February 2012 Socks, Completed Before April?

My February 2012 socks have been taking a while, I keep getting distracted by other projects, cardigans, shawls, scarves, and a test knit. Lately I have been taking them to work so they are my only choice during my lunch break. It has definitely provided much needed progress.

I absolutely live the colors, the navy, purple and green go so well together and the yarn is so soft, not even the littlest bit itchy. The yarn is King Cole Zig Zag and I can't remember the Colorway. I purchased it from my LYS, Knit'n'Purl in Dandenong. I have a few other skeins of king cole and I love all the colorways.

FO - January 2012 Socks

I finished my January 2012 socks, a little over schedule now that it's February. I really enjoyed doing the heel flap again, the socks fit perfectly, and I live how they look. Definitely a win in my opinion.

Forgot the January 2012 socks!

Today is Australia day, and I realized that January is almost over, and yet I hadn't even finished my January 2012 socks, or even finished one! So I pulled them out (it, only 1 so far) and finished the foot, Kitchener stitched the toe and took the necessary photo.

Very happy with the sock, so pretty and the short row heel really is the best fit for me. The 64 stitches also seem to be just right. Now to get the second sock cast on and hopefully the leg completed before February.

I had to frog :(

Do as I expected I made errors in the ribbing of the socks, the depressing thing is I stuffed up before I had even had a drink, and still didn't 't realize. I also realized my counting needs work.

I had 62 stitches instead of 64, so I ended the second needle with Knut stitches, and began the first needle with knit stitches! Rookie mistake and I laughed when I real used, then promptly ripped it back. I cast on fresh this morning, have finished the ribbing and am happily working down the leg. Photos soon.

On another note, I calculated the yoke for my owls, and I have about 3 inches more of stockinette before I begin the pattern. I'm excited to see how it works out, but I'm expecting it to have a similar look to the tangled yoke in relation to the size and location of the pattern. So plenty of stockinette for the few drinks I've had tonight, as we have gone out to dinner with the kids.

Unfortunately my husband (love saying that!) hates me knitting in public, so while the kids are in the playground, and he is playing pokies, I am blogging. But it's proof that knitting is always on my mind.

No knitting today

Today I went to my great uncle's funeral. It was sad, but I didn't know him very well, so I'm still standing. I think the worst thing about funerals is that they make you think about your own mortality. I was glad to be there for my dad, he doesn't 't really have anyone at the moment, or since he divorced my mum.

The funeral was nice, although many of the religious aspects made me uncomfortable. I don 't follow Christianity, and the prayers in particular I found awkward. But the turnout was quite good.

I enjoyed catching up with family, even if it wasn't under the best circumstances. My grandparents are not looking too good themselves, although after 80, every day is an achievement. And seeing my pa smile at me was definitely a highlight.

I cast on a sock this morning and have only knit a few rows of ribbing, and they were after a few drinks, so I hope I don't have to tear anything back tomorrow. Wish I was at a stockinette portion, but oh well. My owls is, but I haven 't calculated how much to knit before decreases and the pattern, so I'll leave that til tomorrow.

I'd love to hear from anyone reading this blog, what you like, what you don't. Enjoy your life, appreciate your life and live your dreams!

Ugly, hideous socks!

I finished the socks that I said were not my colors, and I think they are hideous! On one sock the skein had a color progression error, so they barely even look fraternal. I do not like them.

I have also reached another conclusion, I do not enjoy doing afterthought heel socks either. I do like how the color progressions stay intact, but I find them boring to knit. I miss my slip stitch, short row heel. I love doing them! Plus I find they fit my feet a lot better.

I have never cared whether my socks match, to me the fit is most important, along with the enjoyment of knitting them. So for me, back to colors I prefer, and the design I like best. You may need sunglasses for these socks though!

Not My Colors

I started a new sock today, another afterthought heel, and I have chosen a yarn that is the complete opposite of what colors appeal to me. I love blue undertones in my colors, a lot of blues, greens, purples, maroons and occasionally a bit of pink. I've never been drawn to yellows, oranges or bright reds.

And that I think, is the beauty of sock yarns. You can play with colors you wouldn't normally use, or colors that do not look good on you, because in the end, they'll be on your feet.

