Sunday, February 28, 2010

A Sheep, Some Socks and a Sweater

Introducing my newest pal, Paavo!

Ain't he sweet?  I've had the pattern for the Estonian hand puppet in my queue for such a long time, I'm so glad I finally picked up the needles to make it. 

I added a braid to the cuff and followed the pictures to give my sheep a dark face as I see on so many breeds of sheep.

Come on, there's a family resemblance.  I'm sure you can see it.

I chose the name Paavo because it means small and humble, but I think my sheep has a mischiveous side.  His smile is lopsided and he has a twinkle in his eye.
 



I've also been working on another pair of Skews.  Those who know me realize that this is a rare sight, as I'm a die-hard DPN knitter:
Skew is well suited to the technique of working two socks on one circular because of how the heels are shaped.  The pattern just increases up until the moment of grafting, which means I won't have to stop to work each heel separately.

But look at the color on these socks.  If you didn't know I was knitting both ends of the same ball of yarn, you would hardly think it's the same yarn.  Color isn't everything though.  The yarn is working up into a nice fabric and the toe of the sock goes into your shoe anyway.  The yarn seems to be darkening up as I progress.

My last yoked sweater project was finished weeks ago, but it was a disappointment because it was too tight for Jim.  It looked just silly on him. So I searched around for another person it would fit and didn't have far to look.  One of Luke's freinds was quite happy to accept a lovely warm sweater in exchange for her picture being posted to this blog:
 It looks fabulous on her! 

I'm not done with top down yoked sweaters yet though.  I've found the next pattern I want to work: Folklore.  I've bought the pattern and now must consider yarn choices and mathematics for up-sizing it.  What a fun task for a Sunday afternoon! 

Good luck to all you Olympic knitters as you approach your final laps.  I hope your can hold your needles high in triumph as the flame is extinguished tonight.  Paavo and I will be cheering from the sides (and maybe singing O Canada).

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

It's Sock Time Again!

Hey kiddies!  Do you know what time it is?

That's right, it's sock time again!!

Seriously, it's always sock time around here.  Socks are the most appreciated knits of all time.  And the most worn, and therefore the most worn out.  I've had to pitch a pair this week and have two more pair that are vainly holding on through threadbare nylon.  Jim has also had the treads in his threads wear away. 

Here's a pair for my mother-in-law's birthday:

 
Lorna's laces, colorway unknown, 2.25mm.  Plain and simple is how she likes it best.  These socks were well received at a small birthday gathering I gave on Sunday accompanied by a prime rib roast dinner, and chocolate birthday cake.  If I love you, or even like you a whole lot, I will most likely try to feed you and possible try to clothe you in hand knit woolens. 

Have you seen the hottest new sock pattern?  It's Skew


Everybody is knitting this pattern.  Well, at least it's at the top of the pattern list on Ravelry.  Probably because of it's clever geometric shaping that makes working the heel as fun as reading a mystery novel.  And the toes are anatomically correct, however not photogenic.


These were knit with Fleece Artist's Nyoni, colorway Wicked, on 2.5mm needles.  I used DPNs even though the pattern doesn't recommend them because of the need to continually shuffle the stitches around. It can be done; I managed just fine.

I found the fit to be awkward around the ankle for my big feet, even though I tried to size the pattern up by using a bigger needle size with a heavier fingering weight yarn.  The designer does have a larger size prototype with notes on her blog.  I'm seriously considering making another pair.  Perhaps two on one circular...

In other news, I've started up a wiki for the Forest City Knitters. Go check it out!



Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A Bright Spot on the Net

I've finished a sweater, wiped out at the Knitting Olympics, and celebrated three holidays in one weekend.  All that and no blog post.  But this incredible art has inspired me to pound the keys and share the linkage.

 

Isn't he the greatest?!  He's a Rainbow Toe Sock Goblin by Kasey Sorsby.  You can see more of her creations on Ravelry, her blog, or purchase them from her Etsy store, TangleWood

Monday, February 08, 2010

Fashion Report

Fresh from the runways of London (Ontario), this blog's favourite male model is sporting the year's hottest new fashion trend, the man-shrug:

 
  
  

What?  You don't think it will take off?

Saturday, February 06, 2010

This is my Saturday Morning

 

Being home from work means not having to rush out Saturday morning to grocery shop.  I'm surprised I'm not doing more knitting, but I'm so busy during the day, I don't seem to find the time.  I spend the entire morning on job hunt activities, the afternoon cleaning, walking the dog and playing video games and the evening is for knitting.  My kids got me started playing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.  Good escapist fun!



I played The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time way back when I was a games developer and just loved it.  So much so, I played it through twice, or was that three times?  Twilight Princess gives me more of what I loved about the Ocarina.  It's like coming back to a good book. (Just for the record Wind Waker was okay, but Majora's Mask was too confusing. Neither were as memorable as Ocarina.)

Last weekend I'd finished up the yoke of the stained glass pullover and tried it on.  It was too big.  I should have paid more attention to the initial planning of the project instead of rushing in.  Oh well.  Nothing a ball winder can't undo.  This week I've been working on Jim's yoked pullover and I'm now on the second sleeve.   Slow progress.... 

Once two sleeves are done I'll do the neck band and we'll have another fitting. I'm pretty sure I'm going to run out of the main blue color so there will likely be some creative substitution going on.