Before and After

So here we go - this is what some of the blanks look like once knit up - starting with a rainbow dyed blank that had diagonal stripes. All the blanks are knit with double strands, and the socks are knit TAAT (two at a time)

For this yarn, I also wound it into a cake to show how the stripes looked. Fab!

And here are the socks - as you can see the color transition into each other sue to the diagonal dyeing.

In comparison, these socks were knit front a blank with horizontal stripes. The stripes are more pronounced, but nonetheless, they look great!


This blank was dyed to represent sky, grass and earth - a bit of a mish-mash of colors . . .

And they were knitted up into a pair of socks for hubby. Lovely - and more to follow!

First Finished Project 2011

Last night I completed my first pair of socks for 2011. They are Coral Hederas and knit from Cookie A's Hedera pattern using Patons Kroy yarn hand dyed by myself. I'm very pleased with these and will probably test drive them today!

I did not keep a record of how many socks that I knit in previous years, so I am ready to start here! I would hope to knit at least one pair per month as a minimum but will aim for two pairs. I shall update the bar on the right with my 'finished' so watch this space :o)

SSS

Also known as 'single sock syndrome'. Sigh . . . . this is the bain of many a sock knitter - well, those of us who knit one sock at a time! So here is a small selection of some of my 'singles' who are looking for a partner!

This sock is knit using Knit Picks Tonal yarn - a lovely merino superwash yarn. The pattern is Serab by Hunter Hammerson and is a quick easy knit. I'm very pleased with this sock, and plan to knit its partner very soon! Hunter is about to release a book of sock patterns, I have pre-ordered the download version, and this pattern was a 'taster' from the book. If the others are anything like this, I am in for a treat:o)

I have used my 'Billy Basic pattern for this sock - it really is a simple pattern. This is the yarn from one of my Christmas presents which I photographed for an earlier post. The yarn has cashmere in it and it is supper soft. I have cast on for the second sock and it will be one of 'commuting' projects that I knit in the car when hubby is driving.

I am taking part in a KAL (knit-a-long) on Ravelry and this is my sock for January on the Cookie A KAL. The pattern is called 'Hedera' and the designer, Cookie A, is giving a talk and class in Tofino in April. I have booked to go and see her and am very excited about that! The yarn is my hand dyed 'Cherry Love'. I had planned to use the yarn for Serab, but it is a bit too thick for the tension - however, it suits Hedera perfectly. I am halfway down the foot so should have the pair finished this weekend. Another quick and easy project . . .

And finally a taster from my dye pot :o) I have played around and produced a spectrum that I will be using when my 'bare' yarn arrives. The colors here look so glorious and vibrant, I can hardly wait to start dyeing. I will be using the trade name of 'Witches Brew' and will be selling it on my Etsy site - so pop over and take a look!

Happy New Year :o)

The New Year is nearly upon us and it is time to consider some resolutions . . . . well, got that over and done with quickly – now I can party :o) OK, OK, I resolve to use up my yarn stash and to sell on Etsy my surplus (as if there ever could be such a thing!) hand-dyed yarn and project bags – which lead me very nicely into a few items that I have just put in my Etsy store – go and take a look, you know you want to :o)




The project bags are my favorite design and came about because when I knitting my socks, this is the size and shape that I go to. I can fit one project per bag - they are lightweight, easy to carry and store, and look so cute. They follow my philosophy of sock knitting as well - let me explain. I love hand-knit socks. once you have tried them, you won't go back to shop bought ones again. But more than that, you can buy some very luxurious yarn - you only need 100gms, and that is pretty much it. No dozens of matching balls of yarn, worrying about dye colors, getting bored part way through a project etc. The same is true of these project bags, I am like a magpie with pretty fabrics and I only need small amounts to make one. And of course hubby is happy as my fabric is now moving out of my craft room and into the hands of a deserving owner!

Having segued into nicely into knitting socks, I have now finished my Dolly Mixtures Socks, using up leftover yarn. Love, love, love them :o)

And Re-Skeined . . . .

This is how my Neon Punch looks after re-skeining it to a more acceptable length to fit my swift - pretty neat huh? I'll need to wind it into a cake before starting to knit, but I'm getting there!

Now I just need to choose a pattern! I suspect there will be some pooling, so I'm thinking a nice simple rib pattern.

Peppermill Exchange

It all started with me wearing a pair of hand knitted socks on a training course at work . . . I was wearing my September Mockery Socks and my colleagues commented favorably on them. They are rather cute - lovely fresh green lacy socks with cute silver lined crystal beads . . .

So, my colleague was looking for a Christmas pressie for his wife . . . . and he is a wood turner . . . so I now have a lovely handturned wooden peppermill, and he has . . . .


Hope she likes them :o) And on the subject of Christmas Gifts, we take our recycling to a small local dump where an old boy by the name of Willy always gives us a hand. Hubby got talking to him during the last visit and they got onto the subject of cold feet, hand-knitted socks, you get the picture? Well, it had to be done, and I knit a pair of chunky socks for Willy - and the name (well really, what else would you call them??) Willy's Warmers!

Prairie Skies & Yoga

I cast on on Monday for the mystery socks by the very talented picnicknits on Ravelry. A clue is released each by the designer in the form of a portion of the pattern. The clues run for four and at the end . . . . you will have completed a pair of gorgeous hand-knit socks. I chose some lovely lilac Tonal yarn from Knit Picks, and called my project Prairie Skies - the yarn just reminded me of one of the stunning skies that we get to see over the prairies. So, at the end of clue one . . . here is my sock so far . . . .

The yarn is actually more pinky lilac that the bluey lilac in the photo.

I've also recently taken up yoga. It is something that I have thought about for some time, and after one of my colleagues mentioned that she was going at lunchtime from work - I thought that I would join. I have been for three sessions so far - it looks as though twice a week will work well, and it is great. I certainly feel better for it - more stretched and relaxed. I have muscles where I did not realize muscles existed - and I only know that as I am so sore! Having lost 37lbs with Weight Watchers, I am hoping that this will tone me up, and help me lose the last 30lbs :o) It has certainly opened up a whole new world and I look forward to finding out more about this past time!

Socks, socks, socks!

I just love this time of the month . . . . finishing off socks for one project on Ravelry and time to start planning the ones for the next month. This month I completed the SKA mystery socks - which should have been knit in black or white yarn . . . . . . what do you mean . . . . . . . these socks are not black or white??? I think you need to adjust your monitor :o) I called them my Mockery Socks (mystery-socks, geddit?!)
The pattern was a lovely one that included dainty beads and was a joy to knit.

I'm also about 75% of the way through some socks for my lovely sister-in-law - they will be winging their way to her for Christmas xx

Of course, this means that I have been using up my stash, and it needs to be replenished, so I have an order with Knitpicks that should be here in a couple of weeks. Woo Hoo!!