A Lacey Summer's End

My Summer of Love Lace socks are complete.



THE LACE LOW DOWN
Pattern: Summer of Love Lace Socks by JC Briar
Source: Rockin' Sock Club - August 2007
Date: Cast On 09.19.07 // Cast Off 09.30.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, lightweight, Flower Power
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm), Addi Turbo circular needles, 47"
Method: Magic Loop, 2S1C, cuff down (after cuff is knit side to side and then joined)

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1: Cuff: K2, P2 ribbing ; 17 rnds
FootNote #2: Leg: Stockinette; 13 rnds
FootNote #3: Heel: Eye of Partridge; 32 rows
FootNote #4: Heel Turn: 12 rows
FootNote #5: Gusset P/U: 16 sts each side
FootNote #6: Shape Gusset: 20 rnds
FootNote #7: Remainder of Foot: Stockinette; 32 rnds (foot total including gusset-52 rnds)
FootNote #8: Toe decreases: 21 rnds
FootNote #9: 3 needle B/O (16 sts)

Lace Cuffs

I finished the lace cuffs of my Summer of Love Lace Socks. Here they are blocking. There was alot of pooling on both cuffs, but I guess it just adds character!! The pooling happens in about the same areas on each cuff because I started each one at the same point in the colorway.







THE STATS SO FAR
Pattern: Summer of Love Lace Socks by JC Briar
Source: Rockin' Sock Club - August 2007
Date: Cast On: 09.19.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, lightweight, Flower Power
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm), Addi Turbo circular needles, 40"
Method: Magic Loop, 2S1C, cuff down (after cuff is knit side to side and then joined)

Fuzzy Finis

My Fuzzy Feet are all knitted, felted, and fitted!!! HOORAY! I'm not too happy with the stripes not matching, but nothing I can do about that now. At least they're done, they fit, and my feet will be nice and toasty this winter.

Jazz-Purr

THE SCOOP
Pattern: Fuzzy Feet by Teresa Vinson Stenersen
Source: Knitty - Winter 2002
Date: Cast On: 09.18.07 // Cast Off: 09.19.07
Yarn: Patons, Soy Wool Stripes, Natural Pink (1 skein per foot); 70% wool/30% soy
Needles: Size 10 US (6.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Method: Magic loop, cuff down

Summer of love, here I come

Yippee!! I finished my 2nd fuzzy foot at lunch today. The whole thing only took about 3 hours. I'll felt the pair when I get home from work tonight.

So -- I'll be able to start the Summer of Love lace socks from the August Rockin' Sock Club this evening, although I probably won't be able to accomplish a whole lot because it's back to school nite tonight.

Obssessed

I got up at 5am this morning to start work on the second foot of my second attempt at my Fuzzy Feet. I made it all the way through the gusset decreases in just 2 hours. Now it's just the foot and toe and then washing machine - here I come. I may or may not be able to finish the knitting at lunch today. We'll see.

Unfortunately, the striping is not lining up. I wasn't able to start the color change at the same point on both feet because there is not enough yarn in one skein to do it. Each foot takes almost a complete skein so there's no room to skip parts of color. I suppose I could have cut and spliced, but that would not be fun. Oh, well - I can live with it. Besides, who knows if this pair will even fit. I'll consider myself lucky if they do fit.



The reason for my obssession?? - for my mad dash to the finish line??

I was inspired by this. This is the August Rockin' Sock Club sock, knit by Pat. When I first received the kit, I was very UNINSPIRED. I thought the colorway was awful, but seeing Pat's version truly changed my mind and now I can't wait to get started, but I want to finish my Fuzzy Feet first.

I forgot to take a picture of the hank before I wound it into two balls, so all you get here is a picture of it in the balls and the teeny-weeny hank that comes with it. It is the Socks That Rock light weight yarn, Flower Power. The pattern for August is Summer of Love Lace by JC Briar. The cuff is first worked flat and then joined and the remainder of the sock is then worked in the round from the top down.

Fuzzy Wuzzy

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair
Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy
Was he

---- well ----
my Fuzzy Wuzzy did have hair
---- but ----
my Fuzzy Wuzzy had no flair

My Fuzzy Wuzzy was a weeeeeee bit too small.

