These are my second pair of toe-up socks, and I will say that I was very pleased with them. You can find the pattern on the Patterns page.
I’m not sure if I am a toe-up convert, but at least I don’t hate them (toe-ups) any more!
I got very frustrated with Publisher – if you delete pages, it sort of blurs 2 pages into one in a .png file, and when using Adobe to make the PDF, it was a mess. But, that got fixed . . . v 1.1 ten minutes after the upload! Sheesh!!
Even though I have been writing about scones and ink, as well as rambling, I have been knitting. I finished a project that sort of took shape one day when I was putzing around. Unbelievably, I did another pair of toe-up socks, and was very pleased with the results. They were very easy to do, to design, and fairly quick knitting up, even though I was using US 1.5 needles (though you could use a US 1 or 2 – 2.25 to 2.75 mm) and knitting at 8 stitches per inch.
My very first pair of toe-up socks was a major headache, and I really hated them. So, I called them Albatross Socks* – from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Because these were such an astounding success, I named these new ones Fly Away! – and the pattern, and sock yarn, made me think of birds and a bright, blue sky.
Another UFO finished! You can find the pattern on the Patterns page.
I had some red yarns that I just couldn’t get into by themselves – the plain red KnitPicks Palette was just too plain, and the Noro red was just too noisy. So, to contain the exuberance of the Noro, these socks were born. And, it turned out, I really like them. The solid stripes break up the busy-ness of the Noro, and creates a structure that keeps the Noro patterning from getting out of hand. Add to this, the stripes sure make it easy for one sock to match the other.
This pattern does not tell you how to knit socks. You decide how you want to knit the heel – I think I used a Dutch heel here – and a classical toe. As easily, you could do any heel that allows you to create one in a solid color. Toes could be anything you want. These socks could also be knit from the toe up – just follow the striping.
Enjoy!
Done at last!
I don’t know about you, but once I start doing things, I keep doing things. When I am feeling lazy and stop doing things, I come to a screeching halt, and go no further. Inventorying my UFOs gave me some momentum to get things done, and these past two weekends seem to have been one of those moments when the corner was turned: I just want to keep going. Getting past that inertia is so difficult – like running up a steep hill – but coming down the hill is a lot easier.
Or is it just spring?
Anyway, I finished the buttoned cardigan, and will say that I am generally pleased with the pattern. I like the garter stitch cuffs, hem, and shoulder accents. Not too sure about the i-cord bindoff for the back neck, nor the way the armholes were shaped, but in general, it is a very attractive pattern. The yarn I used does not give to much, as it is acrylic and cotton, but even so, I think it works quite well for the sweater. Below are images of the sweater and details of different parts. My favorite part are those green buttons!
I also planted some madder seeds . . . not that it required too much effort!
Last weekend’s enumeration of the many UFOs has been quite a bit of an eye-opener. It’s nice to hear that I am not the only one going to knitter’s hell for an overabundance of unfinished objects. CaffeineGirl has the same thing going on, and other people are ‘fessing to the same crime.
Certainly this has been a satisfying weekend. The plum tree was transplanted, madder seeds from 1802 found and planted (now let’s see if they sprout, and if I remember to water them), the very, very woolly dog shaved and bathed, several loads of laundry done – dishes, too! – and egg bread made and being eaten. And, in between, I really did accomplish a few things . . .
Victorian Shawl
All done! I didn’t have enough yarn to comfortably embark on the lace edgings, so decided that the simplest thing to do would be to crochet along the edges, and create a short fringe of 20-25 crocheted stitches before rejoining the chains to the shawl body. I like the way it turned out. All the edges are woven in, and it is light as a cloud, and comfortably warm for a cool evening. I cannot believe it has taken me two years to finish this.
Cardigan
I finished the last sleeve, threw it into the washer and dryer, and now can see that I need to tighten up the back neck a bit with some crocheted edging. other than that, all I will need to do is sew on the buttons. Once that is done, then some pictures.
Mittens
I knitted up the mittens I’ve designed using up some Cascade 220. The initial pattern was pretty accurate. A few changes need be made, but they will be easy enough. These are for a friend of mine up in Oregon, and I hope to get them to her in time for her birthday. What I like is that the pattern is the same on the palm, and on the back of the hand – and so they can be worn on either hand.
Somethin’ from the oven . . .
And finally, the other half heard my plea for another batch of the egg bread from a few weeks ago. This time, instead of rolls, two beautifully braided loaves to enjoy.
Now that I’ve become so annoyingly virtuous, I better finish up the rest of my stuff!
Ink, Yarn & Beer 