Knitting: The discovery sock

Last night was our last session for the Personal Footprints sock class. I am not quite DONE with my socks, but later this week or by the weekend, I should be complete. And not just with one sock, but BOTH! This makes me very excited because so far in my life.... I have only completed 2 pair of socks. I have many, many single socks... but not many pair.

I had some ups and downs with the sock, more ups than downs though. I'll go with the positive.
1. It seemed to be a fast knit.
2. As described, a very 'personal' fit. I feel it was made specifically for my foot and no one elses.
3. Did I mention quick?!
4. Lots of room for designing your own pattern and personalizing the fit.
5. No short row heels
6. No back and forth heel
7. IN THE ROUND heel (afterthought)
8. Great technique for self striping or handpaints because you can eliminate much of the pooling or weird striping when the leg/heel parts come together.
9. Oh and it's QUICK!

Ok, so now the negative
1. The discovery is meant to be knit and ripped and knit and ripped until you have the perfect fit, so you might have to do this several times at different sections. For me, it's the heel, I started my heel decreases too late and consequently have to rip back a bit maybe 1 1/2 inches on each sock. Tying a good to this negative, once you have the discover sock done, and you've made your notes, you don't have to worry about knit/ripping again for future socks.
2. The book/guide says NOTHING about the leg and making the leg work or fit. It's kind of glossed over really and not specific. We spent so much time getting the fit of the FOOT right and then your leg is completely left out.
3. The round "star" toe worked up nicely, but I'm not sure if I like how it FEELS so this is still a question mark for me.

And right now, that is my first thoughts on this discovery project. I feel well equipped to make decisions on sock design as well as choosing patterns for myself to make in the future. I definitely think I will use this technique again, especially if I want to do a quick no-pattern sock with self striping yarn. Huge benefit of speed and lack of pattern might make a QUICK pair of socks.

So all in all, I left the class, glad that I had taken the time to learn this. It was fun sharing with the other ladies our trouble spots or celebrating each other's successes. As always, Beth (yarnaholicbeth - rav) is fun and informative and a wealth of tips, tricks and funny stories.

In the course of 4 weeks, I have made a pair of socks. I'm quite proud of myself, especially when I consider, I knit on other items in this four weeks and not solely on the socks.

Next up... more socks. Doing a Joy of Sox KAL with Cath soon. And I'm REALLY hoping to get started on a lightweight cardi for spring/summer. Fisherman sweater is on hold as is the Every Way Wrap (she's been hibernating and waving at me every few days).

Knitting: A day without it?

You know awhile back it was pretty rare for me to have a day that I didn't knit. I would typically knit a few stitches at least every day. And it's mostly because I do love it so much. Well around last fall some changes were made. Mostly with work and that put the knitting on the back burner a bit. I mostly saved the knitting for the weekends because I couldn't fit it into my normal day.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to get at, is the presence of knitting in my daily life. And it's a constant presence. I sort of lose myself in it sometimes. For instance today, Audra and I headed downtown to Travonna Coffee house and we did talk, but there were moments there that I just got lost in my knitting. I was in my own world and just kind of zoned out with the stitches.

And after that, I kind of just wasted the day away. It was a good waste, though. I had fun and I looked at a ton of knitting books, found a few cardigans I really love... checked out some really great yarns... and I napped.

So about that discovery sock... good grief. I'm struggling with it. At first, I picked this one pattern, it caused me to double the stitches, so I was cabling over 96 effing stitches... it sucked and I did it for rows and rows. I even bound it off and tried it on.

Today, I ripped it out. That felt good, but then I was back at the drawing board so to speak. I started over wit a new pattern from the book and I for sure don't love it but at this point I just really want to be done with these socks.

Which leads me into my next point, I really want lots of socks. I have a shit-ton of sock yarn and I really need to get it knit up. My entire stash needs revamped and organized. I'm at the point of having an overwhelming amount of yarn and haven't a clue what to do with it.

While I know I need to knit, I get so overwhelmed I kind of shut down and don't know where to go or how to start. And that is why I have all of these projects all over. And probably in another week, my next sock club shipment will arrive from Blue Moon and I'll be in love all over again with something new.

