Thursday, December 18, 2008

Loom Lift

I stopped at FIT twice this weekend to get the weaving completed on my final assignment and both times, there were no other weavers that needed to get in. Security won't open the door for you unless there is also another student, so I had to wait until during the week when there is loom time to stop in. I knew that I'd need to be weaving well into the night and through the next day, so I picked up the loom today and brought it home. I'd just fitted the loom with tie in's and wove that sample until it was time to go to bed. It's amazing how s-l-o-w table loom weaving is. It's not even fun because there is no rhythm or fluidity to the weaving. Having to switch out the headles is jarring with such an ancient metal contraption as FIT has the students use. Ugh. I was happy to get to stop.
The heat was blaring and you could have cooked an egg on my abdomen it was so hot in the bedroom. I was completely awake couldn't get back to sleep, so I prepped the loom and popped it into a bag to bring with me to work. I was going to spend the day running reports and doing analysis, so there would be time to fit in some weaving while the report were queueing. I also decided to use regular floor loom shuttles intead of the flat table loom weaving sticks and prepped those with the right thread colors to be ready to weave. Surprisingly, this all took about 2 hours. It's amazing how long prepping to weave takes in comparision to the amount of time spent weaving- when using a floor loom that is. It took the entire extra bits during my work day to finish the project and the final scarf was on the short side, should have been at least another 6 inches. I also should not have chosen such dainty thread. Something with more heft would have been better suited to the assignment. It was difficult to choose when the class is so large. The thread remaining after many others had already chosen wasn't choice.

All in all, it was an interesting class. I didn't learn much more than I already had at the weaving class taken at The Spinnery. I did learn that I absolutely dislike working on a table loom. Too bad that FIT requires so many table loom classes before they allow students to sign up for floor loom classes. I don't understand why that is. It's like people that insist one takes spindling before wheel spinning. Sure it is similar. It's also not the same.
On the bright side, I did get to weave regularly each week.

Now that class is over, I'll have more time to weave on my floor loom at home. Yay!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Merino Lace Socks!



Hi All - I made these a while ago and wear them all the time. I LOVE this pattern - I will make more of these. I used Trekking Pro Natura (75% Superwash Wool, 25% Bamboo), 1 skein and US size 2 circular needles.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Undulating Rib Socks

I finished the Undulating Rib Socks about 3 days ago.

Undulating Rib Socks_0020

Undulating Rib Socks by Ann Budd

Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock

Needles: size 0 (2.00 mm) Bamboo Crystal Palace DPNs and size 0 (2.00 mm) KnitPicks Harmony Fixed Circulars



Modifications:

One sock worked from the toe-up using the Easy Toe from Sensational Knitted Socks.
Undulating Rib Socks_0023

One Socks worked using the Short Row toe from Knitty.
Undulating Rib Socks_0022

Both socks incorporate heel flaps.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Just Finished

I just finished the Waving Lace socks and I love them. Too bad they are a gift. I made them with Shibui Socks colorway Kiwi. Needle size 1. I did modify toe. I used the star toe from the Embossed Leaves sock pattern.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Waving Lace socks

Waving Lace Socks

This was the first set of socks that really appealed to me from the book.
Needle: US 3 / 3.25 mm
Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Regia Silk Color
How much?: 2 skeins = 436.0 yards (398.7m)
Colorway: 0028 Apricot

Waving Lace Socks
I made these socks over a year ago for my mother. She never wore them because she said they were just too pretty to wear.

Then I moved to Florida in January. It got chilly one night (as chilly as S. Florida is going to get anyway) and the next thing I know, she's curled up on the couch with the socks on. She wore them everyday during her stay in Florida then took them back to GA. She snuck them back to Georgia and had the nerve to send me a picture of them on her feet.
Hm. . . I guess the ungrateful change their mind when the temperature drops. . .

I love my Mommy.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

My abbreviated cable ribbed socks

ONline Supersocke Cotton, color Beach 83


Sometimes when I do cables, I get crossed eyed. For my Cable Ribbed Socks, I battled to get the cables to line up down the leg - when I got to the foot I skipped the cables. Heresy you say? Please forgive me...

