Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Toe Socks...and we go round and round

Work really does put a cramp in knitting as I'm still plugging away on my socks.


That was what they looked like on Friday...a mere 4 days ago.

I ignored the house chores this weekend, except laundry, and just kept knitting.

Here is what they looked like on Saturday night...


Then, I needed to take a break, we had some errands to run. BUT then I learned it was Socktober. Where you start and finish a pair of socks during the month of October.

Well now it is game on.....

I knit all day Sunday to the point where I thought my fingers were going to fall off....


It is going to be close if I can finish them by Midnight on Friday, October 31st. Dang work.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Toe up Socks

Well I'll be....toe up socks are SO much easier than cuff down. In my opinion.

This was Saturday morning during a class from Sarah Peasley on toe up construction (keep in mind this is worsted weight yarn and US 7 needles).


Then after a couple of hours of being home, I started on my real next pair of socks.


The following day, taking a ride to the apple orchard it was looking really good.


Even better after a marathon of TV...


It is cool how the color is starting to swirl on the sock.

However, work is definitely getting in the way this week of my sock knitting!!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Stitches East 2014 Stash Enhancements

Well, there was a bit of stash enhancements purchased at Stitches.

Each year there is a map released through Ravelry that shows the layout of the convention center with the names of the vendors in their locations. Well, the OCD in me takes this map, color codes the vendors to visit, makes the list of what to get, and off I go.

This year I had ordered, for pickup at Stitches, a Bison/Silk kit from The Buffalo Wool Co. I had heard that you cannot be allergic to bison as you can be from sheep/wool. I was really looking forward to trying this new yarn.

They were easy to spot....as Knitters Universe had allowed them to bring their van onto the convention floor! Very cool!


Within my kit, was 800+ yards of Bison/Silk, beads, shawl pattern...and a little friend:



I also knew if I was going to continue to knit more toe up socks I needed more Hiya Hiya needles. So, here is the obligatory purchase photo:

  • Lisa Souza - Bombxy Silk in Bayberry Colorway, 1094 yards
  • Fiberlady - Makicot Bamboo/Cotton; Blue Hues, 335 yards
  • Fiberlady - Mousou Bamboo; Purple/Rose, 650 yards
  • The Buffalo Wool Co. - Bison Down/Silk; Natural, 800 yards
  • Cast off Bind off Book by Leslie Bestor
  • Hiya Hiya Sharp Needles - US 1.5, 3, 4; All 32" (2 pairs of each)
  • Nicholas & Felice aluminum 'Bow' shawl pin
  • Michelle's Assortment Straight Pin with blue bead
  • Blue Beads, 8mm
 Not too bad!


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Stitches East 2014

This household looks forward to a long weekend in Hartford every year. This year was no different.

A 4 day weekend arrived just at the right time from a lot of craziness! We enjoy walking around Hartford, eating at some really good restaurants, taking photos, and enjoying the architecture of the older buildings...and of course Stitches East!!

I usually take one class, this year was no different. I chose Toe Up Socks by Sarah Peasley. She was great and has such a funny personality! It also helped that nearly everyone in the class had knit socks before (cuff down) so the pace was really good. She would give us the next step, go around to make sure we all had it, then go back to those that weren't as familiar with sock construction.

We even make it to the photo section on Knitter's Universe on FB.


I managed to finish mine in no time. It helps that we were to bring worsted weight yarn and I used US 7 needles. It is a great way to be able to use the full hank on your socks, without the worry if you are going to run out. It also doesn't require all those pick up stitches around the gusset.

In having completed, I think 3 or 4 pairs of socks from cuff down, this is definitely going to be my sock method going forward.


By the time we got home, I was itching to start real socks, on a US 2. Much slower construction!


The yarn is Universal Yarn's Bamboo Pop which is a bamboo cotton blend. My needles are Hiya Hiya Sharp, since my Knit Picks interchangeable sets are not available in this size.

As for my stash enhancements. How about a teaser of waiting until tomorrow? I want to get back to my socks!