Stuff to do...

The purple verigated (SP?) tippies are done and on my feet. I finally found the length that I like. From the end of the ribbed rows to the beginning of the decrease is 45 rows. I might be able to get away with 50 if I'm ambitious.

I got blue verigated yarn and am working a plain sock pattern, nothing fancy. I also have ordered two more colours of Fixation yarn from Linda. She says it'll be in within a week.

When I get paid, I'm going and picking up a ball or two of the local spun and dyed alpaca yarn from Yarn Garden. It's fingering weight, so I'm hoping to be able to make a pair of socks and/or wristlets from it. I'm also almost ready to take the plunge and buy some cashmere for the wristlets I want to make. Of course, I'll need to make socks to match. ^_^

Workin' on stuff...

The Breeze footies are coming along. Again, they're really slow because I can't really do much on them at work. I'm about 3/4 of the way through the heel flap on the first one.

I also have my 'mindless' project, and in this case it's another pair of Tippies, this one in verigated purple.

Still working on Heather Tracy's baby blanket too. I can't wait to see how that one turns out.

Somewhere, I still have my shawl. I may just scrap that, save the yarn for something else and make a Sheep to Shawl shawl instead. Vee shall see.

Pics, as promised.

Tippies! These are the first pair of tippies I made, along with how they look in the shoes. I have to say, it'll be more fun to have socks to match my outfits, than have shoes. :) I like them, they're a bit short though and don't stay on when the shoes aren't on. Going to try making a pair a bit longer. My toes get cold in winter.





These are the cabled socks from the pattern listed in my links. They're going slowly because I've already screwed up once and had to start over. The pattern's not HARD, but it's really easy to miss a stitch. I'm happy so far though!

Tippies!

I got a nifty pattern on Thursday, and have made myself a pair of 'tippy' socks. They're like a half-sock that is designed to be worn with clogs (like the clear ones I got). I'm including the pattern for Sasha here. I have pics of the tippies and my progress on the cabled socks, but am at work and need to be at home to offload the pics from my camera.

Tippies:

Works best with Cascade Yarns 'Fixation', which is an elastic cotton yarn. One ball is needed, and it can make two pairs.

You need size 2 DPN's, in a set of four.

Cast on 62 stitches as follows, and join to work in the round:

Needle 1 - 20sts
Needle 2 - 22sts
Needle 3 - 20sts

Make 4 rows of 1x1 ribbing (k1 p1)

Knit all stitches for the next 3 1/2 inches, or whatever length you want the sock to be. For me, I use 35 rows for a normal tippie, and 45 rows for a longer one that I can wear without clogs.

Separate stitches as follows:

Needle 1 - 12sts
Needle 2 - 24sts
Needle 3 - 12sts



Decrease Row:

On first needle, knit to last 3 sts, then knit 2 together (k2tog), k1.
On second needle, k1, ssk, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1.
On third needle, k1, ssk, knit remaining stitches.

Next Row: Knit all stitches.

Repeat these two rows until 24 stitches remain. (6 on 1, 12 on 2, 6 on 3).

Do two more decrease rows (no knit row in between). 16 stitches remain (4 on 1, 8 on 2, 4 on 3). Knit stitches from needle 1 onto needle 3. You should now have two needles with 8 stitches on each, and your yarn will be at one end.

Kitchener stitch the toe closed. Weave in ends.

Socks!

Working on the Breeze footies that are described in my current projects at the side of the page. I've got the cuff and about 4-5 lines of the heel flap done now, and for my first attempt at cabling, it's not bad. It doesn't look exactly like the pattern, likely because of the texture of the stretchy yarn. It's different than the cotton fingering yarn it recommends.

Still, the ribbing is nice, the cables look good, and I'm happy so far. Pics forthcoming when the patterning becomes more apparent.

A winner is ME!

I got a call this morning from Knitter's Dream, Linda telling me that I won a door prize in their September Anniversary drawing. I won a nifty pair of clear clogs, designed to show off hand-made socks! I also picked up some yarn, and a set of size 2 double pointed needles. I'm just about ready to try out socks!


This is sock yarn that is VERY stretchy, due to elastic in the yarn. Tried on a pair of socks made with this and loved them.



The 'Escapee'. This ball of yarn was the only one left of this colour. It was supposed to go with Linda to a yarn show and somehow managed to get loose in the box and wasn't found until she got it home. I got it for $5, since it's the last one she had.



These were so new that they weren't even on the shelves yet. Self-striping sock yarn, in many different colours. (You can get an idea from the second ball, it's got socks showing in all the colours.) The ones I chose were base colour black, and there's enough in each ball to make one full pair. I can't wait to make something with these!

Peektures!

Courtesy of Kim. This is the hat I made for her.



Top view. I screwed up on one of the decrease rounds, but you really can't tell. I'm happy with it, and so is she!



Side view. We wanted to make it large so that it fits over her massive amounts of hair. (Kim has the most gorgeous hair, I swear)

This was done in Vanna's Choice from LionBrand, on size 6 and 7 needles.

Update.

Well, it looks like the blanket is 'evening out' in a way. The stitches are getting to be a bit more normal, and it looks like the blanket will be about the right size. Maybe a bit smaller than the picture, but not as small as I'd originally feared. Also, now that I'm more comfortable with the Continental stitching, it's going a lot faster than normal. However, my hands still aren't used to it, and I think I'm holding onto the needles a bit too 'hard'. My hands ache after a row and I have to stop for a few minutes.

It's likely either that I need to relax them a bit more, or I'm just not used to the motions with this method yet.

Current stuff...

Well, I currently only have one project (WOOHOO!) and am working on a baby blanket for a friend at work. I also am searching for the perfect fingering yarn to try out a pair of socks that I've been wanting to make. My next MAJOR project is going to be a shawl made from the Philosopher's Wool book, 'Sheep to Shawl'. I'm still waiting to hear back from them regarding the matching hats that I see in the book but do not have a pattern for.

Currently on the needles:




This is the blanket I'm working on, however it will be done in purple and white, not blue and white. I believe that the main problem I am having is my tension. The first time around, my stitches looked horrible, completely uneven and I screwed up on the fourth row in. Scrapped it, started over using a different caston method and trying Continental stitching for the first time... and now the stitches seem too tight. ><

I'm going to see how it goes... I mean, it's still looking good, even if it's small. It may wind up being a newborn-size blanket instead of the size in the picture. Worse comes to worst, I just go and pick up another skein of purple and start over.

I R HERE

Welp, finally decided to get a Blogspot space. Seems like everyone has one now, really, and it seems like a nifty place to post my knitting stuff. :)

Right now, I am re-discovering knitting. I have finished a Gryffindor scarf and hat set for my son, a hat for a friend, and am currently working on my first baby blanket, for a friend who's expecting.

It's sad when you find out someone's having a baby and all you think is "OMGBABYPATTERNSYAY!!!"

I'll post pics soon!