It's the time of the year where we have the State's biggest event - The Royal Show. And this why I have not been posting as I had been busy knitting my entries for the show. I entered a shawl & a pair of socks last year for the 1st time & I won 2nd & 3rd prizes. In addition, this year the organisers have created a socks category for sock knitting addicts like me.
So, I decided to enter a pair of fair isle socks as I have never knitted one before. I started the Norwegian Rose Socks & for a week, I did nothing but knit & frog. I just can't get the tension right & the sock felt so tight & the stitches looked terrible. On top of all these, the 3 charts was driving me crazy as I kept messing it up. I GAVE UP !
But I really wanted to knit a fair isle socks, so pick up the needles again & worked on a simpler pattern, Sanquhar Socks. I had more luck this time as the charts were easier to follow & I managed to master knitting 2 colors on my right hand. There were still a couple of mistakes & I had to frog but it went more smoothly until I came to the corrugated ribbing. Luckily I found this video & it worked well.
Then I had problem with the cast off & this time, my good friend, Roseann came to my rescue & recommended the suspended bind off.
Within a week, I had 1 sock done & I was happy with it. It took me another 4 days to finish the 2nd sock & here they are .....
I think this whole process had been a great learning experience for me & I waiting until the Royal Show to learn a new technique like fair isle. I did not enjoy fair isle knitting & my hands hurt & I had to be very conscious of my tension. I am a very tight knitter & this does not help. Anyway, I had learnt my mistake & I should be more prepared the next time.
The yarn that I used are Opal (turquoise) & Louet Gem (brown). I followed the pattern except for the heel as I do not like the look of short row heels. So I substituted with a slip stitch heel & I had to reworked the gusset increases. But it does look better.......
I don't know if I will be knitting any more fair isle socks after this experience.
For my other entry, I knitted my Cottage Garden Shawl with Mini Maiden, a blend of wool & silk & it turned out great ......
I knitted in beads for the stocking stitch section of the shawl & they really added a great effect on the shawl .....
I have submitted both items to the show & I will be at the show on Sept 30 as I am doing a hand knitting demonstration there.
Now back to my normal knitting .....
7 comments:
The fairilse socks are just gorgeous and you are so clever and determined. I am a tight knitter too and it is not conducive to fairisle!!
Good luck!!!
Good luck for the show! You are lucky to have a section for socks, Sydney doesn't. I love the beads in the stocking stitch section of the shawl, and I think your fair isle socks look great. Good on you for persevering with fair isle.
Impressive socks and a beautiful shawl. You are sure to do well.
Oh good luck with the show entries!! Well done, they are such gorgeous projects, both of them - the shawl is amazing with the beads and such a beautiful pattern!
I love seeing more pictures of your socks, they are soooo beautiful!!! I am handspinning some Miss Babs Corriedale in Woodland Viola for my Garden Cottage Shawl. The beads add lovely luster and the yarn is so pretty in your clever pattern.
I can't wait to hear that you have won two First Prizes for these entries!
Both are beautiful...and kudos to you for trying a new technique for a show! Thanks for all the detail regarding the colorwork socks...I have many on my wish list but have wondered about how well it would fit given how tight I knit when I do colorwork. I'll keep this post handy to refer to when I ever get around to starting a pair.
If it is any consolation, I find fair isle socks much more tedious than fair isle sweaters and vests! I'm proud of you for trying though and I think the socks look great. I love the Norwegian Rose socks that you first tried but I'm not a toe-up knitter.
The beads in the stockinette stitch of your shawl were a great idea! It's very pretty! Good luck on your entries!
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