Wild rose socks

The pattern is called Wandering Rose (free on Ravelry) and the yarn is Valley Yarns' Charlemont Kewttle Dye in Wild Pink, a lovely soft wool/silk/nylon blend.  I started these while waiting for the train to go up to Kentucky, so Mom and Sis got to see and feel the leg portion of these socks, and Mom loves the yarn.  I thought I'd pop a pic up for her.

wild rose socks

They are a bit loose on me, especially above the ankles, so if I do this pattern again, I'll need to remember to go down a needle size.

Third time is the charm

Last time I posted, I made note of stitch counts and whatnot for a pair of custom fitted knee socks.  Two failed attempts (and several consolation/"quick" gratification ankle socks) later, and I think I may have it!

leftover yarn knee socks

back detail on knee socks

I snapped the pic in my jammies shorts, as I am now in work jeans and about to put on my old basic training combat boots to go out and give these socks the real stress test: a morning of yard work.  I am wondering if I used too much lace (which has more stretchiness than solid fabric and definitely more stretch than cables) for them to stay up on their own when subjected to heat, humidity, and activity ... so yard work in August is the ultimate test for that.

Enough procrastination.  It is not raining at present, so I better go make the best of it.

Kneesock knitting notes

Really not much news on the textile-fabric-yarn front.  I have knitted up one pair of kneesocks, and am sort-of working on getting the fit right, when I am not outside playing in the dirt or wrangling chickens or cooking or canning.  For those interested in those subjects, check out my S&G Homesteade blog.

Might as well post up the one pair of kneesocks.

purple Primrose kneesocks

It is a paid pattern on Ravelry called "Primrose Socks" that I won in a drawing in one of my sock groups.  Even though I followed the guage and measurements for sizing, they still slide down.  So, I am working on doing a personally-fitted pair ... except last night I tried to frog back to my math mistake but could not get the stitches back on the needles, so I frogged the whole project.  A much quieter solution than tryig to get my itty-bitty stitches on right.

Now, for fitting notes for my kneesocks:

• CO only 68 stitches, as 72 was too many on the Primrose socks, and the pattern called for a CO of 80 for my size.
• only a one-inch cuff, as I don't have a lot of length between the back of my knee and the widest portion of my calf
• increase to 76 max after cuff ... again, 80 was too many on the Primrose socks
• when doing the calf decrease, start it around 5 inches from top, and only decrease once every four rounds max - every other round is too sudden a decrease (and why I frogged the previous attempt)
• work down to only 60 stitches at the ankle - 64 is a tad too slouchy for kneesocks ... even for regular mid-calf socks
• long heel flap, with quite a few gusset pick-up stitches

Everything else should be good to go.  Now, to CO my 2nd attempt at fitted-for-me kneesocks, as my back is telling me I did too much planting, raking, digging, etc the past few days.  But OH honey, we've had a couple gorgeous days down here to overdo it outside.  Lovely "spring break" weather right now (rain forecast for tomorrow, of course).

Busy season

First off, I would like to wish folks out there a happy and safe holiday season ... whichever holiday is special to you between November and January.  Secondly, I have been busy these past seven-eight weeks, starting before sunrise on Halloween morning when I picked up my batch of chicks.  This month of December has been quite the roller coaster, with first a raccoon then the black bears killing some of my chicks ... yet in between those trials we finally closed the sale on our house up in Tennessee and are now completely debt free.  Triumph and tragedy, good and bad (and ugly, too) all one right after the other here.

With all my outside activities going on, I have not made much progress with fabric, and a small bit with yarn.  This morning, I finally turned the heels on the first pair of knee socks I am knitting.  At first I was annoyed when the 50g skeins ran out during the heel turn, then as I wove in the tails I realized that is actually the best spot to switch as weaving in ends strengthens the heel.

knee socks in progress

I have another pair of knee socks started, but I am not much past the cuff and have not yet finished the first motif.  Also on the needles are two pairs of midcalf (regular height) socks for me.  I have a pair for hubby that I took off the needles when I could not find my fifth set of circular sock needles.  Ah well, a box of splurge/celebration yarn is working its way down to me and also has three more sets of sock circs.

I really do need to sew in the waistband on that pair of cotton flannel pajama bottoms.  Then they will need a good wash before I can take pics, as the pink-nosed furry feline chaos demon decided they are the perfect napping spot.

Next time I take this long off from blogging here, do take a peek at my S&G Homesteade blog to see if we are just busy doing outdoor stuff - Florida is the Sunshine State, ya know.

Knitting cables

While I have been doing a smidge of sewing (nothing completed yet) I have still been knitting up a storm here.  Back in January, after I finished son's wool sweater, I started my very first cable project.  I finished all the knitting and even started to sew it together when the heat hit, and it languished over the late spring-summer-early autumn.  We did get a cool front earlier this month, and I pulled out my unfinished sweater and sewed up the rest of the seams, then I even managed to get some pics in the morning when it was cool enough to wear a 100% wool knit sweater in worsted-weight yarn without sweating too badly.

scoop-neck cable sweater

It is nice and warm, yet still breathes well, and I am certain to appreciate it over the winter even if it looks/feels a bit big right now.  I am not sure if I have lost weight (neighbor up the dirt road thinks so), or if I cast on one size too big, or if the stitches stretched out as I haven't washed or blocked it yet.

