Diagonal

Recently, I finished up my last bit of business from 2009. SOCKS! Since Christmas and all of its assorted activities were coming up, I wanted a simple, yet engaging, patten to tote around to various gatherings and shopping lines.  In November, I was seeing all these beautiful socks online that were just unassuming combinations of knit and purl. The simplicity was too much to resist and, eventually, I came up with a fun, slanting stitch pattern to decorate my socks. The gusset was my other favorite part of this pattern but I’ll tell you more about that when I release the pattern at the end of the month. In the mean time, you can check out some of the other details over on Ravelry.

Snow Cat Set

Usually, I don’t put much stock in New Year’s Resolutions but the start of a new decade seems too powerful not to take advantage of. I have my small list of resolutions but, before I can get started, there’s some unfinished business from 2009 to put to bed.

Pattern: Snow Cat Hat from Cosymakes.com

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool - Burgundy

Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm)

Date: Oct 29-31, 2009

@Rav

I thought the Snow Cat Hat was really cute when I first saw it and I was thrilled when I won the pattern. After some obligatory yarn shopping and during a break from Christmas knitting, I quickly cast on. The hat was a fun, quick knit that I finished just in time to wear for Halloween. The only change was an additional .5” to get one more full repeat of the lace pattern.

@Rav

Since there was half a skein leftover, I decided to make a pair of matching fingerless mitts. The base pattern is my own with the lace and a similar rib pattern added in. I had just enough yarn to make them too but I was a bit worried over the last few rows.

These hat and mitts have become my go-to set ever since, not only do they match my coat, they also keep me warm near drafty windows. You can’t beat that.

O Christmas Tree

Pattern: Holiday Bird Ornament

Yarn: Worsted

Needle: US 4 (3.5 mm)

@rav

My default Christmas gift is the Christmas ornament and I look for the for the perfect pattern all year. The Holiday Bird Ornament from The Purl Bee was this year’s choice by a landslide. Digging through and matching up my scrap yarn was almost as much fun as the knitting. By the time I was finished, I had a kaleidoscope of red, green, blue, purple, yellow, and white.

Most of them have migrated to their new nests but these two stayed with me. Fair Isle has been preying on my mind lately and I couldn’t resist mixing it with this pattern. The birds were great practice because of their small size but large stitches. Had I known how well they’d turn out I would have made more to give.

Since Fair Isle wasn’t finished with me and I had a little extra time before the 25th, I knit up this cute mini stocking in honor of the first Christmas in the new house. Now I want one for 2010, 2011, and beyond. Since 2010 will be my third year making ornaments, knitting them will officially be my own holiday tradition. I can’t wait.

Almost Finished

These gloves are almost finished and, by proxy, so is my Christmas knitting. Once the fingers are knit and the ends woven in, I’ve just got a few more ornaments to make and I am done. Just in time for Christmas too.

My other main project: moving into a house. Thankfully, the unpacking has been steady and it’s starting to feel like home. Also, just in time for Christmas.

Distractions

Lately, I've been perusing two very fun websites: Crafty Leftovers and Leethal. Both sites are creative, inspiring, and not just about knitting. They make me want to drop all of my current projects and start something new RIGHT NOW.

Crafty Leftovers, which is the web adjunct to the Crafty Leftovers Zine, covers a variety of crafts and tutorials utilizing those pesky scraps from other projects. The Earth & Sky Mini Sock Ornament has already proven to be a major distraction. If only some of my sock leftovers matched. Guess I'll just have to use worsted weight yarn. On the non-knitting front, these little matchstick notebooks have already taken up a bit of my time.

Leethal, which also has some focus on repurposing scraps, has a very different aesthetic than Crafty Leftovers and is no less awesome. The patterns, projects, and tutorials are so inspiring that I want to try the lot of them. After all how can I resist such things as the Before and After Photo, Recycled Sweater Wool Jewelry, Gradient Mitts, and the cute Zippered Coin Pouch. These projects do more than demand me to make them. They throw my mind on a tangent and I can't help but think about how to change and adapt them.

Unfortunately, my creative spirit has to go on the back burner.  There's still Christmas knitting to be done and this yarn won't knit itself. Oh, have I also mentioned the packing?

Winter Leaves

I had just completed the heel flap and was working on the cuff when I felt Second Sock Syndrome sneaking up on me. In order to evade this dreaded enemy, I needed something cute and quick to save me. Enter the Winter Leaves pattern from this month's Quick Knits Club.

