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.)

Two Things

  • I have always wanted pretty stitch markers. I’ve been on the point of buying some several times. But every time I walk away thinking, “But are these the ones I REALLY want??” So finally I have made some. And I love them! I pulled the shells from a necklace a friend was getting rid of a few years ago, strung them on short lengths of nylon coated jewelry wire, decorated them with assorted seed beads I had laying around, and secured each one with a crimper bead.

stitchmarkers

  • I have finished my husband’s Christmas hat! I couldn’t wait, so I gave it to him last night. I was worried I wouldn’t have enough yarn, but after I finished the decreases I had just enough left to tie it up in a festive package.

He likes it immensely and feels that it makes him look cool, like a rugged Alaskan fisherman. I think I’ll keep him.

Resurgam

A few months ago I was knitting socks. And then I started feeling some arm pain. And then I felt more arm and wrist pain. So I (very sadly) set the socks aside.

socks
I dream of stripey socks

I have begun working on them again. Hopefully they don’t cause me too much pain. My feet are cold!

Artsy Fartsy Washcloth

Log Cabin Washcloth

The center is knit on the bias as follows:

CO 4 sts
K2 sts, YO, K to end of row.
Increase to 31 sts.
K1 st, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K to end of row.
Decrease to 4sts.
Cast Off

The outside stripes are knit in a log cabin pattern.

Yarn: Sugar ‘n’ Cream in Hot Blue and Robin’s Egg; Peaches & Creme stripes (blue, purple, green, white)