« Check my pulse | Main | Norovember! »
November 2, 2006
As Promised . . .
a project update!
First up, it's the second sock of a pair I'm knitting for my grandpa for Christmas. For regular readers this (hopefully) looks awfully familiar to the first sock of the pair. (If you didn't see the first one, the pattern is Gentleman's Fancy Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. The yarn is wool2dye4 supersock, hand-dyed by yours truly!)
This is my first pair of adult socks that I have made with short row heels. I wanted to try a new technique during Socktoberfest, and I think it turned out pretty well. Somehow I managed to close up the little hole on one side but not the other. I was winging the short row part of it and I may have started turning the heel one stitch in the wrong direction. Hopefully I can figure out what I did wrong and fix it the second time around.
I told myself I wouldn't do any Christmas knitting this year, but I have obviously broken that rule already. I actually started this pair at the very end of September, so I thought I'd finish in October for sure. But a few other things got in the way (see the next two pictures!) Now I'm trying to finish a section of ribbing each day before I work on anything else.
When I get to the heel, I'm going to write up what I did (assuming it works this time) so I can come back and use it again, but maybe some other people will find it helpful, too.
Next up, we have my first Lizard Ridge square - I love the colors, but do you notice anything odd? Those rows with the "bump" in the middle are missing something - ahh... the short rows.
The pattern is written a bit strangely, and there's actually a section that you're supposed to repeat in that row - to be fair, it is in brackets - but it never actually tells you to knit it twice. I suppose if I actually counted my stitches I wouldn't have had that problem, but alas.
This little square will be getting ripped out and reknit. Actually, it's just as well, since I figured out about halfway through how to pick up the wraps on the short rows so they don't show. I'm not sure I could explain it, but I think there was a good explanation in one of the tutorials Lolly linked to during Socktoberfest.
Oh, and yes - those bumps will flatten out during blocking. The pattern says they're normal.
Yes, yes, but surely that one little square hasn't been taking up ALL my knitting time, even with all the little fiddley short rows!
That's true. Remember a couple of weekends ago, when I stopped in the yarn shop for a ball of Kureyon and came out with yarn for a shrug? Well, it's coming right along.
What? You don't see it? Well, right now it's basically a sleeve. I have to knit across the back and then down the other sleeve, and that's it! Connie knit a pretty version of it in green, although hers was a store sample so it's a little big on her.
So, it's not terribly exciting knitting, because all the magic happens when you seam it up and add the ruffle. I did splurge for the alpaca and silk yarn that the pattern was written for - I know some people think it's scratchy, but I noticed that the gauge swatch that got dunked in water & wool wash is much softer than the unblocked piece. So it should be nice and soft once it's blocked.
Posted by zarah at November 2, 2006 6:20 AM
Comments
Everything looks great! The sock is a fabulous color. I must learn how to dye one of these days. And I love the color of the shrug. Very, very cool. It'll look awesome on you!
Posted by: Amy at November 2, 2006 7:37 AM
The sock looks fantastic! I like the lizard ridge too. Thanks for mentioning the glitch in the pattern. I'm sure I'd miss it too.
Posted by: Jennifer at November 2, 2006 8:00 AM
I love the color of that sock! And I can't wait to see how Lizard Ridge turns out--it's very tempting.
Posted by: Kristin at November 2, 2006 9:56 AM
You have some great projects on the needles, girl! I love the Noro for the Lizard Ridge... maybe I will be influenced by you and Jenna to make one (kind of the reverse of Carla sweater, right?) :)
The sock is so great. Wonderful dye job. Nancy Bush would be proud!
Posted by: Lolly at November 2, 2006 12:03 PM
Great WIPs you've got there. I still can't believe that you dyed that gorgeous green yourself. The color is to die for!
Posted by: kelly at November 2, 2006 8:37 PM
so many lovely projects your working on! Love the blue your using for your shrug and the yarn you dyed for your sock. : )
Posted by: Amanda Cathleen at November 3, 2006 9:59 AM
Great projects! And thanks for the shout-out to my blog. I love the color you chose for the shrug. I think that's Blue Sky's strongest suit - their colors. I'm so enamored with them that I'm even considering their Dyed Cotton - even though I'm not usually a cotton or large gauge yarn fan.
Love the Lizard Ridge too. I'm not into knitting blankets - but I can admire from afar! :)
Posted by: connie at November 3, 2006 1:27 PM
You are on the ball knitting up things. Love the pattern for the socks and the colors are fantastic that you dyed them in. Clicked over to see this shrug and it is going to be so beautiful.
Posted by: KnitPastis at November 3, 2006 5:00 PM
you did an excellent dye job on the sock yarn. i swear it looks just like the picture in the book :)
i clicked on the link for the shrug. it looks soft and cozy. and the lizard square ... i have one ball of kureyon in stash, and i'm afraid if i knit it, i will want more!
you're making some great progress. grandpa is a lucky man to be getting such a beautiful pair of socks this christmas.
i'm trying to resist the urge to knit this holiday season, but, i can crochet and sew :)
Posted by: gray la gran at November 4, 2006 7:43 AM
oh! the bane of waiting for sun to take pictures...I hear ya :) I am totally loving your shrug! Normally I don't like light blue, but somehow you found just the right shade - I can't wait to see how it turns out.
Posted by: tatjana at November 5, 2006 1:54 PM
Post a comment