The pattern was indeed cute, quick and fun too. From one night's worth of knitting, I got 5 leaves out of 15 yds of yarn but only barely. Come Christmas, these leaves will be put to use as ornaments but I still haven't decided if they need ribbon loops. At the moment though, I'm having fun stacking and arranging them in fun patterns. They're too cute to put away until it's time to hang them.

These leaves worked wonderfully well as a defense against Second Sock Syndrome. I only have a few inches left on the sock and I should finish it in the next few days. If SSS sneaks up again though, I've always got this cute little project in the wings too.

November's Quick Knits Club *spoilers*

I first found out about The Quick Knits Club a few months ago and I kicked myself for not signing up when it started. The previous months have included such fun patterns, yarns, and goodies with a unique aesthetic that I could resist it no longer. In October, the projects were a knitted mustache and a superhero/villain mask. Cute goodies like monster finger puppets and repurposed sock wristlets just sealed the deal. Signing up for November was a forgone conclusion.

While October focused on costumes, November is all about gift giving. The Wee Gift Bag is horrendously cute and I love the halo of the accompanying yarn. Hopefully, there will be time for me to make a couple for the tiny gifts I'm sending out this year. The other project, Winter Leaves, is a cute little project(s) that can be used as an ornament or an off the wall necklace. Mine are going to end up as ornaments. Maybe I'll even finish them in time to put them on the tree this year. Blasted ever growing Christmas knitting list...

The goodies this month don't disappoint either. I love the vibrancy and color of the photos. Eventually, they're going to be part of a large yarny mosaic. A mix CD, I wanna be buried in snow, rounded out the package. It's already become my soundtrack for the season. Most of the songs and artists are new to me and that makes this mix even better. My personal favorites are White Flower Hymnal by Fleet Foxes and This Year by The Mountain Goats. I've already bought the Fleet Foxes  EP, Sun Giant, and I can't decide which Mountain Goats album to get. Dilemmas, dilemmas...

Anyway, I'm really happy I signed up for this club. It's a monthly shot of creativity and fun and who doesn't need that?

Sayonara, Konnichiwa

Last week, I gave my somewhat felted socks a bath and put them on some sock blockers in hopes of stretching them out. The plan didn't work. My beloved socks are still too small for me; however, they fit my mom perfectly.

While the socks were drying, I started looking at patterns just in case things didn't work out. I even pulled out a skein of ruby red Cascade 220, just in case. I fell in love with the Cable Rolling Socks by Mari Muinonen but one skein wouldn't be enough. Luckily though, I recently acquired Knitted Socks East and West which has several worsted sock patterns that I like and have the yarn for. Course, now I can't decide between: Konnichiwa, Kabuki, or Inro. Any suggestions? I promise this pair won't end up in the dryer.  Ever.

Laundry Woes

Last weekend was finally the time for me to wash my hand knit socks since most of them were sitting in the laundry basket. I'd rather be wearing them so I broke out the Soak and started with the hand washing. The process was going quite well until it came time to dry 7 pairs of socks. Not only would they have taken far too long to dry out, I didn't have anywhere to put all them for that long. So, instead of letting them hang dry, I decided to send them through the dryer on the air only cycle. Instead, they went through on hot and it was entirely my fault.

The aftermath wasn't as bad as I feared since all put one pair came out unscathed. At the height of their glory, these poor socks were quite comfy and one of my favorite pairs. Now, they're partially felted and a bit on the small side; however, I'm not letting them go without a fight. Today they got a bath and have been stretched over a pair of newly acquired sock blockers. I really hope this works but, if it doesn't, at least my mom will get to enjoy another pair of hand knit socks.

Discovered Socks

Pattern: Discovery Socks by Cat Bordhi

Yarn: Plymouth Happy Feet - Ciderhouse (17)

Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)

Dates: Oct 2-25, 2009

@rav

When it comes to knitting (and a few other things) I like to play, to experiment. Whether it's a new technique or a new construction, I get excited and try to poke around at the underlying "rules" that make something work. So when I find something that is a bit different in knitting that also explains the how and why of its difference, my interest spikes. The latest method for sock knitting as put forth by Cat Bordhi in Personal Footprints for Insouciant Knitters is different. It's not different for novelty but for a definite reason - well fitting socks that are easy to reproduce. After knitting through this first pair, I find that the entire process from first tracing my foot to casting off the cuff is an exercise in playfulness. So, not only did I get a cool pair of socks, I got to play and, in doing so, I discovered a few things.

1. I know a lot more about the shape of my feet which'll make sock knitting a bit easier.

2. Magic loop and socks isn't a horrible combination but DPN's still have my heart.

3. I can now make myself nice, tall socks with less yarn and finish them in a month. ROCKETBALLS!

4. The star toe is not my friend.

5. I think I've figured out how to change the footprint and still follow its rules. That's probably the best discovery of all.

