Inside and Out

Inside and Out
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

the colourful entrails of mittens

pattern: "Covered in Color" from "Knit Mittens" by Robin Hansen
yarn: Paton's Classic Merino, with the lime green and orange dyed with icing color
size 4 (3.5 mm) Inox circs

I loved knitting these, and am definately going to make at least another pair. I was worried at first about the ridged cuff, but apparantly that is part of the intention of the design.

These were actually a very fast knit - I think I started them Friday, and they're done today, Wednesday, even with very sporadic knitting. Anyway, after a summer of knitting with sock and laceweight, they sure seemed fast.

Action shot!

Flower Basket Shawl

Flower Basket Shawl
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

I knit this for my aunt's 50th birthday, and though I got it done in time, it always takes me a while to mail out. But now that it's out, I can post a photo!

I first tried knitting this yarn up as the Swallowtail shawl from the Fall Interweave06, but I frogged it ecause I felt the yarn was too busy for that pattern. As it turns out, the yarn is a bit busy for any pattern, but I'm not taking this one apart. It still makes for a drapey, smooth fabric that I actually somewhat covet for myself. I might have to get more of this stuff!

Pattern: Flower Basket Shawl, designed by Evelyn Clark for Interweave Knits and now at Fiber Trends.

Yarn: Handmaiden Sea Silk in Dragonfly, one skein

Needles: Size 5 Boye Needlemaster

Knit 9 repeats for between scarf and small sized - I forgot to measure it, but it was at least 30 inches down to the point and almost spanned the couch, so close to 70 inches along the top edge. It was actually quite a fast knit, and the Sea Silk was wonderful to work with.

Closeup of the stitch pattern and flower baskets:

Swallowtail shawl

Swallowtail shawl
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

Pattern: Swallowtail shawl by Evelyn Clark, Interweave Knits, Fall 06
Yarn: Knitpicks Shimmer in Turquoise Splendor, 1 hank
Needles: size 4 Boye Needlemaster

Modifications: due to utterly effed up math, knit four extra bud lace repeats, one extra stockinette row before lily-of-the-valley chart 1, and fudged like crazy during peaked edging. Also, ran out of yarn and ended chart early, then knit final rows, bo on purl side.

This is actually my second attempt at this shawl, in a sense. I had earlier knit it up in Sea Silk, but wasn't happy with the way the colour variegation was working (or not) with the pattern. I had it knit all the way to the peaked edging before I ripped it, with no regrets because it was such an enjoyable pattern to knit.

This time around, I didn't enjoy it quite so much, not because of the pattern but because of the yarn. It was a hot August and the alpaca in the Shimmer made my hands sweat, the yarn stuck, and it just generally bugged me. I could only work on it either with the fan blowing right at me, or if it cooled down enough in the evening. However, the Shimmer did make a lovely, light, drapey fabric, so I'm feeling friendlier towards it. I guess this probably was knit sporadically over three weeks.



Yikes, overexpose much? But it does show the size, which is quite a bit more than the magazine size. About 31 down to the tail and 54 inches along the top edge.

So many stitches, so little yarn

Noooooo!
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

what a pain in the arse...just a few inches from completely binding off this Shallowtail shawl (and it really is shallow, I ran out of yarn and couldn't finish the peaked edging chart) and this is how much yarn I have left.

Oh well. I'll pull back one row, and bind off a row earlier, because no way am I ordering more yarn.

Sockitechture

toe up heel flap
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

I started this toe-up sock in Koigu a few days ago, partly because I wanted to practice the same type of toe-up heel I used for the Anastasia socks. It's based on the heel from Knitty's Widdershins, but knit more to the formula that the designer gives in her extremely useful blog notes.

You can see the gusset increases, and where the side of the flap attaches to the gusset stitches. The join is much neater when you actually do the slipped stitch heel, which I forgot when I knit the Anastasia socks.

I love having heel alternatives! The jury's still out, since I haven't actually worn this heel yet (the Anastasia socks were for my daughter) but I really like the shape and look of this one.

