In case you didn’t hear me – in 4 months I’ve finished as many socks as I did all of last year.  Woot!

The deets:

Pattern: Wendy Knits Toe-Up Slip Stitch Heel (66 sts)

Yarn: Black Bunny Fibers Wool Nylon Sock Flat bought in 2009

Needles: 1-24″ US #1 (2.25 mm) Chiaogoo Circular (LOVE LOVE LOVE these for sock knitting

KAL: Use It or Lose It

This is my go-to sock pattern when I just want to knit.  The heel combines everything I love about socks – toe-up and a heel flap without picking up sts.  The fit is perfect and I’ll get a lot of wear out of these – even in their bright, crazy colors.

Speaking of the colors – you’ll notice that these colors aren’t very Jody.  I’m so glad I went out of my color comfort zone for these!  I can’t remember the last time I knitted with chartreuse, yellow, orange or blue.  It was a refreshing change.

And keeping with the theme of change, I decided to knit the socks from opposite ends of the skein.  I got all the colors in each sock, but they knitting up very differently.  I have 1 blue heel and 1 orange/yellow heel.  But strangely the toes look quite similar.

This was my first time knitting from a sock flat and I don’t think I’ll seek it out again any time soon.  Knitting with phone cord kinks just wasn’t fun, and made a vanilla sock a little less vanilla.  I have one more sock flat in my stash – in very Jody colors – and I may wind it into hanks and soak it first.

Of course, all that extra work spells doom for knitting that yarn any time soon.

But for now, let’s just enjoy my pretty socks.

I’ll catch you on the purl side.

Stash usage abounds with this little project.

Pattern: Pretty Awesome Yarn Pouch by HeartStrings

Yarn: Louet Gems Pearl bought at Stitches 2005!

Beads: Silver-lined clear beads (also from stash)

Needle: 3.25mm circular, magic loop

my project on Ravelry

First, I started with stash yarn I got at Stitches 2005. Bought in a Stitches-induced hysteria when I thought I might actually knit colorwork socks.

We all know there’s no chance of that ever happening around these parts.

Then, I needed some beads so I pulled out my never ending supply of silver-lined clear beads. Perfect!

When I started knitting I thought I’d line it. But the utility of the stretchy bag won out and I decided not to line it.

Blocking took some thinking. I needed to block the bag into a bag shape and then block the top lace so it would open up. I decided to wet the bag and stretch it over a metal mixing bowl. Once that dried I pinned out the lace and steam blocked it. Worked pretty well.

I even have enough left over for a smaller sized bag and plan to downsize the pattern to make my mom a potpourri sachet.

This was a great little project with lots of fun details and techniques. It went fast and the blocking took almost as long as the knitting. And now I have one less ball of sock yarn to show for it. Score!

3 UILI projects down, 10 more to go.

Full disclosure – in a non-UILI moment yesterday it’s rumored that I purchased yarn for 4 projects. But let’s look at the bright side. While I wait for that yarn to be delivered I’ve been working on nothing but WIPs.  That’s right – I didn’t CO anything new this weekend.  And at least I only bought1 ball of sock yarn. Now would you excuse me while I get back to my WIPs?

Happy Easter if you celebrate and I’ll catch you on the purl side.

I finished the first sock from the sock flat that I started a few weeks ago.  It needs to be blocked – it’s a bit crumply from knitting with the crimped yarn.  But it is pretty.

I’m in love.  The colors are very different for me and I love that.  Turquoise, yellow, orange and blue – all colors outside of my comfort zone.  And if you’re going to venture outside of your comfort zone, sock knitting is a great way to go.

Then, I got an email about the Pretty Awesome Yarn Pouch by HeartStrings.  It only takes about 125 yards of fingering weight, uses a small amount of beads and has some lace knitting.  I couldn’t resist and I cast on with a skein of yarn I bought at the 2005 Stitches East show (yes – it’s 8 years old!).  I’ve knitted through the lace part and just have the simple openwork to go for the bag.

I think I’m going to line it with a silky fabric – both to help the yarn not get caught on the bag and as another decorative touch.  This is a quick knit and I think I’ll be done by next weekend.  Yay for the quick knit project!

Have a fabulous week and I’ll catch you on the purl side (maybe with an FO?).

I’ve been wanting a well-fitting cowl for a while now. It was windy, snowy and in the 20s this week. I needed a cowl.

I did umpteen searches on Ravelry but didn’t find exactly what I wanted – a close-fitting cowl with a pretty lace inset, but not too lacy so the wind doesn’t blow right through it. And it needs to flare out so it doesn’t bunch up.  Since I couldn’t find THE ONE I decided to make one up.

I’ve knit 3 inches so far and I like it OK. Why does it take so long to tell if a knitting project is going to work?

I do like the lace pattern, but I fear the yarn is too dark to really see it well. It is pretty yarn though – I love the dye job and the merino, cashmere, nylon of the Bugga yarn is cushy and soft. So I’ll cross my fingers and keep on knitting.