P.S. My latest recommendation for horror fare is also a bit different but it's a vampire movie definitely worth checking out: 

Let The Right One In

.

Review: Discovery Socks for Insouciant Sock Knitters

I've been making good progress on the scarf but it's definitely too big to bring with me about town. Socks, however, are wonderfully portable and I've always got one (or two) with me. Currently on the needles are The Discovery Socks from Cat Bordhi's latest book Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters.

When I first heard about this book, I was thrilled since Bordhi's first book in this series, New Pathways for Sock Knitters, revolutionized how I thought about and knit socks. Once I heard more about the book though, my excitement started to wane. Usually, I knit the toe, figure out gauge, and make the rest of the pattern fit.  This new method would add in a few more rules. Also, in regards to sock knitting, DPN's are my one true love and I wasn't pleased about having to switch to circular needles even temporarily. These annoyances aside, I decided to buy the book and try it out anyway because I don't want to be so stubborn that I keep myself from learning anything new.

Now that I'm on the cuffs of both socks, I can give a better review of the book. The first part of the book is full of clear, detailed instructions and illustrations for all of steps neccessary to make a pair of socks with this method. The second part is a collection of different patterns, of which the first  socks you knit form the base, that range from basic ribbing to complicated lace. There's even a question and answer section at the back of the book which details how make a few modifications for a better fit. Even better is that the process is pretty fun and that includes snipping a stitch to open the leg. 

While fun,Personal Footprints does have a few downsides. One, it's almost impossible to make socks for other people using this method if you don't get a trace of their foot first and then have them try on the sock-in-progress to make all the measurements. Second, if you don't get the same gauge on every pair of socks you knit, you're going to have to make more footprints. I miss the freedom of finding out my gauge and going from there without trying to match it to a preexisting pattern. Third, the star toe is the only toe used in this book because it echoes the heel and determines when the heel starts. This takes a bit of the guess work out of knitting a sock but what if the star toe doesn't fit your foot well? The standard toe fits me much better and I think I've figured out how to substitute it for the star toe without mucking up the rest of the pattern. More on that later.

Despite the downsides, I'm happy I bought this book and tried out something new. At this point, I'm well into the cuff on both socks and they fit wonderfully, aside from that toe. I doubt that this will ever become my default way of knitting socks but I will definitely use this method again.

P.S. The sushi stitch markers are part of a set from The Opalescence. She also blogs as The Akamai Knitter.

P.S.S. I recently won the Snow Cat Hat pattern from Cozy. I can't wait to cast on. Thanks Cozy!

Dark Humor

Standing in line for the roller coasters at Six Flags, I often wondered what would happen if there was a zombie infestation at a theme park. It didn't take long for me to think of long lines as a convenient buffet for the zombie horde on the go. My simulations usually took place right as the apocalypse was happening; however, Zombieland answers the zombie/theme park question a couple months after zombies have taken over. I'm not giving anything away but it did have some nice suggestions. The theme park was just a part of Zombieland and on the whole it was a fun, hilarious movie rife with dark humor. And zombies.

Besides from my deep love for zombie movies, I'm also particularly fond of dark humor and have a few favorites.

1.

Black Sheep

What's not to love about giant weresheep and carnivorous wooly flocks terrorizing the New Zealand hills?

2.

American Werewolf in London

I can't mention sheep without bringing up this particular werewolf and all the rotting victims that

follow him.

3.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

This book became infinitely more entertaining to me once zombies and ninjas were included.

Any other suggestions while I knit on the giant scarf and maybe whip up a few more of these Halloween themed 

washcloths

 for myself?

October Overdrive

Single Skein September was a lot of fun and very productive. I managed to get a good chunk of my gift knitting done: however, October doesn't mean that I can slack off. Overdrive is a great adjective for this month since I'm trying to finish up a modified version of this giant scarf. Originally, it was supposed to be a Christmas present in 2008. I really missed the mark on that one but I think I can knit the last 4' in the next few weeks. Maybe.

Besides from being really late and really large, there's something else about this scarf.  With one exception, I have been knitting this scarf every time I've watched Hellraiser . Since Halloween is approaching, I intend to continue this trend and I'll probably watch a few of the sequels too. It'll be a good start to my own personal horror marathon I'll be having this month. Any suggestions for scary movies I can knit along with?

Also in my collection of horror is The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, the book Hellraiser is based on. I'll have to read that too this month...once I finish that scarf.

