The Sock Saga Continues!

I received my buttons for the "Rock and Weave" socks today. I like them and am now happily wearing my buttoned socks. Here's how they look:


It's kind of hard to see the button colors in the pictures (it's raining and dark and more of the same is predicted for tomorrow...I just wanted to get the pictures up!), but there is one aqua and one purple on each sock, and I reversed which one was on top on each. I'm pleased with them.

As for my next pair of Socks that Rock, I've done a few pattern rows of Hedera. I love the pattern, but it doesn't seem to be working with the STR yarn:


I realized that for Hedera, a solid color would work much better. I even emailed the pattern-writer,Cookie (whose blog is great!)and she confirmed that this is probably true. She gave me a great tip: when you want to see how others have done a pattern, do a search on flickr and you'll get lots of examples! Once I get my new camera I will set up a flickr site of my own. It's a lovely way to keep an online photo album and share it with others.

Anyway...since I'm not that far into the socks, I think I'm going to rip them YET AGAIN and try one of the patterns in Sensational Knitted Socks--either the Baby Cable Rib or the Elongated Cable Rib, which are more solid (less lacy) and should show off the STR much better. I just found a Knit-a-long for this book too, so that should be fun and helpful as I progress. I continue to marvel at the depth and breadth of the online knitting community!

I also need to decide in the next few days whether or not I will renew my STR club membership. It's so tempting, but I've just joined the Sundara sock yarn club, and it might be nice to try some of the Etsy vendors too. We'll see.

The Sock Saga Continues!

I received my buttons for the "Rock and Weave" socks today. I like them and am now happily wearing my buttoned socks. Here's how they look:


It's kind of hard to see the button colors in the pictures (it's raining and dark and more of the same is predicted for tomorrow...I just wanted to get the pictures up!), but there is one aqua and one purple on each sock, and I reversed which one was on top on each. I'm pleased with them.

As for my next pair of Socks that Rock, I've done a few pattern rows of Hedera. I love the pattern, but it doesn't seem to be working with the STR yarn:


I realized that for Hedera, a solid color would work much better. I even emailed the pattern-writer,Cookie (whose blog is great!)and she confirmed that this is probably true. She gave me a great tip: when you want to see how others have done a pattern, do a search on flickr and you'll get lots of examples! Once I get my new camera I will set up a flickr site of my own. It's a lovely way to keep an online photo album and share it with others.

Anyway...since I'm not that far into the socks, I think I'm going to rip them YET AGAIN and try one of the patterns in Sensational Knitted Socks--either the Baby Cable Rib or the Elongated Cable Rib, which are more solid (less lacy) and should show off the STR much better. I just found a Knit-a-long for this book too, so that should be fun and helpful as I progress. I continue to marvel at the depth and breadth of the online knitting community!

I also need to decide in the next few days whether or not I will renew my STR club membership. It's so tempting, but I've just joined the Sundara sock yarn club, and it might be nice to try some of the Etsy vendors too. We'll see.

Socktoberfest!

I finally finished my Socks That Rock "Rock and Weave" socks. They came out very cute, and I've loved the STR Yarn. I was jealous looking at everyone's Rhinebeck pictures--I am DEFINITELY going next year!--and seeing the range of STR Colors that The Fold had on display.

This was the first pair of socks that I've felt the need to block. I may invest in sock blockers, like those made by Fiber Trends, but in the meantime I went the homemade route with a bendable hanger, as shown here. It's actually worked pretty well.

As these socks require buttons, I ordered some from Button Shoppe online and should have them soon. Pictures of the completed socks to come!

For my next skein of Socks that Rock, I tried the pattern that had come with the skein of the lightweight. The pattern is called "Hippy Crunchy," and I just wasn't liking it after the first few rows. There is a sssk part that was making me crazy! So I settled on Knitty's Hedera, which looks like it will compliment the yarn beautifully; this pattern has a lacy feel and the pattern is interesting without being frustrating. Will keep you posted on how they're coming along.

Socktoberfest!

I finally finished my Socks That Rock "Rock and Weave" socks. They came out very cute, and I've loved the STR Yarn. I was jealous looking at everyone's Rhinebeck pictures--I am DEFINITELY going next year!--and seeing the range of STR Colors that The Fold had on display.

This was the first pair of socks that I've felt the need to block. I may invest in sock blockers, like those made by Fiber Trends, but in the meantime I went the homemade route with a bendable hanger, as shown here. It's actually worked pretty well.

As these socks require buttons, I ordered some from Button Shoppe online and should have them soon. Pictures of the completed socks to come!

For my next skein of Socks that Rock, I tried the pattern that had come with the skein of the lightweight. The pattern is called "Hippy Crunchy," and I just wasn't liking it after the first few rows. There is a sssk part that was making me crazy! So I settled on Knitty's Hedera, which looks like it will compliment the yarn beautifully; this pattern has a lacy feel and the pattern is interesting without being frustrating. Will keep you posted on how they're coming along.

The Final Word on the Sonoma Shawl

I took the shawl off the blocking board today. I gained about 4-5 inches with the blocking, and I'm happy with the finished product. Take a look:



I do still want to make a big, flowing shawl--something kind of like this one, or one of the nice Fiddlesticks shawls, or the Clapotis, or the Half-Pi Shawl for which I already have yarn...