Another view from the back:


In progress notes:
Koigu
2.75mm Brittany DPNs
60 stitches, beginning with magic cast-on of 10 each side
At ankle, increase till there are enough stitches for 15 gusset stitches each side, 18 sole stitches
(48 stitches for gusset and sole, 30 stitches for instep)
Turn heel by using YO short rows and increases to 30 true stitches for the sole, which now becomes the heel flap
Begin heel slip stitch as heel flap is joined to the gussets

Anastasia socks

Anastasia socks
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

A very fun, fast knit. I really like these kinds of patterns that allow you to have the fun of variegated yarn, aren't as boring as stockinette, but not so intricate that the yarn and pattern compete.

Pattern is a free download from Pepperknit. Thanks for the fun pattern, Minty!

Specs and modifications:
LL Shepard sock, in Glenwood
56 stitches
2.5 mm inox, magic loop
PGR's short row toe, using needle cable for provisional cast-on using Knitty's Magic Cast-on
toe-up round heel, modified from Knitty's Widdershins (possibly my new favorite heel)
1 x 1 rib, to finish with EZ's sewn bindoff (much less of a pain in the butt than the grafted bindoff, and looks almost as good)

Unst socks

Unst socks
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

just the facts:
Nancy Bush's "Unst" from "Knitting on the Road"
knit August 11 - August 30
2 socks on 2 circs, size 1 Addi circs
Fortissima Socka

I've decided I really dislike knitting 2 at a time, as having two balls of yarn really annoys me. I don't get them tangled or confused or anything, but for me the charm of knitting socks is their compactness and portability, and the two balls sort of negates that. This is a really fast knit, but it took me a relatively long time because I only worked on them in front of the TV (and I don't spend a lot of time in front of the TV).

However, since my gauge problems with Hedera a few months ago (not the patterns fault!) and getting two socks of different sizes, I thought I'd better knit these together to make sure they matched. And match they do, despite the wonky photo. But I think that if I have worries about gauge the next time, I'll knit one cuff, then the other, etc instead, and right after another rather than waiting a few weeks as I did with Hedera.

The Fortissima socka is rougher than other Fortissima yarns I've used. I don't know why. The sock did soften up after blocking, and should be comfortable after a few wearings.

Unst in progress

Unst in progress
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

I've been working on these slowly for a while, since they're not quite as portable done two at a time like this. But, I learned from Hedera that my gauge may change between socks, it seemed prudent to do two at a time. I don't often find solid coloured yarn locally, so I'm glad I was able to get this. I knit with Fortissima all the time, but for some reason this tweedy deep green colour actually feel rougher than the other Fortissima that I've tried. I have no idea why.

Pattern: Unst, from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road
needles: size 1 (2.5 mm) addi circs
yarn: Fortissima Socka
started: Aug 11, 2006

Diamond Fantasy shawl done!

pattern: Sivia Harding's Diamond Fantasy Shawl
yarn: Handmaiden 2-ply Silk Cashmere (or Cashmere Silk, I can't remember)
needles: Boye Needlemaster size 5 and 8
6 1/2 pattern repeats for 300 m fingering weight
knit August 7-18

I had to pay more attention to this pattern than any others I've attempted so far. I don't know if it's inherently the most difficult one I've done, or that I just had trouble reading it. It had a lot of "white space" so to speak, which is part of its light and frothy appeal, but it took a long time for my eyes to see the pattern developing. I used a lifeline every chart repeat, and stitch markers every pattern repeat. I also used a great tip from the Mystery Stole Knitalong - highlighter tape! It's less messy and more durable than the dry erase marker I was using on the page protector. I also noted down the number of purl stitches to expect on the wrong side rows so I could count on my way back. All these tools really helped, and I usually caught my mistakes on the same row or the next.