Office Mates

My army of cuteness continues to grow and these are my two latest recruits.  The blue alien is staying with me and the little green guy is heading off to share an office with the boyfriend. Blue has been a pretty good office mate so far and he certainly keeps the place lively on rainy days.

I'm still using this pattern but decided to try out a bulky in addition to a worsted weight yarn. The bulky creates an alien about twice the size of one made from worsted. Still wonderfully cute too. 

Fall Might Finally Be Here

Today was grey, rainy, and a bearable temperature. In other words, it felt like Fall. I might even need long sleeves and layers soon. In preparation for the lower temperatures, I've been knitting hats, socks, scarves, and fingerless mitts throughout the summer.  Now that Fall seems to be hanging around, I want to knit cute, colorful things that have nothing to do with keeping warm. So, it's a very good thing that I have plenty of supplies for making more of these:

Pattern: Mini Alien by Barbara Prime (@Rav) (@FuzzyMitten.com)

Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm)

Date: Sept. 15-16, 2009

Ravelry

These little guys are small, quick to make, and are so cute that they'd fit right in on an episode of Dr. Who. They don't take much yarn either since I only needed 5g for each one. The original landing party is destined to be a Christmas gift but the subsequent waves are going to be for me...and a few of my choice lieutenants. 

Soon, all your base are belong to us!

Ridges

Pattern: My own

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool in Dark Grey Mix and Rich Red

Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm)

Date: Sept. 1 - Sept. 6, 2009

@Ravelry

Of everything I've knit during the Single Skein September KAL, this scarf is far from the cutest but is definitely my favorite. Besides from being warm, which is an important aspect of any scarf, it has an ambiguous character which, in this case, is a good thing. It could appear striped or solid gray depending on the angle or a strong gust of wind.  I know how illusion knitting works but I still find the effect intriguing. Amazing what something as simple as 2 rows of stockinette and 2 rows of garter can do, isn't it?

I tried out a few other patterns that I wasn't quite happy with before picking this one. Since the scarf would be heading off to the Red Scarf Project, I wanted to send something that either I would wear or happily give to family and friends. Seeing as how my mother wanted to take it off my hands, I think I succeeded. Once I figure out the note that I'll be sending along with the scarf, they'll be on their way to Sterling, VA. If you want to send a scarf as well, the details are here and the deadline is Dec. 15.

Review: The Joy of Sox

@Amazon: The Joy of Sox: 30+ must-knit designs

@Rav

When I feel like getting out of the house and don't have anything particular to do, I usually end up over at the bookstore. This little quirk of mine means that I know the stock of the knitting section pretty well.  One day, The Joy of Sox by Linda Kopp, appeared on the shelves and I couldn't resist looking it over. Then, I couldn't resist taking it home.

Once home, I settled in and gave it a closer look. The Joy of Sox is a parody of The Joy of Sex and all of the book echoes this theme. The tutorial section is rife with innuendo and the pattern photos and intros focus on couples. Even pattern names join in the fun with names like A Roll in the Hay, a sock with a stitch pattern based on wheat sheaves, and Quickie Socks, a pair of quick to knit socks done in worsted weight. Small knitting "confessionals" are also strewn throughout the book along with helpful hints concerning everything from color pooling to sock recycling.

Underneath this playful facade, Joy of Sox is a very detailed and informative book. The tutorial section covers basic sock anatomy, to how to adjust socks, and basic recipes for heel flaps and short row heels. How to knit socks using DPN's and circulars (1 or 2) are also included. There is no bias towards toe up or cuff down socks as techniques for casting on and off for both types of construction are included. All 32 patterns have nice, color photographs that show off the socks and their details from different angles. Unfortunately, some of these photos are a bit small which can make it hard to inspect specific aspects. The patterns appear to be well written and, when necessary, included large, legible charts. Depending on the pattern, written versions of the charts are also included. 

What really made me fall for this book, besides from the attention to detail, was the variety of patterns. Socks are knit both from the toe and cuff and come in a variety of heights from anklets to thigh highs. There are patterns for fingering weight socks up to worsted. Ribbing, cables, lace, color work, and even bead knitting all have a place. With all of these choices, I'm having a hard time narrowing down my favorites. I want to knit both of the thigh high patterns, Takeout for Two and Girl's Best Friend Thigh Highs. Cyber Flirt, a sock that bears cabled emoticons, also looks like a lot of fun. Surprisingly, I've fallen hard for several color work socks despite the fact that I've haven't knit anything like that before. My personal favorites include From Russia with Love, Toe to Toe, Boyfriend Socks, and Snow Bunny. However, my favorite pattern of them all is Afternoon Delight by Silvia Harding which is a lacy knee sock with beads. With instructions like "impale bead onto hook," how can I resist?

