Bringing a Sock to Heel

Well, working with the TDTU Sock pattern on Ravelry.com, the heel was pretty easy.  The tough part wasn't the heel, but that the pattern doesn't make it clear if the heel is the same for the 16 and 18 stitch per needle versions.. I assumed it was... it seems to have come out well.  Now to knit an upper!

I'm also back home from vacation.  Camping, visiting friends, driving a full day and then visiting family was most excellent.  Another full day drive and I'm home safe and sound.

What project(s) are you working on this summer?  Are you getting ready for winter, or knitting something for this season?  Do tell!

A sweater done and more Socks!

Well, finally the Sweater whose body a friend gave me now has arms.  I guess it could be said I heeded the call to bear arms rather than to bare arms.

I'm currently on vacation.  I just finished off several days camping in Vermont, and am visiting friends in New Hampshire.  Soon after, I'll be visiting family in Delaware, then it's back home to Canada.

Sock, Needs Heel

In the midst of this, I've been working away on another pair of socks.  This pair is one that is done from the toe up rather than from the leg down.  It lets you try it on as you go along for a nicer fit.  I think I'm almost ready to start the heel of the first sock.

Good food, good friends, and knitting to boot!  I surely cannot complain one bit!

Two socks done, found a new technique

The Socks Are Done!  They are the first pair I've ever made.  Once I finished the first sock I liked it so much that I rushed to get the second sock done in record time.  :)  They fit well.  They are warm and comfortable.  A hand knit sock has a definite edge over a store bought cotton one.

Some time ago, I was given a partially completed sweater by Cymru.  Now I'm putting the arms on a partially completed sweater I was given.  I made a few visible mistakes near the beginning of the sleeve and didn't realize they were quite that visible until I was a several inches in.  I don't know about you, but while I dislike ripping things back to fix an error, I positively despise trying to pick up all those stitches again.  I invariably drop a few and sometimes don't realize it until it's much too late.

This brings me to my 'new' technique.  It's called a lifeline.  Basically you work a strand of yarn through the row where you want to stop ripping, then all the stitches end up on the yarn.  Here's a video that walks you through creating a lifeline.

Now that the sweater has been disarmed, I'll start that sleeve again and (hopefully) do it correctly this time.

1 sock done, .85 to go.

One sock is done, the next one is started.  The first sock took 70 grams of yarn (Naturally Magic Garden Buttons)

I also picked up some lighter weight sock yarn yesterday... a bit pricy, but nice.  It's Austermann Step.

I'm going to try to hurry this sock along a bit to get it done sooner as the first one is so warm and comfy.  :)

If you have a favourite sock pattern (easy ones are especially welcome!) let me know.

Back at it

I've been offline for a while, but am back at it with a pair of basic socks from a Leisure Arts book (#4083) "I can't believe I'm Knitting Socks".  Personally I believe it without question... unless I need a right angle turn and no thumbs in my mittens!  I'm knitting them with a double knit (DK) weight yarn.  With the leg on this pattern being ribbed all the way down, it's taking more than 50g per sock.  I'll post the final yarn weight when the first sock is done.  I wasn't too amused at needing to graft in new yarn in the foot, but I the method I use doesn't show at all.  If you want me to dig up a youtube of it let me know in comments.  :)

I was also gifted with the better part of a finished sweater.  I'm not sure I can say it was disarmed as there were no arms on it just yet.  After this sock, or maybe after both of them, I'll get back onto adding arms to the sweater.  I've been doing magic loop for it, but I find magic loop more of a pain than using DPNs.  I may pick up a set of DPN's in the right size for the sweater.  I'm kinda falling in love with Hiya Hiya DPNs that I'm using for my socks, so I may splurge for a set for the sweater.

Well, I'm off to knit a bit more and do any last minute things for Christmas.  I suspect I should maybe decorate the Christmas tree soon.  :)

Cardigans, Tea and Cooking

Well, I've not started back on the socks yet.  After a major project I do tend to take a bit of a breather.  What I have got is a new 'cookbook'!

In closing off the Cardigan tale, my wife came for her visit.  She brought me a lovely set of Tazo brand tea in a beautiful spun bamboo container!  A truly tasteful  gift that I am thoroughly enjoying!

I gave her the Cardigan and she loves it!  Yay!  The only problem was that she didn't have enough space to fit it into her luggage.  So ... I'll be snail mailing it to her in a few days.

I put 'cookbook' in quotes because it is more of a how and why book than a recipe book. The cookbook is "Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking" by Michael Ruhlman.  Instead of giving a collection of new and wonderful recipes, this one gives the basics as well as how they work.  For me, the big benefit is that you learn to "use what you have" as long as you keep a few basics in the pantry.  I've only just started reading it, but the pancake ratio / recipe is to die for.  :-)

Are there any 'how cooking works' or 'how to cook' books that you'd recommend to myself or others?  Post a comment for us all to see!

The Home Stretch

Life has been ... busy.  Between work and volunteering I haven't spent as much time knitting as would be ideal.  New Years eve was spent with a few friends ... chatting, playing cards, eating munchies and, of course, drinking.  :-)

Now some news ... as you've guessed by the picture, the knitting on the cardigan is done! I need to weave in a few loose ends, and then on to blocking to make it the right shape and to take the size down a little bit..  I've taken a quick, over exposed picture of it (see left).  As it's knitted in black wool, I overexposed the picture to show a bit more detail.  :-)

My wife will be visiting the week after next, so it's with some relief that I've finished the knitting of the sweater in time.  I figure I'll block it on Tuesday assuming all goes well.

After that, it's on to the five year sock!  What makes a sock into a "five year sock"?  Time away from knitting and other projects!  :-)  Hopefully the matching sock will _not_ be a five year sock.  If you've any tips on blocking to share, please post them into the comments!