Becky's Knitting

As promised last time, here are FO pics of my first pair of socks completed this past spring when blogging was pretty nonexistent.

Springwater Socks
Pattern: a combination of online toe-up patterns including Wendy's and Kim's and the leg pattern is from Sensational Knitted Socks (Baby Cable Rib)
Yarn: Springwater hand-dyed Gems Merino
Needles: Bryspun Size 3 DP's and Addi Turbo Size 3's
For: Me
Started: September 24, 2005
Finished: April 2006

I won this kit from Suzie as a prize in the Hurricane Katrina Give a Little giveaways last fall, and you can see pictures of it here (scroll down to September 22).  The Gems Merino they included in the kit was great first sock yarn as it is heavier than traditional sock weight yarn.

I started the socks toe-up on 1 size 3 addi circular.  My original thoughts back then were "Although I can do dpns, I don't like them very much b/c I tend to get ladders and I find them kind of fiddly."  I also wanted to try just 1 circ,
especially since I didn't have any circs smaller than 4's, so I preferred to only have to buy 1 until I decided if I liked socks.  (I have since purchased several sets of DPNS trying to find the best ones for socks).

I used the figure 8 cast-on and didn't find it to be very difficult at all.  I actually cast on on dpns and used them for about 2 rows and then switched to the circular.  I cast-on 8 stitches using figure 8, increased 4 times every other row to 52 stitches using M1.  Used this pattern by Kim.

Once done the toe, I stopped working on the first sock, put it  on some spare needles, and cast on for the second.  Once I got the second to the same point as the first, I put them both on the needles and continued on.  The one thing I did differently on the second toe was to do mirrored increases instead of M1 on each side.  The reverse of the M1 was a big pain, and I didn't really like the shape of the toe any better.

I did a short-row heel and then started the leg patterning.  By this point, I didn't really like the magic loop method very much - especially when having to knit and purl.  So, I switched to double points and did each leg separately.  It was easy to make them match since the leg pattern had a 4 row repeat so I could easily count it. 

Overall, I am very happy with the socks.  They are quite comfy - a little too thick for much other than wearing around the house.  Perhaps I might be able to wear them with shoes in the winter - we'll see.  I have acquired quite a bit of sock yarn in the last few months - so this is definitely the first on many pairs.  Next up - purple trekking socks!

Posted by Becky at 06:27 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Anne asked about our trip to Chile and Peru.  We're flying in and out of Santiago.  I studied abroad in South America 5 years ago, and we will be staying with my homestay mom when in Santiago.  We plan to travel north from there throughout the rest of Chile and into Peru.  The only place in Chile I've been beyond Santiago is a one day trip to Vina del Mar, so if anyone has any recommendations for other places to visit, I'm all ears.  I also wasn't a knitter last time I was there so I'm eager to find some places to visit to buy yarn if anyone knows of any.  So, please, send me suggestions!!

When I was discussing our move to South Austin, Missy asked "other than one being south and the other being northwest, what is the difference between South Austin and NW Austin?"  Well, South Austin is known for being the funkier part of Austin - home to hippies and liberals and all that sort of thing.  I am certain the "Keep Austin Weird" slogan was started by South Austinites.  But, for me, the reason I was hesitant to move down here was the complete lack of stores - just stupid stuff like there was only one grocery store (and it was the one Daniel's parents used) and I hated it and there weren't many restaurants or anything like that down here.  But the Southwest part of Austin has exploded recently and the day we moved in was the same day a SUPER NICE grocery store opened which is somewhere between an HEB and a Central Market.  There are lots of other shopping places and restaurants and stuff being built and opening every day so now things don't feel so isolated.  So, Missy, I hope that answers your question.

I'm still working on my Missy Lace.  Also, at SNB this week, I did a little work on the dragon hoodie that has been on hold for awhile (project specs can be found on the WIP page).  The baby is due Sunday, so I should probably suck it up and finish it soon.  I need to finish knitting the hood, do the button band, and sew it all together. 

However, I really haven't done much seaming before (my only other sweater was done top down).  And I've never done a button band before.  So I think part of my hesitation is some nervousness about new techniques.  I'll get it done eventually.

I finally took pics of my finished socks as well as the yarn I've collected for my Grandmom's Wrap so stay tuned next time for those.

Posted by Becky at 11:30 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The Lone Star State Knitters group that I belong to started a lace knitalong on June 1.  The pattern was written by member (and lace queen) Missy just for this purpose.  She wrote the pattern as either a scarf or a stole and I decided to do the scarf, but modify the pattern slightly to make it wider.  I am making this for my homestay mom in Santiago.  Daniel and I will be staying with her when we take our trip to Chile and Peru this summer, and I definitely want to have a knitted gift for her.  Here's my progress so far (roughly pinned out):

Modifications so far are as follows:

• Do one extra repeat of the diamond edging for a total of 3 repeats.  Then repeat rows 1 & 2 one more time.  Follow the instructions to pick up stitches picking up a total of 54 stitches.
• Follow instructions for main lace pattern on odd rows.  On even rows, Sl 1, k1, do lace pattern 5 times, k2. 

I am using Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud in the Stream colorway, and I intend to use the entire 440 yd skein.  I am using Inox Size 4 circular needles.  This is only my second time doing lace, and my first using lace weight yarn.  There has been some tinking involved, but mostly just because I've been watching the college softball world series while knitting and not paying attention.  I haven't had any trouble with the thin yarn so far, and I am really enjoying how soft the Alpaca Cloud is. 

Missy's pattern has been very easy to understand and to modify.  She provided both written and charted instructions which I always appreciate in a pattern.  Hopefully I won't get too bored with the center section and can push through this and get it done for my trip.  We'll see if I can keep the momentum going - only time will tell. 

Posted by Becky at 11:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)