Socks!

Two pairs of socks have been completed this month:

Yarn: Vinca - #549
Needles: 2mm
Cast On: 68sts
Comments: Interesting yarn to knit with, lovely colour changes. Firm fit.


Yarn: Opal 'Lupin'
Needles 2.5mm
Cast on: 68sts
Comments:
Accidentally snipped the working yarn at the ribbing and had to reattach :( fortunately it didn't muck up the matching striped too much. Had to add some more black yarn 2 rounds before the end of the toes otherwise one would have had yellow and red at the tips of the toes. Very easy to match this yarn.

I have decided that life is too short to be saving the 'good' sock yarn. I had been waiting until I was worthy of the good yarn - not saying I am now worthy just giving up on that idea as no matter how careful I am during knitting, a small error inadvertently creeps in, whether it is a missed decrease found after the toes are kitchenered or me not remembering if I crossed a box on my ticky sheet. Socks are rather forgiving and mistakes like these do not affect the end product.

So I am going to be knitting up my Noro and my long petted yarns and my excitement for sock knitting is now bordering on the crazy side :)

We have been messing around with the Ashford Dyes again. Now that the shed is set up it is so easy to head out there and throw some dye on some yarn.

I will never get ( well I don't think I will ) any Poison Nr 5 from Wollmeise. So I tried dying yarn with purple and black:




Wanna closer look? It's darker in person.



But wait.. were's the black? Well after it had dried I noticed some patches that I missed, and I checked during dyeing, really I did, so I threw it in a purple dyebath for a second go. Some black bits remained black and the purple went really bright. In person it looks more darkpink and dark purply black. This will be a Forest Canopy Cowl Fetching Set.

I am trying to dye the perfect *tiger* yarn. Oh wait let's look at my first go - which I used to knit my Tiger Feet socks ( yes, I did do one) emphasis on the one.



Just not happy with how they were knitting up. And I suck at duplicate stiching so I've found out. They are hibernating because I had to go and attempt tiger yarn #2:



But wait, where are the white bits? Duh forgot to leave room for white. Back to the dyepot:

This is tiger yarn #3. I'm much happier with this one but there is a bit too much grey. Alhough I like how the colours merge into each other- took care with this when dyeing it up, so that turned out as planned - which are a bit lost in the way it knits up but. Had to drop everything to see how this would knit up. Grrrr ;)

wish blogger would stop messing around with my photos looks much better the right way up.


Miss A had a go at dyeing up some balls for projects that she has requested. This we have named Rainbow Pony Spew, it has soo many colours. It is going to be her winter Fetchings.



This one she dyed up for socks, mainly has primary colours and is not as colourful as the above yarn.



This is my blue/green attempt. This one is also for a Forest Canopy Cowl/ Fetchings Set.



I have not been monogamous with my knitting lately which is not at all like me.I cast on the teal Moda Vera Socks to see how they'd knit up ( been doing that a lot lately) on 2.5mm needles. So far so good these will be put aside as an 'in between projects' project, something to grab when a small project is needed. They are more teal in person.



Still want to knit a Wisteria and a Tangled Yoke Cardi, and have the yarn ready to go for them but uni starts up March 2nd and I am having fun messing around with dyeing and socks at the moment.
I know when uni starts I won't have the time to mess about and will be back in the strict timetable cycle of work sleep study.

A few projects to update:
firstly another felted bag. This was completed at the same time as the others but I've only just found the camera charger and now feel comfortable using the camera again knowing the batteries can be charged.

Lincraft Cosy Wool, 1.5 balls. 5.5mm needles. This bag carries my sock WIPs.

Also completed Patonyle Socks #4314 from a destash in Ravelry.

Just wanted to see how they would knit up. Lucky to have the stripes match up.
2.5mm needles and my sock recipe.


Lion Brand Magic Stripes 2.5mm needles and my sock recipe. This is a bit scratchy after the Patonyle so they are hibernating for a bit.

I saw these on Ravelry and had to have a try at making them. In a coincidental twist, last night I was surfing the stash for yarn to use for my next pair of socks and decided that I am competent enough at knitting socks to use my hand dyed tiger yarn that I made ages ago (think 2 yrs ago or so it's been waiting that long) so they were already ear-marked as the next socks.

I even want to name them the same but feel it would be 'wrong' to, so I've called mine Tiger Feet Socks.
The details are duplicate stitched on which would be easier than changing yarn for such short runs of colour.




