Yarn Intercept

New Projects

I finished up three projects recently. The two from the last post as well as a secret project to be revealed later! So, what does that mean? I've cast on for a few new things!

I started with a pair of socks for Summer of Socks '09. I combined SOS with my personal sock club and had Mike pick a new bag. Inside was some Claudia Handpainted yarn in the Cabin Fever colorway that I'd already started a sock with. I was only a few inches in, but didn't really care for the pattern (my own design). So I ripped it out and cast on for Cookie's Vilai (rav link). It's a great pattern and was working well with the yarn, but it was too big. I finally admitted this about 3 1/2 inches in...ripped it and cast on for Spring Forward, which was giving me a sock the right size, but was splotching horribly. The colors were lining up on each side of the sock - not even spiraling around. It was awful...so I ripped it out. Next came Toasty Twist (rav link). A cute pattern, but I had the same problem - yucky splotching. I was disgusted with the yarn at this point and was NOT going to cast on for something else! I also have no photographic evidence due to my frustration. So I did what anyone would do: I chose a new bag! This time I got Yarn Love's Juliet in the Winter Deep colorway. I cast on for Aquaphobia and things are going smoothly. For some reason, the yarn does not want to photograph nicely. I'll keep trying though. In the meantime, here's Tiger!

 

He says, "Why do you keep saying my name?"

"I was just trying to get your attention, kitty!"

The second project is a lace shawl. Some time ago, I had cast on for AeRang with Fiesta Baby Boom. The pattern was nice and geometric, but I don't think the instructions were written very well and I was having to concentrate too hard on the chart. It was easy, but I had to knit it in silence or I'd get distracted and lose my place. That was annoying so I've been ignoring the shawl. I decided to frog it and cast on for something else. I saw tentenknits Lavalette and thought it'd be perfect! It's a super simple pattern that I've already memorized. Stockinette bands alternate with lace bands. It's a free pattern from Through The Loops, but the designer is asking for donations to an Alzheimer's research center, if you are so moved. I was so I donated. I've cast on and am zooming along:

 

I'll be done in no time! And as far as that Claudia goes...when I stop fuming, I've already decided to make the Herringbone Rib Socks from the book for handpainted yarns. (It even calls for Claudia!) Hopefully, it will break up the colors AND fit. We'll see.

A Few FO's

I finished up a couple of things recently!

First up, is Mike's Manly Socks.

Pattern: Manly Socks by Hannah Six
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock - Pioneer colorway
Needles: Size 2 (2.75mm) Kollage Yarn's square dpn's
Cast on: March 17, 2009
Completed: June 22, 2009
Deviations from Pattern: I cast on only 66 stitches as my gauge was a little bit looser and my husband has a smaller than average foot. (He wears a size 8. Aren't all of you ladies with husbands who wear a size 13 jealous?) Everything else was the same, including the eye of partridge heel, which I did not get a picture of.

Mike's thoughts: He likes the way the socks look and feel - except for how they feel when rubbing the two together! He says they are "scratchy" - not on the skin, but sock against sock. It's like, "fingernails on a chalkboard".

I guess it's the nylon in the Lorna's Laces. I'm hoping they will soften up when washed because right now, that is a little annoying for him. I made his other pair of handknit socks out of Mountain Colors Bearfoot and I think the different content has spoiled him, in a way. No big deal though! They are comparable in price and I certainly don't mind knitting with Bearfoot.


My other FO is the Fern Fitted Shell.

Pattern: Fern Fitted Shell by Angela Hahn
Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy - 5 skeins in Pomogranate
Needles: Size 7 Knit Picks Options Circulars
Cast On: May 29, 2009
Finished: June 18, 2009
Deviations from pattern: None...well, I did bind off all neckline stitches before picking up and working the icord. I was having trouble with the neckline laying nicely and looking smooth and I think this did the trick.
Thoughts: I really like the final product, but even though this is 75% cotton/25% acrylic, it's still too warm to wear in the heat OKC is getting right now. Temps are nearing 100 degrees with heat indexes over 100. The high for tomorrow is 102. Yikes! I think I'll stay inside at a comfortable 72 degrees. Maybe when it cools down a little, I'll be able to wear the top.