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Mom's Waving Lace Socks

Hi Everyone! My mom is a knitter who doesn't blog, but has looked at this blog through my blog, Spastic Shepherd Knits! She knit this with Earthly Hues' (my natural dye company) Forever In Bluejeans, Baby! colourway. I thought they turned out beautifully, and wanted to share them. There are two, she promises!

Thursday, February 28, 2008

New Member Having Trouble Logging In

A new member is having trouble logging in. Is anyone else experiencing problems in the last week?

New Member Having Trouble Logging In

A new member is having trouble logging in. Is anyone else experiencing problems in the last week?

Austrian Socks

Hello knitters, first time for me on a blog. Have enjoyed looking at your projects. Am wondering if anyone has successfully finished the Austrian socks . I have been having problems with the pattern. Not exactly a novice but I have been out of the loop for some years. My daughter loaned me the book to try some patterns. Look forward to some advice.
Doreen in Ontario.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Finally I Have Pictures

Here are some of my socks I knitted from Favorite Socks. I used handpainted yarns for some.

Mieda Socks in Lime & Violet "Walnut" colorway.

LnV Walnut Mieda sock

Meida socks

Waving Lace in Wildfoote "Columbine" colorway

Waving Lace socks

A modified version of Retro Rib in Diversified Patterns (a/k/a Jessicaarts on Ebay) handpainted in "Dusk" colorway

modified Retro Rib socks

Go With The Flow in Diversified Patterns (a/k/a jessicaarts on eBay) handpainted in "Berry"

Go With the Flow socks

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Cable Rib and Go with the Flow



Hello, I've been looking at everyone's lovely socks here for a while and have finally got around to sharing the two projects I have completed from the book. My name is Karen by the way and I live in Scotland.




The Cable rib socks were a Christmas present for my Dad and he's really pleased with them (but he's always pleased with the socks I knit for him!).




The Go with the Flow socks are for me. I liked the pattern but I'm not keen on the colour. Details of the yarns used on my blog. I'm not sure which pattern to try next but at some point I plan to use some bright pink yarn I have for either Embossed Leaves or Waving Lace - decisions, decisions. Happy knitting!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Camouflaed Eesti Trail Socks


I took some time off from knitting socks to make a sweater. My son, who was anxiously waiting for me to make him a pair of wool socks, asked me in the last stages of the sweater "Am I going to get those socks this winter or next winter?" So, knowing he wanted them for Thursday's ski trip, I whipped these up in a week's time.

I followed the Eesti Trail Hiking Socks pattern and obviously omitted the snowflake pattern. Who needs pattern when you have cool camouflaged yarn?

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool - Merino.

The hat? Red Heart Camouflaged yarn made with one of those knitting hoop things by my son - he's pretty talented (I finished it up for him so he could wear it tomorrow).

He'll be the coolest boarder on the slopes -even if no one will really see the socks - at least I'll know his feet will be warm.

Happy Knitting!
Karolee

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Half of a Christmas gift

Anniversary Sock I made these for my sister for Christmas. I haven't even started the second sock, which I plan to start very soon.

Do you ever have projects where you think, “wow, I never thought I could knit something that beautiful”? This is one of those projects. It’s the Anniversary Socks by Nancy Bush from the Favorite Socks book. After finishing the first sock in about 9 days on size 1 needles, my hands needed a break. I now know why everyone raves about Nancy Bush sock patterns. They are amazing, she pays attention to every detail to make the socks perfect. The toe on this sock fits the rest of the sock so well and I’ve done this heel on other socks but it just fits this one so well.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

The waving lace socks with short row heels.


