more socks - but these are mine !

In between the mindless sock knitting for DS, I knitted some socks for me. The pattern is 'Roza's Socks', by Grumperina.
The pattern was in Interweave knits, spring 2007 issue. They were an easy knit, once you get the pattern in your head, and are used to the different manoeuvres of creating yarn-overs and knitting those togehter with other stitches. I am not good at explaining this, the patern does a better job at that ! These were knitted in Cherry tree hill supersock merino, color 'African Grey'.
It's the first time I knit socks in a 100% wool yarn. It has a tigth twist, so I hope they will hold up well. They sure feel very nice on my feet !


I also started the 'spiral boot socks' (IK summer 2007 issue), and I had a problem in the beginning. First you start by knitting a lace cuff. That went ok. Then you need to start the spiral pattern The pattern tells you to keep the same stitch count on each needle, and knit whole pattern repeats on a needle. But, the stitch total is 80 stitches, and the pattern repeat is 7 stitches. The stitches are divided as follows : 16 stitches on ndl 1 and 3, 24 stitches on ndl 2 and 4. The stitch pattern consist of 3 different patterns - a calf pattern, a leg pattern, and an ankle pattern, each divided by a decrease round. What happened was that I knitted the lace cuff, and then started the leg pattern.
To me, the lay-out of the pattern in the magazine was a bit confusing. I started with the charted cuff pattern on p 117, and then went back to the stitch guide on p116. My mind must have decided that I could skip the upper part of that stitch guide, because I had already done 'the first part'. Bad assumption !
I was really struck on the pattern, and could not figure out what went wrong. Luckily, there is a yahoogroup (the knitlist), where I could ask the question. Lori Gayle, a designer that regularly published in IK, helped me out. Thanks again Lori, the socks are on their way now. Yarn used : 'Annel extra' again, this time in a slightly heathered silver grey.

back on-line

This blog has been very quiet - the computer died. It left us for repairs, and it took 10 days to return ... They had to replace the grafic card, but as it was still under garanty - so no costs involved (fortunately).
I won't write much, just catch up with some pictures ...

I received a first package from my SP10 - sock yarn, tea, a candle and candy. Thanks SP !
No sign of my knitters treat exchange package yet, but she left me a message, so I know it's on it's way.



I have been swatching with the Bergère de France yarns. I didn't like knitting with the green and white linen-acrylic blend, so that one is out.

Then I swatched with some Phildar bambou that I bought on my trip to the seaside. I swatched for the 'ruffled surplice' - Interweave spring 07 issue. Beautifull yarn, nice pattern. BUT - I would have to buy a lot extra to knit this cardigan.
I really was in the mood for summer knitting, but would like to use up some stash. May has been an expensive month untill now, with a sister marrying and other stuff.
I'll dig out some more stash yarn, and see what I can make with that.
So, I really am between projects now.

I tried finding a good way to finish the lizard ridge - crocheting it together makes a rather lumpy finish. I'll have to undo that. I hate finishing. I knit a lot in the couch, watching (or listening) to the TV. To sew up an afghan, I need a lot of space, and the right mindset.
So - to sum it up : I swatched - no result yet. I tried to finish the afghan - I'll have to restart that. Deeply in need of some tangible results, I knitted socks.

I finished 2 pairs for DS - these are black and whites, knitted with leftovers of Lang 'jawoll', and Schoeller stahl 'sockina'. He likes short cuffs, so I always have leftovers. I also finished grumperina's 'Roza's socks' (no picture yet), started another pair for DS, and started 'spiral boot socks' - Interweave summer 07 issue. More pictures to come!

sock experiments

The lizard ridge afghan is on hold now, I am waiting for some more Kureyon to arrive. And the Hanne Falkenberg Ballerina is progressing nicely, but becoming a bit too big to take away with me. Time to start some socks !


What do people do with leftover sock yarn ? I try to use it in combining 2 different sock yarns into a new sock.
I can't say it is succesfull all of the time. This is failure number 1. I tried combining some vintage solid grey yarn with a variegated grey in a slip stitch pattern. It didn't work because there wasn't enough contrast in the colors. And slipping all those stitches on tiny needles was tedious. On top of that, the grey yarn must have been attacked by moths, because it was cut on several places in the skein. I got this in a thrift shop, and was happy with my find then (25 eurocents!). Now I worry that I let insects in my stash. (I hope not !). So I threw this away in disgust.




This is my second attempt - variegated Online supersocke and a leftover Stahl socka wool/cotton blend. The colors don't work together, nor does the weight of the yarns. The wool/cotton is thinner. I will probably frog this.


So what can a girl do then just start another pair of socks, now just a simple pattern in a very nice yarn ? This is 'roza's socks', in Cherry hill tree supersock merino. This pattern is in the latest Interweave knits. A much better picture of this sock can be found on Grumperina's blog. This yarn was for some time in my stash, I was a bit hesitant about the 100% wool content for socks. I am a bit worried that they may wear quickly. But for now, they are a joy to knit !