Legal Scams

I'm finally getting back to blogging after going on a computer-free vacation and resolving DSL issues once I got home. I am often glad that I tend to know more than the average person about computers. I called my service provider's helpdesk to resolve the DSL issue and they ended up wanting to charge me between $99.00 and $249.00, depending on the service plan, to repair the so called problem in my computer. I resolved the problem by re-installing the DSL software. It pisses me off that I pay for the highest speed and they want to charge me when their regular helpdesk can't solve the problem. I can't begin to imagine how many people they have ripped of already.

I'm working on several projects at this time. I still haven't decided on entering the fair. I ordered my entry forms and for some strange reason they sent me a duplicate set. Last year I had planned on entering and it made things much easier because I knitted projects that I was going to enter. This year I've been waffling so much that the time is almost here.

I casted on a sweater for my goddaughter. She won't be able to wear it any time in the near future. It is the Beaded Cardigan from Special Knits by Debbie Bliss. I love all of the designs in this book. This is my third sweater from it and there are a few more designs I would like to make.




I finished the first foot of another pair of Angee socks. These are one of the current pairs in the Sock Innovation Knit-Along. I'm using the Lanett I dyed using the immersion method that was on Monika's blog. I love the way the colors shade from dark to light. I dyed three colorways using this method and I'm so pleased with the way that these are turning out that I'm sure I'll be doing more.



I have a shawl to cast on and maybe one or two other items. I'll be knitting like crazy the next few weeks. With that in mind I plan to do better at documenting and posting my progress. If all goes well I'll have some Christmas presents out of the way.

Have any of you made gloves/fingerless gloves using sock yarn? If so, I'd like to know the pro's and con's as well as some pattern ideas. Thanks for your help.

Berets

When I looked through the Fall '09 issue of Vogue Knitting I knew I had to buy it. There were several patterns that immediately caught my attention. Two were in the hat section, the Lace Beret and the Vine and Leaf Beret. There are also several hats in this issue that are either very strange or very poorly designed.

The first hat I casted on was the Lace Beret. It is more of hat and less of beret. It lacks much of floppiness that I believe characterizes a beret.




Specs:
Pattern: Lace Beret from Vogue Knitting Fall 2009
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine Pea Soup Mix (last two photos show true colors)
Needles: 1 & 2 circular needles and size 2 dpn's
Size: Medium

I enjoyed this pattern. The only problem I had was gapping between each lace section once I started using the dpn's. This usually isn't a problem for me. I tinked several rows and thought I had corrected the problem but there are still two areas that gap after blocking. I also need to tighten the top. It relaxed too much after blocking and there is a hole.
Started: 8/26/2009 and Finished: 8/29/2009

I couldn't resist casting on the Vine and Lace Beret. I'm using Knit Pick's Telemark from the stash. Depending on how this works up I'll probably knit it using the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino that the pattern calls for. I have several colors in the stash but I wanted to see how this fits before using the "good" stuff.


It is a true beret and I can already see hints of the prerequisite floppiness. I may end up making several of these for Christmas presents. These will be added to the "hat basket" project.

I'm also toying with idea of making fingerless gloves. Personally I don't care for them too much but they seem to popular with the younger crowd. I need to cover my hands completely in cold weather to prevent them from getting stiff and achey.

All of my nieces are below the age of 20 so I think they'll enjoy them. Time permitting I may make matching gloves and hat. I'm not trying to got out on a limb so nothing is written in stone especially since I've already purchased some of my presents. If you have any good hat suggestions let me know in the comments.

Vilai

I've finished what I believe is my favorite pair of socks to date. Of course they are from Sock Innovation by Cookie A since that is where most of the socks I've knitted lately come from.



Specs:
Pattern: Vilai from Sock Innovation by Cookie A
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy Absolute Magenta
Needles: 1 / 2.5 mm dpn's
Size: 9.5
Started: August 17, 2009 - Finished: August 26, 2009

The hardest part of this sock was the cable crossing which required 2 cable needles. After the first one I understood the directions and it wasn't that difficult. This pattern is not as difficult as it looks and I enjoyed the challenge. It never got boring and as each row is different. I did have to pay attention to the chart until I got each new section established. I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner.

Rick Socks

For some reason I was thinking that I had already posted these finished socks. I was getting ready to do my regular Sunday blog reading when I realized I hadn't. I can't say why these socks took so long. Once I got restarted with the first foot I whipped it right on out. I took a couple of days break before starting the second foot and whipped it out in about two days.



Specs:
Pattern: Rick Socks from Sock Innovation by Cookie A
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino Peacock
Needles: 1//2.25mm Knit Picks 6" dpn's
Size: 10
Started: July 20, 2009 Finished: August 13, 2009
Modifications: I cast on 72 stitches instead of 60 and decreased to 64 while doing the gusset. The foot is nice and snug but the leg feels a little loose. Next time I will do the entire sock on 60 stitches. These socks used almost the entire skein of yarn.