USUALLY. By the time I bound off, I was feeling pleased about completing an error-free project. Till I blocked it, and discovered this:



Quelle horreur! I didn't panic, as it was fairly obvious which stitches belonged where, and miraculously, it didn't unravel any further down. With a couple of DPN's and extra yarn, I pulled it back up and wove the extra yarn in place:



I feel recently confident it will stay put, but I might weave in a little bit more length after I unpin it.



It's a perfect size for a summer shawl or fall scarf, and the silk cashmere blend is beautiful to wear. It's possibly the most luxurious yarn I've had the chance to knit so far, and Sivia's pattern is a great way to use one delicious skein.

a holiday yarn

holiday yarn
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

on my annual summer pilgrimage out to the west coast, I made sure I hit the local and not-so-local yarn shops. This in lieu of my usual trapline of yoga prop supply stores and Banyen Books, since (as unlikely as it may sound) I actually have all the yoga stuff I need right now, as well as piles of unread books.

The large picture at Flickr is annotated, but in summary:

from Knit Cafe in Walnut Grove: Confetti sock yarn and 2 skeins 6 ply all hemp (not shown- acquired after the pic)

from Kept in Stitches in Fort Langley: 7 skeins Silky Tweed, 3 small and one large skeins Fortissima sock yarn

from Knitopia in White Rock: 2 skeins Handmaiden Silk Cashmere 2 ply, 1 skein Handmaiden Sea Silk

from Urban Yarns in Vancouver: 2 skeins Fleece Artist Merino Sock

from Marilyn's Yarn Barn in Bellingham, WA: 6 skeins Wildefoote, 1 Socks that Rock, 3 skeins Jamieson and Smith laceweight Shetland wool.

This doesn't even show the books I acquired - Stahmans Shawls and Scarves, as well as the Knitting Heretic, gifted to me by my friend and knitting mentor Loretta.

I definately indulged, but all the yarns with the exception of the Silky Tweed and Fortissima are yarns I can't find at my local yarn shops. And those were 50% off because Kept in Stitches is going completely to quilting supplies. My mom is bummed about that, understandably.

I've already started knitting the silk cashmere up into Sivia Harding's Diamond Fantasy Scarf, and the Confetti sock yarn into Pepperknit's Anastasia socks. The Sea Silk started out as a DFS, but I decided after a few rows that the very open stitch pattern was better suited to a yarn that will bloom a bit. It's kind of cool - to me, at least - that Knitopia and Urban Yarns are both shops where Sivia teaches, and after joining her Yahoo group I learned that she knit both the samples I saw (and swooned over) when I visited those shops.

All in all, very exciting stash enhancement, and I think I'm going to enjoy every ounce of wooly, silky, goaty goodness in the months to come.

Mystery Stole 2 - beginning

Mystery Stole 2 - beginning
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

Yes, in my obsession for knitting lace I got caught up in the excitement of the Mystery Stole 2 knitalong. Designed by Melanie of Pink Lemon Twist, the pattern will be released as six "clues" over six weeks. Nobody knitting it knows what it will look like till the end of the six weeks - but Melanie designed the beautiful Leda's Dream as the original Mystery Stole, so I think faith is well placed.

I know, super geeky. But enormously diverting!

This is in Knitpicks Shadow laceweight merino, color Lost Lake, on size 3 Boye needlemaster circs

Pret a porter!

IK Lotus Blossom - it's done!
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

It's ready to wear!

I am so glad I added the extra stockinette. I really didn't need the fifth lace repeat, as I needed more bra coverage than overall length. So, as suggested by Jacqui, and considering her warning that the front tends to pull up, I knit an extra inch of stockinette plus 12 short rows for the bust shaping. This worked out perfectly!

Like others, I absolutely hated picking up the armhole edging since it's such a small round to work ont, but at least it was over with quickly. It didn't roll too badly, and a light pressing with steam helped it stay in place. I also steam blocked the lace a bit so it would be more open. Not that I really want to show extra skin, but it draped more nicely and didn't bunch.

