4 Ply Katie Knits

And yet more socks

I'm sorry I've been such a lousy blogger.  My life has been overtaken by events, again.  Despite being caught up in office closing-type events and feeling the presure of another big move edging closer, I'm still not sure where Sparky and I are headed next. 

In spite of it all, I'm knitting like a fiend. 

I present the May Socks


Project: May Socks
Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks from Interweave Knits Winter 2005
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM
Yardage: 2 balls (about 350 yards)
Started: May 3, 2007
Finished: May 27, 2007
Yarn Source: Knit Happens
Needles: 2.75 mm (US 2)
Gauge: 7.5 stitches to the inch in stst
Modifications: None

This is the second time that I've knit these socks and I still love the pattern!  What the start and end dates above don't reveal is the total actual knitting time on these socks.  I knit the second sock in about a day and a half (not counting the two weeks it took me to start it).  The lace pattern is simple, yet compelling.  The tubular cast on is stretchy and I plan on using it in many pairs of socks to come.  While I definitely prefer to wear plain socks (like the April socks) I love knitting socks with patterns.   They just seem to go so much faster.  Instead of working until the end of a row, I always want to finish a pattern repeat.  I heartily suggest these socks for a lace beginner. 

These socks are also my attempt to get a head start on Christmas knitting.  I sort of feel like there are a finite number of pairs of wool socks that I really need (especially since I'm looking to move somewhere really warm) and with 7 pairs of socks still to go in my year of socks; I could really make some progress on Christmas gifts.  I haven't decided exactly who these are going to yet.  Many women in my family have similar sized feet. 

I've actually made all sorts of progress on other projects too.  I'm done with the back and the fronts of Peace.  I've finally finished the annoying peplum from Blossom and the Surprise project is almost entirely done (the knitting has been done for a while, but the blocking and finishing is taking a while).  I hope to be posting all sorts of pictures, but you may have to bear with me as the rest of my life continues to be an unfortunate distraction from knitting. 

I'm also extending a massive apology to the many people to whom I owe email.  I'll get to it I promise.  Just as soon as I have time to think.

$@*#ing Pockets

While the rest of the knitting world was away at Maryland Sheep and Wool, I was sewing #%#!ing pockets.  After much effort I present:

Project: Mademoiselle Jacket
Pattern Source: Classic Knits by Erika Knight
Yarn: Rowan Natural Silk Aran in Aero
Yardage: 15 balls (about 1065 yards)
Started: April 9, 2007
Finished: May 6, 2007
Yarn Source: Knit Happens
Needles: 4.5 mm (US 7)
Gauge: About 4.5-4.75 stitches to the inch in stst
Modifications: Sigh

Okay, so before I dive in, understand that I really like the finished jacket.  Okay?  Alrighty then...

I hate this yarn.  It will not get the published gauge.  Ever.  I knit on different size needles, metal needles, bamboo needles, wet block, steam block.  I eventually gave up.  Worst part was that it lost the nice crunchy texture and ended up feeling limp after blocking.  I am never knitting with this yarn again.  Ever.

The pattern was also really annoying.  I eventually stopped keeping track of the number of places that there were mistakes (how often do you find spelling mistakes in a knitting patterns).  Starting at the beginning, the finished size measurements on the introductory page do not correspond to the actual pattern.  If you take the number of stitches that you cast on for the size that I knit, divide it by the number of stitches per inch, you get a measurement that has absolutely no bearing on the finished size listed at the beginning of the patter.  There were countless places where the instructions said to work a certain number of rows and end up on the wrong side, when if you work that number of rows you will end up on the right side.  Decreases and increases were screwy.  I'm an expert at reading Rowan-style knitting patterns, and thank heavens I am or I never would have made it through. 

Thing is that even after all of that, there was one instruction that nearly put me over the edge.  "Sew on Pockets."  No further explanation.  No indication (other than the picture) as to where they should go.  Hell is trying to sew pockets on to a garment with yarn that shows every error.  The sweater was actually done before the end of April, I just couldn't sew the pockets on to my satisfaction. 

All that said, I love the finished sweater.  It fills a giant hole in my spring wardrobe.  It's easy to wear and very elegant. 

It's just that it made me crazy!

And yet another thank you

Thank you all for the birthday wishes!  Sparky and I went to the philharmonic and out to dinner!  What a great way to spend a birthday!

This weekend I had one of those super productive weekends where I got tons done.  For today's reading pleasure, I present:

Project: Ane's Scarf
Pattern: No pattern really.  It's just a chevron scarf over 35 stitches
Yarn: Alchemy Synchronicity in Foxglove ( you can't tell from the picture, but it's a wonderful pink/wine color)
Yardage: 2.5 balls (about 280 yards)
Started: April 25, 2007
Finished: May 5, 2007
Yarn Source: a mystery gift 
Needles: 4.5 mm (US 7)
Gauge: completely unimportant.  The scarf measures about 7.5" by about 70" after aggressive blocking.
Modifications: can you modify something that you're inventing?

This post is part two of my "Thank you in Wool" series.  I have a truly wonderful co-worker named Ane.  She has done everything in her power to make my time in Romania enjoyable.  She always goes far above and beyond the call of duty, from going with me to the tailor to helping to sort out the nightmares of Romanian bureaucracy.  She is one of those truly good-natured, kind, warm people that make life worth living.  She has been a saint and is one of few people I will really miss when I leave Romania. 

When I decided to make he a scarf, there was only one yarn in my stash collection that was worthy of her.  The Alchemy Synchronicity is absolutely the finest yarn I have ever worked with.  Half merino and half silk, it has all of the finest virtues of each.  The sheen is spectacular, while the wool content allows for pleasant knitting.  On occasion, it felt like my hands were too rough to truly appreciate the softness.  I love this yarn and I am very happy that it is going to someone so truly deserving. 

I'm off to knit frantically!  I think I'm getting knitting-related gifts from family and they're likely to show this week!  I told myself I could start a new project only if I got the WIP list under control.

Breaking New Ground

There comes a time in the life of most knitters that they get the urge to dig out some graph paper and design a sweater.  Maybe the knitter saw a beautiful sweater in a shop that she (or he, for that matter) would love completely, if it weren't for the color, weird sleeve treatment, the armholes, the length, and the choice between owning the sweater and making a down payment on a house.  Maybe the knitter found lovely yarn, maybe even on sale, but just couldn't find a pattern that would do it justice.  Maybe the knitter needs a particular garment, but none of the patterns available were quite right. 

So the knitter sits down with graph paper, a calculator, and her swatches and starts to design a sweater.  Then the knitter gets so obsessed with the sweater that she wants to work on it all the time (just ask Sparky, I'm so far gone on this one).  After all that you get...

 

A teaser shot!

I am designing my first sweater entirely from scratch.  I am over the moon with how well it is matching the picture I have in my head.  I spend much of my knitting time with graph paper and a calculator.  I want to design more sweaters!  I literally have sweater design ideas dancing around my head.  This is FUN!

How about another teaser?

Yeah, I thought so.