Sigrid Done.

SIGRID

This sock was great fun to knit! Alot of work, but always interesting, I really enjoyed watching it "grow"

Pattern: Sigrid by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill in Amethyst and ka hand-dyed in Fresh
Needles: US1 for non-stranded work, US1.5 for stranded work
Construction: 2 on one 32" KP nickel circular needle. Knit from toe-up, rather than cuff down. Had a little bit of trouble with the heel flap and it ended up a bit longish, but all in all these are a lovely pair of socks I will enjoy wearing (in the winter!)

NO! I'm not addicted!

I started knitting socks for the first time May of 2007. By the end of the year I had knit 21 pairs of socks. Now it is Mid June and I have already knit 21 pairs of socks. Oh my goodness!

I still feel I don't have enough, although I have given a good many away to my wonderful, deserving and appreciative Mother.

Do you think I can do another 21 before end of year? Summer is coming, and although socks are quite portable, I have kids that need entertaining.....hmmm how many museums, parks, beaches, playgrounds, pools can I knit at???

HANDKNIT SOCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here I come "Summer of Socks 2008"!

Austrian Diamonds

Pattern: Austrian Diamonds by Candace Eisner Strick
Yarn: Knit Picks Essential in Grass 100g
Needles: US1 (2.25mm) 32" circular KP
Started: Feb 28th 2008
Finished: June 12th 2008
Construction: 2 at once on one circular needle.
Wonderful socks!
I took my time with these as they are quite a lot of work. And well worth the effort!

Just an interesting tidbit.

I don't know how many of you use Bloglines, but I do. On the feeds tab, where I have my blogs I like to read, there is a section on the bottom called "Additional Features". I usually just ignore extras, but today I felt like checking it out. I clicked on "Top 1000" and was flabergasted to see some knitters there. The Yarn Harlot made the top 50 and both WendyKnits and Grumperina are in the top 100. WOW that is pretty cool. I'm sure there are more, but I was just amazed to see that, I thought we knitters were in the minority.

Hat & RSC Cleopatra's

Finished a few things, but nothing really exciting.

First I needed a quick knit, and made Amanda's Hat.

Pattern: The Amanda Hat by Gina House
Yarn: Malabrigo (the yummiest yarn I have ever knit with!)
Needles: US9 Denise circular
Comment: I love the hat except that it seems tight at the crown to me, next time I would switch to a larger needle when knitting the crown.


Next is Cleopatra from the Rockin' Sock Club
Pattern: Cleopatra's Stocking by Marjan Hammink. Currently only available to sock club members.
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber's Socks that Rock in Lightweight.
Needles: US1 (2.25mm) Harmony 32" circular
Comments: Pattern was great fun to knit. Colors are a bit garish and certainly don't photograph well. Had fun making these though!

The Detonator - for me.

So SockWarsIII is done for me. It was, once again, fun and I did meet some nice people (for one my assassin Linda). I did not get as stressed out this time around, but WOW alot of people did! This round (being sponsored by Tofutsie) was huge and quite competitive.

I started a pair of socks for my target using OnLine, knitted down to the heel turn on 2 socks. It did not look right. So instead of frogging I started again on another yarn (Berocco Comfort Sox) and it looked right. I liked them both so I e-mailed my target with photos to see if she had a preference, she said no. So I continued with the Berocco. One sock came out great and then I got killed by a lovely package of goodies and sent the unfinished pair off to my assassin.

Then I decided to frog the OnLine and start again, this time FOR ME. Unfortunately the repeats on the OnLine self striping are fairly long, which I did not realize, and I split the balls slightly unevenly. Adds "interest" to the socks. They are comfy and cozy (I made lots of mods to make them fit) and am happy with them.

Here are my Targets unfinished pair.

Here is my "kill" package.

Here are the pair I made for me.

Pattern: The Detonator by Julie Gardner
Yarn : OnLine Beach
Needles : US0 and US1.5 circular

Construction: I made lots of mods to the toe and heel construction, as well as the number of sts and guage, otherwise I did use The Detonator pattern.
1-Judy’s Magic Cast on of 10 sts each needle.
increasing every round till 20 sts, then everyother to 37 & 34 (front & sole).
2 - used size US0 needle for fit around my 9” yet thinnish foot.
3 - Used WendyKnits toe-up gusset heel
4 - continued with 37 sts on front but reduced to 27 on back. And moved up to a US 1.5 needle.
5 - 1x1 ribbed cuff - used US0 needle.
It fits perfectly!

Spring Twists in Easter Egg Dye done.

Pattern: Spring Twists by Jeanie Townsend
Yarn: Bare Essential by KnitPicks, dyed by kids with easter egg dyes
Needles: US0 on foot and US1.5 on leg
Construction: Two at once, one circ, toe up
These socks are already well loved. Bound off this morning, on the feet and off to school already.
I did a twisted stitch for the knits. This was a tedious knit, not fast, so be prepared to take your time making them. The twists snug the pattern up enough that the leg is snuggly even though I went up a needle size.

PinkOnes by Jeanie Townsend

These are a test knit. The pattern is only the leg. I "winged" the rest.
The foot did not come out as I envisioned it, but I am hoping Jeanie will complete the pattern one day (as I am not a pattern writer!)
Although I love my heel design. I did the usual sl1 k1 heel stitch, but on the return instead of purling the row I purled the purl sts and knit the slipped stitches. It seems to fit well with the moss stitch pattern of the rest of the sock. I'm pleased with that part.
Pattern: PinkOnes by Jeanie Townsend

Yarn: KnitPicks Essential in color Coral

Needles: US1.5/2.5mm 32" Harmony circular

Construction: I reduced the number of stitches from 72 to 64.

The pattern stitches remained the same with the reduction occurring in the moss stitch,

so no problemo.

Pink Spring Sweater Done!

And the model has appeared. She loves it!

--------------------------------

........although Catherine has not yet tried it on.........

I must say I like the original better, but lets see how it looks on, I'll get a photo this afternoon.

Pink Spring Sweater Done?

Well, I thought I was done with the sweater, but my DH feels it is a bit short for his little lady, so I am adding another 2 inches (or so) to the bottom. Will post photo when complete. But for today here are the details.

Pattern: Top Down Raglan with various stitch styles.

Yarn: Reynolds Saucy in Pink

Needles: US7 for majority of the sweater, US5 for finishing edges.