It’s going to be in the 60s this week.  I’m hopeful I’ll be done before the 70° weather sets in.

A girl can dream.

I’ll catch you on the purl side.

Remember a couple weeks ago when I talked about my 3-Color Shadow shawl?  Well, she’s no more.  I just wasn’t feeling it.

Since then, I’ve started and frogged three more shawls – Varjo, Echoes of Color and Katriel.  All pretty.  All well-written patterns.  All designs that I can see making some day.  But they just weren’t working for now, with this yarn.

Try number five is Zephyr Cove by Romi Hill.  So far I’m in love.  The little leaf is an awesome way to start, and the tiny picots break up swathes of garter stitch but are still simple enough to just knit.  And bonus – Romi tells you how many picots you need to be done with the section.  I don’t know about you, but counting rows of garter stitch is just not my cup of tea.  Counting picots?  Yeah, that’s where it’s at.

Zephyr Cove may be exactly what I was looking for.

I’m still vacillating on which color to use for the second.  The purple is a stronger contrast, but the variegated pink and purple would be more subtle but look good too.  I’m leaning toward the purple but I still have a ways to go before I decide.

Enjoy your Sunday – ours will include 7-layer dip and some new-to-us crock pot chicken.  I’ll catch you on the purl side.

The colors are great but I’ve dreaded prepping the yarn.  I finally sucked it up and balled up the yarn this morning.

It’s been fun to have a plain vanilla sock on the needles – the ultimate grab-and-go project.  The telephone cord kinks contribute their own “charm” but it’s not that bad.

Now here’s my prediction (and I hope I’m wrong).  I’ll knit through sock #1 in no time (no time for me is 2 weeks) and then once the novelty of the yarn changes is gone, so will be my motivation.

An FO of sorts

I finished 2 squares for Bertie’s Blankets.  It was nice to knit up something small on worsted weight yarn.  Quick progress and for a great cause.

This week’s new designs

• Harlequin Opal Shawl – great texture, works well with variegated yarns and can be knit to any size.
• Innisfil Cardi – LOVE that cable. I had to stop myself from buying yarn for it this week. The reality of my track record with garments set in.
• Dragon Tails Shawl Another make-any-size shawl great with variegated yarn. Lots of options – garter or stockinette, plain or eyelet edging. And bonus – it’s a free pattern.

I’m off to cook some Sunday-food and then back to my latest obsession (those socks).  I’ll catch you on the purl side.

I CO for Shadow by Veera Valimaki out of the yarns from the Miss Babs Color Affection kit that I got at Rhinebeck 2012.

Shadow is made from 2 colors of yarn, but of course I can’t leave well enough alone.  I’m doing mine in three colors.

I knew after knitting a small portion of Color Affection that knitting it wasn’t for me (at least, not for now).  I love the stripes – really love the stripes – but I wasn’t enjoying the knitting.  I might go back to it some day.  But for now, I’m enjoying all this simple garter stitch, and even enjoyed planning out the addition of the third color.

And – no surprise – I love love love the colors.

More Shawl Patterns

I was seeing patterns this week through shawl-colored glasses.  Here are a few of my faves – including a free pattern offer.

• Crystal Chandelier – LOVE the twisted stitches. It’s knit bottom up so you can choose how large to make it.
• Wholehearted – free pattern until 2/20/13
• No Boundaries – sideways garter stitch so you can use up all your yarn.

Happy knitting.  I’ll catch you all on the purl side.

First, the FO – a pair of socks for Paul.

Pattern: My basic toe-up recipe – 10/24/36; used Wendy’s toe-up slip stitch heel.  Awesome heel – no picking up of stitches.  Used a 2×1 rib for the leg and JSSBO.

Yarn: Trekking XXL in color #491 – 390 yards

Needles: ChiaoGoo 2.25 mm 24″ circular (I knit magic loop with one 24″ circular because I hate sliding work along a longer cable)

I’m very happy to get these off the needles.  If you recall, I started these during last year’s cast on mania (remember that?).

And then the cast on items…

Cinnie cardi – in Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy.  Choosing the size was difficult.  Hemp and cotton stretch out and lose their shape and my size is still changing (in the happy direction!).  If I got the sizing right *and* I finish I’ll wear this a lot (sundresses, skirts and tanks, jeans and a T).

Sister Joan shawl – in years-old stashed Schaefer Anne.  I’m having fun with the beads!

Lazy Girl shawl – in the Dragonfly Fibers I bought last month at Vogue Knitting Live.  I’m not sure if I’m going to continue with this one.  Not sure this is satisfying my garter stitch need.

I’ve been enjoying picking up different project depending on my mood and my ability to concentrate (or need for something mindless).  For the time being I decided to embrace my love for red/pink/purple so be prepared for something non-red/pink/purple to crop up sometime soon.  I’m nothing if not predictable in my dislike of predictability.  I can’t win.