Fall Behind (Heather)

Fall finally arrived this week. It was quite lovely to spend a moment each morning choosing a sweater to wear. And now that I can actually fathom the idea of wearing woolen socks, it occurs to me that I need more variety in my sock drawer!

Instead of wisely completing one of the three pairs of socks I have on the go for myself (I could open a sock singles bar!) I of course started a brand new sock.



Isn't there something deeply pleasing about a ball of yarn? Part of me realizes that I am nuts to be so appreciative of the aesthetics of string, but that part is generally shooshed by the part of me that reasons that I am certainly not alone.



Mmm.... red socks. The yarn is Regia Galaxy; a neat new creation that intentionally creates flashing and pooling reminiscent of the swirls on a gas giant. This colourway is called Jupiter Rot (though it should be called Hard to Photograph). I started it on the trip home for Thanksgiving, so when I realized that I had brought 2.5mm needles instead of 2mm needles, and that the pooling wasn't happening as it should when I could only cast on 56 stitches for my sock, the decision was made to convert these into a pair of socks for Mike. Guess I will have to tackle one of those second socks after all. (although, I do have some Kaffe Fassett Regia just begging to be knit up...) Pooling never looked so good!

I also hit the sewing machine a few weekends ago.



This fabric is apparently impossible to photograph. I used this tutorial (thanks, Bertha!). I used medium weight interfacing and two fat quarters I had picked up whilst out with Leslie last spring. I love the lining!



I think it is still a tad floppy for my tastes... can you double up interfacing? I know that I was too impatient and sloppy on the ends, but I know how to do better next time. And I saved my favourite fat quarters for the second attempt. Whenever I actually get a chance, that is!

I also got a start on my next store sample project (being a deputy returning officer for 12 hours + poor voter turnout = tons of knitting time)...



This is Bridges from Rowan 42 in Kid Classic 'Feather'. (You can see a lovely finished Bridges here)



The first repeat of this lace pattern kicked my butt. I wrote it all out and now I understand how it stacks up. Decreasing in pattern is the next challenge!

Candy Socks (Adriana)

I finished my Candy Socks this weekend!






(Taking pictures of your own feet can result in some funny angles)

Details:
Pattern: Spiral Book Socks from Summer 2007 Interweave Knits
Yarn: Deegu in the colourway formerly known as Tulip Garden
Needles: 2.5mm Addis
Date Started: June 2nd (ish), 2007
Date Finished: June 17, 2007
Notes: I fell in love with these socks in the magazine but I'm not big on knee highs. They are a lot of work and I have larger than average calves so that means doing extra math and needing more yarn... Then I saw a shortened version on Ravelry which used STR and I really liked the way the spirals broke up the colours, similar to Jaywalkers in that respect. I decided to do the socks toe-up since that is my way and I wanted to use some of my lovely Deegu. The pattern is really straightforward and lots of fun. This is a very stretchy pattern so I had to adjust my stitch count (to follow the actual pattern. I had sized it up slightly unnecessarily).
The pooling of the yarn was a problem so I had to alternate knitting with both ends of the yarn. It still pooled but people seem to like the swirly effect which was a happy accident.

Since I had faithfully finished the Candy Socks I was allowed to cast on for new socks using some of my fun birthday yarn. With so many choices it was hard to decide but with Heather's nudging I decided to start Coupling from the new Knitty with their recommended yarn, Sea Wool.


All prettily wound up


Toe and first two pattern repeats.
I am in love with the sock!! I'm not certain about the yarn yet (it's different than the 100% merino I'm used to working with so it's taking a bit of getting used to) but I absolutely love the pattern. It is very straightforward and oh so pretty!! I've christened these "Coupling-at-Sea" Socks which is just dirty enough to be fun :)
I foresee this socks knitting up really quickly, which is good because I've got lots of projects waiting in the wings!

Birthday Swag (Adriana)

I had a very yarny birthday earlier this week. I'm so lucky that my friends know me so well to get me such yummy yarns! I feel quite overwhelmed by all the goodness and I don't know what to knit with first!


From Heather and Gen, this is Fleece Artist Merino Sock in Mahogany. I love that shock of red.


Heather and Gen also gave me this beautiful FA Sea Wool, colour unknown (possibly Origin). I've heard so many good things about this yarn; I'm so excited that I finally get to play with it.


After I admired her Regia Strato socks, The Jane got me some of my own! This is Granite, a discontinued colour, which has a lot of meaning for me growing up as I did on the Canadian Shield. My favourite provincial park had mountains of granite. I'm not really sure why Regia named this colourway that as the granite I grew up with was not navy with steaks of purple and blue, but I still love this colour. I may dye myself some true granite sock yarn one day (my mom has promised me some granite rocks to serve a inspiration).



As a birthday present to myself I bought 5 balls of Rowan Calmer in Plum (colour truest in second picture) from Redbirdknits. I hadn't ordered from there before but it was an excellent experience. Since it was my birthday I got a discount on the yarn (or would have if it hadn't already been discounted) and I got free shipping. The yarn arrived two days after my birthday which was very speedy! This yarn is destined to become a fun and flirty summer top and shrug (if there's enough left over).

The yarn that Heather and Rosemary dyed for me as part of the dye challenged arrived within days of my birthday so they felt like presents too!


I asked Rosemary to try to match the colours of my dress and I think she did a fantastic job, especially given the truly terrible picture I sent her. I think the turquoise section is my favourite.



I was trying to find some colours that were out of my usual comfort zone and I asked Heather if she could try to reproduce STR Azurite. I think she did a great job.

These both used Knitpicks Gloss as the base yarn. That 30% silk definitely gives it a glorious shine.

Just so you know it hasn't been all stash acquisition around here, I have managed to get some knitting done too. I finished the Birthday Bolero (pictures to follow after the recipient receives it) and I whipped off a One Skein Wonder too fast to bother blogging about it.

This is a gift for a friend who may or may not read the blog.

The current project on the needles, and the reason I haven't yet cast on any of my scrumptious birthday yarns, are the Spiral Boot Socks from the new IK. After two friends independently said the yarn looked like candy these have now been renamed Candy Socks. The yarn is my own Deegu.
First sock in progress

Finished first sock

This yarn pooled something terrible. I need to do more experimenting with colour sequence in an attempt to stop the pooling. I even alternated both ends of the ball in an attempt to break up the colours; as you can see, I wasn't that successful. Still, I do love these socks.

With so many beautiful sock yarns at my disposal, it's all I can do to keep plugging away on the Candy Socks. I keep myself motivated by thinking about all the stunning patterns I can make when this is done, like this, this and this. (Knitty came out at the perfect time for me!) I haven't yet decided which pattern I'm going to do next and more importantly, which yarn is right for which pattern. If you have any suggestions, shout them out in the comments.

All in all, this was an excellent birthday :)