Twisted Flower Socks
These socks nearly killed me. After cruising along all summer averaging better than one pair of socks per month, these suckers took me more than two months to finally finish. The pattern is by Cookie A. (designer of the ubiquitous Monkey Socks and instigator of the hated “socks and high heels” photo fad), and the yarn is the Knittery’s Merino Cashmere Sock in the special breast cancer pink colourway. I started off using two 2.75mm circular needles to knit both legs at the same time. I cheerfully dived into the first chart (of three!) and within a fortnight had them up to the heels. Then I switched to chart #2 and polished off the heel flaps. Suddenly… I noticed that they didn’t seem very stretchy. I tried them on and the damn things wouldn’t fit over my ankles! So I frogged them back completely all the way to the start. Eventually i started over on 3.25mm needles, which seemed to work a lot better. I think a big part of that is just that this lace-and-cable pattern has very little stretch. (I kinda wish I’d put more ribbing at the top, because I fear they may sag a little.) One reason for my slow speed was the intricacy of this pattern, and the fact that every single row was different from the last. I found it impossible to memorize, especially as the patterns and charts shift every so often. Another impediment was the yarn itself. I have to say, I wasn’t very impressed. Oh it was definitely soft, but it was also very, very splitty. The spin was such that it actually UNTWISTED as you knitted it (and no, it didn’t matter which end of the skein you used). So I’m not sure how robust they’re going to be in the long run. I’m also a little annoyed with how the color striped and pooled (considering how pretty it was in the hank). It competes with the pattern a lot, don’t you think? They’re definitely soft and cozy though, and judging by my own foot, they’re going to be a perfect fit. Hopefully Mom won’t receive them too long after Mother’s Day… (More details on Ravelry.)
Tag: knitting
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Twisted Flower Socks
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Bag Swap Package
Bag Swap Package
I can’t believe I forgot to post my Bag Swap Package! I received mine from Tricia, and I sent off a package to Amanda in rural Victoria. I spent some time stalking Amanda, and I figured that a practical bag was going to be best for her. I went with Knitty’s Satchel, which is a roomy, felted messenger bag. I knitted the smaller size out of Lincraft Cozy wool and felted it in my washing machine. (I double-felted the handle for extra strength.) In one of her questionnaires, Amanda happened to mention that she really wanted a dog. Well, I thought, I’d stitch her one…
I also sent her a book of Sudoku (since she likes doing those), a bar of chocolate, and a box of T-pins. (A lace knitter can never have too many T-pins.) I’m really happy that she liked the package! (More details over on Ravelry if you’re interested.)
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Nicky Epstein
It’s not every morning you log onto Gmail and find a lovely message from Nicky Epstein! I’m just astonished that she remembers me and that she’d send me a nice note. Hi Nicky!
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Vintage Knitting Box
You know that scene in Amelie, where she finds the cigar box full of the young boy’s treasures? That happened to me today. While cleaning my desk, I discovered a box of knitting supplies that a customer had given me several months ago as a donation to the Guild. If I recall correctly, they had belonged to a relative who had passed away, and no one else in the family wanted them. I forgot about them til today. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened it up. I’ve put the photos up on Flickr.
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Bag Lady Swap!
Over on Ravelry, we’re coming to the end of our second “swap” in the Australian Knitters group. This time the theme was knitted/crocheted bags. Each person had to construct a bag for their recipient, and then ($30 budget permitting) send along some extra treats with it. My package was delivered to the shop yesterday, and my swapper was the awesome Tricia (who’s now travelling in the Middle East).
Check it out! The bag is crocheted out of thick black wool and features a silky red lining with two snaps to keep it closed. It’s the perfect size to carry around a sock knitting project. Tricia also sent me two awesomely daggy 80’s Australian picture knitting books. (I didn’t know Liz Gemmell wrote one of those!) Not pictured is a bar of chocolate, which is currently chilling in my fridge. And that flowery black thing? Is a HOMEMADE VINTAGE APRON. I couldn’t believe it! Tricia made it herself (with some assistance from her Mum). The arms crossover in the back (behind my head), and it’s got two handy pockets on front. That means I now have THREE retro aprons… which I suppose officially equals a collection! Thanks again, Tricia. 🙂
As for my own swap package, it’s 90% ready to be sent. I just ran out of stupid polyfill tonight so I’ve got to get some more tomorrow to finish something off…
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Wacky Knitting Links
I’ve been stumbling across some wacky knitting-related links lately. First, Rob over at cockeyed has been magnifying knitting wool with this funny magnifying thing he got at a toy store. There’s a closeup view of some Noro in there! The second fun thing is this Design Exhibit in Norway, which features (down at the very bottom of the page) a knitting machine built into a hanging lamp, so when it’s switched on, it knits its own lampshade. Very neat.
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Luminare Socks
Oh neat! Bex designed a sock pattern for The Knittery, and it’s now available for download on their site for free! Well done, Bex. 🙂
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HIGHLY COMMENDED!
Holy crap! Some of the girls over on Ravelry went to the Easter Show’s “Arts Preview Night” tonight, and they reported back that my Road to Golden won a Highly Commended Award! That’s so awesome! My first official knitting ribbon. Of course, now I can’t sniff that my work is unappreciated in its own time. It’s a trade-off.
Update: The awesome Ailsa took lots of photos, and there are a couple of Road to Golden in there. [1, 2] I’m stoked that it got displayed on a mannequin instead of being stretched all to hell on fishing line. But this is weird: is my jumper holding hands with the one next to it??
Update later: The official results are now up!
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Road to Golden
This past Saturday, the Snook and I drove out to Homebush to drop off my entry for the 2008 Royal Easter Show. I knitted “Road to Golden” from the Fall 2007 Knitscene. It’s a modern fairisle jumper knitted on circular needles. I substituted Filatura di Crosa Zara for the yarn and had some fun playing around with colours. I’m still not entirely happy with the way the neckline turned out, but I figured I can always pull it apart after the Show. Now I’m just waiting for the results to come in… (More project details are over on Ravelry.)
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Marianne’s Cardigan
Oh, wow! Two years ago, I knitted a hooded cardigan for my friends’ daughter Marianne. I knew it was going to be a bit big for her at the time, but I figured she’d grow into it. And guess what? She finally has! It looks great on her, and I’m glad she likes it so much. Thanks to Staci for the update… 🙂
