Year of Projects 2: Little Child's Sock 02

Folk Knitting in Estonia: Aino's Gloves • Anu's Christmas Gloves • Anu's Mittens • Anu's Stockings • Avo's Mittens • Ellen's Stockings • Helgi's Mittens • Hilja's Mittens • Ilmar's Socks • Juta's Stockings • Kalev's Mittens • Kristi's Mittens • Laila's Socks • Landra's Gloves • Liidia's Gloves • Liivi's Stockings • Maarja's Socks • Maimu's Mittens • Marko's Mittens • Meida's Mittens • Merike's Gloves • Rita's Stockings • Sander's Mittens • Tiit's Socks • Ulla's Gloves • Virve's Stockings

Knitting Vintage Socks: Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern (1887) • Gentleman's Sock in Railway Stitch (1889) • Gentleman's Socks with Lozenge Pattern (1895) • Bed Sock in Lemon Pattern Fancy Knit Stripe (1896) • Cycling or Golf Stockings with Fancy Cuff in Trellis Pattern (1897) • Heelless Sleeping Socks (1897) • Child's French Sock in Citron Pattern and Diaper Knitting (1898) • Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Half Hose in Ringwood Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Sock for Evening Wear (1900) • Evening Stockings for a Young Lady (1900) • Fancy Silk Sock for a Child of 5 or 6 Years (1900) • Gentleman's Fancy Sock (1901) • Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock with Dutch Heel (1901) • Child's Sock in Miranda Pattern (1904) • Baby's Bootikin (1905) • Little Child's Sock (1907) • Infant's Fancy Silk Sock (1909) • Ladies Useful Stockings (1913) • Ladies Silk Stockings with Clocks (1914)

Here in Canada it's the Victoria Day long weekend, named for Queen Victoria and intended to mark her birthday on May 24th often with fireworks. It's also known as the May 2-4 long weekend by those who celebrate by opening their cottages for the summer season and drinking cases (2-4s) of beer at the dock and around the campfire. For gardeners it's the first weekend considered safe to transplant annual bedding plants that aren't frost-hardy. That's how I observe the holiday :)

I did make a start on my Little Child's Sock, knitting the ribbed cuff and the patterned band, but I'll confess I'm dragging my feet a bit, mostly because I'd like to get the "Tshark Socks" off the needles first. Any charcoal grey yarn leftover there would fit in nicely with the scraps making up this sock! In the meantime my first bit of sock one is in the garden posing with the hanging baskets.

I've also been suffering from a terrible case of start-itis. Or perhaps starting-and-not-finishing-itis. Seems like I'm using the upcoming craft sale as an excuse to try out every cute little tchotchke pattern that catches my eye. Maybe I can find some time tomorrow to finish a few things? Or at least show enough self-control not to start anything new?!

Finished Object Friday

Pattern: Sock Monkey Cup Cozy

Yarn: Briggs & Little Heritage from stash

Hook Sizes: H8 (5mm) and G6 (4.25 mm)

Modifications: none

Comments: When I was in New Brunswick last week I was inspired by similar cup cozies that were being knit by the Thrum Ladies and offered for sale in local craft markets. And then when I found this free pattern I knew I had to give it a try.

It's a pretty simple pattern and really well explained. I've learned a new skill - reverse SC - and I've also learned the right way to work SC2tog. There's a remark amongst the notes from Raveler's who've made this pattern to work the foundation chain row loosely. That's a good tip! The resulting cozy fits the cup snugly but it does need a bit of stretch at that first round.

In fact, after completing this first cozy I've made the pieces for several more. My plan is to have about a dozen finished in a handful of colours in time for a craft show in the third week of June. If I can finish them up this weekend then I can start making some other projects for sale - maybe some coin purses and some dishcloths? It's a long weekend in Canada and the weather looks awesome, so whatever your plans are, ENJOY! As always, check the links at Tami's Amis to see all kinds of great stuff!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday

With quieter days at work this week, progress continues steadily on my Cladonia Shawl. "You must knit a sweater a week" remarked the Staples delivery guy yesterday. Some weeks I knit more than others - it just depends on the work.

