Behind the Scenes

I used to write a knitting blog. I miss those days sometimes.

Niece's Socks

Pattern: none. Basic Stockinette with a 1X1 rib at cuff, a slip-stitch heel, and a wedge toe.

Yarn: Fortissima Socka mit Bambou, 60% wool, 25% bamboo, 15% nylon

Yarn Source: Needle & Arts Centre

Yarn Cost: $20

Needles: 2mm and 2.25mm Addi Turbo

Tension: 40 sts over 4 cm

Cast on: December 30, 2008

Bound off: January 10, 2009

Size: Youth size 2-4

Notes:

I tried to use the Addi Turbo double-points for this project, but got a lot of laddering. It might be because the double-points are pretty heavy and I'm used to the lightness of a circular. I went back to magic looping with a slightly smaller needle (Addi doesn't make a Turbo in 2.25mm in the 120 cm length).

Gwen's Chalet Socks

Pattern: Chalet Socks from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks

Yarn: Phildar Preface, 70% wool, 30% polyamide

Needle: 2.5mm Addi Turbo 120cm long circular, for magic loop

Tension: about 36 sts over 10 cm

Cast on: December 27, 2008

Bound off: January 8, 2009

Modifications: Left out one cuff repeat, making these a little shorter in the leg. I was worried about running out of yarn - needn't have been, since I have more than enough left over.

Notes:

I'd make these again - they went surprisingly quickly and were fun to knit. The pattern was a little tricky to memorise at first, but after about 2" of the travelling twisted stitches, I had caught on and didn't need the chart too much anymore.

I've cast on another project, from the book I got for Christmas from my sister. These are Veronik Avery's "Woollen Gloves" from Knitting Classic Style. They're meant to go under a pair of fingerless Latvian mittens, but I'm undecided as to whether I'll make the mittens or not. They are pretty cute together....

The yarn I'm using is Crystal Palace's Panda Silk, a blend of merino, bamboo and silk. It's gorgeous yarn. Soft, smooth, with a little lustre...I'm knitting it on 2.5mm needles and getting a little finer tension than the pattern specifies, so the glove is nice and snug. It's a nice quick knit, with an easily-memorised pattern - a simple lace scallop. In fact, it's almost the exact same pattern as the Lacy Scallops socks.

Soon I'll be casting on for the next of Ruby's sweaters - Mason-Dixon's "Fern" cardigan, knit in Sisu sock yarn. My goal is to finish it by Easter - knit on tiny needles and with sock yarn, it will probably take me some time, so I'd like to get going. At the moment though, I'm happy to be knitting something for myself for a change...