Oy, with the socks already

I have been taking a break from socks this week (which is good, since the Summer of Socks starts on Saturday) and I have a few non-sock items to show you next time. For now, however, I give you more footwear:



You probably recognize these from the last post. I completed the pair while on my cruise to Bermuda.

Cable Rib sock from Favorite Socks
Yarn: Plymouth Sockotta, one ball (I lost the ball band, so I don't know the color number)
Source: Patternworks, ages ago
Needles: Crystal Palace Bamboo dpns, US size 1
Modifications: I shortened the cuff length to ankle-length.




I finished the Jaywalkers just after we got back. I had to frog them after I completed the first one because the pattern, while awesome, has no stretch whatsoever, and I was knitting a little tighter than usual because it was the end of the semester. So I reknit them in the smallest size on size 2s instead of the recommended 1s.

Pattern: Jaywalkers by Grumperina (ravelry link)
Yarn: Vesper sock yarn from Knitterly Things, one skein in the Astro colorway
Needles: Crystal Palace Bamboo dpns, US size 2 (I also bought a set of Accessories Unlimited Bamboo dpns for the Summer of Socks and tested them out on these--I highly recommend them)
Source: Knitterly Things
Modifications: I knit them on US size 2 needles instead of size 1.


I would also like to thank Julia at Knitterly Things for making such beautiful sock yarn and for being really patient and nice when I was having technical difficulties ordering the yarn. I recommend you get on her e-mail list 'cause it sells out fast.


I haven't mentioned it in awhile, but I do plan to get back to the Secret of the Stole II. I think that writing out the chart and putting it on some Addi Lace needles (which I have yet to try out) will make it easier. It is a beautiful pattern so far and I really want to finish it; it just seems to be going sooooo sloooowly. I guess I'll just keep telling myself that slow and steady finishes the race.


And maybe plan a new project as a treat when I finish. :)

A Room with a View

(Actually, our room didn't have a view. But why pay extra for a window room when you can sit and knit on the back deck of the boat?). I took this picture as our cruise ship was leaving the lovely island of Bermuda. I finished a pair of socks (the ones shown above; details to follow) and was harassed (nicely) by Bermudians and cruise ship crew on several occasions for knitting in public. I missed a great opportunity for a Summer of Socks contest picture when I forgot to bring the sock to the Captain's Dinner, where we had our picture taken with the captain of the ship. How great would it have been to have the ship captain holding my sock?



I had a great time but I was so excited to come home to my room full of yarn. Seven days on a ship with just one pair of socks to work on can get kind of monotonous.

Monkey Business

Can you see why I am getting sick of socks?


Monkey from the Winter '06 Knitty
Yarn: Claudia Handpaints Fingering weight merino, 2 skeins Toast
Source: kpixie (one of my Christmas presents)
Needles: US Size 2 Swallowtail casein dpns (also from kpixie)
Modifications: None



Besides the Jaywalkers I already have on the needles and the Sockotta yarn I'm taking on the cruise, this is my last pair of socks till the Summer of Socks begins. Speaking of the cruise, I have some handmade items to show you next time, made especially for my trip to Bermuda next week.

Rock Your Socks Off

When I commute to work and school I need a project that is small, portable, and will take me a long time to complete. The best project that fits these needs are socks.




On Your Toes Socks (Basic Toe-Up Sock Pattern), Ann Budd for Interweave Knits, Summer 2007
Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote Sock Yarn Handpaints, 2 skeins Lilac Desert
Source: Pearl's Yarn Shop
Needles: US Size 1 and 2 Crystal Palace Bamboo dpns
Modifications: Lots. This was my first toe-up sock, and I wanted to use every last bit of the handpainted yarn. My yardage was in between what the crew sock and knee sock each needed, so I followed the directions for the crew sock and then just continued in 2x2 rib, increasing one stitch every four rows at the center of the back of the leg until I didn't have much yarn left, then I worked 1x1 rib until I ran out. I tried to make the second one to match the first, which was not as easy as it sounds since I did the first one in December and the second one a few weeks ago. I worked on the first one during a really horrible commute during a snowstorm on my last day of classes that involved being stuck on a bus on I-93 for five hours, and I think I associated some bad feelings with the sock and just needed to put it down for awhile. The socks go higher than most that I knit but aren't quite knee socks.

Dragon Breath Socks (Ravelry link)

Yarn: Mama Llama Merino/Tencel, one skein Arcana (I think)

Source: kpixie (part of my big kpixie Christmas shopping spree)

Needles: US size 1 Addi Turbo 24" circular needles (2)

Modifications: None

Closeup of the stitch pattern and yarn:

A friend pointed out that they look just like the Monkeys I made (and apparently forgot to show you--I'll post them soon) but I didn't notice until she said something--the knitting must have seemed different to me.

I love socks but I've had enough of them for awhile. I'm on the second sock of a pair of Jaywalkers as my commuting project (school is done but there's still work), but after that I'm not doing any until the Summer of Socks starts on June 21st.

NH Sheep and Wool Festival

I love the NH Sheep and Wool Festival. It was the first fiber event I went to after I learned to knit, and even though it was a little bittersweet because I only had $15 to spend, I loved it and have been going ever since. Last night was the last class of the semester, so now I can relax and get back to the important things, like blogging and knitting.

I met up with Katie, Erica, and Linda and we had a great time (how could we not?) Here's the goods:


1.75 lbs of washed Romney roving from a sheep named "Bavaria"

Start Spinning by Maggie Casey (which I have heard excellent things about and I hope it will improve my spinning skills) and a beautiful handmade Bosworth drop spindle. There was an interview with lace-shawl-designer-extraordinaire Evelyn Clark on The Panopticon's blog, and she said she loves her Bosworth drop spindles and prefers them to her wheel, and I want to be just like her when I grow up so I got one too.

More hand-dyed sock yarn from Ball and Skein. I plan to use it for the Summer of Socks, which I signed up for last week. You might remember that I purchased another ball of hand-dyed sock yarn from Ball and Skein last year, and that I have not posted about it since. It will also be part of the Summer of Socks.

The biggest score of all came when I had been at the festival for ten minutes. I got five balls of one of my favorite yarns, Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted (the sport weight is great too) for only $15!!! It's a discontinued color, and the label is different from the one they have now, and I could not be more thrilled to have 1200 yards (a sweater's worth!) for $15. I'm thinking something from Fitted Knits or Knitting Nature.

Next up: all the knitting I have been doing in between final projects and stressing out about the end of the semester.