So - what am I talking about, you may ask? Well, Fuzzy Feet, of course, from the Winter 2002 issue of Knitty.

I was inspired by Nicole of Stash and Burn fame to knit some Fuzzy Feet. I'm using Patons Soy Wool Stripes. I guess I left my fuzzy foot in the wash too long, because it is a little too tight on my foot, although I can wear it -- but I won't. I plan to make another one to replace it and then make the second foot, making them both a little bigger. Fortunately, I had only made one foot and felted that to see what the outcome would be. The first foot only took about 6 hours to complete, including the felting, so not too bad.

Pre-Felted Fuzzy compared to a normal sized sock

Pre-Felted Fuzzy alone

Post-Felted Fuzzy on my foot - looks OK, but its too tight around my toes
Yikes! It hurts!

Fuzzy & Scooter

THE SCOOP - Fuzzy Wuzzy with no Flair
Pattern: Fuzzy Feet by Teresa Vinson Stenersen
Source: Knitty - Winter 2002
Date: Cast On: 09.17.07 // Cast Off: 09.17.07
Yarn: Patons, Soy Wool Stripes, Natural Pink (1 skeins/1 foot); 70% wool/30% soy
Needles: Size 10 US (6.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Method: Magic loop, cuff down

Now that I have a better idea of the felting process I can better guage my next attempt...and here it is.

Post-Felted Fuzzy #1 compared to Pre-Felted Fuzzy #2

This is the second attempt of the first foot. I added 5 extra rows to the cuff, 4 extra rows to the heel flap and 8 extra rows to the foot. I'm going to go ahead and knit up the second foot and felt them both at the same time. If they fit, great. If they don't, oh well. I enjoyed the knitting and that's what really counts.

THE SCOOP - Fuzzy Wuzzy - 2nd attempt
Pattern: Fuzzy Feet by Teresa Vinson Stenersen
Source: Knitty - Winter 2002
Date: Cast On: 09.18.07 // Cast Off: 09.18.07
Yarn: Patons, Soy Wool Stripes, Natural Pink (1 skeins/1 foot); 70% wool/30% soy
Needles: Size 10 US (6.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Method: Magic loop, cuff down

...and that's a wrap...

Charm Wrap is now complete.



THE DETAILS
Pattern: Charm Wrap by Mary Jane Mucklestone
Source: Knitting Daily
Date: Cast On: 08.15.07 // Cast Off: 09.17.07
Yarn: Lion Brand, Vanna's Choice, Silver Blue (7+ skeins); 100% acrylic
Needles - Cast-On: Size 11 US (8.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Needles - Lace Pattern: Size 10 US (6.0mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 24"
Needles - Body: Size 9 US (5.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Needles - Sleeves: Size 9 US (5.5mm), Susan Bates circular needles, 32"
Note: Sleeves were knit in the round using the Magic Loop method

It's 99% A Wrap

I'm almost finished with my Charm Wrap. I am currenly working on the belt, but only have about an inch or so to go on that and then I have the two belt loops and then I am done. I would guess that would be no more than a half hour more on this project.

I really like the pattern, but I would not use this yarn again. As I had mentioned in my first post regarding this project, I had gone chintzy on the yarn and did not want to spend a whole lot, so I bought Lion Brand, Vanna's Choice. I should have gone with my first thoughts and bought wool, but I didn't. Oh well... Anyway, this is just something to throw on at work when I get cold (which is practically all the time). Where I work, it is extremely casual - jeans everyday, so this sweater will fit right in. (Keynotes from the big boss are self evident of the casualness...).

As usual, Scooter wanted to be a part of the photo shoot.

Back in Blue

Here's the completed back of my Charm Wrap along with a close-up of the lace edging. I've folded and pinned it in half to help it block a little in anticipation of the dreaded seaming yet to come.

It's a Charm

I have begun the Charm Wrap from Knitting Daily. I fell in love with this sweater the moment I laid eyes on it. It will be perfect for the upcoming cool weather.

I'm using Vanna's Choice in Silver Blue. I know - it's 100% acrylic, but I did not want to spend a lot on yarn, and I figure this will be a good sweater to just throw on when ever. It's more a casual thing than anything else, to be worn almost entirely with jeans.

I also fell in love with this. It's interesting to see how one size looks on different body types. Here's the link to the pattern. I may be knitting it next...

