FO : Retro Rib Socks

A few days before his birthday (actually his birthday is December 8th), my father told me that he loves his knitted sooooo much that he sleep with it every night. Ok I get the point he want some new socks !

Fortunately I had begun Retro Ribs sock back in July...2010 so I grabbed them with only the foot of one to do and both toes. So it went quickly and my father had the gift he wanted !

Pattern Retro Rib socks by Evelyn A.Clark from the book Favorite socks

 Needles : 2.25mm DPN
Yarn : Knit Picks Stroll solid in Pine color about 1.5 ball I guess

Easy I don't know why I did not finish right away last year...probably I had a startisis crisis !

Now that's clear that my dad will want some more next year for his birthday again, maybe I should think about them and knit them ahead of the time... :)

2 socks at the time but not really...

...not really using the regular method on circular. No I wanted to knit simple socks on DPN but knit them at the same pace to avoid the second sock syndrome of having one bigger than the other.

It's my first cast on project for Christmas 2010, not telling for who they are ! Even if the persons concerned have no chance to read my posts or very small chance I prefer to keep the secret for myself only. The only one that will know my every little secret for those Christmas gifts will be my little belly baby daughter, lol!

I choose Stroll yarn in fingering weight because it's Superwash and since those are intended to be socks, I find it useful. Plus the beautiful Pine color suits the pattern perfectly...

...more progress soon.

FO : Flakey socks

Another quick FO in 2010, cast in and cast off on May 21st, perfect to work on my colorwork abilities and quick enough to make a pair in a few hours...

Here are the spec ...

Pattern : Flakey socks by annipurl

Needle : 4 mm

Yarn : leftovers of Cascade 200 from my own Tilted Duster and my daughter's jacket I recently made

Mods : none except using a bigger yarn and it makes me end with bigger socks, fitting a 2 or 3 years old I think... but that's ok she will grow soon enough anyway !

Can't wait to see her now... less than 9 weeks remaining before my due date.............................

FO : Daddy's sock of doom...

Finally just cast off these never ending socks for my dad... remind me to choose my project accordingly to my level and also to my taste. I made two important mistake before even casting on for this project : choose a project that I dislike and too easy for me AND choose a project I don't find cute anyway. I knit to make beautiful projects and see my knitting like an art, this piece will be the weird one in my museum, or maybe the piece of conversation... lol.

Spec

Pattern : Basic sock formula

Needle : 2.5 mm

Yarn : Regia sock yarn

Cast on : somewhere on August 2008

Cast off : 2010 May 5th

Mods none, enjoyment factor below zero and satisfaction to finally get myself to finish it : priceless. It's the thing I am proudest about this pair of sock, I did finish them after all...

Best part of my day to finally be zen about this :

I made a little fire with the leftovers of the yarn and the pattern !!!

Now I can truly enjoy my vacations...

Happy Knitting in 2010 !!!

I begin the new year while I still knit my old WIP from 2009...but I will keep knitting on them for as long as they took to complete them all, finally !

So take a look on those projects one by one :

First the highly modified Trellis sweater for my nephew Zachary...

I think that a button vest is not really well suited for a little boy who just want to play and run all around, so I decided to turn the vest into a sweater with a bigger head opening and I also modify the sleeves. I found the originals one to be too busy and distracted my attention from the body which I want to avoid. I will post all my mods with the FO post (soon enough I hope). I will finish the first sleeve today hopefully and cast on for the second one right after.

Then what about the Pea Pod Set for my own little one to be

I did finish the second sleeve yesterday and I still have to sew it on the body and then make the matching hat. The whole thing will need a good bath and blocking to open up the lace part. I already have many button in sight to finish the project perfectly...

And my last project in my current WIP bag are the plain man sock for my dad that I begun in *sigh* August of 2008... bad me ! At least he still want them and will be very happy in those socks. I turned the heel on the second sock and going great on the foot part, just have to sit and knit a bit everyday because it's not the most exciting knitting for sure !

Target end of project for the Trellis and Pea Pod are before the end of January, and the socks... right after I'm done with previous two, wish me luck !

One down, one more to go...

First sock is done as you can see, I've finished it on Tuesday night and I already cast on for the second one since I was watching TV and didn't want to find my yarn and notions to begin a Christmas project. I enjoyed the feeling of one feet in a warm wool sock and yes it's close now the moment where I will wear them and appreciate them as well. I always wonder why I do not knit them two at once, but I love dpn too much for sock knitting to abandon that practice... or maybe I could try at least the circular needle Robyn sent me in previous swap to knit socks soon.

I love love love love the colors and the yarn is heaven ! Kangaroo Dyer is one of the best yarn for sock I ever used, it's soft, smoochy and feel like a charm while knitting. Aren't it's lovely ?

My sock number 2 is on the way already, first chart done and I'm still going and going. It's always faster on the second one because I do not have to read the pattern again, I know it by heart.

So for now I will enjoy my 4 days week end and hopefully, I'll have plenty of time to knit and continue my sock...