I’m so glad to have found Favorite Socks knitalong. What a great idea for the KAL!
When I saw "Favorite Socks" from INTERWEAVE at first I said "I must get it!" and I got it! There are so much wonderful patterns! I love socks. They are my favourites to knit. And just finished Waving Lace Socks by Evelyn A. Clark from "Favorite Socks".
The pattern of them is very elegant and easy to memorize. I used cashmere woll yarn in dark red (100g = 360m/ 328yds) and needles 2,5 mm.
The pattern recomends to knit flap heel, that is why I sterted with this way. But soon I changed it into short rows. In my opinion, it’s the fastest, easiest, and best looking way to do. I saw some diferent methods of short rows heels on patterns, but I have my own. When I was a very young girl I couldn't understand how to make a flap heel, so I invented my own way. And I am sure mine is the most simple short row which I ever seen. I think I have to do my short row tutorial to share with you.Pattern: the waving lace socks from "Favorite Socks" with some my modifications
Needles: 2,5 mm DPNS
Yarn: 60g Casmere wool in dark red (100g = 360m/ 328yds)


Ala's Blog

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Priscilla's Dream Socks, Wolverine-Style


My son is a huge University of Michigan fan--probably because his Dad and cousin went there, AND my son is a huge sports fan in general and Michigan is fun to watch! He wanted U of Michigan socks and we couldn't find the perfect variegated colorway, so I made him the Priscilla's Dream Socks with maize and blue. I love the way they turned out, and he does too.

I used half a skein of each color of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solids--I LOVED knitting with this yarn! Used size 1.5 needles for the leg, size 1 for the foot and size 0 for the heel.

More on my blog and my Ravelry page.

I wish these were for me . . .



but they aren't. This first sock is actually 1/2 of a belated Christmas present for Oldest Daughter. She has big, long feet. I finished the first Go with the Flow sock in blaze of glory but the second is progressing more slowly. I think I just don't want to give them up. As with all Evelyn A. Clark patterns, it is easily memorizable (after the cuff, that is) and the gusset picks up beautifully. I guess that means a second pair JUST for me.



I wish my up-close photography skills would cooperate today - I was actually aiming for the gorgeous gusset. Well, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. I'll take what I can get.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Embossed Leaves

Ever since acquiring the book, Interweaves Favourite Socks, I can't resist the urge to continually keep a pair on the needles! Out of the 25 socks within its pages, I don't think there is a one that I shan't try.

My latest attempt is shown here. Embossed Leaves is a pretty pattern that makes up beautifully. The repeat is easy to memorize and they work up quickly. I'm well on my way to having a pair!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Waving Lace Socks


Waving Lace Socks
Originally uploaded by SF Knitster
Yay! I just finished Evelyn Clark's Waving Lace Socks for my MIL. They were originally meant as Christmas presents but of course, I never got a chance to complete them on time. These socks were knitted using one skein of Lisa Souza Sock! Merino in Yellow Ribbon on size 2 circular needles using the Magic Loop Method. I know my MIL will be thrilled to finally receive them.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Retro Ribs

These were started some time ago, and I lost the motivation to finish! However, post-Christmas fever has set in and I finished the second sock in about three days. I didn't continue the ribbing down the foot, it was just too much for me! Yarn is Trekking Pro-Natura and the lucky recipient is my husband the Spunk, who is modelling the socks.

Go With the Flow


Go with the flow socks in Wollmeise's Tiefsee for my MIL for christmas. Lovely yarn and pattern, that was fun.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Lace Merino Socks


These socks were meant to be a Christmas gift but didn't get finished for Christmas 2007. I am happy they are now finished for 2008.
Pattern: Lace Merino Socks
Source: Favorite Socks book
Needles: Knitpicks US 1 fixed circulars
Yarn: Lisa Souza Sock! in yellow

More info at www.Artseycrafts.blogspot.com

Shirley

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Meida's Socks


I've found this pattern to be a joy to work with. This is somewhat of an experiment in that I've tried, for the first time, working with bamboo.

The pattern itself is easy to memorize. However, I found the finished project to be a bit small for my size 9 feet. Therefore, I lenghtened the foot with an extra repeat and the toe by decreasing to 5 stitches per needle (20 in total).

The socks are beautiful in thier construction and thier colour. I used Ornaghi filati 100% Bamboo in a beautiful pink (colour #11). The yarn has a beautiful sheen to it that adds to the beauty of the Eastonian Cables. I love the process of cables and now have a new trick to add to my bag.

I have one sock completed and working away on its pair. I'll definitely be making more of these in the future in a variety of yarns.