Now, for my most recent finished cable project, and also the most complicated so far: socks, of course.

Treehouse sock, in sunlight, close to actual color

fuzzy unfocused pic of both socks on my feet ... before 2nd mug of coffee

The yarn is more grey, although any time I have tried to take a pic in shadow it looks bluer than it is.  I had a lot of fun doing all this cabling although it was slow going compared to non-cabled projects.

Knitting my own sock design

I have been busy on a knitting adventure: I designed my own socks.  Well, this pair isn't for my feet, but a gift for hubby's grandmother ... but I was not able to find what I wanted even when using Ravelry's advanced pattern search, so I did a literal back-of-the-envelope sock design.  Seriously, this is the back of the envelope of my electric bill, so I am calling this pattern "electric cable rib socks."

the original electric bill envelope design scribbles

attempting to photograph the cabling

electric cable rib socks about 60% done

I had to put them on my hands since they are too small for my feet.  Grandma wears a US 5-1/2 wide, where I wear a US 8-1/2 regular.  I do hope the cabling shows up in the pics, because that is the main part of what I wanted and could not find.  I am looking forward to making a pair for myself and a pair for hubby, too.  There is nothing overtly feminine about the 1x1 cabling on the ribs ... although I have an idea percolating in my tiny brain about a lace sampler sock idea!

Me?  Designing my own socks now?  It hasn't even been a year since I made my very first pair of plain stockinette socks!  LOL

Even more sock knitting

Oh wow, I've been remiss on posting.  Since I last posted an actual fiber-related update, I have since finished another FOUR pairs of socks.  I think I am starting to get faster!  Now, for the pic-bomb ...

lace "Bandwagon Socks" in solid black wool/silk

I even put a lace panel in the center back

comfy Openwork Ladders socks in wool/bamboo/nylon

these Maskerade Socks have cables and a lace design that I cannot get a decent pic of yet.  Made in wool/nylon

hubby asked for boot socks, so here they are!  Also wool/bamboo/nylon yarn

the boot socks without the boots, a random ribs pattern.  Hubby really likes them.

I have another three pairs on needles .... yes, thanks to a clearance sale at Jo-Ann's over the summer I now have enough sock needles to work on that many at a time.

More sock knitting

I finished up the Bridal lace socks about a week ago ... they're in the washing machine now but I do have some pics.

close-up of lace pattern

finished Bridal socks on my feet

They fit nicely, and the lace pattern with the slip-stitch rib is open enough to make great summer socks.  I need to remember to reinforce the heels and toes before I wear them too many times, and also the easy lace socks that I still do not have pics of yet.

Rolling along, I have sideways socks on my straight needles for hubby (need pic of those as well) and on my new small circular needles I am trying the "two-at-a-time" (2aat) idea for another lace pattern in a wool/bamboo/nylon blend.

start of "openwork ladders" socks done 2aat on circs

I am about 5 inches into the legs section now, with a couple road trips and appointments to work on them.  Hubby called the 2aat concept "bad(*donkey*) knitting" when he first saw it, then paused and asked, "Can knitting be bad(*donkey*)ed?"  Yes, my dear, it certainly can be.

I realize there are folks reading who are wondering just why I am bothering to knit my own socks.  For that matter, I am sure there are folks who wonder why we'd sew our own clothes too!  (Note: I will certainly be doing more of that, and soon.)  The socks I bought last year have been falling apart at the same rate as the ones I bought in '09 and '10 ... but at least the older ones have the excuse of being older and having given me my money's worth in use.  The ones I bought last year?  JUNK!!!!  It's not only socks, either.  I'll save the rant about underwear/panties for another post, but let's just say most of the recently-purchased ones are already in worse shape than the ones they were bought to replace.  So, I am at the point where I say "(*BLEEP!*) it!  I'll just make my own."  At least if these socks wear out quickly, I will know exactly whom to blame.

Lace sock update: first one done

Plugging away at the second sock now, but here is the first one:

first lace "Bridal Socks" done

I am pleased there is hardly any gap at the top of the gusset!  The gapping is so hard to eliminate, you will even see it in machine-made commercial socks, so having one turn out so well is a big feather in my hat.

Knitted tee shirt

While I have not been sewing much lately, I have been spending time laying on my bed propped up by three or four pillows and knitting.  Here is one such effort (too approximately three weeks to do up).

knitted tee shirt

stripe pattern on knitted tee

Hubby loves the stripe pattern on it, which according to the pattern notes is based on Fibonacci numbers.  Oh, the pattern is from a book I found at one of the local flea markets for two dollars: The Ultimate Knitted Tee by Laura Militzer Bryant and Barry Klein.  I used Ornaghi Filati United yarn, which is a 55% bamboo/45% cotton blend I had bought on bag sale from elann.com last year.  The yarn is AWESOME for down here!  It breathes so well, even in our humidity, that I kept the tee on all morning until I saw the storm clouds rolling in for our afternoon soaking.  Between the simple design and the wonderful yarn, I have a nice and comfy keeper here.

