Socks

t last - a photo of my first ever completed pair of socks. After the ones on dpns, where I only made one sock, and the ones on straight needles, where I only sewed up one sock and ran out of wool for the second, it's nice to be able to say "I've made a pair of socks!" Hooray for the magic loop method.

Kitchener Stitch:

Pulling in all threads:

The lovely Eye of Partridge Stitch!:

As you can see, there was some slight trouble with laddering (strange, since I normally knit so tightly) and the decreasing for the toe looks rather obvious. The toe with the Kitchener stitch also looks funny in the photograph, but it's also partly because I did on my own, without watching the how-to video.

Knitting Olympics!

ictorian Shrug - pattern on page 12 here - is the pattern I'll be starting at flame-lighting, tonight!

The Socks Are Coming, I Promise!

nd the Knitting Olympics start tomorrow!

What's Wrong With The World?

pecifically, Scotland, where guns are illegal, but you can get married at 16, drive at 17, drink alchohol at 18 - yet have to be 25 to knit. What, do they ask for identification when you walk into a local yarn store?
"Sorry, sir or madam, but according to this ID you still have a month to go before your birthday. I don't care what your parents let you get away with at home, I can't sell you those blunt tipped bamboo 9mm sticks. Yes, I am aware that you can buy bamboo shoots at the nearest Chinese grocery, and that these needles are thicker than a pen, however..."
I mean to say, what?
Thanks to India for pointing this out.
Meanwhile, I'm two sets of Kitchener stitches away from finishing my socks on the magic loop!

Caught You Peeking!

peek at Helen's first finished pair of socks:

And here's Jerry, peeking through my ribbed blanket while it was still in progress:

Last Year and Ongoing

ne item I omitted from my photos and features last year is the scarf below.

I knitted it as a gift (which explains the length – it was for a much taller person), in December 2008, with more of the Icelaine wool, but ended up wearing it myself. It’s the cosiest and warmest scarf I own and the Doctor Who length makes it easy to wear in different styles.

Come to think of it, I knitted a Tom Baker scarf once – wonder where it went?

(image from age of geek)

As for the ongoing, here are some shots of the magic loop socks in progress:

The ones nearer to completion belong to Helen; I decided to make mine anklets because I’m working with larger needles than called for. I love following the Tostetoes pattern; it’s very detailed and guides you every step of the way. I doubt I’ll ever use any other method for socks ever again. I’ve got to start the kilt hose once I finish this pair, but before that I’ve got to make another pair for Jenny, who enjoys socks with fun patterns as much as I do.

Before I forget, here’s a link from kc dyer for all UKphile knitters:

And in my ongoing series of knitting as featured in the media, I recently saw an episode of MASH where a trio of Korean doctors perform acupuncture to heal Winchester's aching back, and when asked how he feels he replies "I feel like I've been knitted and purled."

Bright Young Things

ust look at what India's been making! Lambs, lambs, more sheep, Highland cows, and a ringmaster!
Meanwhile, read about Pam's knitting adventures: they started here, continued here and here, reached their apex here, and their conclusion here. Then they yarns were spun...

Knitting, and writing, are addictive.

2009 Wrap-up and Knitters' Olympics

y first post was in February 2009. From then until the end of the year, I completed:

2 ornaments
1 large ribbed blanket
1 icelandic wool hat
2.5 socks
1 diamond pattern set - booties, hat and sweater
1 pair of booties
2 cable hats
3 baby blankets with hoods
1 baby hat with tassle
2 baby sweaters
1 baby blanket
5 ruffle hats
1 striped blanket
1 multicoloured blanket
3 hat and bootie sets for newborns
1 pair of mittens
2 baby hats
1 norwegian wool blanket
1 extra large baby kimono
1 alpaca wool sweater
unfinished items: five hour baby sweater, baby sweater, 1.5 socks

So far I've got about five projects lined up for the new year. Only one baby expected, though, for whom I've already knit two or three items. So there will probably be a lot less hat and blankie knitting!

Wool-Tyme, in Kingston, Ontario, is hosting a Knitting Olympics Project, to coincide with the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"The object of the exercise is to complete a knitting project that will challenge you, your abilities and your creativity. You begin your project at the lighting of the Olympic torch on Feb. 12th and strive to finish it by the closing ceremonies on Feb. 28th."

They've set up a Ravelry group for the project. If I dare, I will aim to complete a pair of socks. No second sock syndrome, no I-ran-out-of-wool and couldn't sew up the second sock, no excuses! Shall I try the Magic Loop method, return to double pointed needles or use straight needles?

Holiday Knits

oliday ornaments that I created for my niece and my goddaughter:

A blanket made with wool that I received for my birthday - 6 knit and 6 purl ribbing created an extra large but very ripply blanket, perfect for snuggling in winter:

Just for fun, here's the blanket as approved by Frodo and Sam:

And another photo of my goddaughter, asleep under her baby blanket with hood:

A Swatch of Knitters

hree fellow knitters:






Pam, who needs your encouragement!
India, who's busy shepherding...
Stephanie, who's keeping many hands toasty and stylish this winter!

(Is that the collective term for knitters? A swatch? Well, it is now!)

Here are some funny new knitting terms, from the book 501 Knitting Secrets:

Some newer knitting terms frequently used on the Internet:
To frog (v.): To rip out knitting several rows at a time ("rip-it, rip-it" like a frog, get it?) Also known as frogging or taking a visit to the frog pond.
To tink (v.): To unknit a stitch at a time in order to correct a mistake ("tink" is "knit" backwards).
WIP -- Work In Progress
KIP -- Knitting In Public (encouraged)
UFO -- Unfinished Object
FO -- Finished Object
SEX -- Stash Enhancement eXpedition
Stash (n.) -- A knitter's collection of yarn, books, needles, etc.