Fiber Madness

Tonight, both girls wanted to go to bed early so they could sit in bed an knit. My five year old picked up on it pretty quickly, but panics at the first sign of a dropped stitch. My eight year old tried picking it up again after giving it up in frustration. She’s having a hard time relaxing into it and has a tendency to fight the yarn and needles and is so tense that she starts knitting tighter and tighter. What they create is far from pretty, but I’m so proud that they are giving it a chance.

I finished my second pair of Socktoberfest socks last night.

Yarn: Handdyed Merino from The Painted Tiger in the Fruit Loop colorway
Needles: Size 2 dpns
Pattern: Variation on the Lizard texture in Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Knitting. Used a four stitch pattern instead of three.

I still have *counts on fingers* three pair on the needles. I’m hoping to at least finish one more pair by the end of the month. 5 socks in 31 days doesn’t sound too bad to me.

Would it be totally wrong for me to cast on for a third pair of socks?  I already have two separate ones on the needles.  The Trekking #107 has one sock done (second one cast on), My first Jaywalker is coming along, but I still want to start something else.  It’s a sickness I tell you.  I just don’t know if it will help or hurt my odds for finishing more socks for Socktoberfest.

I realize I gave virtually NO information about my sock knitting history when I started posting the Socktoberfest socks.  So here’s a list of questions I found at Abrubt Change of Topic that will hopefully give you some insight into my style and approach.

1.  When did you start making socks?  Did you teach yourself or did you learn from a friend or relative?  or from a class? 

I started earlier this year.  Like most crafts, I taught myself.  Nobody I know knits.

2.  What was your first pair?  How have they “held up” over time?

My first pair was made with Magic Stripes on size 5 (I think) dpns.  I think they stretched out a little bit, but I can’t be sure as they now belong to my dad.

3.  What would you have done differently?

I would have learned how to graft with that first pair.  I used a three needle bind off and the results aren’t nearly as nice as a kitchenered toe.

4.  What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I have not quite “caught the fever” so I haven’t used a whole bunch of different yarns.  I did use a Yarntini yarn and would definately do so again.  The colors are fantastic and the yarn works up even and beautiful.  I just finished some Trekking XXL socks and have yet to wear them much.  I understand that because of the added nylon they hold up well.  I started another pair of Trekking and a pair with Magic Stripes (although the Magic Stripes is not my favorite.  I have a bunch in my stash from a closeout, and no other striping yarn right now.  Just solids and ombres).

5.  Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I haven’t tried crochet socks.  I’m afraid that the added texture that crochet has will make them uncomfortable.  I prefer to knit them on dpns.  I haven’t tried circulars or the Magic Loop method.  Circulars don’t seem to like me very much as I always feel like I’m wrestling with them.

6.  Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

Short-row is all I’ve done so far.  I’ll probably try the flap sometime in the future.

7.  How many pairs have you made?

Three.  I think. *counts on fingers*.  Two different ones are on the sticks, and I did once knit nearly and entire sock and frogged it because I wasn’t happy with how the colors and pattern were turning out.

Started on two more socks for Socktobefest.  At the rate I’m going, I’ll have quite a few pair finished by the end of the month.
I love the Trekking XXL sock yarn, so I started a new pair using color #107 and a simple pattern of eight rows of 2×2 ribbing and one row of purl stitches. It’s working up very quickly.

And I decided to tackle the Jaywalker pattern from Grumperina. I’m using Lion Brand Magic Stripes in Denim Stripe. This pattern is super easy.

Finished socks made with Trekking XXL(I forget which color) using the Diamond Chain lace pattern in Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Knitting.  I’m not sure why I chose that pattern with this yarn, since it gets a bit lost in the color changes.  I started sock one about 6 months ago and started and finished the second one in the past few days.  Yes they are a little baggy in the ankle, I really should do some shaping, but I’m lazy, they stay on, fit nice and are comfortable.  I think I’m going to do Jaywalker or Pomatomus (how do you spell that?) next.

Also, I promised my dad a second pair of socks ages ago, anyone have any ideas to jazz up solid, dark color socks with a pattern that doesn’t require me to look at the pattern every few stitches?

I promised you scarves, so you are getting scarves.

Three scarves made with a basic k2p2 ribbing alternating from two balls of yarn every two rows.

L to R:

#1 Made with Patons Soy Wool Stripes, 2 skeins, two different colorways. Love this yarn, it’s soft and squishy.

#2 Made with Tonalita Trendsetter Yarn, 2 skeins, two different colorways. Same kind of yarn used to make my entrelac scarf.

#3 Made with a Rowan Wool/Soy blend striping yarn, two skeins. I don’t remember the exact yarn, but it is lighter weight and would probably make comfy socks. It’s around a DK weight I think.

I got the idea from Adrian at Hello Yarn.

Second is a crochet scarf:

The blue and tan is just your basic acrylic worsted (RH or Bernat) and the multi-colored one is Moda Dea Cache in color #2368 (I think it’s called Rendezvous).  The Moda Dea was a little too much for a scarf on it’s own, I felt the need to tone it down with some solid colors.

Nice thing about crochet is I was able to work this lengthwise and it took me no more than about an hour and a half or so from start to finish.

I officially joined!

My first Socktoberfest sock will be posted later!

I’ve got a smattering of scarves to show you, but not quite yet.  They are finished, but I have been trying not to cough up a lung for the past 4 days (bronchitus), so I haven’t been quite up to photographing and posting pictures.

I’ve also inadvertently jumped into Socktoberfest by nearly completing the mate to a Trekking sock that I had finished, oh, I don’t know, six months ago or so.  Once again, photos to follow soon.  I’m also tempted to try my hand and making a simple striped hoodie pullover.  I had been making a crocheted hoodie from Interweave Crochet, and even though I got gauge, I either chose the wrong size or the proportions just don’t work for me.  I have a ton of the Cascade 220 left over in three colors, so I was thinking of something with wide stripes and a gentle v-neck.  I actually saw a hoodie on Law & Order: SVU that the Olivia Benson character was wearing that I fell in love with.  It seems like fairly simple construction and I could probably add a pocket on the front later if I decided on it.  I have a sweater book, but I don’t have it handy to add a link.  My lungs can’t take the exertion of going up and down the stairs right now, so I’ll let you what it is later.  It’s full of basic sweater recipes to give you the freedom to design your own.  Pick a neckline, sleeve style, and basic shape, put them together and voila! A sweater.  At least that’s how it sounds.  We’ll see.

I’ll be back soon with pics and updates.

Yay! I have more than one to show you! These were actually completed in time for last Friday, but I got lazy about taking pictures. So here are my yarn accomplishements:

First off is my Entrelac Scarf. I decided to keep going with it, and I’m glad I did, it’s long and warm and oh so soft.

• Pattern: Basic Entrelac
• Yarn: Trendsetter Yarns Tonalita in color #2349
• Needles: Susan Bates Crystallites size 9/5.5mm

Next up is my Sweet Pea Shawl. I used a lighter gauge yarn so I started with 30 shells. Don’t ask me how I came up with that. I guesstimated and it turned out perfectly.

• Pattern: Sweet Pea Shawl from Stitch ‘N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker
• Yarn: Whispers Mohair/Acrylic Blend (50/50) in #05 Multicolor
• Hook: Susan Bates US G

Last is a few Ballband Washcloths:

• Pattern: On ballband of Peaches & Creme cotton yarn or found in Mason-Dixon Knitting
• Yarn:  Peaches & Creme and Sugar & Creme (white)
• Needles:  US size 9 I believe (whatever is recommended in the pattern)

And so ends my productivity.