I'm really happy with the result and enjoyed knitting it. Thanks to everyone at the Lotus Blossom Tank KAL for tips, inspiring pics, and encouragement!

pattern: Interweave Knits summer 06
yarn: SWTC Bamboo, cobalt
size 5 and 6 Boye circulars

knit between...oh crap, I really can't keep track anymore. Probably three weeks, on and off?

Progress on Lotus Blossom Tank

Lotus Blossom Tank - front finished
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

I chucked the tank I started using the SWTC Intensity, because I decided I'd rather use the variegated yarn for Heatwave. So here's my second try. After ordering some SWTC in cobalt, I cast on again, and have finally gotten to finishing the front.

I don't LOVE knitting with bamboo, because it feel so stiff to me, but I do really like the fabric it produces. Perhaps because it's so drapey, the garment seems to come out really big even if you get gauge on the swatch, so I'm knitting the smallest size, which seems absurdly small compared to my actual bust size. I did add some short rows to the front to make sure it was long enough that I don't flash people through the lace section. Otherwise, I'm continuing on and hoping for the best.

Icarus in flight

I finished my pet project, the Icarus shawl from Interweave summer 06 a few weeks ago, but it's only lately that I've managed to get pictures wearing it. The weather has been crappy - thunderstorms, rainshowers, and wind. But it finally got nice enough - and I worked up the nerve - to take it off the back of the sofa and wear it.

It's gigantic! Something like a 76" wingspan and 36" down the spine, it pretty much dwarfs me. Because I'm going to end up sitting on the tail if I wear it normally:

I think it will end up much better wrapped:

And then of course the matador shot, lest I am trapped in a field with a mad bull:



Most of my progress was blogged at the Icarus Knitalong:

cast on

in progress

beginning lace charts

finished and blocked

Summary:
pattern: Icarus Shawl designed by Miriam Felton, Interweave summer 06
yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr wool/silk, in Mahogany
size 3 Boye needlemaster circs
knit May 25-June 12
diverted by audiobook The Thirteen gun salute, by Patrick O'Brian
and the opening games of the World Cup

I received much help and assistance from fellow knitters at the Icarus Shawl KAL. It made it really fun, and it was really motivating to have people to knit along with. Thanks everyone!

I must also point to this post by a fellow KAL'er: scroll down to see the beautiful WH Auden poem Musee de Beaux Arts, and Breughel's painting of Icarus falling into the see. OK, I admit, kind of a downer. But still, a really evocative and mythical name for the shawl.

Now knitting

I have way too many WIPs on the go, but they're all different enough that it's nice moving between them. The Icarus is my pet project - I love the feel of the laceweight zephyr yarn, and it's nice to have a relatively simple pattern for the first part of the shawl to get used to working with it.

Four repeats in:




and progress blogged at the Icarus Shawl KAL

I'm also working on the Lotus Blossom tank, but am probably going to re-start in a solid colour and resume with the Heatwave I started a month or so ago:




I just think the colours and variagation work better in a simple st st. tank as opposed to the much girlier lotus blossom.

Other than that, I'm mostly working on stuff with holes. I love lace. I've never worn lace till now, but it's so much fun to knit, I can't stay away from it. Besdies the Icarus shawl, I'm also working on the little arrowhead shawl from Interweave's Web projects, and Hedera from Knitty.

silky wool pullover - it's done!

silky wool pullover
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

I am so excited about finishing this sweater because it's the first one I've knit by making it up as I went along. It fits perfectly, which isn't a guarantee since there's only so much you can figure out by holding it up to yourself and deciding when to decrease, start the armholes, split the neck, etc. But most of my guesswork seemed to come out all right in the end. I used a lot of techniques I've never tried out before.

I haven't blocked it yet, thus the wrinkliness of the arms. Also, this colour of silky wool seemed to have a lot of...uh, vegetable matter I think they call it. I'm still picking out thorns.