I first discovered this with the last pair of socks I made, the pink and green were not colors I typically would wear, but I loved knitting them. And I hope it's the same for these. Either way it'll keep my project page bright!

My Daughter Is Wearing My Socks!

A lot of the socks I have made myself are too small now, either due to knitting them with only 56 stitches, my gauge being too tight, or they have accidentally made it through the washing machine and dryer.

I have discovered that when they are too tight, they itch me like crazy, and are also generally uncomfortable. So I suggested my daughter try some on and if they kinda fit she can have them as bed socks. And to her absolute delight they fit! Well almost.

The socks seem to fit really well in circumference, but still an inch or so too long in the toe. Plenty of room to grow I said. So, I will now continue knitting my bigger socks for me, and pass on all the pairs that are now too small for me. I'm just glad I found a recipient, I did not want to have to throw them away!

FO: Afterthought Heel Socks

I have finished my first afterthought heel socks, and they are very similar. I expected there to be a big difference in how they looked, much more fraternal rather than identical, but they sort of worked out the same. Almost.

They fit well, however I may add an extra 1/4 inch to the foot as they feel a little bit too short. Not enough to make them unwearable, just a tiny bit noticeable. Overall I'm very pleased with how they have turned out, and the afterthought heel is so easy!

I really enjoyed knitting these colors up as well. The dark/black sections and the gorgeous blue are certainly my colors, and I'd never really liked pale pinks or bright lime greens. And yet the combination of all of these colors made a bright, colorful and happy yarn that lifted my mood every time I picked it up. I definitely want some more of these bright colors in my future.

First afterthought heel

I have completed my first afterthought heel, although as you can see it was not done after the sock was knit. I didn't want to risk making the sock too short, so I decided to knit the heel after a few inches of the foot.

I also admit I was too impatient to wait, I wanted to see how the heel would fit. I love it! The fit is really comfortable and the sock is a lot easier to put on. I love how the stripes continue on, and even though I know the socks will be fraternal, I still look forward to knitting it.

My new favourite heel I think!

Time to try an afterthought heel?

I cast on for a new sock a few days ago, just a basic stockinette sock. But I'm wondering if it's time to try an afterthought heel? Part of me is a little apprehensive after my toe-up disaster, they were the most uncomfortable socks ever. But I do like the idea that other than adding a small piece of scrap yarn, I can knit mindlessly for a very long time.

I think I might give it a try, still have a few inches to go before I need to decide.

Still a little small

I finished my first variegated monkey and I'm not so sure it's fitting right. This is really disappointing as the last pair of socks I knit with 64 stitches on 2.25mm needles fit perfectly.

But the monkey seems a bit tight, particularly when trying to get it over the heel. I'm not sure if it's the lace stitches reducing the stretch ( which I assume it is) or if it's that the needles I used are too small. I know the pattern suggests 2.5mm needles but this size is not as readily available here in Australia. Not impossible, but not as easy to find.

I have located some addi turbo 40cm circulars in 2.5mm on eBay, which I might order, or I'll have to go for a drive to sunspun, which is a yarn store that sells knit pro and addi's I believe.

I'm still loving the color, but I think it'll be the last pair of monkeys I knit. But I think I will look at more cookie a patterns to knit, I have enjoyed them.

Variegated Monkeys

I have started a new pair of monkey socks by Cookie A. My last pair popped in the ball of the foot. Hoping these ones last longer. They are a nylon blend this time. I'm knitting them with King Cole Zig Zag sock yarn in purple. Was lucky enough to buy this skein and 2 others on sale.

Unfortunately I don't own a pair of 2.5mm needles and couldn't find any at the shops. So I'm using 2.25mm needles. This is what I used last time as well. I briefly considered going up to 2.75mm but thought they would probably be too big.

Either way they are so pretty and soft!

64stitch socks

I completed a new pair of socks, using 64 stitches instead of my usual 56. I was finding that on a few pairs the socks were getting tighter and one pair in particular was unwearable. I also found a few pairs popping in the ball of the foot. So I threw them away.

But this got me thinking that perhaps I was making my socks too small, with too much negative ease. So I knit a pair with more stitches, and I am pleased to say they fit really well. Snug but not constricting.

We will see how they go over time, but I am hoping they are more durable, long wearing and comfortable.

