i finished!

thanks for the luck! it worked!

and i finished yesterday (a whole day ahead of the deadline).



the socks are an odd pair. all the decreases lean in the same direction, so the fabric biases. i can get over that, but it also means i have to pay a bit more attention when putting them on so they're not all twisted.

i do love this yarn. it's opal handpainted. i found it at a ben franklin store in a small town about two years ago. i've wanted to knit it for awhile, but never found the right pattern. i cannot say this IS the right pattern (as the colorful splotches obscure the lace pattern) but it's certainly good enough.

so, i've finally had success with a wendy johnson pattern. perhaps there is hope. maybe now i can quit fantasizing about converting her patterns to cuff down. maybe.

specs
yarn: opal handpainted in greens
needles: 2mm for first part of foot, 2.25mm for rest of sock
pattern: wendy johnson's seaweed socks
size: size medium at a smaller gauge

seaweed ...

i am actually quite surprised that i like this sock! this is wendy johnson's seaweed sock, a free download, from her website. i am knitting it as part of a ravelry kal. i really like her patterns, though i think more about knitting them top down.

something about her patterns is always a little off for me. she uses numbers i wouldn't normally choose to use (ie: she uses 66 sts vs 64). also, i think a lot of her patterns are catered towards fluffier feet. my feet aren't narrow, but they aren't "plump" either. but, all things can be modified, and gauge & yarn combo can be your friend.

that said, i chose a thinner fingering weight yarn for this sock. i am knitting the size medium, but at a finer gauge. i could had knitted the small size, but i didn't think the design would show much because the chart is so minimal. the yarn is opal's handpainted. it's been in stash for awhile. it's happy to be free. and even though i can't see the stitch pattern all that well, i do love the colors.

the deadline for this pair is the end of the month. i just cast on the mate last light, so i have a lot of knitting to do before monday. wish me luck!

more summer sockens

i took about 57 pictures and this is the best one. pretty pathetic i think. let's just say it's hard to take pictures of your own feet.

i'm glad to have these off the needles though. the pair used 66 grams of yarn (and i have 57 grams leftover). i will save the leftovers for use in another sock project.

i wish it was cool enough now to wear socks, as then i could report on their wear and durability. but, it's summer ... and this is the south.

la la la ....

i don't really have much to say today.

yarn: joanne sensations 'bamboo & ewe'
needles: clover 2.25mm dpns
pattern: bluebell lace from _sensational knitted socks_
60 stitches

sigh ... if only there was enough time .....

so, i posted the picture of the magazines i collected over the weekend. these magazines are still beside the bed, and are waiting for me again at bedtime. i don't have a good book to read right now, so i'm just going to enjoy my magazines instead.

though i think today is the hottest day we've had so far this summer (it's 99* at 6pm), i've had sweaters on my mind. of course, one must start thinking about the next season if you want to wear said sweater in the upcoming season. of course, that doesn't mean i'm going to start whipping out sweaters. i'm barely getting my socks done at this point.

but, IF i were to knit sweaters, these are a few of the ones i fell for instantly while perusing my new magazines.

first off, was this lovely crochet motif cowl neck pullover by designer robyn chachula. i love this! i think it's interesting looking, without looking "granny", and maybe i'm a bit biased to the color.

i did some research on the designer, via ravelry, and she has oodles of designs that i've seen before, and many of which i like very much.

this design is very similar to one called the calla lily cowl which she did for mission falls yarns.

another note, the yarn used for this is by red heart, their eco-ways bamboo wool. i saw some eco-ways yarns the last time i was in the craft store, and i'll be eager to see how much people enjoy working with them i'd like to try them out too.

this one is my favorite. it's called the nordique swing jacket, designed by veronik avery. it's knitted in sport weight yarn. and i've swatched for it. apparently, i have a yarn in stash that is the right weight, and the color is very similar to the printed magazine (though not the same as the actual color). though, color is irrelevant. the color issue is a fluke.

i started swatching yesterday. i started with the recommended needle size (US 3) and it was tight. i'm now using a US 5 and might have gauge. i will also swatch in pattern, and then dunk the strip into the sink to wash and block.

oh! this design is in the fall interweave knits magazine. i also spotted another favorite from this issue, the slanting gretel tee. if you'd like to see more, i know the preview is available right now here (scroll down) on the IK website.

and lastly, i found this pretty cardigan in the current issue of vogue knitting magazine ... the rib and cable cardigan (design #4)(gosh, i wish vogue had more intersting names for their designs) ... designed by irina poludnenko. side note, this pretty cardigan is opposite a fabulous dress designed by sauniell connally (formally local, ... went off to NYC to attend fashion school) (yay!).

all these magazines have numerous designs to inspire for the fall. oh, and let's not forget knitscene. there were several sweaters in the current issue that i will be watching progress of on ravelry.

of course, right now i'm all about knitting/crocheting sweaters. but, give me a few days and that will pass .....

bedtime!

it's late ... and i've got to get to bed, but i wanted to do a quick update. i was out & about yesterday, and picked up the latest fall issues of VK, IK, and Crochet Today. so, i'm off to get ready for bed and read for a little while ....