First Hand Knit Sock Casualty

I had my first hand knit sock casualty this week.

 

 

I am not sure how well you can see the mishap, but it is at the back of the leg about halfway up. The only thing I can think of is that it was a weak spot in the yarn and after wearing them and washing them a number of times it just gave way. Because I really don’t know how else that particular spot would get worn out faster than the rest.

I considered repairing them, but I have so many skeins of sock yarn to knit up for new socks that I am okay with letting this pair go to the grave. What I might do is unravel both socks and reuse the yarn in my sock yarn blanket. What better way to let the socks live on.

Simple Seed Stitch Collar

Materials:

1 skein worsted weight yarn – 220 yards
US 7 – 16″ circular needle or needle for gauge of 4 sts per 1″

Finished Measurement: 25″ circumferance

Using long-tail cast-on, CO 100 sts, join in the round.

Row 1: *k1, p1, repeat from * to end

Row 2: *p1, k1, repeat from * to end

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until desired length.

Cast-off loosely.

Major Startitis

So much for keeping my WIPs limited. I now have 10 projects on the needles with expectations to cast-on another in the next few days. I know it is a little out of control, but with Christmas knitting going on and so many things I want to knit I just couldn’t help it.

My primary project, over the last two weeks, has been my Sock Yarn Blanket. Knitting little squares, dyeing yarn, and swapping with other Blanket makers, not to mention winding all the yarns into little balls, takes a lot of time. I am very much enjoying this project though. The little squares don’t take very long to knit and I get to change yarn with every square so there is always something to look forward to. So far I have completed just under 50 squares.

I have put a both Icaras and The Beach Cover-up on hold until the Christmas knitting is complete. Both of these projects are for me and not something I need in my wardrobe right now. And although I should provide my complete attention to Christmas knitting, I just can’t seem to put down my Sock Yarn Mohair Scarf, Wicked, or my current pair of basic socks. All projects are for me but all can be used this Fall and Winter so there is a reason to get them completed. I am trying to divide my time as equally as possible to these projects and Christmas knitting, but some projects I just can’t put down as easily.

Goodreads

As I look back over the projects I have finished and started since May it baffles me that I accomplished so much. Now don’t get me wrong, I know I knit a lot, but what you probably don’t know is that during the last four months, in addition to all that knitting, I also read more than 20 books. And although I can knit and read at the same time, many of the projects didn’t lend themselves to doing that, so much for the knitting and reading were done separately. Plus, I am not a very fast reader. It amazes me that I did anything else this summer, like clean the house, which did get done on occasion. Plus, about a month ago, I was introduced to the website Goodreads and I have gone crazy adding new books to my To-Read list based on what others are reading and recommending. I don’t know what it is about summertime, but I always seem to want to read a lot.

Project Updates

Since I last posted at the beginning of May I have been doing a lot of knitting. I will try to catch you up quickly; you can see the complete details of all these projects on Ravelry just click the link above each picture.

Lace Jacket

Lace Mobius

Bramble Berry Pullover

April Sockdown Socks – Bob’s Party Socks

Hot Pads I and II
  

Basic Socks – Pink Tart Socks

Mistake Rib Scarf and Hat

Swiffer Dusters

Swiffer Dust Mop Replacement

Dishcloths

 

 

Not quite done, but in progress:

Garden Rows Sweater

Day at the Beach Cover-up

Icarus Shawl

Sock Yarn Blanket

More Basic Socks

Sock Yarn Mohair Scarf – pattern to be posted soon
 

Wicked

Triple Play – Stripe Socks: currently in a time-out

And I have already started my Christmas Knitting.

That’s alota knitting.

I need your opinion.

Wow! I can’t believe it has been over three months since I last posted. As I look back at my blog since I started it, it seems that I have always been going in spurts, posting regularly for a few months, and then not posting anything for months upon months.

I would like to rectify that and post more on a year round basis, even if I only post once a week. But one of the reasons why I haven’t posted since finishing up the knitting for hire jobs, that were due the beginning of June, is because I have been trying to decide if I was actually going to keep blogging. Sometimes I wonder why people read my blog, or any blog for that matter. Is it just to see what projects I am working on, or to find any helpful tips that I might be able to pass along to other knitters. Those are reasons why I read blogs, but is that the norm, I don’t know. I guess I am just wondering what direction I want to go with this blog, because I don’t want it to be just about my knitting woes and accomplishments. 

So please let me know why you read blogs in general, knitting blogs, and this blog. Hopefully your responses will help me decide exactly what I want to do with this blog.