As a side note, they are knit from Moda Vera Noir sock yarn from Spotlight. Colorway is unknown, but a mix of pink, purple, orange and green. Very happy with the results.

These socks make me Happy :)

After my unhappy ending for the Leyburn Socks, and the boring finishing of the Classic Black Cardigan, and Nathan's jacket being too big.....I needed to knit something for me, something pretty and something soft. So I chose socks. Basic, predictable pattern, at least that way there can be no surprises and I know what to expect.

So I chose this yarn, Patonyle shade 1111 (very exciting name isn't it?) and am knitting the Knitmore Girls Vanilla Sock pattern which you can find here. And I am loving it. The yarn is so soft and smooshy and feels so nice being knit, and the self-striping shades of blue are fun and pretty too! The pattern, now that I've memorised it, is easy especially for times when you need something to knit and don't want to learn anything new.....or think too much.

So with these socks I know that they will fit and fit well, and this project should be free from frustration, disappointment and boredom. And I know that as soon as these are done, another pair will be on the needles, I think I also need the quick satisfaction that a pair of vanilla socks provide.

In conclusion......these socks make me Happy, very Happy!

Lost Needle Gauge........Again

Although I suspect that the gauge has either decided to play an impromptu game of hide and seek or has run away for good. I don't like to think of how many needle gauges I have lost ( or ran away) from me. It is very frustrating. I do not want to go to Spotlight to buy another, yet I have searched everywhere and I cannot find it. I'm sure that it will make itself known once I have ownership of another, because, that's what always happens.

And doesn't these things always happen when you NEED them? I NEED the needle gauge to locate my 4.5mm circulars, of which I need two, so that I can begin the sleeves for my Handspun Seneca. And so instead of being able to quickly stick the needles into holes and them keeping or rejecting them, I have been holding the needles together with the existing 4.5mm that has the Seneca body on it........and attempting to assess if they are the same size or not. Very tedious and filled with self-doubt.

But in the end I think I have located the needles, and really hope that I am right. I have finally finished off my other projects (coming soon) and have begun a pair of gorgeous blue self-striping socks from Patonyle, which are my travel knitting (or knitting while on lunch, on the exercise bike or while cooking dinner). And I NEED the Seneca to make some more progress, it has been left to the side for too long and for no good reason.

So, here's hoping my nimble fingers can accurately gauge my needles, and that the sleeve I cast on tonight will be the right size. It would be just too sad if it wasn't.

FO - Leyburn Socks :(

So I finished the Leyburn Socks. Not so happy. Not even sure if they will live out the week.

They look ok, and the pattern was alright, but I just don't like them. I had one of those moments back at the beginning of sock 1 that I ignored, and I shouldn't have. I did learn from these socks, I learned the provisional cast-on, and got the general idea of how a toe up sock works. Unfortunately the pattern assumes you know how to knit a toe-up sock, and suggests you "use your favourite toe and heel". Not much help for me there. But I found the Generic Toe-Up Sock Pattern by Wendy Johnson which was very helpful.

Now the first problem I have with these socks is that I do not like the way they fit my feet. I do not believe I did anything wrong, I just think that the shaping of the foot of this type of toe-up sock is not for me. I know that so many people prefer knitting toe-up socks, and prefer the way they fit, but for me, I much prefer cuff-down. Not only for the fit, which I find is really excellent for my feet, but also for the construction. I founf the toe-up method a lot more fiddly and less enjoyable. I will admit I cast on a cuff down vanilla sock within minutes of weaving in the final ends of the Leyburn socks!

My other problem, and this is probably because I have wide feet, is that the socks feel too tight, and there is no give in them. They were just not very comfortable. In fact, it felt like my feet were actually bandaged up. I know I got gauge so that is not the issue, I think it is just a combination of the inflexibility of the lattice pattern and that my feet are wide. So unfortunately, I think I may frog these socks and make another pair from a different pattern. Ordinarily I wouldn't be fussed, but I do not know of anyone else who may benefit from these socks either.

But in the end, I made them, and although they were a bit fiddly I learned a lot and still enjoyed the knitting. And that's what's important........right?

