Jo Knits!

Things that go wrong,

Sock #1, I hate it! I kept knitting 'cause I wasn't totally convinced that I didn't like it but as it grew it became evident. I wanted a little more than just the simple socks I make. Why, oh why do I keep wanting to change things that just work for me. The pattern is from craftoholic, I thought it looked a bit more 'fancy' than just plain stockinette. This jungle yarn is just the devil, it does not want to be knit or something. So I got to thinking, perhaps I shall knit a hat with it! LOL! I am really proud of my first picot edge though, I love it but not enough to keep it on this sock.

I was home alone for a few days, it's been more than 7 years than I haven't spent time alone here or with Carl. It was odd, it was actually tough and I didn't get much rest like I planned. Zoe's godmother invited my mom and the kids to her cabin for two night. They all had a BLAST!!! While I was at home, I picked up some cross stitching, it felt good to just be by myself too. For supper one night Carl and I went to Ikea for some sweedish meetballs and fun shopping.

The next day I stopped by a yarn store and got some Mega Boots stretch yarn. It was my first stop in a yarn store all summer, so surprisingly I went straight to the sock yarns. LOL! Then to complicate my life just a bit more, I tried out Knitty's surprise pattern the Universal toe-up sock formula. Now there is no fault in the pattern, just in the knitter reading it. I tried a new cast-on then another, the toe stitches looked too tight so I went up one needle size, then the sock looked too large. I kept on knitting 'cause once again, I wasn't sure. Now I know it's way too big, even with the ribbing I added. Live and learn, I like my socks top down. Why can't I remember that? LOL!

So one night I got out an old project and knitted a few rows. This is a very slow project because it's miles and miles of stockinette and quite boring. For more excitement, I brought out a year old lace project. I've been knitting it for the last two days and joined the 2nd of two balls, it's fun to see that this project will get done after months of being left aside. The Lady Godiva yarn for the Fanny shawl is like buttah to knit with it. I can't believe I stopped knitting this project, as the yarn is my totally favorite yarn in the world. I bought it on my last trip to TO and can't wait until I can get more. It is really pricey though so it's the kind of yarn I put on my birthday list or something. LOL! I don't expect to see any pop on my doorstep any time soon.

I even checked a few lace patterns online and right now my favorite one is the Diamond Fantasy Shawl, I'm thinking a fire red colorway to contrast with the water blue shawl I am currently knitting. Sure I have at least two other shawls in the work in progress pile, it doesn't mean I can't do a little bit of window shopping for now!

I just noticed that my last Toronto trip was more than 2 years ONE yarn year ago (I obviously can't count nor spell!). That is just SO wrong, it's the greatest place to buy yarn, must find a way to go, must find $$$ to go... Humm... how oh how will I make it to TO? teehee!

More socks,

Yet another pair of socks to wear! So as usual, 72sts, Brittany 3mm dpn's, 2X2 ribbing (I have to remember that I don't like it!), sherman heel and star toe. I forgot to take a picture of the heel but you had it in the previous post. Does anyone realize that this is the 4th pair of socks in FOUR weeks!

As soon as I think I should let go of sock knitting for a while, I see tempting patterns. I have frogged the jaywalker sock I had started back in december. I was never happy with how it looked and fit so it just stayed in the wip pile. This same yarn tried to become another sock in january but it just wasn't fitting me and I really didn't enjoy the pattern. So it was time to put this yarn in a time out. LOL! Well I'm hoping august will be a good month. I just wish I had a pattern that would show off the Lorna's Laces jungle yarn but I can always knit them like my usual socks.

Our little garden has been producing some goods lately, after getting a few blueberries and some raspberries, the cherry tomatoes are colouring our plates. The fresh produce markets are overflowing with great veggies. This is the best of summer if you ask me.

hugs,

One more post

This is entry #667 on my blog, I just saw that I was up too #666. It is best that I change the number, I don't want to tempt any evil. LOL!

