love to be comfortable and warm from my
head to my toes.


What kind of yarn are you?
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I have been tagged

Or meme'd as the case may be. Here are the "rules"
1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five people to do the same.

I don't have 23 posts yet, so I went with the latest one, # 9. The fifth sentence of # 9 reads, I made her a card with the above picture on the front. Now you can see the picture below.

Thanks for the meme excitement, Kim. Now, who should I tag?

Happy Birthday Kate!!!

So, my sister, Kate, has her birthday today. I am finishing up a pair of alpaca socks for her using the Nancy Bush pattern in the Fall 05 IK. You can see the completed first sock below. I had misgivings about making such a nice pair of socks for a teen, but Kate is responsible. I made her a card with the above picture on the front. Inside, I give some historical info about Alpacas and on the back, I give instructions for caring for her socks. I also suggested a pedicure before wear, just because I recently gave myself a pedicure and I couldn't believe the difference.

I bought the yarn for Teva Durham's Lace Leaf Pullover on ebay yesterday. I was reading through some posts, and everyone seemed very pleased with Rowan Polar as a substitute, so that is what I went with.

I'm visiting my family in Pittsburgh this weekend, so I will have to start another project. All of the projects I have going in earnest now are for members of my family for xmas.

Yarn -- Knit Picks Shine

I'm so excited about this yarn! (You can read a KR review here.)
One reason I am so exciteed about this yarn is because it's green. I have a really hard time buying yarn that isn't pink or blue. Granted, I have lots of shades of pinks and blues, but I need a change. Another reason I am excited it because now I have the yarn to start working on Picovoli which is available for free from Magknits. If I like the way this knits up, I could see myself making one of these in every color!

Zelda Tote

Here is the Zelda Tote. It has nothing to do with The Legend of... just in case you were confused. The pink yarn is Rowan 4-ply cotton for Orangina.

KnitCasts

I found some great knitterly things while surfing the web today. I had heard of podcasts before, but I had never thought to look for one about knitting. KnitCast by Marie Irshad, features interviews with different knitters on a variety of topics. Some of the knitters are shop owners, magazine editors, and authors of knitting related books. I listened to all of them this morning while working on my scarf (see below). Maybe I am the last knitter to find out about these, but just in case I’m not, here is the link: http://scifiville.typepad.com/knitcast/
You can download all of them from this site and you can get some of them from www.itunes.com.

Yarn

Above are 2 new sock yarns, Mountain Colors Bearfoot (60% superwash wool, 25% Mohair, 15% Nylon) and Avanti (100% merino). The bearfoot is at the urging of many Knitter's Review Forum posters. The Avanti is for a sock knitting class I am taking at the end of September at my LYS.

Artful Yarns Jazz(50% alpaca, 50% wool) in Dizzy (left) and in Charlie (right). Super warm socks or perhaps mittens, armwarmers, or gloves....

Irish Hiking Scarf, pt. 2

Ok, so I started over. I decided to get a little fancier with the cables, putting a left cable on the right and a right cable on the left. In the middle, I decided to do a ribbed right cable, so I had to add one stitch to total cast-on. And the yarn! I've been very happy with Knit Picks Sierra. The cables show up really well, and the 30% superfine alpaca gives it a softness that many wools lack. It also knits up pretty fast as it is a bulky weight yarn.

I also taught myself how to do cables without the cable needle from these web resources:
cablelesson
cable video

Irish Hiking Scarf, pt. 1

I joined the Irish Hiking Scarf knitalong (http://irishhikingknitalong.blogspot.com) This is my first knitalong, so will see what happens.
I'm using Knitpicks Sierra (70% Wool, 30% Superfine Alpaca) in Mist on US #7 needles. More pics to come...

Rib and Cable Socks

Rib and Cable Socks!

Yarn: Pikes Peak Woolies 80% alpaca, 20% nylon

Color: multi blue/green

Gauge: 7 sts / inch

Needles: US #0

Pattern: Rib and Cable Socks by Nancy Bush as found In Interweave Knits, Fall 2005, p 134

This was my first time using the Old Norwegian Cast-On. Very flexible; great for socks. This was also my first time making socks out of an alpaca/nylon blend. Oh, so soft!