4 Ply Katie Knits

Parade of Socks

Greetings from the third stop on my multi-week jaunt.  After returning from Europe, I went to Mombasa (sorry no pictures!) for a conference and then last Saturday came up to Juba.  I've also been promising pictures of finished things for a while and so here are a couple more!

Project: Grammy Socks
Pattern: From More Sensational Knitting Socks by Charlene Schurch
Yarn: Gems by Louet in the color Goldilocks
Yardage: 2  Skeins (370 Yards)
Started: October 14, 2007
Finished: November 11, 2007
Yarn Source: Woolcott & Co. in Cambridge, MA
Needles: 2.25 mm (US 1)
Gauge: 8 stitches to the inch

This pair of socks is destined to be for my grandmother for Christmas (assuming of course I ever figure out how to ship things from Kenya!).  They are part of my knitting toe up socks without a short row heel series and were actually a pretty quick knit.  I wasn't all that crazy about the yarn.  While I'm generally a big fan of the Louet lines (especially their linen), I found that the gems yarn was really splitty and I needed to pay close attention to it while I knit.  I'm all in favor of paying attention to your knitting, but not because the yarn is splitty.  Where I really ran into trouble, however, was when I tried to block them.  My grandmother has very small feet.  I mean like a size 5.5 or 6.  My sock-blockers would have hopelessly stretched out the socks.  I ended up using ginger ale bottles (they're rather small), but couldn't get the nice tight blocking that I felt the lace required. Sigh.  I had better luck with the next pair!

Project: November Socks
Pattern: All mine!
Yarn: Cotton Multiringel by Lana Grossa
Yardage: 1 Ball (415 Yards)
Started: November 22, 2007
Finished: November 30, 2007
Yarn Source: Knit Happens (absolutely ages ago!)
Needles: 2.5 mm (US 1.5)
Gauge: Mixed.  I explain more when I get the pattern up.

This pair  of socks (destined for my cousin Sophie) was inspired by the overwhelming need to find something to do with self-striping sock yarn that wouldn't put me to sleep.  I can't be more pleased about how they turned out!  The lace stretches a lot, so while they were knit over 56 stitches, they stretch to fir an average woman's feet.  I even got the stripes to match in the two socks!  They were fast; they were fun; and I think she's going to love them!

I'm planning on writing up a pattern for this one as soon as I have a few minutes and posting it here for free.  I plan to have a few days off after the Kenyan elections, so the pattern might be a belated Christmas present to everyone!

And just in case you think I'm done with socks for the moment, I have two more going! 

The one on the left is knit out of sport-weight wool out of Wendy's toe-up pattern.  I started it because I needed mindless knitting and it has certainly fit the bill.  It's flying by.  The one on the right is going to be a simple Coriolis sock from New Pathways for Sock Knitters.  I'm not sure how I feel about the Coriolis sock yet.  It seems a little strange on the needles.  I think I need to finish it and block it so I can tell how I feel about it. 

Anyway, I'm going to try to post again tomorrow (more finished things!), but I have to sign off for now.  Miss you all!

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

I love vacation.  I really really love vacation, particularly when it takes you to a totally different environment.  Sparky and I returned last night from a week in Europe (mostly Germany with a side trip to France and a night in Switzerland).  I got to go into yarn shops for the first time since July!  Sparky has pictures, apparently.  I was a bit distracted.  I promise vacation photos very soon. 

It's been a while since I've updated and the "Work in Progress" list is suffering as a result.  There are currently 12 items on the list of which 4 have already been completed.  I also have 3 additional items that never made the list that I've knit in the past month.  I made a strict rule for myself that I am not allowed to delete anything from the "Work in Progress" list until it has either been frogged or received its formal posting on the blog.  As I am a lazy blogger at best, this frequently leads to problems. 

Anyway for the next couple of days I'm going to be getting caught up.  Please don't laugh too hard.  Some of these finished items have been lingering for a long while!

October Socks

Project: October Socks
Pattern:
Yarn: Studio Sock by Neighborhood Fiber Company in Foggy Bottom
Yardage: 1 Skein (435 Yards)
Started: October 7, 2007
Finished: October 24, 2007
Yarn Source: Knit Happens
Needles: 2.5 mm (US 1.5)
Gauge: 8 stitches to the inch

I loved this yarn!  It was sproingy and smooth and all that is good.  I liked the slightly irregular pattern.  Did I mention that I loved this yarn?  I picked this skein up on a whim and really wish I had bought more. 

I also rather enjoyed Wendy's new (well, newish now) toe-up pattern.  In general, I really don't like short-row heels.  I find that they slip around too much and don't accommodate my feet very well.  It's pretty annoying really.  Until recently (say, late September), I didn't realize that it was possible to knit socks toe-up without using a short row heel.  I was surprised and delighted by Wendy's  pattern and have since started looking for other patterns (a nice co-worker recently brought me a copy of New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi from the States).  I plan many more toe-up not short-row heeled socks in the future (which is for the best, because I brought back much too much sock yarn from Germany). 

Baby Booties 2

Project: Baby Booties
Pattern: from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Angel in Purple Club
Yardage: Less than 1 skein
Started: November 9, 2007
Finished: November 11, 2007
Yarn Source: Knit Happens
Needles: 3.75 mm (US 5)
Gauge: 5-6 stitches to the inch

And yet more knitting for upcoming babies!  I hope you don't get too bored of baby things as many people I know seem to be expecting.  I have three baby sweaters on the needles and another waiting in the wings. 

These booties went faster than the last pair, but still weren't a one-hour knit.  Still like the pattern and the finished project is adorable.