Although I don't have a current picture, I have been making progress on my Toto socks from the Woolgirl Oz club. Since I had just finished the first sock of a different pair of socks, my lovely Stiletto-tip Signature Arts DPNs were technically free and were quickly donated to the Toto cause. It's a very simple pattern and with no offense intended to the designer, it doesn't seem quite as polished as others I've tried, probably mostly due to the fact that it's lacking any sort of gauge information. So even though the pattern called for 64 stitches on US2 needles, I jumped in with my US 1½ (2.5 mm) knowing that most of my 64-stitch socks fit better at that gauge and that the pattern seemed lacy and would probably be pretty baggy otherwise. I'm glad I did because it's still a bit loose on the leg, but not bad.
Now I have the first sock done and I've started the leg pattern on the second, but I don't think these will make it off the needles before the next Oz kit arrives. Ruby Slippers are due to ship in the next day or two and I don't think I'll have enough dedicated knitting time to crank out the majority of the second sock in just a few days. Still, I'm mostly keeping up with the kits and the schedule is shifting back to every other month after Ruby Slippers so if I'm dedicated I might even be able to slip the Enchanted Forest socks in there somewhere.
(P.S. I know I've been slipping a bit on posting as of late, but I should have quite a bit to show next week!)
It's not the exact date, but it was about this time last year that Ludistitch got started and I figured we needed a little something yarny to commemorate it. So Happy Blogiversary, fellow Ludistitchers!
I didn't have as much knitting time this past week and it had a strange effect on me. Rather than wanting to buckle down and squeeze some time in on an existing project, I really wanted to start a quick, one skein project. I think the little bits of time on things like a sock just didn't feel like I was making much progress and it felt like my knitting time just disappeared. So I caved and ended up with these little beauties.
Pattern:Susie's Reading Mitts Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Twist in Liquid Ambar Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm metal : January 17, 2010
I had a lot of knitting time during the Saturday family/football gathering, so I already had the first mitt and part of the second finished Saturday night.
Because the Twist yarn didn't have as much yardage as the pattern recommended, I made these about a half inch shorter in the hopes of making sure I would have enough yarn. I ended up with a small ball of yarn left over, but I'm not sure I would have made it with the extra half inch and they're plenty long on me as is anyway.
The pattern didn't specify a distinct cast on or bind off method, so I started with the Long Tail cast on and tried a standard *knit 2, pass first stitch over* bind off on the first mitt. I hadn't done a picot edge before so I wasn't sure what to expect. Turns out that bind off is a bit more restrictive and not as stretchy as it should be. So for the thumbs and the top of the 2nd mitt I did a *k2tog, slip stitch back to left needle* bind off and it’s much better. If I get ambitious enough I might rip out the picot top and rework the bind off on the first one to match the stretchier one (but that sounds awfully ambitious). They both fit - a bit loose, but comfy and soft - and the tighter top is mostly just noticeable when wearing them to type as it makes it harder to stretch out my fingers on that hand.
All in all, a nice, quick distraction and a chance to work with something other than sock yarn for bit. They've already followed me to work. But now I better get back to working on socks before the sock yarn mountain overtakes me!
Since my husband is online a lot and knows about my online haunts I kept any identifiable information about his knitted Christmas present offline. And even though I wisely started his gift in November to give myself extra time, I still didn't quite get it off the needles in time for Christmas. It was just a scarf, which didn't seem too daunting, but it took even longer than I anticipated when I had to be prepared to hide it every time he might come into the room. But, he actually wanted it to be a bit longer than I might have expected so it all worked out for the best anyway. Knowing that he's very picky about itchy things and wants comfortable clothes, I used the famously soft Malabrigo worsted in a flashy blue with a simple textured scarf pattern. I love how it came out and he's worn it a few times and says he likes it, so it counts as a success.
Pattern:His (Birthday) Scarf Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted - Buscando Azul Needles: US 8 / 5.0 mm metal straights : December 30, 2009
That was the last of the Christmas gift items, but not the last of my knitting over the Holiday break. Part of my Christmas present from my Mr. Wonderful was a beautiful set of 5 Stiletto-tip Signature Arts DPNs -- luxury needles! I had to try them, so I cast on for my first Socks That Rock socks.The combination of amazing needles and fun yarn grabbed me and although it's a somewhat involved pattern with a lot of texture stitches, I finished the first sock before New Year's Eve. I love the way the pattern mixed the colors so nicely!
Of course that meant that the New Year was upon us and a new Oz kit was due on my doorstep any day. So before I had to go back to work I had my Cowardly Lion socks finished and off the needles.I love the yarn, but the socks themselves are a bit slouchy on me. I did deviate from the pattern a bit and reduce the feet to fewer stitches which is probably why they're comfortable and the slouching hasn't been bothering me much when I wear them. They definitely reminded me that I haven't done socks with much plain stockinette stitch in a long time! I guess I'm drawn to patterns and textures for my knitting.
But now I'm back to work and my knitting progress has slowed. I have even more yarn and still not enough time to knit it all, but I'm working on slowing the rate at which new yarn comes in. Xandermommy is already talking about the upcoming Stitches Midwest, but I've said we're not allowed to go unless we knit at least one thing from the previous Stitches Midwest haul, so look for a post on a Stitches project (or the post on why I have to stay home) in the next few months!
I didn't quite finish my Cowardly Lion socks before Toto ran up to my doorstep, but it was close and they're finished now. But, since I don't have photos of the finished pair yet and Toto arrived a few days ago I'm going to go ahead and show the new kit now with updates on the finished knits later.
************ Spoilers from this point on! ************
The overall shot:
This kit included 2 bags, and happily for me one of them is actually big enough to accommodate a sock project! The lovely Toto yarn is already happily stored in the rainbow bag just waiting for me to cast on. The smaller notions bag is also really cute and made of a sturdy canvas fabric.
Now usually the little stitch marker is a front-runner for the favorite item in the kit, and the Toto stitch marker is no exception, but this kit has additional contenders. First of all, it was tied shut with the cute rubber Toto keychain attached. But my definite favorite for this kit is actually the notepad!
Dear Dorothy: Hate Oz, took the shoes, find your own way home.
Love it!
Now here's a little close-up of some Toto items and a glimpse at the pattern:
Although I know some people weren't looking forward to grey yarn, I have a lot of bright socks and was looking forward to something neutral for a change and was elated to find that it was Miss Babs yarn in the new Windsor base that includes a bit of nylon. Awesome!
And as Xandermommy pointed out, one sock in the pattern photo is neatly striped but the other appears to have pooled/flashed a lot, so there's no telling what the yarn will do with the pattern until I get a chance to try it out.
And of course I have to include a close-up of Toto himself:
Love his little tongue sticking out, of course!
I do have another set of socks in progress with only one finished so far, so I'm not sure how long I'll wait to cast these on, but I'll definitely be tempted to cast them on some night soon even if I don't get to work on them exclusively for a while.
There's one more kit due to ship in January, then the club shifts back to an every other month schedule until the end of the year. There are still a lot of Oz knits and posts to come!
It's a very simple pattern and with no offense intended to the designer, it doesn't seem quite as polished as others I've tried, probably mostly due to the fact that it's lacking any sort of gauge information. So even though the pattern called for 64 stitches on US2 needles, I jumped in with my US 1½ (2.5 mm) knowing that most of my 64-stitch socks fit better at that gauge and that the pattern seemed lacy and would probably be pretty baggy otherwise. I'm glad I did because it's still a bit loose on the leg, but not bad.