Nearly forgot....
Finished my Raspberry Cowl and had enough yarn leftover to make a pair of fetchings.







Handyed cleckheaton country 8ply beige. 4mm needles for Fetching, 4.5mm for Cowl.
Cowl pattern is Forest Canopy Cowl. Had a blast knitting these.

Socktober

Here are the most recent socks that I have completed.

Specs:

Thuja pattern

Spunky Eclectic 'Signature' yarn

3.25mm needles

Nice thick, warm socks for winter.

Specs:

Thuja pattern

3.25mm needles

Dream in Color Classy 'Ruby River'

Specs:

Thuja pattern

3.25mm needles

Shepherd Colour 4 Me 'pink/white'

Specs:

Hobby Print

2mm needles

My sock recipe

Not very happy with the way the colours pooled. Might have even posted these finished before - can't remember.

Current WIP: Sea Socks

Thuja again (love this pattern!)

3.25mm needles

Shepherd Colour 4 Me 'blue/green'

Other News

Uni

has just one more test to go in a week and a bit and then I am done for the year. Not doing Summer Semester this year, I really need the rest.

Car

found out who damaged my car, disappointed to find out that it was one of my students and even more disappointed when I found that I had to fork out for the repairs myself as the Dept will not cover staff cars! My car was not the only one vandalised either. Anyway, the damage has been repaired and I have been relieved of over $300. The crash repairers did a fantastic job, I am very happy and I will not dwell on this any longer, the damage is gone now.

Holidays

it is the holidays and we are both sick again. At least something in my life is predictable hey? I managed to avoid coming down with the flu during school-time but now that the holidays have started, I succumbed.

Weight Loss

Had official weigh in last week and my loss so far is 6kgs. I had engaged the services of a Personal Trainer 6 weeks ago and it is going well. Up until we both got sick that is and now I have no energy to do anything except reach for chocolate and pepsi max. I will worry about exercising when I am better.

Bikes

Miss A and I have new bikes and intend to go riding a) when we are better and b) when it is not raining. Kmart had 25% off bikes, Miss A had grown out of hers, great timing. I was ust going to get mine serviced but when we went to the bike store there was a bike in my fave colour for only 50 bucks more than a service would cost me. My old bike was bought when I was in my late teens and bike technology has changed a lot since then so.... a new bike was bought for me. The car has also had a towbar installed complete with bike carrier so we can ride further away. That was one of the main activities that we were going to do these holidays, best laid plans of ours always go astray.

So that's about it, being sick makes it the perfect time to sit and knit, so that's what is planned for the duration of this fluey/coldy thing.

Forgot

Forgot about the 3 pairs I had on the needles at the time plus the yarn 'in transit' oh and what I got today.... soo that'll bring the total to, let me see....oh let's just say closer to 140.

Found some Sllivans sock yarn at Lincraft today and 4 balls came home with me. Need to try this on 2.5mm needles and see how they turn out.

Finished the ones on 2mm needles:

Liked these but 2mm needles are small I need to try 2.5s.

Jenny Wren is finished not sure if I included picks of both before, so here they are:

Knittery Cashmerino Warm Pinks I think.

At Lincraft I picked up some Shepherd Colour For Me for some quick knit 8ply socks for me using Thuja pattern, 3.25mm needles and 48 sts cast on:

These are one of the pairs that were on the needles and missed being counted:

Hobby Print by rico, 2mm needles. Same specs for both of them but they are turning out a little different. The yarn is pooling diffeently on the 2nd one. See the pink and white stripe, much more noticeable and I don't like that, they are more random in the first one. They have been set aside for the pink ones.

Not just knitting socks either, this is Puff, a bear I made a few years ago now. The yarn is so soft and squishy.

Had 2 balls left over that were re-discovered when stash diving the other day and were turned into a scarf for Miss A. It is Patons Charming nice and squishy but not much use for anything but a scarf.

Not much else is happening here, been doing some prac teaching this semester and need to get 4 more days in, in the next 3 weeks and write a report then this semester is done. Can't wait cos I have not had a proper break for well over a year and I really need one. Struggling to complete this semester.

Currently working on...

Jenny Wren socks
Yarn: The Knittery Merino Cashmere Sock yarn
Needles: Addi Turbo 2.5mm
Mods: 70 sts, incorporated pattern into my sock recipe, Eye of Partridge heel.
This is slow going as it is at a tighter gauge than I am used to and the needles are have been rubbing my hands. But still an enjoyable knit. These are the first socks that I have knit that have a pattern, and continue said pattern down the foot! Ooh what a wild, reckless knitter I am becoming. I have knit ribbed before but not cables. I prefer to let the colours of the yarn shine through. This is a very simple pattern and I love it.