Anyway, I'm going to wear the new one tonight and enjoy it. At Stitches East, I'll search for a beautiful shawl pin to top it all off.

The Final Word on the Sonoma Shawl

I took the shawl off the blocking board today. I gained about 4-5 inches with the blocking, and I'm happy with the finished product. Take a look:



I do still want to make a big, flowing shawl--something kind of like this one, or one of the nice Fiddlesticks shawls, or the Clapotis, or the Half-Pi Shawl for which I already have yarn...

Anyway, I'm going to wear the new one tonight and enjoy it. At Stitches East, I'll search for a beautiful shawl pin to top it all off.

One Skein!

I had participated in the One Skein Secret Pal Exchange over the summer, but hadn't really gone through the book carefully. After finishing my Sonoma Shawl the other night, I felt like doing something quick, and something that would make a small dent in my stash!

I chose "The Clutch You'll Never Give Up," and started it yesterday at knitting group. It was so easy and fun; the Colinette Point 5 was such a blast to knit up, and then while my family watched the Mets lose last night, I finished! I felted today and I'm really pleased with the results. The two yarns look wonderful together, and the Aussi Wool Yarn is absolutely wonderful for felting. Here are before and after felting photos:






Now I'm considering the gloves from the One Skein Book...perhaps to use up some pretty cherry-colored Debbie Bliss Cashmerino that is waiting to be used.

For today, I'm about to start a cute "70's Suede Jacket" in Hot Pink Berroco Suede, a pattern I've been holding for about a year and that originally appeared in one of the Better Homes Knit It! Magazines.

One Skein!

I had participated in the One Skein Secret Pal Exchange over the summer, but hadn't really gone through the book carefully. After finishing my Sonoma Shawl the other night, I felt like doing something quick, and something that would make a small dent in my stash!

I chose "The Clutch You'll Never Give Up," and started it yesterday at knitting group. It was so easy and fun; the Colinette Point 5 was such a blast to knit up, and then while my family watched the Mets lose last night, I finished! I felted today and I'm really pleased with the results. The two yarns look wonderful together, and the Aussi Wool Yarn is absolutely wonderful for felting. Here are before and after felting photos:






Now I'm considering the gloves from the One Skein Book...perhaps to use up some pretty cherry-colored Debbie Bliss Cashmerino that is waiting to be used.

For today, I'm about to start a cute "70's Suede Jacket" in Hot Pink Berroco Suede, a pattern I've been holding for about a year and that originally appeared in one of the Better Homes Knit It! Magazines.

Blocking

I had some issues with my Sonoma Shawl, which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. The Paca-Paints Alpaca yarn was unbelievable to work with, but I noticed that the shawl was coming out smaller than I had hoped. I emailed Oat Couture, the company that wrote the pattern, and they very kindly and quickly responded, with the suggestion to increase my needle size gradually from a 6 (the size I chose based on making gauge--that was probably my first mistake, as a shawl gauge doesn't have to be that literal) to a 9. I did that, and also added additional straight rows in between the gradual increase rows.

I also realized that the pattern called for a shawl that was only 15 inches long, while I was envisioning something longer and flowing. I've now finished and love the end result; the shawl is resting comfortably on the blocking board, where I feel confident I can coax it to about 19 inches, particularly since the bottom is lace, and I've pinned each point just like a regular lace shawl. More to come once this baby is blocked.

I'm about to head off to my knitting group, which had suspended activity over the summer. I'm so excited to see my knitting buddies! I will start "The Clutch You'll Never Give Up," from the Interweave One Skein book. I'll be using some very cool Colinette Point Five in the Venezia Colorway (a deep blue/green/purple mix), with some navy chunky wool reserved if I need more than the "one skein!" Pictures and more to come.

It's COLD here in the Northeast today--the Einstein Coat and my Embossed Leaves socks will make their debut!

Blocking

I had some issues with my Sonoma Shawl, which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. The Paca-Paints Alpaca yarn was unbelievable to work with, but I noticed that the shawl was coming out smaller than I had hoped. I emailed Oat Couture, the company that wrote the pattern, and they very kindly and quickly responded, with the suggestion to increase my needle size gradually from a 6 (the size I chose based on making gauge--that was probably my first mistake, as a shawl gauge doesn't have to be that literal) to a 9. I did that, and also added additional straight rows in between the gradual increase rows.

I also realized that the pattern called for a shawl that was only 15 inches long, while I was envisioning something longer and flowing. I've now finished and love the end result; the shawl is resting comfortably on the blocking board, where I feel confident I can coax it to about 19 inches, particularly since the bottom is lace, and I've pinned each point just like a regular lace shawl. More to come once this baby is blocked.

I'm about to head off to my knitting group, which had suspended activity over the summer. I'm so excited to see my knitting buddies! I will start "The Clutch You'll Never Give Up," from the Interweave One Skein book. I'll be using some very cool Colinette Point Five in the Venezia Colorway (a deep blue/green/purple mix), with some navy chunky wool reserved if I need more than the "one skein!" Pictures and more to come.

It's COLD here in the Northeast today--the Einstein Coat and my Embossed Leaves socks will make their debut!