Single Skein September

Today, September 1st, is the beginning of the Single Skein September KAL run by Nicole and Jenny of the Stash & Burn podcast. The basic premise is to knit as much as you can from various single skeins of yarn (or several skeins depending on the project) through the month of September.  I usually don't join KAL's but this one sounded fun and was a good fit with my gift knitting plans. I might even win something since there's a prize for most knit and another prize given to a randomly picked participant.  Not going to hold my breath on that though.  If you feel like joining in, the KAL is being hosted in the Stash & Burn group, here, on Ravelry. 

My first project for this endeavor is a scarf for the Red Scarf Project which gives Valentine's Day care packages to people that have aged out of the foster care system. I've wanted to contribute something to this charity for a few years now but never managed to before. So, this year I made sure I had some red yarn, along with a matching grey, and some empty needles. Since illusion knitting has lodged itself in my brain, I'm useing the basic foundation of that technique for this scarf. Two rows of stockinette followed by two rows of garter is creating a wonderful fabric that has a dash of ambiguity.

If you also want to contribute to the Red Scarf Project, info on requirements, deadlines, and where to send is here, and at the Ravelry group.

Twinkle Toes

Pattern: Twinkle Toes by Cookie A.  (Ravelry)  (Direct)

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug - Moss

Needles: 2.5 DPN's

Date: July 18, 2009 - August 27, 2009

Twinkle Toes has been on my knit list for a long time. There were several times when I almost cast on but changed my mind at the last moment. It wasn't until I was searching through my queue for something to knit on a road trip to New Orleans, LA and Fair Hope, AL that I finally committed.  They were going to be my souvenir.  Never mind the silly t-shirts and Mardi Gras beads, I wanted a pair of socks that I could knit my memories into. The pattern turned out to be quite fitting for New Orleans since the lace pattern reminded me of the beautiful and detailed wrought iron prevalent throughout the city.

I was walking the city and knitting during every downtime, well, except for that stop at Cafe Du Monde since cleaning powered sugar out of yarn was not what I had in mind for my vacation. Sitting 18 stories up and looking at the skyline from the pool was pretty nice though. My souvenir socks were going pretty well until I discovered that they were too short and, since I was using Cat Bordhi's Riverbed sockitecture , that meant frogging most of the sock. Walking the of French Quarter and visiting The Quarter Stitch for another wooly souvenir did improve my mood though. Once I returned home, the socks eventually got past the heel flap but I was running out of yarn.  Luckily, I was able to get a half skein from The Loopy Ewe, which is one of my new favorite shops. Not wanting to have a bunch of leftovers from a 6" cuff, I figured out my own calf increases and kept knitting till I ran out.

The finished Twinkle Toes, despite all of the difficulties, are definitely one of my favorite pairs. Jitterbug, despite its low yardage, was a joy to knit and has become one of my favorite yarns. I've even ordered more for a pair of knee socks. Besides their appearance, I love these socks because, besides from the lace panel and Bordhi's sockitecture, I was designing them on the fly. I had to work out how to deal with the gauge difference since the pattern was originally worked in a sport weight, not fingering.  I had to figure out calf shaping and how to work it into the pattern. Then I had to make up a highly modified 2x2 rib to fit in with the modifications. These socks were a great test of my skill and my patience as well as a great souvenir from a fun trip. Plus, they look great with boots.

The Holidays are upon us but only if you knit (or crochet)

I started my Holiday knitting early this year by accident.  If left to my own devices, gift knitting would have taken over in late September instead of late July.  I'm definitely not going to complain though since I might actually finish everything I have planned.  It's not just Christmas, there are also lots of birthday gifts to finish.  Almost everyone I know has a birthday in the next four months.  With all these deadlines, gift knitting has taken over my thoughts completely. The recipients have been decided upon as have the respective patterns and yarns. I even made up schedule of when things needed to be finished.  Yes, the battle plan is complete and hopefully there won't be too much revision.  Must resist the urge to keep adding to the list. 

One goal on the list that I can tell you about is the accoutrement gift.  Basically, it's a small knitted gift that I can personalize and give to everyone on my list. For 2008, it was ornaments using the Knit Ornament pattern by Leigh Radford.  The pattern was a wonderful base because I could easily make each ornament unique without taking up too much time. This year's gift has already been decided but I'm not revealing it just yet.  In the mean time though, I'm getting back to my Hemlock Ring and a few episodes of Dr. Who.  Just because it's gift knitting season doesn't mean I can't make something for myself.