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!!!

Peacocks

This past weekend I put all these pieces together to form the lovely Little Peacock cropped cardigan. I still need to block it and sew on the button.




Mom tried it on and it's almost a regular sweater on her. She is significantly shorter than me but I don't think that if I'd made it shorter it would have complimented the design. She asked for a cropped top yet each time she's had it on she keeps trying to pull it down?! I asked her if she's sure that she wants a sweater that short.

I'm still waiting on my Skaska Triangular Shawl kit to arrive. They're busy traveling for shows and classes and haven't been back in town to get it together and send it off. In the interim I decided to cast on a shawl using the Silk Garden Sock I recently purchased at the Christmas in July sale at the Hook N Needle. I'm using Evelyn Clark's Knitted Lace Triangles for the design. This basically means that I use the book to plug in the patterns that I want to use.



I think it's ironic that I just finished the Little Peacock cardigan and this shawl reminds me of the colors of a peacocks tail. Growing up there used to be peacocks on the property behind us and every now and then one would come up the hill and we would see its' beautiful tail unfurled. It's not a sight often seen these days.

The Silk Garden Sock was on sale for $10.00 so mom and I purchased 3 skeins each of two different colors for shawls. So far I like the colors. I getting ready to phase into the purple and then the aqua. I'm hoping that by the time I finish this my other shawl project will have arrived.

The hunt is on for the next sweater. I'm thinking of doing either a Berroco or Rowan design. I have designs in mind as well as the yarn for swatching. At the same time, I'm debating whether or not I'll enter anything in the state fair. I don't have anything in mind and time is winding down. For the moment I'm going to play it by ear and if anything strikes my fancy I'll go from there.

Expectations

I cast on a pair of socks this week after spending a couple of days debating which yarn to use. After the first several rows I noticed something unexpected. Striping!


I've used Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in the past but this is the first time I've come across a skein that striped. The color is Peacock and the combination is gorgeous. The past few days I have debated whether or not to rip it out and use another color. This is my second pair of socks for this month's Sock Innovation Knit-Along and I'm pushing it to get these done by July 31st. Tonight I'll decide whether or not to bite the bullet or throw in the towel.

I couldn't resist including a photo of mom at one of her favorite spots in Atlantic City. This isn't one of the machines she played it was in a spot that made for a good photo op.

Hedera

Time has a way of getting away from you. There has been knitting going on even with the sad lack of blog content.

I've finished the first pair of socks for this month's Sock Innovation knit-along.


Specs:

Pattern: Hedera by Cookie A
Yarn: Froelich Wolle Special Blauband
Needles: 1/2.5 mm dpn's
Size: Women's 10
Started: July 1, 2009 Finished: July 19, 2009

I'm going to try and get a pair of Rick's done since they are my favorite pattern from the book.

I only have the sleeves left to do on the Peacock cardigan.



I had hoped to get all the pieces done on my recent trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey. I finished the front to discover that my size 5 needles and bag of knitting notions was missing. Upon getting on the bus to head back home I found the notions bag in the over head. I found one needle on the floor and the lady riding behind me found the other one. I was so disappointed when I thought had lost my fancy scissors and needle holder among other things.

I had a great time in Atlantic City. I don't gamble and gave my $30.00 comp to my mom. We stayed at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. Our free show was a production of Fame! It was very well done and the singing was great. We explored the outlets and the boardwalk. The weather was great the entire time and did not rain until the day we left. I plan to return and hopefully will be able to take some of the tours that are available.