Photo of completed Crayon socks, not sure if I blogged these finished before, here they are anyway. I added some length to the foot and they are now comfy.


Still really enjoying knitting socks and have stash dived and rounded up all of my sock yarn. Oh my!
I have 2 very big tubs of sock yarn, this really needs to be knit up and I must stop buying sock yarn.

When is it too hot for knitting?

The temperature here is ridiculous. Here's the way it went, and continues to go in degrees C.

Monday 3rd March.....35

Tuesday 4th March .....36

Wednesday 5th March.....38

Thursday 6th March.....38

Friday 7th March.....39

Saturday 8th March.....40

Sunday 9th March.....40

Monday 10th March.....40

Tuesday 11th March.....38

Wednesday 12th March.....39

Thursday 13th March.....40

Friday14th March.....38 last night's temp was 30! (hottestnight for however long) tonight 20.

and the latest forecasts:

Saturday 15th March.....38

Sunday16th March.....38

Monday 17th March.....39

Tuesday 18th March.....39

Wednesday 19th March.....31 yay cool change!

Thursday 20th March.....27

Apparently we beat the record for 8 consecutive days over 35 degrees and another one for the longest heatwave in an Australian Capital - I think that's it. Woo Hoo. Last night on the news they showed some rain pouring down, just in case we Adelaideans forgot what it looked like. Gee it looked really good. I promise I won't complain about winter when/if it comes.

It is way hot out by the computer so I am giving myself the weekend off of studying

(removed rant about text book availability and how it is nearly 3 weeks into the unit and they are just now sorting out textbooks which we should have been reading in week 1) hmmm. I figure with Miss A at camp next week and at her Dad's ALL Easter, I will catch up, and by then, my textbooks will have arrived. There will be no time for tears, I'll be too busy studying.

So when is it too hot to knit?? I am getting more knitting done now than ever before. Possibly due to new portability of sock projects and influx of sock yarn - darn stuff must breed when I'm asleep. Where did that package come from?

My sock knitting has increased due to the new method. The Tiger socks are done. I would change one thing though and that would be to knit the foot 2 cms longer or maybe more. The slip stitch on the heel actually sits on the underside of the foot hence a little more footage would be good. I think I did 30 rows then the toes.

The crayon socks were ripped back and restarted, they were half a foot complete each. Haven't worked on these since April 06. But made up that loss in no time. I did add to the foot in these, but still could be a little longer. I think I did 36 rows for these.



So next pair of socks, I think I will go to 40 or 46 - as the pattern recommended - it was hard to judge, some patterns said begin the toe 3cm from the top of your foot, and others were begin the toe at the base of your toes, neither is right for my feet.
Once I get this recipe right for my foot I'll be happy.

We couldn't wait till the weekend...

I dyed these during the week.
From L-R : orange from the other day, green, teal, blue, pink and purple and plain pink.



Happily got the strand variegation that I was looking for -each strand is a different colour to the next one. Lots of fun to make. can't wait to see how they knit up.

The sock is coming along really well. Turning the heel was way faster and smoother that the 2 on 2 circs method. I could put it down, pick it up and carry on. Not like having to set aside 2-3 hours for the heel with the other method.

Started this late last Saturday night and it is nearly done! I will, hopefully, finish one this weekend.

Dyeing Adventures

Sock yarn is difficult to find here in SA. Spotlight has just started stocking some Moda Vera Socks in yucky colourways. I am really disappointed with the choice of colour inyarn over here.
Anyway at $4.99 per ball we shouldn't complain. I bought 3 balls first, one in a red,khaki colourway and one in blue and this one in brown/beige/black. Like I said disappointed with colour choice here. I thought it might be dyeable so grabbed it. I am on a bit of a tiger fix at the moment so thought if I could dye it with orange it might be okay.

BEFORE: blah








DURING: nice variations of orange/brown





DONE: mmm tiger.... much better




Still not sure how the pattern will turn out but have envisioned one in pinks, one in blues, one in purples, Miss A wants green. Guess what we'll be doing this weekend.

Floozy

Normally I am a one project woman, normally. I have been suffering startitis for the first time I think.

I have the Kiri shawl on the needles growing slowly. A good project when I have the time to sit and concentrate on something.

