Saturday, September 27, 2008

Get Blogging!

As Michelle said in the comments, it's time I got back to blogging. It's not as if I haven't been knitting. I just haven't been blogging.

First, I finished the Spring Forward socks from Knitty. I really liked knitting this pattern. It is easy to remember and it was lots of fun. The yarn I used is On Your Toes by S.R. Kertzer. I knit them up with 2.25mm Knit Picks Harmony needles. They seem to have become my sock needle of choice these days. That's a little surprising to me since I've always knit my socks with 2mm needles. The yarn was alright to knit with but I didn't think it was anything spectacular. I thought the colours looked better in the ball than they did when I knit it up but I still like the way they turned out and I know the intended person will love them. I might look to see what other colours they have in this yarn and if I find something I like I might knit with it one more time. I'll wait until the Creative Festival and see if anyone has the yarn there.

The second pair of socks I finished is the Bleeding Hearts socks. This one was a surprise for me. I use Patons Stretch Socks for these and once again the 2.25mm Harmony needles. What surprised me is how much I like this yarn. It has elastic in it and hence the "stretch" in the yarn name. I just started the Jaywalker socks in a blue colourway of this yarn. I'm hoping the elastic in the yarn will help with the tightness of the pattern. I haven't gotten past the toe so I'm not sure yet.

In other knitting, I've almost finished the Forest Path Stole. I'm working on the left side border now. I've got 4 triangles left to go and then it's the top border and blocking and this will be an FO.

Last Sunday I went to The Purple Purl for a carding class. Lorraine Smith was the instructor. She was fantastic as always. I think I might actually have gotten a better handle on carding this time around. It was a blast. We were given fibres in red, yellow, blue, white, and black. Then we blended different fibres to get different colours. The carding technique was totally different to what I was shown in the first carding class I took. I found this method of holding the cards a lot easier to do than the first class I took. This is what I managed to card and I will be spinning it up on a spindle as soon as it arrives. I'll tell more about that when I receive it in the mail.


Ever since the first time I saw this at the Purl I've wanted to learn how to make it. It just so happens that they had a rug hooking class on Sunday afternoon after I had finished the carding class. I was there but I've never done rug hooking before - latch hook yes, rug hooking no. I asked if a beginner could take the class and I was happily told yes. I ended up staying for the class. I don't have enough progress to show so I am not going to bother with a picture yet. I also want to get another hook because I feel the hook that was in the kit is a little to big. There should be at least one rug hooking vendor at the Creative Festival so I will look into getting some supplies in a few weeks.



Last but not least, some Malabrigo sock yarn and Silky Merino ended up following me home last week. I know the sock yarn will not be used for socks. I have some shawls I want to make. Now to decide which ones they want to become.

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Sock Meme

I saw this on Pixie's blog and since I love knitting socks so much I couldn't resist.

When did you learn to knit socks? About 10 to 15 years ago. I kept hearing people on the knit list talk about it and I just had to do it.

What's the first sock you ever knit? A simple stockinette sock.

Favorite sock pattern? Heartstrings Toe Up Worksheet.

Favorite sock yarn? I can't choose. There are way too many but I can name a few - Malabrigo, Socks That Rock, Fleece Artists.

Favorite needle method? I use the Heartstrings Toe Up Sock method for almost all my socks.

Favorite sock needles? Knit Picks Options or Harmony (depending on yarn) in US 0 (2mm)
Who do you knit socks for? Mostly my daughter and grandchildren.

How many pairs have you knitted to date? I have no idea.

What's on your sock knitting to-do list?

What kind of socks do you like to knit -Striped? Only if it is self-striping yarn.
Colorwork? Not unless the yarn comes that way.
Plain stockinette? Yes
Cabled? Yes
Lace? Yes
Anklets? No
Knee socks? No
Solid colors? Yes. I used to prefer solid if there was a design but now I just use whatever yarn calls to me.
Bright & crazy? Yes
Faux-Fair Isle? Only if the yarn is like that.

Tag a few sock knitters here ~ Whoever would like to share, feel free to do so.

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Friday, September 05, 2008

Did You Blog Yet?

Ever since I got back from NYC on August 25th Joseph has asked me "Mom, did you blog yet?" I've been so busy trying to get Joseph ready for grade 9 and when I went back to work on Tuesday the madness really began. I had tons of work waiting me for.

I don't have much time for blogging this morning either so I am going to leave it all to pictures. I've got a picture of some FOs. The second Flower Basket Shawl I did for the Ravelympics 2008. The first one is in NY with my daughter. Yarn used is 4 skeins of Malabrigo Merino Silk in colour Indiecita.

I also finished the knitting on the oval doily. There is a version of this doily in the Japanese book Knitted Lace Vol. 1. There is a version in Anna January 1998 and Muestros y Motivos Tricot Hogar 1 - the Spanish lace book I have. It still needs blocking but I haven't had the time. Hopefully that will get done this weekend. I used 2mm needles and 4 balls of DMC Cebelia No. 20 in red.

The rest of the pictures are what I was able to get of the grandchildren.

Oval Doily

Flower Basket Shawl

Liba

Shimon

Moe

Mati

Elisheva

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