Oh, almost forgetting... there is a new LYS right next to my condo in St-Augustin, will talk about it soon and get some pictures for your eye pleasure... with lot of fiber to please your mind! It opened yesterday and yes I am already a customer..... ;)

Sock on the go

What was I doing in the past 2 week on the knitting side ? Since we had temperature over 40 Celsius for many and many days I thought about knitting wool socks was just the perfect thing to do. After all, when it's so hot outside I can only think about frilly night and a good pair of knitted socks while watching a movie with a hot chocolate...

So I wound my Kangaroo dyer yarn in the color Mango Reprise that I bought last summer(right one skein on the picture), I found my 2.5mm dpn and I searched my queue on Ravelry to find a pattern to please my mind, my hands and later on...my feet. And looking to my work so far, I must say happy feet!

I choose the pattern Shur'tugal by Alice Yu to begin my first pair of sock since a very long time, actually if you remember my last one were my Bellatrix socks in mid-January. Just before I change all my life ... so I was kind of worried to knit socks again but everything is alright fortunately for me !

I cast on for those little one on August 13Th and I don't knit a lot these days so my progress aren't the one I am used to. But on August 15Th I went to my nephew birthday to Boisbriand and came back in the same day so a lot of road knitting was done on that day. My BF was more than happy to drive my car on the way back anyway !!

Those socks are kind of slow knitting and I love seeing the hand painted colors swirl around the sock, some may call it bad pooling but I love it and since they are for me anyway it doesn't matter !!! So far I am almost done with the feet and I will toes soon now on my first one... the last picture was taken a few days ago.

The best story about me knitting this pair of sock happens yesterday after work. I was at my head office for the afternoon and I went out of my meeting at 4:30 just on time to hit the traffic and with all the workers coming out of office plus the work on the roads of Quebec, it took me one hour to make a simple 12-15 minutes trip back at home... So at some point I was completely stopped for 2 or 3 traffic lights and I don't my car these day (yes again BF is driving my car but that's another story) and the one I am renting is automatic so I pulled my knitting and I had time to knit 5 rows of my sock before being able to move again !!! The man in the car probably thought that I am a bit crazy but at least I didn't spent 15 minutes of life in a negative feeling about traffic but I enjoyed a good moment of car knitting... ;)

I must now begin Christmas knitting also so I will finish sock #1 and then I will knit a Christmas gift and then I will be allowed to finish my pair of sock. I think I will have a lot of Christmas knitting this year.... the best moment to start is probably as soon as possible.

FO : Bellatrix socks

Yes done under one week, then went very fast because I did not spend too much time and they are complete ! Yay !

The pattern is very fun (and free) to work with and very easy, after the first one, I knew the whole pattern by heart with the always same 8 rows (6 time st st) it's quite fast and easy to remember the pattern...

Here are the specs

Pattern : Bellatrix by Monkey Toes

Yarn : Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino in color Serengeti about 75 % of the skein

Needle : 2.5mm DPN

Cast on January 10th

Cast off January 16th

Comments : I find the sock a bit baggy on the leg, good thing that it has twisted rib at the top because if not they would fell off my leg and the heel is really too short in my taste but it goes well with the very stretchy pattern and the drops stitches. About them, this stitch pattern is really fun because you have to create hole into your knitting which is not usual at all and it had interest to the whole process. The yarn compliment the pattern well and the color combo is well choose with the story and inspiration behind the pattern (Harry Potter inspired).

2 FO in 2 weeks, not bad huh ? Be prepared, 2009 will be a big knitting year !

Another pair of sock on her way...

In which I had to cast on for another pair of sock before finishing the two that I already have on needles... yes I swear I had to !!!

I broke my 2.75mm circular and have to wait till next week to get another one and I am getting terrible ladder with DPN on that model (must show you this week about those...) and the other one, well, I forgot about where I am in the model and must have to figure it out before to knit and I was not in the mood to search for over than 1 minute so that's why I had to cast on another pair of sock, I told you it was not my fault... ;)

So here is my fastest pair of sock that I can remember of knitting :

Bellatrix; a pattern inspired by Harry Potter books and by the character of one the Black's sister... I may have to say that my choice of yarn is perfect I think (Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino in color Serengeti which I will talk about in my next post)

Here a little close-up of the drop-stitches pattern

It takes a little bit to master the drop-stitches pattern but once you figure that you don't have to pull too much it's really easy and fun to work in the sock process.I cross my fingers that I will have time to finish the number 2 soon enough and finish the 2 other pairs that are calling my name around here...

FO : TTL mystery sock

Another FO, I am very productive these weeks, it must be Christmas coming that makes me knit faster ! :) So my feet are now cozy in a new pair of sock and don't try anything, those are for me, me me !!!

Here are the Spec

Pattern : TTL Mystery Sock by Kirsten Kapur

Needle : Good old 2.5mm DPN

Yarn : Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Fingering in color Twilight that I receive from Ragdoll in Valentine Day swap last february. About 95% of 2 skeins.

Size : 7.5 to fit me !