I have another Ice Queen on the needles as the other one is a bit short for me but okay for Miss A. An easy knit for when I can't concentrate and want something straightforward to do. Looking forward to wearing this in winter.

Yarn: Caressa DK same as the other one.

Needles: Boye size 6s (4.25mm)

And as a constant in the background to work on whether it is a few stitches here and there or easy knitting or a 'take with' project....

Now that the weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter, I have a hankering to knit some socks. In the past I have used the Crazy Toes and Heels method. This has served me well as it was a way that I could understand to begin knitting socks, I cannot use dpns. However I think the reason that I haven't knitted socks for so long is the fact that with this method (2 at a time on 2 circs, toe up) I have a contraption that is not so portable. I have always bemoaned the fact that it takes me over an hour for one heel (they are knitted around and around even while doing the heel so it takes a longer time than a heel flap) .

I am envious of Jess who produces beautiful socks on a regular basis. So I am going to give her method a go, see below...

short circular, top down, heel flap etc. I remember trying this with a sock in progress before and couldn't do it. It felt uncomfortable. This time it is different, I think the construction will be easier this way - especially the heel part. And I can take it with me more easily than the other way.

I only have one of these needles so I am off to find another few so that I can start it's partner.

I am a bit obssessive when it comes to matching socks, I don't think I will be comfortable with just measuring them for the length, so I think it will be ticky sheets and row counts.

Specs:

Yarn: Yarnivorous' Tiger sock yarn given to me by Jess. Thanks Jess - I have wanted to start these for ages and now have the sock bug again.

Needles: Addis 2.5mm, 30cm length

I am excited at using up my sock stash again. I can take these with me and always have a sock on the needles laying around.

Uni

Summer Semester finished this week yay! I am soo glad to have that behind me- 3 units plus working 6 days a week phew! No more maths exams! I now have one week off - first semester 2008 starts on the 3rd March.

Other

Miss A is at her Dad's this weekend, it is getting a bit easier but not much. It is my turn to pick her up from his girlfriend's place and I am to beep when I get there. Not allowed to go and knock on the door. Aah, but I will have my sock for company, not too dark I hope, maybe I'll get a few rounds in!

Guinea Pigs and socks....

As promised earlier, here are the pictures of the finished socks, we also have Guinea Pig pics!

Made from cheap Big W acrylic and some eyelash yarn - pattern link in a previous post cos I'm too lazy to add another link and must do some more of my assignment tonight.



Isn't he the cutest? I am soo glad he's done as I think the gauge was wrong it was tight to knit, so next time I'll use larger needles. He needs a friend and some babies. Oh and some food too.

Here are the socks in Opal Magic - yellow. I should have made these a bit bigger too as I don't think they'll fit for very long. And she won't wear them now!!

Top view:


Bottom view:

Side view: You can just see the Eye of Partridge on the heel ;)






I have only three assignments due (two are half done) before I finish up the Cert 4 in ICT yay! Then the Cert 4 in Business Admin starts up this Wednesday. phew.


Knitting Knews

The yarn has come in for Rogue and I haven't had a chance to swatch yet but definitely will.
I am lusting after some Bendigo Rustic in 12ply so that will have to wait till next pay day.
I am still on the 4x4 ribbed scarf and think that I am about one third the way through, so I'll do some more this weekend.

I've had a bad cold this week I think I had one weeks break between this one and the last one I posted about and am looking forward to the long weekend.

I knitted a quick scarf in some pretty yarn from Needlenook this week while I was sick and should block it this weekend, I'm trying to make it a little bit longer and open out the stitches so will post pics when that's done - don't hold your breath but.

Have a great weekend wherever you are.

We have heels!

Last night I completed both heels in record time - 2 hours each - perhaps it's because they are a smaller sized sock and perhaps it's because I finally get the construction of them.

There's four steps in the Crazy Toes and Heels method:
1...Short row down
2...Turn the heel
3...Short row up
4...Meld gusset stitches with the heel stitches.

They fit well and it's good to be on the home stretch. The cuffs will probably be plain ribbing, maybe 4 knit and 2 purl??

After some furious knitting the last few days, we have completed gussets. Heels are the next step.

I said that I'd try not to cast on for the next pair of socks until I was at this stage. For once I managed to stick to it. Last night I cast on using "Crayon" from my hand dyed stash. Can't wait to see how this knits up.

Hopefully I'll get to the heels Thursday if I can drag myself away from these ones.