TTL mystery sock knit - warning pictures!

Ok, I've started the cuff for the mystery knitalong. It was released last Friday and I've managed to do one. However, I have decided that I should be doing two at the same time. This should ensure that I manage to complete the project in time!

 You may just notice that mine looks a little different from my friend Dr Bones's and you would be right. The yarn I purchased is thicker than recommended, but, with the, rarely convenient, large feet, I have calculated that if I knit the smallest size I am only 2 stitches out. It seems to be correct.

Now all I have to do is find another set of needles and start the other sock. So far, it's fun!

Mystery Sock Knit along

OK, so the last time I tried a Mystery Knitalong I wasn't very happy (Yarn Forward Magazine mystery blanket......errors in patterns, lag time here and too many squares to knit each month......still waiting to be finished....). Anyway, Dr Bones did a mystery sock knitalong last year and ended up with a pair of gorgeous socks. It's on again and I am persuaded that the TTL mystery sock knitalong will at least be manageable and I will end up with a pair of handknit socks.

I have purchased my yarn, on a surprise jaunt to the city, while husband was in Dymocks, I was in Morris's, a denim coloured yarn called Ranco from Araucania:

The first part of the pattern was released on Friday, I was at the beach, so I'd better get knitting. This is the cuff and the next part is released next Friday.

It's all about the socks

Just arrived back from a busy session at Snb. Isn't it amazing how you can sit around with your knitting and spend most of the time talking about knitting. We did have a little drama with one of the children, I do hope she's OK.

I managed to finish my socks last night, so I could show them off today and, more importantly, start the next pair of socks. You may notice that one foot is bigger than the other. One of the joys of knitting your own is that you can tailor them to your own unique feet!

Aren't they lovely and bright.

The new pair are in the Noro Kureyon sock yarn I bought, on special from Morris & Sons. The pattern is the Lacy Arrow-patterned socks from 'Socks' from Spin-off and Interweave Press, edited by Rita Buchanan & Deborah Robson.

I've done the swatch and the pattern works very nicely. The only weirdness, is that when I started knitting from the centre the first green is quite different from anything that can be easily seen from the outside of the ball. The Noro is supposed to wash nicely, right now it feels a bit firm. Quite alot to think about, really.

Inspiring textile artists and socks!

I managed to make a start on my new pair of socks, yesterday at SnB. Aren't they bright. I've had to use a smaller size needles than recommended for the wool, 2.5mm fours seem to be as rare as hen's teeth. As they fall between the traditional English sizings (12 and 13) this might explain it.

As usual, I've had trouble deciding on the start. I'm following the Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's book 'Knitting Rules' and decided on my cast-on, which varied considerably from her own sizes. This put me in a bit of a tiz...fortunately I decided to go with my measurements and have now decided that all is well. So some happy bright knitting as SnB for awhile.

I also picked up a copy of Craft Arts International (Issue 74) as it does contain several articles on textile artists. This is a love/hate magazine for me. I love it, because it is always beautifully photographed, it's full of craft shown as art, it covers Australia and surrounds. I hate it, because it doesn't always show textiles and currently there seems to be alot of glass and woodwork. Both of which I love, but sometimes a little too much.





There is much to love in this issue, in particular an article on an artist by the name of Nora Fok titled 'Organic wearable forms'. They are stunning. As my final pieces for my diploma of art were inspired by sea creatures, these are particularly relevant to me. They're made of monofilament mostly and are knitted, knotted, woven and dyes. They are outrageously wearable and have inspired me to take another look at my scarves, etc, and see if I can push them a little further.













A profile, again of interest, is on Kim Simon of Fibre Red http://www.fibrered.com.au/ , as she was a contemporary at RMIT where we both were studying our Diploma of Art, both of us very part time. Her clothing is fabulous, I should own a piece before she gets too famous.

Another pair of socks

What happens when you're heading into Summer, we're all knitting socks. Well a few of us at SnB are, here are my finished socks.

They just need some ends sewn in and they'll be wearable. I learnt a new cast off, a knitted Kitchener stitch. I was a bit awkward, as it isn't designed to be used by a Continental knitter, but I'll manage. I was a bit tight, but that's the 'P' work - practice!

I bought some socks.

As part of my checking out Etsy, I decided to buy something to see how it all works. Not being a great shopper, this proved more difficult than I thought. I did, finally, find these socks. Aren't they gorgeous?

They're made of recycled cotton. The originals are handknit, but they're made on a knitting machine, I assume a sock knitting machine, of course. They are made in pairs, but are "Mismatched with care in Vermont". I just love the deliberate mismatching.

The shop on Etsy is Rustic Seasons.

Oh No! More Socks

Yes, went to SnB with sock yarn in hand and needing a set of 2.25mm or 2.50mm needles. All set to go. The latest 'Yarn' magazine (yes it's out, though Woolybutt seems to have a very early copy), has two sock patterns in them and I thought I would try one out. Sounds like a good plan.

Poor Lorraine at Woolybutt, she was so embarrassed, having neither set. I didn't want to substitute needles any further, so I found another sock yarn that required a different sized needle and purchased that. I am going to do more than one sock, aren't I. So now I have a ball of Opal in the colour Neon, and a ball of Tofutsies, which includes Chitin (Shrimp and Crabshell) in a more sedate colour.

I did have problems though with the other pattern in Yarn, when it started from the toes. Couldn't figure it out so that it looked neat. I think that is one for a quieter time and a bit of research. The instructions were a bit on the light side and apart from how to wrap the yarn around the needle, didn't really help the novice. I suspect that there is an explanation in another issue.

Further problems - the pattern I did choose uses a more elastic yarn than I have, so it will be interesting to see if they stay up and fit.

SnB fun

SnB was a great deal of fun, but it did start disastrously for me! The boys had a curriculum day, so it was a bit of a crowded and slow start to the day. Having finally sorted them and myself out, I went to grab my knitting to head off to SnB. I am only the raglan top of the second sleeve away from finishing this off. To my horror, after furious searching of house and car and the gradual dawning of the realisation that I had left the knitting at the beach. No problem I have some socks, which were meant to be my next project. These were found...missing one four needle...more hunting....found. Hooray! Headed off to SnB, 20 minutes (of good knitting time) late.

I could hear them as I rounded the corner. We had a bumper crowd, already well into their projects, enjoying each others' company. Terrific morning.

For those of you that are interested, our new knitter has completed 63cm of her scarf, which is looking gorgeous.

I went home and finished the socks. I like my socks, they were knitted with some bargain basement Bendigo yarn, obtained on last year's trip to Bendigo, at their shop. I need new socks and am a bit disappointed at the commercial stuff. It's either too thin...I have cold feet....or, uninteresting, so I'm going to knit my socks. There is nothing like handknitted socks. Everyone should try at least one pair, just to know what everyone is talking about. So I'm off to Woolybutt today to get some sock yarn, ready for next Tuesday.