Instant Gratification

I've been working pretty steadily on a summery top - Fern Fitted Shell by Angela Hahn - but am having a bit of trouble with the neckline. I think I've got it figured out, but in the meantime, I was lured by a new colorway of Sugar & Cream dishcloth cotton - Stripes! I bought three colors. I thought about making the Garterlac cloth by Criminy Jickets, but I didn't feel like picking up stitches. (It's very easy, but I wanted ridiculously simple.) So I cast on for the basic diagonal garter dishcloth and in no time, I had this!

The other two colors are a pretty seafoam green/aqua mix and red, white, and blue:



I think I'll have to make the Garterlac cloth out of the red, white, and blue. So patriotic!

I also have been working on Mike's Manly Socks (rav link) and have one complete! (finally)



I'm using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Pioneer colorway. The socks have a eye of patridge heel. It was hard to get a pic of it though, but it looks great! I'm knitting these with size 2 square needles and I love how the stitches are turning out. They are so even! Check out the stockinette sole:


By the way, Turtlegirl is knitting the Zodia socks with the Knit Witch's Leo colorway. She is adding beads to the center diamond which I think looks pretty cool. Click here and scroll down a smidge.

A few weeks ago I went to Plano, TX to see the Yarn Harlot speak at Legacy Books. I told Brittany (Knit Witch) that I was going and she sent me a skein of sock yarn to give to her since I already planned to give her a copy of the Zodia pattern. After waiting in line for what seemed like forever, I finally got my book signed and gave her the goodies. She loved the yarn! I told her that it was the Pisces colorway instead of her sign, Gemini, because Brittany was planning to revamp the Gemini color. I said that I hoped she didn't mind knitting out of her Zodiac sign. She seemed good with it. She even had me sign the pattern! That was weird. I was surprised so just signed my name instead of personalizing it to her. Duh. Oh well. I hope she decides to knit them someday!

Zodia Pattern Now Available

The Zodia pattern is now available for purchase and download at The Knit Witch here. It is a slip stitch/cable pattern designed with Knit Witch Celestial Cloud fingering weight sock yarn in the Sagittarius colorway. It is designed to break up the color changes in highly variegated yarn while limiting unsightly pooling or flashing. The cost is $5.50.

  

 You can find the pattern's Ravelry page here.

We have a winner!

After much deliberation, votes from husbands, and many emails back and forth between me and The Knit Witch, we have decided on a new name for the socks! They will now be called:

ZODIA SOCKS

The name was submitted by Kitten With A Whiplash. Thanks for the great name, Kitten! I've emailed you, so be sure to check it and send me your details so we can send YOU your yarn!

There were many great names, but we decided that Zodia Socks really sounded different while also tying in the names of the yarns (they are named after the signs of the Zodiac).

I want to say thanks to everyone for all the great entries! The socks will be available in a couple of weeks (hopefully) on The Knit Witch website. Stay tuned!

Last Night for Contest!

I've finished the first sock and have all the pattern kinks worked out. I added a few special touches too. For example, the pattern continues on the back of the heel - it's pretty easy to do. Then, if you aren't finished with a diamond by the time your ready to start shaping for the toe, I've written the instructions in a way to allow you to finish up the center diamond while beginning the toe shaping. (It's what I did, but only for about 4 more rounds.)

Here are a few quick pictures of the finished sock. I still have to knit the second one and will take some better pictures (with actual sunlight instead of this gray stuff) when the pattern is released.(click for a bigger pic)

The yarn behaves wonderfully! I only had a small amount of pooling of the purple and brown on the top of the instep during the gusset decreases- to be expected when you have so many stitches on the needles. I don't think it's distracting though! It's fabulous yarn from a fabulous dyer. (Go buy some!)

