Tag: handknit

In Progress

It turns out that if you actually work on your projects, they get done (I know I say that a lot, but it’s embarrassing how often I forget it). I started these socks almost a year ago, pulled them out in September when my feet started to get cold, and found them again earlier this month. I am determined to finish them by the end of the month. I’m about to start the second heel, so it seems a realistic goal.

socks

I also plan to finish spinning this electric blue soy silk by the end of the month. It should end up as a sport or light worsted weight. What should I make out of it?

spinning

This shamrock wasn’t long in the making. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

shamrock

Finito!

Here you see a pair of newly finished, freshly laundered stripey socks!

socks

Yarn: Knit Pick Swish in Rainforest Heather – 1.5 balls; Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash in Oyster Heather – 1 ball

Pattern: Vanilla socks using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel

Needles: US 4/3.5 mm

These socks were a quick knit. I knit them in 2-round stripes, which were strangely compelling. At first I had planned to do jogless stripes, but this was way too inelastic and might have undermined the integrity of the sock (doesn’t that sound like such a smart thing to say?), so I decided to skip the jogless-ness and just change colours like normal.
seam

square

Lessons from Socks

  • If you knit on anything long enough it eventually gets done
  • It’s ok to break a large task into bit-sized chunks

first-socks

  • Use nice materials – socks don’t take that much yarn and you can enjoy them as you knit and once they’re done
  • Knitting the same thing twice sucks (but is really rewarding when you have warm feet)
  • Warm feet make me happy
  • Fit is important. Sometimes it’s worth frogging and restarting to ensure a good fit
  • Socks are some of the most useful and appreciated things you can knit
  • Stripes are addicting and make everything go faster

Currently on my Needles

Well, friends, I have been good and only worked on projects that are on the list to be done. Luckily, a few things on the list are projects yet to be started, so I began a pair of socks (not for me). Incidentally, I’m trying a new thing this year where I have a goal of knitting socks every month. I don’t have to finish a pair, but I want to start them. Last month I knit some Rye socks for me, and this month is for stripey green socks.

sock

Let me tell you, friends, worsted weight socks go so fast! And 2-round stripes are ridiculously compelling. You fly through the needles, and then it’s time to change colours. Just like magic!

What’s on your needles?

Toasty Toes

You might remember from a few weeks ago how I made a pair of worsted weight socks for my mom. I didn’t realize it when I started my project, but I actually had enough of that yarn for 2 pairs of socks. And my feet have been cold lately.

socks

Now my feet are toasty warm! What shall I finish next?

2

Pattern: Rye by Tin Can Knits (with a Fish Lips Kiss Heel)

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heather in 9489 (Red Wine)

Needles: US 4 / 3.5 mm

Finished but not

The joy of knitting socks is that halfway through you have a finished object. The frustration of knitting socks is that you still have a second (hopefully identical) sock to make.

sock

The joy of knitting a blanket (composed of blanket squares) is that partway through you have a finished square. The frustration of knitting a blanket is that you have lots more squares to do.

square

(I am proud of myself for estimating exactly half the ball of yarn when I knit this square. It makes the rest of my blanket calculations easier.)