**Edited to change photos.
I enjoyed the pattern and love the socks even though the aren't for me. I highly recommend this pattern. It's very rhythmic and easy to memorize. The only time I had to consult the charts was for the foot which after few rows also had an easy to remember rhythm.

Too Much of a Good Thing

I find it fascinating that every pair of socks I make for my mom I end up wishing I had made them for myself. I'm loving this pair of Rick socks from Sock Innovation. I've completed the first foot and finally got the second started. The "Always a Bridesmaid" knitalong due date is looming on the horizon.

If you click to enlarge the photos you can see the awesome detail in these socks.



The pictures are of each side of the same foot. The left sock will be a mirror image of the right. At first I had to keep undoing one of the k2tog in the left foot because I was unable to anticipate it coming from a different direction. My brain has finally made the adjustment and I'm moving right along.

My Knit Picks book order arrived yesterday and I am totally fascinated by Double Knitting by M'Lou Baber. I'm going to have to take some time to wrap my brain around the techniques in the book, but I am chomping at the bit to knit the Crop Circles coat. I plan to make a couple of the practice projects and maybe a hat or two before I tackle a large project.

I'm a little overwhelmed with all the great projects I've come across lately. It's getting harder and harder to decide what to do next. I've been trying to prioritize my lists but they just keep getting longer and longer. The next move is going to involve some type of process of elimination. The only thing in my favor is that they are very organized lists. I hope in the coming weeks to kick up the knitting progress a notch and make a dent in the stash. There aren't any holiday knitting plans just lots of stress and guilt free knitting.

Silk Garden Sock Triangular Shawl

Sometimes you just have to believe.

I was not at all convinced that I liked the color of this shawl while I was knitting it. There is a gray stripe between the blue rows and the colors are deeper than they appear in the picture. It is a beautiful shawl and warm. I tested it in my office on Friday when I took it to work to show it off.




Specs:
Pattern: Based on charts from Knitting Lace Triangles by Evelyn Clark
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Sock color S8
Needles: 6 Addi Turbo Lace
Started: July 28, 2009 Finished: August 6, 2009

I could see myself knitting a lot of shawls based on this book. All the patterns are very straight forward and the directions excellent. I love the size of this shawl but plan on making several smaller ones. I used most of the 3 skeins of the Silk Garden Sock I purchased and could have easily stopped at 2 - 2.5. I have 3 skeins in another color which I also plan to use for a shawl.

Little Peacock

Yesterday evening I blocked the Little Peacock cardigan. During this process I realized that I need to make a serious adjustment to the back neck ribbing. It flares so I'm going to rip it out and reduce the number of stitches.


Specs:
Pattern: Little Peacock from Knotions Summer 2009 designed by Sarah Hoadley
Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic Linen White
Needles: 6, 7 Clover Bamboo straights
Size: XL
Started: June 14, 2009 Finished: July 26, 2009

Modifications: None. I came across an error in the sleeve but I adjusted the stitch count in the directions to correct it. My sister's friend Patrice graciously modeled it for me.

I made my final purchase at the Christmas in July sale yesterday, a cone of Jaggerspun Zephyr in Elderberry.



I'm going to knit the Three-Cornered Shawl from Victorian Lace Today once I've finished the Silk Garden Sock shawl.

I'm on the second skein of three. I want this shawl to be somewhere between 50 and 60 inches wide so I probably won't use all three skeins. The depth will be determined by the width. I've been surprised by the color changes. There is grey and an unexpected tourquoise. I'm not to sure about the colors but my mom loves it. This will be one of a collection of "house" shawls meaning that they aren't knit for a particular person but for any of us to use when we need one.

I'm also toying with the idea of knitting a basket of "house" hats. I always know where mine are but mom can't seem to keep up with hers. The plan is to have a basket in the den that contains hats in various styles and colors so that you just grab one when you need it that way no one will have a cold head.

I didn't get my second pair of socks finished for the Sock Innovation Knit-Along. They are offering a second chance option for those of us who didn't finish their May, June or July socks. I'm debating if I should try to get the Rick socks finished for this. I like the patterns chosen for this month, Vilai and Summer Socks, but there are other projects I'm itching to do now that the sock addiction is starting to wear off. It's time to start thinking about the fall and winter sweaters.

Over the next few weeks I'll get my patterns and yarn together and establish some type of plan for the sweaters I'd like to make. There are so many I like that I'm going to have to come up with some type of list. Between me and mom I could spend all of my spare time knitting but the I'd have to give up Ravelry. Not!!!