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)

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.

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

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...

OPTIONal Switcheroo

I switched over to the KnitPicks needles to continue with my grasshopper socks. The tips on my Addi's were too blunt so I was having some difficulty with the P2TOG, and given the fact that the pattern is practically all P2TOG's, that's a lot of difficulty! I'm using the 32" size 2 circulars.

On a side note - the purple cable on the KnitPicks needles matches quite nicely with the yarn color!

Hoppin' Grasshoppers

My grasshoppers are hopping. I'm just about to start the heel turn of the second sock. The heel of the first sock was finished last night admidst EXTREMELY LOUD music from our next door neighbors. They were having a high school graduation party for their daughter, late into the night, DJ & all. I couldn't sleep, so I knit. Oh well, not a bad compromise at all - sleep deprivation for a knit pair of socks.

instep x 2

sole & instep

zee heel - she eez done (well, at least ONE)

THE DETAILS SO FAR
Pattern: Knee High to a Grasshopper by Chrissy Gardiner
Source: Rockin' Sock Club - April 2007
Date: Cast On: 05.15.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, Walking on the Wild Tide
Needles: US Size 2, (3.0mm), Addi Turbo circular needles, 40"
Method: 2S1C, Magic Loop; Toe-Up

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1 - Toe CO: Figure 8 Cast On (size small)
FootNote #2 - Toe Shaping: followed pattern for size small
FootNote #3 - Foot: 46 rounds in pattern

A First Look

Look what came in the mail yesterday...

April Rockin' Sock Club kit

I'll have to hurry up and finish my Chocolate Cherry Socks before I cast on, though.

And on that note...

I decided to go with a garter stitch short row heel for the Chocolate Cherry socks. My first experience with the short row heel was with the February Rockin' Sock Club kit (although from the toe-up) so I decided to try it again to see how it compared to my "normal" way of the heel turn, flap & gusset. I'm using 60% of the total stitches for the heel (38 sts). The short row heel is certainly easier, as it does not require picking up any gusset stitches (which I find to be the most stressful part of the sock). HOWEVER, the short row heel does take careful counting as I do find it kind of difficult to distinguish the wrapped stitches. I'll know more how I like this heel once the socks are completed and I am actually wearing them. One good thing to note is that the construction is the same whether you are knitting from the toe-up or in this case, from the cuff down with this particular heel. I think I may also do a short row garter stitch toe so that the toe and heel match.

side view of short row heel

front view of short row heel

****************THE STATS SO FAR***************

Source: Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch
Pattern: Elongated Corded Rib
Yarn: Meilenweit Multiringel by Lana grossa
Date: Cast On 04.10.07
Method: Cuff Down; 2 socks on 1 needle - Magic Loop; Garter Stitch Short Row Heel
Needle: Addi Turbo, size 1 (2.5mm) 40"
Foot Note #1-Cast On: 64 stitches
Foot Note #2-Cuff: K2, P2 rib; 15 rnds
Foot Note #3-Leg: 6 rpts, elongated corded rib; 48 rnds
Foot Note #4-Heel: Short Row Garter Stitch, 60% of the total stitches; 38 stitches

Inside Out Socks are COMPLETE

My Inside Out Socks are complete!!!! (I have to say - I like the "wrong" side best). You can also view them here.

****************THE STATS***************

Source: Rockin' Sock Club - February 2007
Pattern: Inside Out Socks by Kaci Kyler Hays
Yarn: Socks That Rock, Monsoon, Medium Weight (Sport Wt)
Date: Cast On 03.07.07; Cast Off 04.08.07
Method: Toe-Up; Short Row Toe; Magic 8 Cast On; Short Row Heel; 2 socks on 1 needle - Magic Loop
Needle - Toe: Addi Turbo, size 0 (2.0mm) 40"
Needle - Foot: Addi Turbo, started with size 000 (1.5mm) 40" but changed to 47"
Foot Note #1-Foot: Approx. 69 rows for foot
Needle - Heel: Addi Turbo, size 0 (2.0mm), 47"
Foot Note #2-Leg: Completed 42 rows of leg/cable pattern (size 0, 20.0mm) - a little too snug pulling on over heel; otherwise fit is good; however, decided to frog & go with size 1 (2.5mm)
Needle - Leg: Addi Turbo, size 1 (2.5mm), 47"
Foot Note #3-Leg: 65 rows cable pattern (leg)

The "Right" Side

Right Side // Wrong Side

Wrong Side // Right Side

Picture updates

Here are some progress pics of my Inside Out socks. They are still at row 61 of the cable pattern of the leg. My inspector, the ever-so-cute Jazz-Purr, was out in full force today giving me his approval on the work completed so far.













My Icarus Shawl is now 77% complete. I finished chart 3 and now just need to begin chart 4. After that, the edging is all that remains.