Please excuse messy bathroom, and shower curtain rod that recently started casting itself upon the floor, for unknown reasons.

pattern: made up
yarn: Elsbeth Lavold silky wool, 4.5 skeins MC, half skein red
needles: size 6 (4mm) addi circular
Knit a leisurely pace, April 14-May 25

Technique:
Knit in the round with purl stitches as "seams"
colour stranded motif at lower edge from Folk Socks
waist shaping with increases and decreases
short row bust shaping
short row shoulder shaping, 3 needle bindoff
split neck and contrast colour seed stitch placket knitted on
sleeves knit from shoulder down, shaoed with short rows (sort of)
Knit mainly in stocking stitch with seed stitch trim

References:
Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, Knitting in the Old Way
Ann Budd: Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns
Nancy Bush, Folk Socks
Interweave Spring 06 - the saddle shoulder sweater

first order from Knitpicks!

first order from Knitpicks
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

I'm always a little worried ordering stuff from the states with the exchange, duty and all. But shipping was fast (one week!), no more expensive than within Canada, and they have border fees built into the shipping so you don't get that unpleasant surprise.

Now, if only I could remember what I actually planned to knit from this stuff...

Falling Leaves

While dithering over Denmark, I finished up the last of my 2 100 gram skeins of Fortissima to make anklets. I'd already knit a pair of Conwys and Nancy Bush's Rib and Cable socks from this yarn, and I love the look and feel of it. But I knew a third pair of full length socks wasn't going to happen, and anyway, we're going into summer. So lace it is:



They're actually a little big for me, and my foot doesn't open up the lace pattern as nicely as it could. But there's no way I'm going to knit with anything smaller than a size 0 needle; and it was too finicky to figure out how to make a 12 stitch repeat smaller. They're comfy and I'm happy with them.



pattern: Falling Leaves, from Knitty
yarn: Fortissima Colori (I've gotten three pairs out of 200 grams - I am a happy camper!)
needle: size 0 Addi circular, magic loop
finished with 1X 1 rib and grafted off - best toe-up finish ever!

knit shorter to accomodate leftover yarn, Magic Cast-on subbed for the short row toes

Denmarks are done!

After much hemming and hawing and non-committal poking at the sock in progress, I finally bit the bullet and finished my Denmark socks for the Knitting-on-the-Road-along. It's a fast, easy, and thoroughly enjoyable pattern, but the warm May days demotivated me greatly because my chances of wearing a thick, cushy sock knit in DK weight yarn between now and October are not great.

I also second guessed my yarn choice. DK weight in solid colours is not easy to find here, and my first choice, a garnet wool/acrylic mix with Teflon (I'm wearing these suckers, not frying eggs in them!) was appallingly statick-y. My next choice was a handpainted merino from my local LYS ( I guess that's redundant)

It looked so pretty in the skein and even nicer in the ball:


yet I was unexcited by the look of the sock in-progress:



Eventually, though, I was overcome by the end-of-May deadline, the unavailability (at short notice) of an alternate yarn, and, in the end, this is some of the smoothest, springiest, nicest feeling yarns I've come across. So after letting the sock languish for some weeks, I picked it up and finished it this weekend.



There were times I really loved the colour transitions and changes, and some times that I did not. I liked this, for instance:



In the end I was pleased with them with the conviction of someone who is unwilling to frog and start again. They fit wonderfully, and feel almost silky on the feet. So I'm glad I persisted.

Pattern: Denmark, by Nancy Bush, Knitting on the Road
yarn: merino handpainted DK weight from Painted Yarn, in the Golden Plums colourway
needles: 3mm Addi circulars
knit May 5-May 19 (with long periods of indecision in between. It's really a fast knit)

Shetland Triangle shawl

Although I've flirted lightly with lace in the past with a smaller projects such as a chevron rib scarf and Pomatomus socks, this is what feels like my first "real" lace project, in a decent size shawl. It's not huge, which makes it perfect for my vertically challenged shelf, and it came out exactly right for a shoulder shawl. Evelyn Clark's pattern was well written and easy to follow, and caused me almost no angst during the knitting. It's a perfect beginner's lace shawl.



I think the stitch pattern itself is called "fir cone", though I'm not sure I've actually seen a fir cone that looks like this. It's nicely evocative, though.



