1morerow: January 2008

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Makeover for 2008 !

It's been 1.5 years since I started my blog & I was getting a little tired of the look, so I had a chat with Michelle (my talented blog designer) & she came up with this! I love my new look as it reflects my love for socks knitting. Thanks Michelle !

I have another FO.....

.... it's a pair of socks for my nephew who is turning 4 at the end of the month. I used my leftover Lorna Laces (Jeans colorway) & with only 44 stitches in the round, the socks were done in 3 days. I knitted the socks toe-up - magic cast on for the toes, short row shaping for the heels & they are done!

I also cast on another pair of socks - it's the Back to Basic pattern from knitty.com (fall 2007). It's a toe-up sock with a unique construction - this is the toe ....

..... the increases are not at the side but in the middle - it does look unique & I did enjoy learning a new technique - now it's just plain knitting for 4.5ins till the gusset increase which will be in the middle of the top foot - I am looking forward to that. I am also using a new yarn - Araucania - a new sock yarn from Chile which is kettle dyed. Just love the color! Did you also notice my new Harmony needles - they are really smooth & nice & they come in a pack of 6 so if you break 1, there's still 5 more !

Another new acquisition is this ....

...... it's a sock tote from ZigZagStitches at etsy. It's lovely & with lots of room for a ball of yarn & the socks in progress.

I feel so spoilt - new look, new yarn, new needles, new tote - what more can I ask for ?

Thursday, January 17, 2008

2nd FO for 2008 !

15 days into the new year & I cast off another pair of socks - Crazy Monkey Socks - a toe-up version of the Monkey with no purl stitches ....

I love this pattern - it's easy & yet turn out so lovely & it also knitted up very fast as there are no purl stitches - really love it - a great sock pattern ......

Pattern : Crazy Monkeys

Yarn : A wool blend from Jolly Jumbuck (was testing the yarn for Irene so not sure of the colorway - visit her store & check with her)

Needles : Lantern Moon 2.25mm sox stiks (I love these little needles)

I have also finish 1 sock which I casted on in November. As I was anxious to try the yarn (Zen Garden) I cast on without deciding on a pattern & finished the foot & took a while to decide on the pattern for the leg - finally decided on keeping the pattern simple & just a braided cable with garter beads (from Sensational Knitted Socks) on both sides of the legs - turned out well .....

The yarn is gorgeous to knit with - so soft & smooth but I was a little disappointed with the pooling on the heel but I think it still looks great ....

The only feature in this sock that I am not so happy with is the cast off. Because of the design, I decided not to knit a ribbed cuff & just leave it as it is - but I feel that it's not a really proper cast off - what do you think?

In my last post where I listed my FOs for 2007, I forgot this - 16 dish cloths in a month - all in time for Christmas give-aways! Wow, how can I forget this !

Sunday, January 06, 2008

The Last & The First

My LAST FO for 2007 which I casted off on Dec 28 ....

.... they are the Snapdragon socks in Dream in Color Smooshy (Cool Fire), a pattern purchased from the Loopy Ewe. I actually knitted 3 socks as the 1st sock was too small & there is a little yarn leftover - it's amazing how much yarn there was in a skein & it's so soft. I am so in love this yarn & I am sure I will be using more. Anyway, here are the 3 Snapdragons ......

And my FIRST FO for 2008 .....

.... the Fiery Bolero from Interweave Summer 2005 - it is an interesting knit as it's all done in 1 piece but unfortunately it doesn't fit well - the sleeves are too long & the back collar doesn't sit well & you can see that the colors pooled on the sleeves. Anyway, I still enjoy knitting this & it was quick (2 weeks). On top of that, it costs me only $7 for the yarn from Spotlight !