Tonight is your last night to enter the naming contest. Just leave a comment on the previous post and your name choice will go on the list that The Knit Witch and I choose from. There are a lot of great options, but I'm sure you can come up with more, so let's here 'em!

Sock Knitting

That's a pretty boring title, I know, but I couldn't think of anything else! I've been working on socks pretty exclusively lately. The first is a pattern of my own that will be available soon at The Knit Witch's site. I am using her 100% superwash merino sock yarn called "Celestial Cloud" in the colorway "Sagittarius". It is a beautiful mix of purples, pinks, browns,greens, and blues. I have been very pleased that the yarn does not pool or flash. I devised a pattern with slip stitches to help break up the colors, but even if I hadn't, I wouldn't have had the pooling/flashing problem, which is the number one complaint about hand dyed yarns. Brittany has been working hard getting ready for Stitches South which is coming up next week, so the pattern won't be available until sometime after that. Here is a sneak preview though!

Does anyone have an idea for a pattern name? I'm using the working name, "Constellations" only because all of Brittany's sock yarn is named after the signs of the Zodiac, but I'm not sure that's going to be the final name. In fact, I'll just make a contest out of it. Submit your ideas to this blog entry and Brittany and I will choose a new name from the entries. The winner will receive the pattern for free plus a skein of The Knit Witch's beautiful Celestial Cloud yarn to knit it with! The contest will be open for 10 days - that's April 28th. We will announce a winner on April 30th.

In other sock knitting, I was working on my next personal sock club pair (before embarking on the above sock pattern). The yarn I'm using is Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock in the Pioneer colorway. I'm making Manly Socks (rav link) for my husband and they are looking good so far.  A modeled shot will show it much better, so for now, I'll just post a pic of the needles! I'm using Kollage's square needles and I LOVE THEM. It is surprising how comfortable they are to knit with. My stitches seem more uniform too. Oh..if you buy them, Kollage recommends to go a size up from what you are used to knitting with. I'm getting the same gauge on size 2's that I do on 1's, so it is really true!

Knotty or Knice Socks (finally)

These were my JANUARY socks for my personal sock club. (By the way - it's the middle of March.)
They're done though and I love them!

Pattern: Knotty or Knice by Chrissy Gardiner from the Fall 2008 Interweave Knits.
Yarn: Happy Feet by Plymouth, color #4. (It's a shaded solid in a nice deepish red) I used one skein and a little over half of the second one.
Needles: Knit Picks Options Size 1 (2.25mm) DPNs
Cast On: December 24, 2008 (I cheated a little on the start date for the Jan. socks. It makes it even more ridiculous that I didn't finish until....
Completed: March 17, 2009
Thoughts: I followed the instructions for cuff down after spending about 5 seconds attempting the cast on for toe up socks. You don't reverse the chart or anything as it's the same read from bottom to top or top to bottom. Easy. One of these days, I'll try toe up with a little more effort. The yarn is very nice. Soft, but I can tell they will still wear well with the 10% nylon. The color is interesting - a very shaded solid ranging from light red to a deep burgundy. It's kind of a mottled or kettle dyed effect. I wish I'd done one more repeat on the leg as they could be a little longer, but I still love them! They fit perfectly. The pattern is great for those that get annoyed knitting the ribbing (like me) - you just jump right in to the pattern as it has ribbing built into it.

Since I finished one personal sock club pair, it was time for another pick! I gathered the bags,

then called Mike to come pick one. He plucked one up and handed it to me. (I was glad he didn't pick the one second from the front on the left since I saw a needle had poked through - meaning, it's a WIP.) Inside, I found this:

That's Lorna's Laces in the Pioneer colorway that I acquired through a swap. They are destined to be Manly Socks by Hannah Six for....MIKE! There was only one bag with yarn for a pair for him and he found it! We got a chuckle out of that. So now...I just need to get it wound into yarn cakes and I'll be casting on! It's a free download at Ravelry, by the way.