Still on a sock kick

So I have spent the past several months knitting up socks ... just no pics really.  Some for me, some for hubby, and I even managed to finish a pair each for mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law for giftmas.  Everyone loves them and I am inundated with requests ... but I have also collected up quite a bunch of sock yarn skeins.

I have joined a KAL (knit-a-long) in a sock group over at Ravelry, and a big part of the KAL fun is progress pics ... something I have sorely neglected here.  So, with this KAL's theme being lace socks, I will be posting up some progress pics.  Here's my first:

start of lace "Bridal Socks" pattern

Coats and Clark Quick Fashions booklet from 1968

Gloria asked about this the other post in the comments, so here it is!  This is Coats & Clark's book #185, Quick Fashions.

back and front scan of #185, Quick Fashions

 The beauty of this booklet is that it uses sport and worsted weight yarns, and also uses knitting and crochet.  Most of the sport-weight patterns call for three skeins (six ounces, no yardage given) while there is a good number of two skein patterns for worsted weight yarn (8 ounces, no yardage given).

This makes life a bit interesting, as a lot of yarns are now sold in three to three-and-half ounce (100 grams) size.  At least, most of the yarns I use.  So it was with an extra skein of the Bernat Denimstyle yarn (found on Hobby Lobby's clearance shelf) that I did up this cute pattern the past week or so:

two skein lacy shell, knitted

three skein cabled cardigan

I've actually cast on and tried working the cable pattern of the back of this three skein cardigan, but Bamboo Ewe is not a good yarn for a first attempt at cabling.  Instead,  it is now making the pretty red hearts scarf I blogged earlier this week.  I'll probably try it out in some Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool for myself, as it needs a nice stretchy yarn as it looks like you're suppose to block it rather aggressively.

I have also cast on one of the sport weight patterns, but bamboo yarn on plastic needles just is not easy to knit.  I think it will hook up nicely, though ... that is on the to-do list.

So this is the old book I am gushing about currently.  I do have some more, which aren't yet in Ravelry's database (to be fixed as I get to them!).  Enjoy the scans, Gloria!

Fun with two stitches

If this technique has a name other than "textured knitting" I have not come across it, but I really love it!  Using just knit and purl stitches with no other techniques, here are two patterned scarfs.

hearts design in Lipstick red

tumbling blocks/slanted squares in bulky alpaca blend

This reminds me a bit of filet crochet (open vs. filled block) which I've also recently tried my hook on and enjoy.  The stone-grey alpaca blend scarf is finished, and intended for Mom.  With three skeins off the clearance shelf, I got a scarf 9-1/2 inches wide by 56 inches long.

The hearts in red I am also doing in a clearance shelf yarn, three skeins of Bamboo Ewe which did not impress me when I tried to granny-square crochet it, and it definitely didn't impress me when I tried a small cable design ... but in just a solid-stitch k-p project, it becomes beautiful and perfect.  I am still on the first skein of this.

A couple knitting WIPs

Two of my projects that I am working on ... although this first one is off the needles and awaiting the blocking and sewing together.

1968 pattern two-skein lacy shell in Bernat Denimstyle pink

basic sweater for son in Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool in Natural Brown

I have more projects going on than this, but two pictures was the limit of my patience this morning.

Useless without pictures

I'll fight with the digicam later.  I've been quiet all summer, but I have been doing stuff: crocheting a bathroom rug and a doily that I am actually keeping, along with new coasters finally; knitting up a storm of dish/washcloths to use around the house.  It's also gift-making season.  I have three projects on the needles and a couple projects on the hooks.  I even have one finished already!

We've also been busy around the property: gardening, chickening, and since we had adequate rain this year ... the majority of the summer has seemed to be just mowing to keep the lawn from turning into a jungle.

My clothes are wearing out fast out here.  The main problem is ... I am still reshaping.  I suppose I could do the fitting on work clothes.

Another cup of coffee, and back outside.

Knit garter-stitch dishcloths

First ... where did the month of May go?  Could I get a do-over here?  I'd like my May back, please!

I have been playing with yarn here, and I have even started unpacking the sewing lair!  I don't have all my yarn unpacked/rediscovered yet - and I realized the other afternoon that I still have not unpacked all my books when I wanted to look up something in a gardening book - but progress has begun in there and I can tell when the light is on as the towers of boxes are a bit shorter.

At hubby's request, I have been knitting up simple garter stitch dishcloths.  Like the crochet wool socks, hubby has requested a dozen of them.  I am weaseling out of doing that many socks by calling the dozen socks as six pair, but that technicality won't get me out of the dishcloth situation.  I am halfway there, as the first two went straight to the sink upon completion.

garter stitch knit dishcloths in kitchen cotton

I found the pattern on YouTube ... let me see if I saved the start of it.  Here it is!

I have no idea what that would look like written out, but it knits up easy (read: newbie-friendly!) and the third one is pretty quick.

I have crochet stuff on the hook and even finished, but that will wait for another post.