...although I still have the checkerboard afghan to finish.

Endless Summer Picture

As promised, here are a couple pictures of my summer top, Endless Summer.

Endless Summer Ends and Do-Overs Begin

I finished the Endless Summer top on Saturday and will post a picture soon. It came out a little big, but I'd rather have it a little big than too small. However, I do think I could have gotten away with making it in the smaller size. It came out to the exact dimensions I had anticipated, but the way it fits, it just hangs, so a snugger fit may have been more appealing. Oh well - you live and learn. I may make it again - it was a fast & easy knit. Knitting in the round rather than front and back separately certainly saved on seaming. I only had to set in the sleeves and that was not all that bad.

The mesh pattern in the sweater is really pretty. It adds a lot of texture as does the seed stitch. All and all, a great pattern. That's why I may just knit this one again. I very rarely knit the same item twice because I get too bored, but this one just may be a winner. I would change the color combo, though, and use a different yarn - maybe a cotton blend or wool.

HERE ARE THE STATS
Pattern: Endless Summer by Katherine Hunt
Source: Knitter's 87 (Summer 2007)
Date: Cast On: 07.14.07 // Cast Off: 08.04.07
Yarn: Lion Brand, Micro Spun, Lavender, Lime and Buttercup
Needles: Size 5 US (3.75mm), Inox circular needles, 16" and 24"


I just started back into the checkerboard afghan for my son. I had been knitting this, but I ripped that out on Saturday & Sunday (yes - it took 2 days) and started it over in crochet. I did not like using 6 skeins at once - too much tangling up and my floats for the color changes were too big (and discovered too late), so I decided to just start from scratch. I figured I'd try crochet and see how that goes for awhile. I'll post pictures on my progress soon.

This is the checkerboard before it got sent to the frong pond:



I am also going to start the Arrowheads sweater as well. This is the progress I hade made almost a year ago before that got sent to the frog pond because my gauge was waaaay off. I think I am ready to tackle this project again. It's about time I learned two-handed fairisle.

My Next Project...

...is Endless Summer by Katherine Hunt from Knitter's (K87), Summer 2007

Pics from Knitter's K87, Summer 2007

I actually liked a lot of projects from this issue, so I may be knitting quite a few.

I'm going to knit this particular sweater out of Lion Brand Microspun in lavender, buttercup and lime. I've wanted to try this yarn for quite some time now, despite hearing alot of complaints about its tendency to split, but I had not found that "perfect" pattern that fits the guage. Well, this particular pattern fits the bill. My guage with the microspun is right on. The yarn is so soft and the colors are so fun & frivolous. And -- so far, I have not had an issue with the yarn splitting. I can tell from the yarn ends that the tendency is definately there, but as long as I watch out for that, I do not think it will be a problem.

One change I am making to the pattern is that I am going to knit this in the round. I want to avoid as many seams as possible.

Solstice Slip is 100%

My Solstice Slip socks are finished. They were a lot of fun to knit, especially because of the wonderful color. The slip stitch pattern and cabling was purrrfect!

I actually finshed them on Jacob's 15th birthday. Happy Birthday, Jacob!!!!!





THE DETAILS
Pattern: The Solstice Slip by JC Briar
Date: Cast On: 06.25.07 // Cast Off: 07.14.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, Firebird, light weight
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm), Addi Turbo's circular needles, 47"
Method: Magic Loop; 2S1C; Toe-Up

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1 - CO: Figure 8 Cast On for Toe (size small)
FootNote #2 - Toe Shaping: Short rows, garter stitch
FootNote #3 - Foot: 60 rounds - stockinette sole, pattern on instep (7+ pattern rpts)
FootNote #4 - Heel: Short rows, garter stitch
FootNote #5 - Leg: 40 rounds in pattern (5 pattern rpts)
FootNote #6 - Finish: no cuff ribbing, just bind off in pattern

75% complete

Here are pictures of my socks at the 75% complete juncture. These were as of July 10. I've completed 21 rounds of the leg (2+ pattern repeats).

22% on Solstice Slip

I LOVE the colors !!!!!!! And the pattern is great, too. I think Scooter loves the socks as well. I have completed 24 rounds of the foot (3 pattern repeats). I probably will knit 3 more repeats of the pattern before I start the heel -- I'll see how it "measures" up.