Knitting for Hire

I am currently in full blown knitting for hire mode. So you might no hear too much from me over the next few weeks. I can tell you that there are pros and cons to doing Knitting for Hire jobs.

I have found that there are two different categories for Knitting for Hire Jobs: Test Knitting: where you are actually testing the pattern to make sure it is clearly written and doesn’t contain mistakes; and Sample Knitting: where you are not only reviewing the pattern for clarity, but also producing a sample garment that will be returned to the designer.

For Test Knitting, there are many designers that recruit knitters to review their pattern before they publish it. A lot of these designers look for knitters who will use their own materials and don’t expect to be paid for their time or materials. I have found that it is fun to work for these types designers because you can usually get a copy of the pattern for free, both when you test the pattern and usually when the final pattern, without errors, is published. Plus, you are one of the first to knit the project. The drawback that I have found is that sometimes it is necessary to make a purchase to meet the requirements for the pattern. Typically, I will only do this type of test knitting if I have the materials already on hand.

Sample Knitting is a different ball game all together. Designers requiring Sample Knitters will provide the materials and will also pay for the knitting, usually by the yard. Now don’t think you will get paid and also get to keep the item. No sir, the designers require the items for what they call Trunk Shows. They take their garments around to different shows to sell the pattern to the wholesale market.

One of the things I love about sample knitting jobs is that I learn so much and typically, I get to use yarn that I have never used before and might not have selected on my own. Understand that sample knitting is not a huge moneymaker, but I find it fun as well as educational.

Don’t get me wrong, there are the drawbacks as well. For starters, when I am in a time crunch to get a project completed for a designer I get little, if any, work done on my own personal projects. This makes it very difficult to knit up my stash, but I have found the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in this case.  Because it also means I am less likely to want to purchase more yarn.

KAL Update

Here is a progress picture of my KAL sock for the Sock Knitters Anonymous April Sockdown. At first I really didn’t like the pattern, but once I was able to try them on and spread out the lace pattern I found I really do love the pattern. It is a simple pattern to follow so I don’t need to drag the written pattern around with me.

Earlier this week I completed the short-row heels on both socks and when I tried them on I was a little nervous that they would be too short. But instead of frogging back and adding some length I proceeded forward.

Today, after working about 1½” up the leg of one sock I tried it on again and could barely get it over my heel. Once, I got it over my heel I realized that it was in fact too short, and also very tight around my ankle. So both socks have been frogged back to just before the short-row heel. I think I will change the needle size to 2.25 to make them a little looser. Unfortunately, I only have a 2.25 in the Harmony needles and I so much prefer the Nickel plated, so I just placed an order with Knit Picks and will be able to continue with my socks later this week.

Until then I leave you with some additional pictures of this project. Not the best pictures I have taken, but all I have right now.

 

Cables and Lace Collar

After finishing this cute little collar more than a week ago I have finally finished perfecting the pattern, and now I am post it here for all to enjoy. You can download this pattern by clicking this link, or by clicking the link in the right side panel.  If you have any questions or find an error with the pattern please feel free to let me know. You can also find this pattern as a FREE download in my Ravelry store.

   

Trial and Error

Last year, when a friend of mine showed me the hot pads that her grandmother had made I was totally amazed, and ever since I have wanted to make them.

Recently, I found the pattern and some additional examples on Ravelry. I was also inspired by Clutter My Couch’s Squiggly Potholders.

So, for the last few days, I have been experimenting with this new project. This is the pattern that I am using as a basis for my project and the reason for my experimentation is the pattern calls for rug yarn, but I am using crochet thread instead, which is the material used in the original potholders shown above.

It has been quite a bit of work to get this worked out, because I really want my Hot Pads to have very thick ruffles like in the ones done by my friends grandmother, but this is what I have been getting. Not exactly what I had hoped for.

So far, I have found that it is of the utmost importance to have the squares on the grid smaller rather than larger. Even after increasing the number of double crochets in each section the ruffle still doesn’t fill in the gaps as much as I would like. So back to the drawing board I went, with a smaller needle and a more deliberate mindset to make the stitches smaller with the grid.

Even though I used the same number of stitches I was able to make the grid considerable smaller as you can see here with the smaller grid layed on top of the first grid made.

But even with the smaller grid and after increasing the number of double crochet in each section I am still not getting the perfect ruffle. The only thing I feel I can do at this point is to continue to add additional double crochet stitches per section until I find the perfect combination. That is my project over the next few days, because I am determined to make these cool potholders.

Once I perfect the process, I will be writing a formal pattern for this “Hot Pad” so that no one else has to go through what I have expereienced over the last two days. Look for it in the next week or so.