In the meantime though, I've been mostly monogamous. I've only been working on the Discovery Socks and the Cabled Mitts. The first mitt is nearly done, but I do need to make some design changes. Kinks to work out so to speak. I'm being especially critical of these because this might be the first pattern I post out for sale.

Anyway, these two projects are going well and are coming to a close. Perhaps by next week the socks will be done, just in time, too because I decided to head to Mystery Sock on Tuesday night. It's a stranded 2-color project, so I'm anxious to get that started, too. I think I might opt to do both socks at the same time, so as to get finished earlier than later and not fall to SSS (second sock syndrome).

So I just might accomplish that dream of having multiple pairs of hand knit socks to choose from this year. Now... about that sweater................

Knitting: Continued DISCOVERY sock progress

I'm still knitting away on the discovery sock. As I finished the pod last week, I opted to start the 2nd pod instead of finishing the leg on sock #1. It's going well, although I haven't committed to it this weekend. I haven't felt the knitting bug much however I did have some fiber adventures.

I went to Dublin on Saturday to pick up my "new" macbook. Purchased from Cath since she upgraded to pro. And since I was in Dublin, I stopped off to visit Temptations. I chatted with Karen a bit. Picked up month #2 for the BOM Afghan and purchased a skein of Malabrigo Twist in Grape. It's super pretty.

I now have 3 skeins of the twist in different colors. GK2 pal, Brandy made really super pretty and squishy cabled fingerless mitts. I decided these would be great gifts for my non-knitting but supportive friends. So I know have 3 colors that I believe they will each like, Olive, Rust/Olive and the Purple. I searched Ravelry last week for a pattern, but didn't see anything that jumped out at me, so I'm designing my own. I'm writing as I go. It's turning out really nice. The yarn is fantastic to use and I love the cabled diamond I chose for the central motif. Not sure if I will make these identical or, swap the cables out as I go. Providing on the feedback, I may go ahead and list on Ravelry.

Great thing is, with my new macbook, I can design anywhere. I'm not restricted to being home on my IMac. I have some great software and am so amped to get some of these ideas out, anywhere I go!

So the mitts are in progress. The Discovery sock is in progress... and I'm being very good to not pick up any other projects, nor cast on any additional projects until I'm done with the first pair of mitts and/or these discovery socks. I hoped to have the green socks done in time for St. Pats, but it won't happen. No biggie, they should be done before end of the month.

So I should have knit on Friday but didn't. Didn't knit most of Saturday, but had a lovely catch up time with Cath at Starbucks on Sat. night. I did knit a few rounds on the sock while there. I've finished all the increases and just need to knit to the leg lines and put the lifelines in and finish up the heel. Not much further at all.

Have the sock class tomorrow and will cut open for the leg and start a pattern. I'm going away from my original thought of designing a cable, due to lack of time. But I will definitely do it sometime in the future.

Not ready to start another work week, but we do what we must. Here comes Monday... bring it on!

Knitting: Always learning something new

So, pretty much my whole knitting life I have tried multiple ways to make socks. Toe Up, Cuff Down, 2 at a time inside of each other, 2 at a time on one circ, magic loop, dpns, etc and so on.

I have never made a Cat Bordhi sock. I know her followers are thousands... but frankly, I wasn't into it. So recently I read about her latest book coming out and how can you turn away from a book with INSOUCIENT in the title. I mean, it's a great word and for those that don't know... from Dictionary.com:
–adjective
free from concern, worry, or anxiety; carefree; nonchalant.

I feel like a nonchalant sort of person most of the time... so insoucient, I am. Anyway, the merc was offering a class with Beth (yarnaholicbeth-rav) and she is a pretty funny and interesting lady. I decided to join the class and learn a new style. Now, I could have learned this from reading the book. But there were a few points here and there that puzzled me, so talking amongst others that are doing the same thing as you is a comfort and good learning tool.

Anyway, I started the class with a lovely skein of Purple-Burgundy colored yarn, it's called Impulse by Hazel Knits, part of my sock club shipment. I wasn't LOVING the color so much as liking it a lot, but I love her yarn in general, the feel, the twist, etc... so I thought it would be good to make the discovery sock with this yarn. However, I became NOT-insoucient and concerned that I wouldn't be able to READ my sock well because it was dark in color and you really need to be able to tell where your increases are, and so on. I decided to cast on a new yarn (same weight and needles). I picked a new stash acquisition. It's a love green, with many different shades. To me it is the PERFECT GREEN.

