tales from the frog pond: my first lace

Harumph.

I frogged my very first toe of which I was so exceedingly proud. I realized once I went to start the main body of the sock that I had somehow completely botched the increases and ended up with too few stitches. Like... "enough to notice" too few.

I was undaunted, and frogged without a moment's hesitation. I was only 14 rows in, after all, and figured it was good practice at working the toe of a toe-up sock.

Well. I re-did my work last night, slightly under the influence of pain killers and High Victorian drama. I realized this morning that everywhere I was supposed to do an M1 increase, I instead did a yarn-over. Note that this is 4 times every round. For 14 or so rounds.

Perhaps third time will be the charm...

Adventures in Sockland or, the good, the good and the ugly

First, an FO:

Pattern: Highland Schottische Kilt Hose, by Nancy Bush in Folk Socks
Yarn: Regia Silk 4-Ply in Charcoal
Needles: Addi Turbo 32" size 1 1/2 (2.5 mm)




I love these knee-high stockings. They're super comfy and warm, and they fit perfectly. I was a little concerned that they'd make my ginormous calves look ginormous-er, but I don't think they do.

They went super fast, continuing my insane sock knitting frenzy. I started them two weeks ago, the third pair in as many weeks... the second one took about 4 days. I like them with my little mary janes. But I can also wear them to relax in. Ah, Kilt hose. How do I lurve thee...


Next, though comes a sad, sad tale of yarn that tricked me with it's pretty colors and squishness.

Ah, Cherry Tree Hill supersock merino, how I loved your greys and blues and lavenders, how I loved the soft snowiness of your white and the leafiness of your green.

But how you tricked me. Pretty, pretty yarn. Knits up so so ugly.
|
This shot doesn't even do justice to the hideous pooling and flashing on the instep. A big chunk of white next to a triangular pool of purple. Gah. Horror of horrors. KBull described it as an "'80s couch." Totally. I have two other skeins of cherry tree hill supersock that I just added to the stash, and I may just have to return them. I can't stomach another betrayal.

These were supposed to be for my sis for christmas, but the Birch Breezes of Horror have (mercifully) been frogged, and I cast on something to relieve my aching eyeballs.


Pomatomus from Knitty, by Cookie A. In Koigu KPPPM, two skeins of which I bought at Stitches this past February. This yarn started off as Monkeys, but quickly became Elfines (scroll all the way down), but didn't like being either of them. But Pomatomus, I love already. There's something about the texture and direction of this pattern that really takes to variegated yarns in a way that many other patterns don't (eh hem. Breeze?).

So, the Poms and I ride off into the sunset together, leaving birch in a stringy puddle of 80s couch hideousness in the dust.

My Green Teas have been blessed...

I'm all a-buzz and a-flutter. Only Ravelry could have made such a thing possible... the Yarn Harlot. No, REALLY, the YARN HARLOT said my green tea socks were COOL! I feel like my socks have somehow been blessed. And Lolly said she liked them too!

Woo hoo!

Green Tea, anyone?

Quite possibly the fastest socks in the west, I present:

Green Tea Socks
Pattern: Earl Grey by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Yarn: Knitpicks Risata in Grass
Needles: my new favorite Knitpicks fixed circular, nickel plated brass size 2.75mm, 32"
Mods: My gauge was bigger than the gauge in the pattern (to save my sanity), so I cast on 58 and increased to 60 instead of casting on 70 and increasing to 72. Otherwise, knit as written.



They're for the BIL for Christmas (shhhhh), so they're a bit big for me.


I love how the cables split at the heel and continue down the foot. Such a nice detail!

I started these last Sunday, September 16 and finished them just a few minutes ago, September 21. No joke. Boy socks. In 6 days. I started the second sock on Wednesday night, while Tobin and I watched Resident Evil, and I finished it today, Friday. I'm a reasonably fast knitter, but this lightening speed is unusual, even for me. It's like I was channeling Eunny Jang or something. I guess it was just a perfect combination of fantastic yarn, perfectly written pattern, and a crappy week at work that made these JUST what I needed to get to the weekend.

Next up? Some Highland Schottische Kilt Hose! (shh. I know I said BMP were next... and I still have the Rose on the needles... but the Kilt Hose are calling to me. And I'm using stash yarn, so it's not like they even count.) :)

Loksins, c'est fini!

The Loksins are finished!


Stats:

Pattern: Loksins by Cassandra Thorseson
Yarn: Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks Superwash Merino/Tencel in "Reds"
Needles: Knitpicks nickel-plated brass fixed circular US 2 (2.75mm), 32"
Started: September 7, 2007 Finished: September 16, 2007
Mods: Used a slightly larger needle than called for (simply because my size 1 was already on another project), did a slip-stitch heel instead of a plain heel, decreased to 24 stitches and grafted the toe, added 3/4" 1X1 ribbing at the cuff.

Notes: These are for my mom, for Christmas. One down... many to go! I LOVED this pattern and would totally knit it again. I added some ribbing to the top because I prefer ribbing on socks to a garter stitch cuff, which looks unfinished to me. I also did a snug, slipped-stitch heel because I like how it wears better than a plain heel. These went really fast, and the pattern was easily memorized. There's just enough of a challenge to the lace bits to keep you from getting bored, but it's only an 8 row repeat, so it's not too taxing on the brain. The first one took almost a week to finish, but the second sock flew off of my needles. I started it last Thursday night around 7 and finished it this morning. Turns out that second sock syndrome wasn't a problem after all.

I'm totally on a sock kick now -- Time to cast on Earl Grey for the BIL!