Fully pinned and blocked. I wish I'd take a "before" photo, when it was a cute, puffy mass of blue:



pattern: Shetland Triangle by Evelyn Clark, from Wrap Style
yarn: Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool
needles: size 8 addi circs
knit May 1-5, mostly while watching Sharpe's Rifles etc.

I wanted to get a picture wearing it before blogging it, then thought the better of it - do I really want to blog a picture of my butt, albeit topped by lace? I think not.

Silky sweater progress, and country socks fini!

I'm still making this up as I go along, but have now managed to finish the body. Fronts and backs were knit back and forth, and the front split to include the seed stitch placket. I don't know if I'd do that again - it was really fussy having four balls of yarn going at a time and I think I spent as much time untangling as knitting. But, it looks neat and tidy, or at least it will once I've woven in the ends.

The shoulders were shaped, then fronts and back joined with a three needle bind-off. This sweater is turning out to be a sampler for all sorts of new-to-me techniques.



And at last! I finished off the Country Socks! A little warm to wear right now, but they'll be fab when fall comes.



Pattern: Country Socks, from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks.
Briggs and Little Durasport, Oatmeal and Jean
2.5 mm Addi turbos
March 17 - April 20 (the sock spent a lot of time sitting in a backpack)

because I have a memory like a sieve

I finished the first Sixth sense sock this morning, and it fits my daughter perfectly. Yay! Now to go on to the second one. But in case I forget how, this is my note to self:

Cast on 54 stitches, and right away put 24 stitches on one needle for the instep and 30 for the heel on the other (well, the other side of the Magic Loop, in any case).
Establish ribbing with p1, then k4, p2 as written, ending with p1.

Knit short row heel was knit as directed over 30 stitches instead of the 36 called for, then re-established in the round. Knit down to 8 unwrapped stitches before beginning the increases.

My math failed me when it came to the toe decreases :) so instead I rearranged my stitches to have 28 each needle. I did a decrease round with every knit round (k12, SSK, etc), purled even, till I had...um, I think 16 stitches each side. Then I decreased every round using SSP on the purl round.

Ribby cardigan

Ribby cardigan
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

I finished this a few weeks ago - basically, it was knit between exam #2 and exam #3 for one of my courses, so a little less than four weeks total knitting. I put the zipper in a week or so later.

I had been looking for a sweater I could knit from the Mission Falls wool I bought on sale at my LYS when we all thought this yarn was being discontinued.

I didn't have enough of one colour for an entire sweater, so the two-toned Ribby Cardi seemed like a good solution. I really like the way the denim blue, spruce, and gold work together.

I love wearing this sweater - it's smooth and comfy in the Mission Falls superwash, and the pattern was very clear and well written.

pattern: Chicknits Ribby Cardi
yarn: Mission Falls 1824 superwash denim, spruce, and dijon
needles: 7 Boye, 8 addi circs

a fast, fun knit

Sixth sense, made kid-sensible

"Kid sensible" is a term my son coined for short and easy to understand phrases, something I apparantly don't use very often.

In fact, Sixth Sense, from the Six Sox Knitalong, is a short, sweet, easy to memorize pattern, just what I was looking for to use some self-striping yarn I had on hand. Although I like to keep things simple for self-striping yarn, this is only slightly more complicated than 4 by 2 rib, so it doesn't get too lost in the colour changes. The pictures I've seen of this sock in striped yarn look pretty good, so I think it will work out fine in the end.

My first two tries didn't work out too well, first because I disliked the yarn, and hated the join on the 2.25 mm Inox circulars. Then changing to Regia cotton blend tip-top and a 2.5 mm Inox, the knitting itself was a good more pleasant, but it was much too large for my daughter's foot.

Third try with the Regia and the 2.5 mm needle is working better, taking out 2 pattern repeats for a 54 stitch sock. It fits perfectly now.

Picture is actually of the second try, which did fit me loosely, but I had them planned for my daughter.