Green being my very favorite color forever and always and this is what I think of when I think of the color green.... it's THIS yarn, yes it is.

Anyway, I've been knitting away on the "discovery" sock and I finished my pod (pic below). There are a couple of lifelines and between them, I will pick up stitches and SNIP the yarn and knit up the leg. After that piece is done, I will go back and finish off the heel. So yes, this is a very different technique and way to make a sock and so far, I kind of like it. I still have a bit to learn, like how to incorporate a patter on the foot, etc... but it's been fun to veer off the regular STANDARD c/o 64 or 72 stitches path. I definitely reccommend this style of knitting to those wanting a more PERSONAL fit to your sock. IT's not too big, not too small, it's just right.

Knitting: What?!

So, I've been meaning to write for days and days... but been too lazy to do so. That being said... I felt like I had a lot to say and now sitting here typing, I can't recall a darn thing. And I have no photo updates either.

So, let the random purge begin.

I read a good book a week ago... it is still sticking with me and I can't get it out of my head. I even took the time to go back and read some of the chapters. In the end, the book is basically about a woman that ends up "finding" herself and healing old wounds when she moves to Ireland to research and write a book about KNITTING. So, not sure why it has stuck with me so much except, it was a pretty good story and had a happy ending and all that, so maybe that is what I'm looking for or yearning for? Who knows... what this book has also done is made my feelings for a fisherman gansey resurface with a vengeance.

I've done research all over the place... 2 of the most notable books (from every website I surfed) happen to be in my Library. I've been pouring over patterns and cables and ropes and moss stitches and more. There is no real "pattern" that I am using, it's kind of make it up and go.

I had planned to be a good knitter and swatch out all the pattern motifs I was planning, but then on Sunday... I grew restless and silly and c/o 264 stitches to start this sweater in the round from the bottom up. I'm using EZ's almanac instructions, but with different panels. I really liked my chosen stitches, but after doing 1 1/2 rounds, I realized one of the panels was NOT for me. So mid-round, I stopped knitting. I grabbed my 2 books, Gladys Thompson and Shelaugh H(something) and looked for another pattern with a count of 20 stitches. I couldnt' find one! Then, I pulled out a couple of BW stitch dictionaries and of course, after looking at several possible motifs, I chose one. It's a pretzel braid and will fit in nicely I think. So I finished round 2 with that stitch by dropping that section back to the edge and going forth.

Another thing I decided on was to do a provisional cast on using the crochet method. I did this for several reasons. Mainly because I am impatient, but 2ndly because I wasn't sure how these patterns would actually fit together and also because I don't know how long this will be. So, I figured I could get it where I want and after having done a significant amount of knitting, I can go back, pick up that edge and do some ribbing. My other reason, is I definitely want to do it in a size smaller needle and I have no idear where the 7 is right now.

Moving on... Details: Using Cascade Eco Wool in the natural colorway on a US8. I'm getting 3.77 stitches per inch. This sweater will def be huge, but I'm modeling it after a fave sweater of mine that is big and baggy and one that I love the fit of.

I have no idea what will happen when I get up to the chest area and I need to start thinking about sleeves and stuff. This will definitely be a practice in patience, skill and learning new things. I think I am a good knitter, but I rarely WING it to this extent, so we shall see.

In other knitting news, I'm taking a class at the merc and learning about Cat Bordhi's "new" technique of toe-up sock making. It's called Peronal Footprint. And basically you are making notes as you go, trying on as you go and making a patter of your foot, as you go along knitting. It's pretty interesting and I'm enjoying the progression so far.

I did have a bit of a set back though. As this is a learning sock and you have to be able to READ your knitting, the yarn I picked was the IMPULSE colorway from the February Hazel Knits sock club and not really a good idea for this venture. So, around Saturday, I decided to switch over to a lovely green yarn that was newly acquired. I can definitely "read" my increases much better and it didn't take me long to get back to where I was with the Impulse as well as continue on. I'm not sure of what the leg of the sock will be yet and if it will be plain or if we make something from the book, but if we can pick our "own" thing, I'm definitely planning on making some shamrocks or celtic rings on these socks... it's THAT green.

Maybe I need to take a trip to Ireland, soon!