The pattern directs to continue the increases through the striped section until you have 28 stitches between markers. I'm almost there - I've got 25 stitches between markers - but I think I'm going to follow the lead of other ravellers and lengthen the shawl by continuing to 35 stitches between markers. If work stays this quiet I might manage to reach the lace section by Friday. And then the fun begins!

I've also been working away at my Shark Week Socks but I'll spare you the picture. It's been more knit, rip, re-knit, rip than any real progress. Maybe this weekend I'll find some quiet time to sit down and get myself sorted out on this. The pattern is challenging, but it seems like I screw up the easy parts more than the hard parts, so it must just be me.

Between bouts of frustration with the Shark Week Socks I've been crocheting Sock Monkey Cup Cozies. My friend signed us up for a craft table at a local market in June, so I need to put together a few things to offer for sale. The pattern for these cozies is pretty simple, the finishing isn't bad and they work up pretty darned cute. My thinking was that they'd make a good teacher's gift when paired with a takeout cup and a coffee shop gift card. And it doesn't hurt that I seem to have a good selection of suitable yarn in my stash for them, either. Please don't hesitate to offer any pattern suggestions you have for craft sale items; it's my first sale, so I don't really know what will go and what won't.

That's my week this week. Looks like the weather's about to turn warmer and sunnier too! Don't forget it's Wednesday, and there's lots of great stuff to see at the links at Tami's Amis this Work-in-Progress Wednesday!

Year of Projects 2: Little Child's Sock

Folk Knitting in Estonia: Aino's Gloves • Anu's Christmas Gloves • Anu's Mittens • Anu's Stockings • Avo's Mittens • Ellen's Stockings • Helgi's Mittens • Hilja's Mittens • Ilmar's Socks • Juta's Stockings • Kalev's Mittens • Kristi's Mittens • Laila's Socks • Landra's Gloves • Liidia's Gloves • Liivi's Stockings • Maarja's Socks • Maimu's Mittens • Marko's Mittens • Meida's Mittens • Merike's Gloves • Rita's Stockings • Sander's Mittens • Tiit's Socks • Ulla's Gloves • Virve's Stockings

Knitting Vintage Socks: Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern (1887) • Gentleman's Sock in Railway Stitch (1889) • Gentleman's Socks with Lozenge Pattern (1895) • Bed Sock in Lemon Pattern Fancy Knit Stripe (1896) • Cycling or Golf Stockings with Fancy Cuff in Trellis Pattern (1897) • Heelless Sleeping Socks (1897) • Child's French Sock in Citron Pattern and Diaper Knitting (1898) • Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Half Hose in Ringwood Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Sock for Evening Wear (1900) • Evening Stockings for a Young Lady (1900) • Fancy Silk Sock for a Child of 5 or 6 Years (1900) • Gentleman's Fancy Sock (1901) • Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock with Dutch Heel (1901) • Child's Sock in Miranda Pattern (1904) • Baby's Bootikin (1905) • Little Child's Sock (1907) • Infant's Fancy Silk Sock (1909) • Ladies Useful Stockings (1913) • Ladies Silk Stockings with Clocks (1914)

I spent most of last week in New Brunswick with my brother, attending the launch of his second volume of short stories set at the McAdam Train Station - Abigail Massey at McAdam Station - and then traveling around the province with him to meet the vendors and do book-signings. It was a ton of fun and it's wonderful to see the money being raised to help restore a building that I think of as a National Treasure.

All the while in New Brunswick I was fighting a cold; by the time I got home I had to admit defeat. So the last several evenings have been spent with a box of Kleenex and a mug of Neo-Citran. I did manage to finish my Gentleman's Plain Winter Socks in time for a finished object Friday post, but little else has been accomplished knit-wise. For my Year of Projects I've managed to pick out my next pattern - Little Child's Sock - and assemble some yarn that I think may work. Nothing cast on. It's a pattern that I think works best with a solid or semi-solid yarn so I'm hoping that I can combine all these shades of grey (and some brown) to make a semi-solid effect.