Winging it

Winging it
Originally uploaded by Sophie_vf.

I'm winging this sweater. I bought a bunch of Silky Wool and couldn't find a pattern I really wanted to use for it.
So, with Priscilla Gibson Roberts "Knitting in the Old Way" (courtesy of Loretta - I owe you one, buddy!) and Ann Budd's "Handy Book of Patterns" by my side I figured out my numbers and just started knitting. Added waist shaping from Rosedale, short rows at the bust from Shapely Tank, and short rows to shape the back shoulders. I'm looking forward to trying the 3 needle bindoff, which Andrea promises me will make my life easier ;)

I'm about to split the neck and try a seed stitch placket. It's fun making things up as you go along.

pattern: in progress
yarn: Elisabeth Lavold Silky Wool, cedar and rust
needles: size 6 addi circs

Eleanor saved, and sock update

Weather in my part of the world is pretty erratic - I can count on a spring snowfall sometime in March. The pain of having to scrape windows and brush snow off the car is alleviated by having a chance to wear Lady Eleanor. Yay! I'm so glad I kept her.

I don't think I ever posted a picture of my finished Whitbys. I think I would have enjoyed knitting these more if I were making them for myself. Instead, they were the somewhat obligatory "See, I love you, size 13 feet and all" socks for my DH, who dutifully exclaimed over them, then stuffed them in the drawer with all his Mark's Work Wearhouse socks. Oh well.


Pattern: Nancy Bush's Whitby, from Knitting on the Road
Yarn: Briggs and Little Tuffy
Size 3 addi turbos, 2 circs
Added 8 extra stitches to make the pattern fit a size 13 foot

And I finished my Rib and Cable socks, and cannot stop wearing them! They're my favorite right now!



design by Nancy Bush, in IK fall 05
Fortissima Colori
size 2 (2.75 mm) Inox circulars, magic loop
modifications: knit swirl toe instead of pattern toe

Man, I wish I had sock blockers - the cables show up a lot nicer than in this picture. I'm sure I could make my own blockers as Sarah at Flickr suggested. But I'd just rather, you know, whine about it.

I love, love, love the feel of this yarn on my feet. However, I don't know if I can recommend it for this pattern. It fuzzes and loses stitch definition very quickly. Since the cables are pretty large, it doesn't really bother me. But if that sort of thing bothers you, you might want to avoid using it.

However, the way they feel on my feet is more than adequate compensation!

Eleanor Interrupted

I knit the final tiers for my Lady Eleanor enterelac stole last night, finishing up most of the ninth skein of Noro silk garden and completing something like 37 tiers in total. So why don't I want to finish it?

For one thing, part of me looks at this stole and thinks "that's a lot of silk garden I could have made into a jacket". Or, somewhat heretically, "I would like this a whole lot better if it were a Clapotis". And somewhat ironically, it was trying to resist the lure of another Clapotis that started me on the Lady Eleanor project. I've been wearing one of my three Clapotis almost constantly through fall and winter, and often thought I'd want one in a more rustic colour, with lots of browns and blues. But it seemed like crazy talk to make a fourth Clappy, so logically, another large scarf that could be worn like a shawl or stole made so much more sense.

Enter Lady Eleanor, which has appeared in so many wonderful and stunning versions in Silk Garden that I was convinced it was a the right project for me.

I loved knitting this. I loved the clear directions in Scarf Style that made entrelec so easy to learn, the entertainment of learning to knit backwards to avoid turning, and watching the colour changes. But now that I have the (almost) finished product, I'm balking at completing it.

I'm just not convinced I'll wear it that often. It doesn't curl up softly around the neck like a Clapotis does. The entrelec fabric is much more textured and robust, and though beautifully thick and springy, just doesn't feel as comfortable to me. And as beautiful as the fringe would be, I can just imagine catching it on any number of door knobs or cupboard handles.

So, what to do? I'm tempted to rip it right away and convert it into a jacket. But just looking at it lying there so pretty and innocent, I'll grant her a reprieve, and think it over a little more.