Here are some progress pictures of my Solstice Slip.

The Solstice Slip

I am working on the June sock for the Rockin' Sock Club. The pattern is written for both toe-up and cuff down, and because I have only knit 2 pairs toe-up, I decided I needed more practice, so I am knitting this pair toe-up as well. I've completed the toes (2 socks at once, you know!) and hope to begin the feet tonight. I absolutely love the color of the yarn. It reminds me of summer time and popsicles.




THE DETAILS SO FAR
Pattern: The Solstice Slip by JC Briar
Date: Cast On: 06.25.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, Firebird, light weight
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm), Addi Turbo's circular needles, 47"
Method: Magic Loop; 2S1C; Toe-Up

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1 - CO: Figure 8 Cast On for Toe (size small)
FootNote #2 - Toe Shaping: Short rows, garter stitch

A Change of Mind

Well, I was originally going to knit the Swallowtail Shawl, and actually cast on and knit up a couple of rows, but after talking to E in my knitting group, I decided to make a stole instead. I've made so many triangle shaped shawls anyway (which I never wear). In chatting with E, I discovered she was thinking of getting back into lace by knitting a rectangle shawl, and that got me to thinking - a rectangle - why not???

I had been eyeing Eunny Jang's Print O' The Wave Stole for quite some time, now, but had steered away from it because I did not like the fact of knitting the two halves separately and then grafting the halves together. After browsing through Eunny's gallery of other knitter's stoles, I relaized that you could do this all in one piece without grafting. So, that's what I am going to do. At the midway point, I may try reversing the pattern to see if I get the same look as Eunny's original piece, or I may just keep the pattern going in one direction. I'll have to swatch the pattern to see what it does.

In the mean time, I have started the stole and am up to row 26. I'm using 100% silk, lace weight yarn by Claudia Hand Painted Yarns in the Earth colorway.






THE DETAILS SO FAR
Pattern: Print O' The Wave Stole by Eunny Jang
Date: Cast On: 06.19.07
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Yarn, Earth, 100% silk, lace weight
Needles: Size 3 US (3.25mm), KnitPicks Classic circular needles, 24"

Back Tracking

Ok - It's Sunday, June 3, 2007 - a beautiful sunny day in San Francisco - a perfect day for Israel in the Gardens at Yerba Buena Park.

We saw Mah Tovu, with one of our very own rabbis, Rabbi Josh Zweiback, heading up the band.







We saw a superb Russian violinist, Ilya Rayzman.



And we saw the EXCEPTIONAL, INCOMPARABLE Rita!!!!.












We also had the very special treat of seeing Rita's 15 year old daugher, Meshi.

Finished Grasshoppers

My grasshoppers are now finished. It's a really pretty pattern, although not the most enjoyable one to knit. The P2TOG's were a little tough, but the outcome is well worth the effort! Switching to the pointier KnitPicks needles helped. I'm glad these are done, though.





THE DETAILS
Pattern: Knee High to a Grasshopper by Chrissy Gardiner
Source: Rockin' Sock Club - April 2007
Date: Cast On: 05.15.07 // Cast Off: 06.17.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, Walking on the Wild Tide
Needles FootNote #1: Size 2 US (3.0mm), Addi Turbo circular needles, 40"
Needles FootNote #2: SWITCHED @ leg -> Size 2 US (3.0mm), KnitPicks Classic circular, 32"
Method: TOE-UP: 2S1C, Magic Loop

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1 - CO: Figure 8 Cast On for Toe (size small)
FootNote #2 - Toe Shaping: followed pattern
FootNote #3 - Foot: 46 rounds in pattern
FootNote #4 - Heel/Gusset: followed pattern
FootNote #5 - Leg: 40 rounds in pattern (did not knit any increases in leg, although pattern did call for it)
FootNote #6 - Cuff: 10 rounds (k1, p1)
FootNote #7 - BO: Bound off in K1, P1 (did not follow pattern bind off)

Turtle

Well, it seems my grasshoppers are more like turtles. Things are going so SLOWLY. I have not been knitting much - only about 4 rows in the past week. I just have not been in the mood. I haven't blogged much either - not much to say right now...