I finally sat down at the right time of day to do a knitting photoshoot... when the sky is the gray and the grass is brown, my motivation to pull my camera out plummets to nearly zero. I need to figure out how to Photoshop February and March out of my life, seriously. So here's the latest on (and off) the needles! (If you're on Ravelry, find me here!)
These are my first toe up socks, and I like it! From a technique perspective, I like both ways equally, but you can't beat finishing the ball of yarn and not having to estimate and pray that you'll have enough, but not too much left. I think I'll go toe up from now on! I am doing them 2 at a time, as well, but that's old hat to me after all the longies I've made. I am so tickled by heel construction! Plus, I think
Judy's Magic Cast-on actually IS magic.
I am a little disappointed in the yarn though.. It's beautiful, but a bit splitty and fuzzy - the way people talk about it you'd think it was heaven on earth. I'm not sure if I'd use it again -- there are an awful lot of sock yarns out there I'd like to try!
I am making these for my Defense Against the Dark Arts homework -- the assignment: Constant Vigilance! A project you really need to pay attention to, and they certainly qualify -- as well as for Sockdown March - lace socks. Having a goal in mind - especially one with yummy prizes! really helps me stay motivated to finish stuff up and not just cast it on and forget about it.
Next up on the Sock Agenda:
~
Melanie's socks - I bought this yarn from a Raveler's stash because I was getting something else from her, but didn't love it in real life as much as the picture she had. Fortunately, it was perfect timing because we had a raffle to help a very dear friend in need -- it was a great team effort, many people donated prizes and helped out! -- and I donated a pair of custom socks knit from this yarn! It was quite the popular prize *own horn tooting*. I'll make them for April Sockdown, not sure what pattern yet. It's Gypsy Girls Fingering Weight in the Holly colorway. Not my style, but a beautiful yarn!
~Jenny's socks - she chose Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Seaside colorway, which I bought from the same Raveler as above... perhaps May Sockdown, perhaps not. I really want to make
Leyburn socks so we'll see. Here's the yarn for that. I am always surprised by my friends' choices!! It's a beautiful color but I never would have pegged it as a Jenny color, I'm glad I let her pick her own.
Languishing on the needles is still my
Invisibility Cloak... a beautiful laceweight circular shawl from
Knit & Knag - Mystic Star. I love the first 3 parts but the 4th just doesn't speak to me (the outside ring on her page, with the Norwegian looking stars) so I want to do something different. It was supposed to be my second OWL for House Cup, but oh well, at least I got one done! I just hope I am motivated to finish it.
And a new cast on I am loving at the moment... from the FABULOUS book
Continuous Cables by Melissa Leapman. The cable designs in it are like nothing I've ever seen -- very fresh and exciting, especially to someone like me who is enthralled by knitting engineering LOL (It'll be the next big thing at MIT, I'm sure). A pillow cover I semi-designed, in the sense that I am using a stitch pattern from the book but I totally decided how many to cast on and where to put them (in other words, as little design as a person can possibly do and still sort of claim it as original). It's for "my" room at my dear friends' house - I live in their guest room sometimes, and it's been Dev's Room as long as it's existed, so I felt I should contribute a little bit of me to it. It's Cascade Eco+, also purchased secondhand from a Raveler - that trade/sell feature is downright dangerous!!
And look at this super cute bag I got to hold my project in!! It's compact yet extremely roomy, certainly big enough for at least half of an adult sweater - I have an 8oz cake of Eco+ in it with room to spare in the photo! I bought it from
Miss Fiber Fox on Etsy -- she's having a 20% off sale right now and her stuff is SO pretty!
I have another FO that just needs a final touch before I can share it, but I am very excited about it!!
I also need to post my Sock Knitting Promises (so y'all can keep me honest), some sewing stuff (mostly about how I don't sew), and my April Resolutions aka Fix, Finish, or FROG! If you are not a knitter, I am so sorry to bore you and I promise lots of non-crafty content as well!