At Last .... A Pair Of Socks

It is not that I have not been knitting socks for the past few months. I am still knitting socks everyday but I can't blog about them or post any pictures as I am designing them for Knitting Inspirations Sock Club.

But I can post this pair as this is one of my designs which will be making its debut at Knitting Inspirations Annual Retreat .....

Pattern : Foot Prints

Yarn : Fleece Artist Cashlana

Needles : 2.5mm Harmony dpns

The pattern on the socks remind me of little foot prints & it's an easy to remember 5 rows pattern. I love the yarn which I am using for the 1st time - it's 90% wool & 10% cashmere & it's so soft & lovely to knit with & it has lots of stretch which is great for socks.

And look at the heels where the ribbed pattern is extended all the way down to the gusset or all the way up from the gusset as these socks are knitted toe up. This ribbed heel is great as it's stretchable & so easy to put the socks on.

I am so happy with the socks as they have turned out great. This pattern plus my other 2 previous designs, My Grape Vines and Snakes & Ladders will be available to participants at the retreat (May 15 - 17) at Toodyay. I am so.... looking forward to the retreat !

2 "LOST" FOs !

I received a message on Ravelry about one of my project, Abertay & asked if the picture of the wip can be used. This suddenly prompted me to start looking for it as I remembered finishing it sometime last year. My search came up with 2 "LOST" FOs at the bottom of the basket.

Abertay is one of them & I remembered that I left it in the basket so that I can block it when I have time but somehow forgot all about it. So, Abertay is now blocked ......

..... and it's gorgeous ! How can I forget this lovely knit & left it in the basket for so many months. It looks great on Lydia .....

.... wore in different ways & of course the yarn is soft & light - it's Irene's Helios !

The other "LOST" FO is this ......

..... it was all done & does not require blocking but I just did not like the way it turned out & I guess I just wanted to "forget" that I knitted it. It's a circular vest form Elann & I knitted in Cleckheaton's 4ply natural cotton. I love the cotton but ......

..... it just don't look right when worn. This is the long version & below is the short version ....

.... it just look messy when I wear it & it's all over the place. Maybe I am just too fussy & want my garment to sit properly. For the time being, this project is back in the basket.

Over the Easter weekend, I wanted to knit a quick project & found this pattern. It was a quick project - cast on Good Friday & cast off Easter Saturday & I used up 2 skeins of my sock stash ...

.... I used 2 strands of sock yarn (Helios again) & 6mm needles. This top is knitted top down so there's no seaming at all. I did lengthened the sleeves & the body & it looks great .......

...... I love this little top & it's just nice for the cool weather now. I do want to knit another one & use up more of my sock yarn !

I Can't Believe That I Have Finished These !

Remember this post ? Since then, I was very determined to finish these 2 projects & I did - Mum's cardi was cast off & the following day my niece's bolero was done - Hurray !!!!

I am happy with Mum's cardi although it took me a long time to knit it - 6 whole weeks ! I knitted the cardi from the top down so that I can make sure it will fit Mum as she likes to wear loose garments. I was still deciding on how to knit the body when my Spring issue of IK came & I saw this . I like the rib pattern & so used it for the body & I am glad I did as it came up well. I also learnt the tubular cast off for the bottom of the cardi ....

..... it was a little tough in the beginning but later it got better but it took me 2 hours to cast off those 300+ stitches ! But it was worth the effort as the edging is so lovely .....

I am also happy with the moss stitch collar & I used the same stitch pattern on the front & sleeve bands - all so matching .....

I just hope this cardi will fit Mum & she is happy with it. Well, I will know when my husband takes it with him to Singapore at the end of the month.

My niece's bolero is also off the needles .....

.... this is the 2nd time that I have knitted this pattern from Jo Sharp Knit 2. I think this is the best bolero pattern that I have used. My only complaint is that I had to sew in the sleeves which were knitted separately as I knitted the body in 1 piece. Now that I am into top down knitting with NO SEAMING, just sewing in short sleeves was a lot of work ! Anyway, the bolero is done & will also be leaving for Singapore at the end of the month.

Now I am back to regular knitting & cast this on ....

..... it's the Nightsongs or Gail Shawl & I am using the extra soft Handmaiden Sea Silk. I love the feel of the yarn but had a little problem with the pattern. What you are seeing now had been frogged & in fact, I had to frog twice before I understand the chart. It's going on smoothly now & I hope a shawl will be making an appearance soon.......

I Am Still Not Knitting

..... another diversion to my usual knitting - beading ! I have been experimenting with making my own row counter for sock knitting. To keep track of the pattern rows, I find using the normal Clover counters a little troublesome & having to turn or click it slows down my knitting. I checked on etsy for ideas & made a few versions for testing. In the end, I find this is the best .......

..... it took me quite a while to find these number beads. This sock that I am knitting has a pattern of 5 rows & so all I need to do is to put my needle on the ring corresponding with the row number. I put this marker one stitch before the end of the round, so if I have just finish knitting pattern row 2, I will put my needle on the ring with #3. I can then put down my knitting & when I pick it up again, I will know that I will have to start with row 3. It's a great counter for sock knitting as it's light & easy to use & of course mark the end of the round. I am so happy with this & have made a few ......

I have further improvise on my 1st version & the current version counts up to row 10. I have added a claw to the end of row 5 & if needed it can be connected to the 2nd portion of rows 6 - 10. Now I can knit my socks to my heart's content as I have my best row counter. In fact, I have already sold 3 of these row counters to members of my knitting groups who saw me using them. So if any of you are interested, just let me know.

I think I went a little crazy with my beading & also did this .....

.... this is my favorite row counter for garment or scarf knitting as it can stay on the needles but sometimes it does get in the way of the knitting. So I made it into a stitch marker so that it can hang on my needles & also mark the end of the row. I also added a claw so that I can attach it to other parts of the knitting .....

..... or attach it to a project bag ....

.... isn't it pretty? I better get back to my knitting & stop playing around with beads.