The socks are going along slowly, I barely knitted on them yesterday. I kept knitting on them today yet, I know I want to frog one of the heels but I procrastinate. The more I knit the less I feel like frogging. LOL! So I took a pic to show off the socks, now I am off to rip and knit back to the same spot and beyond.

So I'm thinking my next project will be a non-sock one. Since june I have been knitting only socks and well a girl only needs so many. Not sure what though as I went into a cleaning frenzy last weekend and donated two huge garbage/orange bags full of unwanted yarns. So now I have about 1/3 yarn stash left, so not sure what to do with it yet. Half is sock yarn but again, I don't recall having that much sock yarn either. LOL! I have 3 sweaters worth of yarns but I'm still not into sweaters yet. I could always finish a work in progress project or ten.... but what's the fun in that? LOL! Might as well stick to socks then.

Oh.... I do see a new cross stitching project that's been wanting to be started. Perhaps a change of needles from knitting to stitching will get me over my funk.

hugs,

One sock, two socks, three...

Since last week, I have finished the pair of Regia Jacquard #5271 socks. The 'recipe' for these socks is: 8sts/inch 3mm Brittany dpn's 72sts, 1X1 rib for 2inches, sherman heel and star toe. You are welcome to click the above picture to supersize it and see the heel in detail. I like this heel, works well for me and is easy (for me!) to knit. Now, now, we all know I am no expert in knitting so if this heel doesn't work for you, well go try another one, a short row heel, a flap heel, whatever floats your boat! LOL!

I've picked up some Regia Patch Antik Jeans and knitted up both legs halfway. I like to knit both socks at the same time better than one after the other. The reason is that, the second sock is never fun for me to knit. To solve that problem is to simply knit both socks, a bit at a time and once the first toe is done, the second is never too far away. I used to own two sets of dpn's in the same size, that's perfect 'cause then I'd knit a few rounds on one then on the other. Eventually I'll order another set of Brittany's, until then I just make due.

CanKNITian had posted a few questions on sock knitting and I keep forgetting to answer them. I'd love to read other peoples responses too.

1 - What is your favourite sock pattern?

At the moment I would say my "own" super/stupid simple stockinette sock pattern. It is basically bits and pieces of what I like from different patterns. The low down is 72sts, 1X1 or 2X2 rib 2", stockinette, flap or sherman heel, stockinette and star toe.

2 - What is your favourite *free* sock pattern (if different)?

I'd go with Terri's sock pattern as a starting point. Google has tons of basic sock recipes.

3 - What is your favourite sock yarn?

Regia, you just can't go wrong with it. I prefer 50gram balls just 'cause I can knit two socks at a time without splitting a big 100gr ball. Also I am paranoid that I'll miss yarn in the end, oh and I don't like to knit from both ends of a ball, there! LOL!

4 - Is there a sock maker's bible? What resource do you swear by?

Again, Terri's Sock 101 site is just the best, I referred to it over and over.

5 - What is your favourite type of heel and why?

I'm a standard kinda gal, so the basic slip stitch flap heel is my favorite. Although the Sherman heel is a good one to try too.

6 - Is there anything you haven't tried but want to, sock-wise?

I'd love to try the Tulip Socks but I do not have the patience for it. I hate swatching and I never tried fair isle so it's not gonna happen any time soon. lol!

7 - How long have you been knitting socks?

Uh.... I knitted my first sock after just a few months of knitting, it was one of the first 5 projects I did. So probably about 3 years now.

8 - How much, on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being 'true love always') do you love knitting socks?

10+++ it's just an easy project to bring along, it doesn't involve much to knit them, low yarn costs. Actually that's where I splurge usually, I will buy more expensive sock yarn just 'cause you only need a ball or two. For me they are the greatest mindless knitting project ever. You can go complicated but I just like the pure and simple way to knit socks!

This was fun, who's next to post there replies?