Friday, September 21, 2007

Reprieve ...

Last Friday evening I found out that my friend's departure was delayed for a week. Good thing, 'cause I'd made a mistake and had to frog the heel flap of the second sock. Anyway the alpaca socks are finished and ready to give to her. Whoohoo!!

The Socks of Summer is ending tonight. The time has gone by very quickly. I've completed three pairs and have two partial socks. I've had a lot of fun, learned a lot, and acquired a significant sock yarn stash. So, although I didn't achieve all my goals, I'm ready to declare success! Sock on!

Friday, September 14, 2007

Will I make it?

So, I'm down to the wire with this pair of alpaca socks for my friend. She leaves on Monday and I have one more pattern repeat before the heel flap on the second sock, but I'm going to try to finish this.

Another friend suggested that I give only one sock. That way the pair won't be worn out and the single could go into a drawer with a nice bar of soap or sachet and be a memento. Last resort, I'm thinking. But bright idea for using a single sock!

When I was practising the figure 8 toe, I used this lovely ombre Trekking yarn. During my holidays I decided to continue it and it's ready for the gusset shaping. I really like how this yarn knits up and how the colours work. It will be my bus sock next week.




Wave a bit of red-orange in front of me and I'm hooked!

Oh yes, I joined the Branched Fern KAL, too. I've had so much fun with the Campanuals, that I jumped in another lace sock KAL. It looks like such a nice pattern. Not sure what I'll use yet. Possibly some DG Confetti in a dark green. But I'll have to do more work on the Campanuals.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Yarn Goldilocks

... looking for the one that is juuust right! That was my daughter's comment when I was fussing about what yarn to use for the Campanulas. Having discarded the pink Regia Silk after swatching, and starting one with some lovely Apple Laine in Cotton Candy and then rejecting that because it was a bit too thick, (bamboo needles have a lot of give!!) I was whinging on about my requirements. Humph! Kids give you no sympathy! Anyway, I took another look at the Regia silk and decided to go ahead with it and now have one sock completed to above the heel. Because I was on holidays, I spent some time learning Judy's Magic cast on and trying to figure out the short row heels. The cast on is truly magic and one I'll use but I'm not too sure about the short row heels. I'll have to practice more because these turned out kinda messy and lumpy. But lovely yarn to work with! I have some more in burgundy.



And I finished the Cotton Fantasy socks for my daughter. Too cool! Made them as close as possible. I want a pair too, now. Love the toe up method.


And corrected the mistake in the alpaca lace socks and started to shape the toe. Deadline is fast approaching and I have another week to finish the pair.

I told my friend I was knitting her socks and asked for her shoe size so I could get these to fit. She said an 8 or a 9. Dear friend, but what woman doesn't know her exact shoe size??? A little humour to disguise the fact that I will miss her a great deal.