Frogging Back

Over the last few days, when I have had the chance to knit, I have picked up my striped, raglan, top-down, V-neck sweater and knit a few rounds. Things were going well, I tried it on regularly to ensure the shaping was working, and it seemed fine. But once I had done the inch or so of straight knitting for the waist, before you begin the hip increases, I realised that the sweater was just not sitting right and I had put the decrease bust shaping in the wrong place. I had also somehow ended up with more stitches on the back of the sweater than the front, and it was bunching up a bit. So later today  plan to rip back to just before the bust shaping began and try again. I don't want to, but I can tell I will not be happy if I leave it as is.

So rather than continue on last night after driving Mum home, I did some spinning and worked a bit on my socks. They have been on the needles forever, so maybe I should try to finish them up by the end of the year. My feet no longer get itchy in my handknit socks, which is great. I now find that if I wear cotton store-bought socks, my feet freeze. I now need the warmth and thickness that the handknit socks provide. Which I love because I do get a kick out of seeing the colours when I see my feet. A lot more interesting than white cotton socks.

Socks for Cycling

As odd as it sounds, I knit most of my socks on the exercise bike. I have to exercise, for health, to prevent restless legs and insomnia, and to lose weight (although that's not happening). No matter how much I try I never really find exercising fun. Going for a run on the treadmill listening to music can be fun, but I can't do it all the time. I get a sore toe joint which can be very painful. So I alternate with the bike.

But I hate sitting still, and that's what it feels like sometimes. My brain gets bored very easily. Sometimes I read, especially if I'm studying, but lately I have needed socks and they are so small that they don't get awkward when on the bike. Definately multi-tasking! Finishing a round usually means a change in tension of the bike, which is an excellent way to change the intensity throughout the workout. My only problem......using DPN's. I have to get hold of a couple of 2.25mm circulars I think.

I haven't run much during this last week as things have been kinda stressful and filled with change. All I have wanted to do is knit. So on the bike I go. But only socks. Too awkward with anything much bigger, or more complicated. But I need socks, and I'm loving how quick they are to knit, the satisfaction of a finished project and all the colors that the varigated socks yarn I own have. Thankfully my feet haven't itched for a while either, maybe they just needed to get used to the wool socks. And now I think they are.

Cast on for Regia!

Well I couldn't take it anymore, I had to cast on for a sock, and I chose some Regia I already had. It has blue, green, browns and is gorgeous. It is a self-striping yarn too. So I wore a pair of hand-knit socks since last night, and I have been fine. No itchies. No idea why. But that was all I needed to cast-on. I have decided on some anklet socks, because I figure I mostly wear anklets, and I can probably get two pairs of socks for every 100g ball of sock yarn. That's the plan anyway.

I want to save the long socks for the textured, lace and cabled sock patterns. There are so many gorgeous patterns out there and I love most of the complex patterned socks when they are in a solid colour. So I will use just a fingering weight solid wool for those socks. Most of the time I would probably only wear the decorative socks at home, certainly not for going for a walk.

So it felt fabulous casting on for my sock, and I'm excited about it, hoping especially that the Regia won't itch my feet. Although I'm wearing Moda Vera socks now and they are ok. It was great seeing the different colours and knitting something different, I think I was getting a bit burned out on my cardigan, since I have been pretty much been monogamous. As I was with the sweater vest too. But I find that when I want something knit, I am better off going all in, otherwise I get worried it won't get finished.

I think I'm also suffering a bit of cabin fever. I haven't gone anywhere or done anything for a few weeks now, and I think I seriously need a few hours outside the house and away from the kids. Some adult time. Which is almost impossible. Last week I wanted to get out, but Brian was in a bad mood and I didn't think I could get away with leaving him with Nathan for a few hours. Then on the weekend I had to running around and cooking for my brother-in-laws 40th birthday last Saturday. So now I'm feeling a bit frustrated, a bit closed in and a bit bored.

I would love nothing more to buy some new wool since I can't seem to escape....but since having to fix the car and Brian using $100 to gamble on the Melbourne Cup.....there is no money left. Have to wait a few weeks. I'm sure the weather has a bit to do with feeling a bit down, we have had more rain in this last week than we usually see in a month. Not to mention it is cold and overcast too. Not feeling much like Spring. But, knowing Melbourne........it will be the opposite this time next week!