Cast on : November 21st

Cast off : November 29th

Mod : I did only one repeat for leg of the cable because I was worried about running out of yarn (I really was in target because if I hadn't, I'd to make contrasting color toes). So I had to readjust the cable pattern on the feet as well and I am really pleased about the final result.

The pattern si so clever and FREE, you have to try it for sure ! Any sock knitter that had tried the pattern so far are unanimous : this is a win, never boring, good construction, well written. So what are you waiting for ? Go and knit yourself a pair or two !!! :)

About the yarn : I am in love, even if the yardage is a bit short it's ok if you don't like long sock to make you a pair of regular women sock. The yarn is smoochy and it's a pleasure to knit it at every stitch.

Off to make another FO soon...

One down...

This is really a quick knit ! I love those socks so far and I can't wait to be done, I hope on time for the end of the KAL on next Saturday, since I knitted the first one so fast I have big hope for this week to finish this one before the deadline !!! :)

Here are the pretty socks

And the beginning of the second one

No time to knit today, I'm going to Montreal Canadian tonight... *crossed finger for victory*

I'll give you some hockey pictures tomorow ! :)

Frog one, knit one !

Sometime we have to admit that a project will never ever work as begin... last July I begun "Tilting cable socks" from Interweave knit.

I totally love the pattern and the look with the yarn and everything BUT with the heavy cable pattern, the fabric is just too stiff and unstrechable. So I can't put these one so now they are back from where they're from : the ball of yarn...

To make me good after admitting this failure in my knitting skills, I begun a new pair of sock : TTL Mystery sock by Kirsten Kapur (Through the Loops!). I will have no problems with fitting this time ! The pattern is very very strechy and with the yarn I choose to use : Claudia Handpainted received from Ragdoll in the Valentine Day swap, it's a perfect combinaison !!! :)

Will be done soon with the first sock, stay tuned for next episode !

Nutkin part 2... finish too late but...

Hey, I just cast off the second Nutkin... a bit late for my friend birthday party, but this will ensure that I need to see her soon !!! Hehe ! They just need to be cold wash and blocked and they will be ready to go for their new home :) And as I know her they will be beloved socks...

Here the final spec :



Needles : 2.75 mm bamboo DPN

Yarn : Knitpicks Palette in color Petal, 1.1 skein

Time to knit, just a wee bit over a week, but I did not touch it for 2 days !

Mods : different toes because I did not want to figure a new one this time.



Enjoyement : fabulous, they knit up so fast !!! I love this pattern and I would love to make another pair in a multi-color version soon.



Have a nice week

Nutkins part 1

Yes I did knit a complete sock out of Nutkin pattern since last post... but it did not went as I thought... I did drive all the way to Montreal and when coming back as well, so no knitting before Sunday morning at my brother house and I had a little misadventure with my contact lense... yipee. Note to myself always bring some other contact lense just in case even if I have brand new in eyes...

Anyway, Nutkins is going quite well and I really enjoy how fast the pattern goes. It did some mods, first for the edge at begginning I did not had the pattern when I begun so I figure it was ok like this, but it roll ... and I'm using 2.75mm instead of 2.5mm DPN and I'm really happy that I did it because they are just the perfect size now. Oh and I did a kitchener toes because it's faster to me than short rows.

I'm using the bright pink color of knitpick Palette I had in stash since Julie love pink... I am sure she will love those !!!

Stay tune for part 2 in less than 2 days I hope !!!

Slow week

Hey what about an update...

I cast on for a new pair of sock on Saturday and we are now Friday and I did not even see the end of the first one... But I would like to have both sock done by next Friday at 19h because it's the birthday party of one of my friend for her 30 th anniversary and I know that she will really appreciate the work I put in it...but I have to speed up my knitting for sure ! I don't think I have time to knit those by next Friday so I will begin a pair of Grandiflora (the new free pattern we got in SOS08) because I know I can do those in a week for sure...or Nutkins still hesitate between those two...

The pattern is Tilting cable sock in Interweave Knit Winter 2007. So far I really enjoy the cables and the pattern but be aware ther is an error in the begginning of the sock and I did not look...so there is also an error on my sock but no way I was not coming back since it's not too apparent.

I knit on the recommand needle 2.5mm and I think the size is just perfect so far (fit snug) and the yarn I'm using is the Cherry Tree Hills Sockittome in color Gypsy Rose that I had bought in the sale of Yarn and Fiber cie last spring.

Here the closeup

Wish me luck with my gift !

Yay sock #4

Hey just finish my 4th pair of sock for SOS08, not much in comparaison with some but I'm happy and I'm having fun which is the most important !!!

The pattern is Shady sock by Yvonne McSwiney

The yarn : Filaturara di Crossa Brilla in color Tangerine Dream (almost 2 skeins)

Needle : 2.5 mm DPN

They are for ... I don't know yet honestly ! lol... I'm sure I will have no problems to find someone to wear these !!! haha ! The yarn is a breeze to knit summer sock because it's made of Cotton and Rayon and it's cold enough on the skin to be able to wear handknit sock in summer heat !

I don't know what to do next now... maybe a pair of socks !!! ;-) Going to look in my queue to find the lucky pattern !