In other WIPs, work on the AeRang shawl is somewhat stalled. I've been knitting on my Ribby Cardi recently. I finished up the left front and one sleeve. One more sleeve to go, then seaming and....sewing in a zipper. Yikes! These socks look nice and easy. I'll just start them instead.

Progress?

I haven't made much lately. How about you? It seems like I catch 30 minutes of knitting time here and there. On the weekends, I might get an hour or two at a stretch, but I can't seem to stay focused on it! Maybe it's because I'm choosing to work on two different red projects, although I have several other WIPs to choose from. (Including my Windowpane coat started this fall and my Ribby Cardi from last Winter.)

So all I have to show since my last post is the following:

Knotty or Knice socks. These were my January Personal Sock Club socks. I was supposed to knit a pair each month. That's not exactly happening! As you can see, I have one sock finished and a second almost halfway done. The picture is a little washed out.

This is my AeRang shawl. It isn't much further along either. Maybe one more repeat than last time. I'm almost finished with the first ball of yarn, so I'm guessing this is going to be a fairly small shoulder shawl. That's what I was hoping for, so it'll be perfect!

I did manage to crank out a cozy cowl using Ironstone's Colorchange yarn. It's a very squishy, pretty yarn and the cowl is just garter rib so it was a cinch. It matches my new teal coat perfectly.

Hopefully, by the next time I post I'll have a few more finished projects to show off! (At my rate of posting, that can surely be accomplished.)

Fortune Hat

In my last post, I mentioned that Mike and I would be getting our traditional New Year's Eve Chinese take-out. That we certainly did and it was yummy, as always! Well, I opened my fortune cookie and this is what it said:

"Try a new hat for a change in looks. Be creative!"

The next day, New Year's Day, I finished this:

Pattern: Selbu Modern by Kate Gagnon. (It's a free pattern!)
Yarn: Fiesta Baby Boom in Teal and Snow.
Needles: Size 2 circs.
Started: November 2008
Finished: January 1, 2009
Thoughts: My stitch gauge was spot on, but my row gauge was a little off, so I have a taller hat than the original. It's just a little more slouchy than I like, so I've turned under the brim and have worn it kind of like a bucket hat. My hair is straight (and stringy) and I think to pull off a slouchy beret, you need to have curly/poofy hair. I tried it and see?

I'm not convinced. Hence, that look.

The crown detailing is great though!

Now, wasn't that fortune just a little weird? It would have been weird enough if it had just said "Try a new hat", but then it also said, "Be creative!" Can you get any more creative than making your own hat? [insert Twilight Zone music here]

I've started a new project too:

Pattern: AeRang by Jolene Mosley
Yarn: Fiesta Baby Boom (again) in Candy Apple Red

I chose this pattern because I wanted something I could knit with 440 yards that was not too "flowery". This geometric pattern is perfect! The directions could have been written a little clearer though. I am knitting from the chart, and it doesn't tell you to reverse the decreases as you knit the second half. (It just says "you can knit the chart the same way as the first side" which isn't exactly true because the selvage stitches are part of the chart - that wouldn't work unless you started four stitches in! So, I'm reading the chart backwards after I knit to the center stitch -  as a friend suggested.The decreases should be reversed, so it could look better, but it isn't bad enough for me to rip. (I'm no perfectionist.) If I had read the written instructions, I would have known how to knit the second half, but who knits lace from the written instructions? (I know some people do - but the majority don't.) Anyway, I'm going to be happy with the finished product, so it's not a big deal to me!

I'm slightly stalled on my Knotty or Knice socks. I'm done with the leg, but since I'm knitting cuff down, I have to reverse the instructions. That takes thinking which is more than I want to do right now! Gimmee something easy.