Quick Update

I have no new pictures to share but thought I'd give a quick update anyway.

I am just about complete with my Inside Out Socks. Changing to US size 1 (2.5mm) really did the trick in loosening up the leg just enough to get it comfortably over my heel. I now just need to decide how tall I want my socks. I can either just go another 4 rows of the cable pattern (65 rows total) to put me at about 6" for the cuff or I can go 14 more rows (75 total rows of the cable pattern). I'm fairly certain I'll have enough yarn - it's just a question of length. Typically, I like my socks on the shorter side. I'll just see how I feel once I finish row 65.

I actually would have been finished over a week ago, but I've been working on my Icarus Shawl exclusively. I'm in the middle of chart 3 which puts me at about 75% complete. I'm at the point now where it takes 15 to 20 minutes just to complete 1 row.

I'll post progress pictures within the next couple of days (maybe!).

Frogs Legs & Other Delicacies

Well - I had to take a trip to the frog pond with my Inside Out Socks. The cable pattern on the leg is just too tight of a pattern. I initially used size 0 (2.0mm) CN's, but pulling the socks over my heels is a bit tough. I can get the sock on and it fits well - it's just getting it on that's the problem. I kind of have to pull the heel to get the sock all the way on. It works, but I'd rather have an easier time of putting the sock on & off. I'm going to try a size 1 (2.5mm). I hope this doesn't leave the sock too loose on my leg. That is a possibility, because with the smaller needles, once I managed to get the sock on, the fit was perfect. I'll never know, though, until I try.

I had actually knit 42 rows of the cable pattern before I decided to frog. That was almost the complete sock (and two at that!). Oh, well, I'm more of a process knitter anyway, so I don't mind doing it all over again.

Here are a few pictures before my socks went RIBIT:

Progress Report

*****Progress on my Inside Out Socks*****

Here, I'm about two thirds of the way through the foot. I'm using size 000 (1.5mm) Addi Turbo's, 47". I started out using the 40" length but with such tiny needles, I needed to go to the longer length to work the Magic Loop easier.



In this picture, I'm just about finished with the foot. The goal here is to end at about 1.75" before the back of the heel.



The heel is finally complete. I knit about 69 rows for the foot and then started the heel. I switched back to size 0's (2.0mm), still using a 47" length. It's actually quite interesting the way the heel takes shape using the short row technique. And there's no need to worry about picking up gusset stitches!! Knitting these socks from the toe up has been a lot fun and a great learning experience. I am really enjoying knitting something in a manner entirely differently than what I am used to.




Here's a view of one heel complete next to the other sock "in waiting."




*****Progress on my Icarus Shawl*****

Icarus is moving along quite nicely, as well (about 55% complete). I've pretty much decided to go with just 5 repeats of chart 1, although I still have a few more rows to go before I make a final decision. I do think the shawl will be big enough, though, without the 6th repeat.

Inside Out!

The name of the pattern is Inside Out and it is designed by Kaci Kyler Hays. The yarn is Socks That Rock Yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts in the colorway Monsoon. It's the first edition of the 2007 Rockin' Sock Club. This is my first foray into knitting toe-up socks. I've wanted to try toe-ups, but have been kind of intimidated by the thought of it. I know how to knit cuff down, I really enjoy it, and I think I am pretty capable of knitting any type of sock from the cuff down. So if that formula works, why fool with it? To coin an old phrase: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Well, forget that. I love trying new things with my knitting. I enjoy teaching myself different techniques and taking on new challenges, so why not try toe-up socks? The perfect opporunity came with the Rockin' Sock Club's first kit for this year. And so far, I'm not disappointed. Here are the toes, short rows and all.




And true to form, I am knitting these both at the same time using the Magic Loop method - 2 socks on one circular needle. I'm using Addi Turbo's. For the toes, I used size 0 (2.0mm), 40". The pattern instructions called for a crochet provisional cast on, but I prefer using the magic 8 method. In that way, my extra stitches are already on a needle and therefore very easy to pick up and begin kintting.

Cleo came by and gave me her official meow of approval.



I'm now about 13 rows into the foot of my socks. I'm using size 000 (1.5mm), 40" Addi Turbo's. (The pattern was written for a size 10 foot and I'm only a 5 1/2, so I am using smaller needles). You may not be able to tell from the pictures below, but the pattern on the instep is slightly different from the pattern on the sole.

Instep

Sole

Needless to say, I have not knit Icarus for a few days. I may work on her a little bit tonight. I am making slow, but forward, progress on her, so that's a good thing. I'm up to row 150, which is not quite half way through the 5th repeat of chart 1. I still haven't decided whether or not I'll go for the 6th repeat. I'm 42% complete if I stick with just 5 repeats & 35% complete if I go with 6 repeats.