At the same time I'm knitting away on a shawl at work. My "at home" knitting time is being devoted to "Tshark Socks" - and honestly, the pattern is so mind-bending that it needs my full attention. Could be I'll get somewhere with Little Child Socks when I need a break from shadow-wrapped short row shaping. I guess we'll find out by week's end!

Finished Object Friday

Pattern: Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock with Dutch Heel

Yarn: scraps of Mountain Color Bearfoot yarn, Wollemeisse Twin, Wandering Cat MCN, Koigu PPPM, and many other little scraps alternating with the main yarn - Kroy Sock Yarn Stripes.

Needles: size 2 (2.5 mm)

Modifications: none

Comments: Faced with almost two shoeboxes of sock yarn scraps, a vanilla sock pattern like this presents the perfect opportunity to work through some of them. In this case I grabbed 50 grams of self-striping Kroy sock yarn in a purple/pink/blue colourway and alternated with a half dozen complimentary coloured scrap yarns. Even so, it's a big sock with a long cuff, so I ran out of Kroy several rounds past the gusset decreases but maybe it's not too noticeable? Or maybe the colours in combination are so loud that you've gone blind?!

Speaking of the long cuff, this seems to be commonplace in the patterns collected in Knitting Vintage Socks. It's certainly a good idea when the leg is stockinette; this sock needs all the ribbing it can get to stay up. The jury is still out on the Dutch heel. It's fun to work, but I'm still not sure how comfortable it is. Kate Atherley claims it as her favourite heel turn - that's a pretty strong endorsement.

Once again it's Finished Object Friday over at Tami's Amis. Go on, have a look at the links posted there! If you're looking for me this morning I'll be at my nephew's school, taking in the year-end showcase.

Surmount the Stash 2013 May update

Volume 2 now on sale!

accomplished:

• Gentleman's Socks for Evening Wear were knit and then ripped out - should that count as "accomplished"? 
• Another pair of socks - Gentleman's Plain Winter Socks - have been knit from scraps, but more on that on Friday. 
• All the acrylic baby yarn is finished; there is a small pile of hats for my SIL who works in labour and delivery. 
• All the hexagons for my African Flower blanket are done, with ends woven end but I still need to buy yarn for the borders and joining.
• I did start and finish Ensnared Socks and they are gorgeous, even if they are too small.
• Shark Week Socks have been started (and I've only had to rip back once). 

nope:

• My weaving project is still sitting on the loom awaiting my attention. Maybe this weekend?

April was busy - at work and with personal design projects. The artist's portfolio book was printed and delivered in time for the gala reception held by my sister on the first of May, although I was hand-collating the night before! And my brother's second volume of short stories, Abigail Massey at McAdam Train Station Volume 2, was launched at a very successful event at the McAdam train station last Sunday. And finally I was able to deliver my secret Christmas 2012 knitting .... Star Trek socks for my brother and SIL, which were very well received!

goals for May:

• finish one pair of Shark Week Socks for Robin
• knit Summer Flies from 2 skeins of Shelridge Farm Soft Touch DK
• knit Cladonia from 2 skeins of Wellington Fibres 3 ply (that I WON in the raffle at the Frolic!)
• knit Totally Vanilla Socks for a Socktopus KAL that I rashly joined.

Beyond KoolAid

Yesterday I took part in a workshop put on by the Downtown Knit Collective as part of their Knitter's Frolic weekend events - Beyond KoolAid. Our instructor, Denise Powell (aka Doctor Knit) provided us with some undyed mini-skeins, roving and fleece and put us to work with food dyes, water, vinegar and a microwave.

My wool/silk mini was immersion dyed using a food colouring gel, and although the colour was named "Burgundy" my result was a bright tulip pink. For my Cascade 220 mini, I decided to experiment with mixing colours so I picked a liquid green food colouring that gave others a light minty green result and added some brown gel to darken it up. My result? A very bright leaf green. Maybe too bright. It's still drying upstairs.

Then I decided it was time to try hand-painting that mini skein of sock yarn. I used three colours - a dark brown-red mixed by the participant two seats north of me, a purple-blue mixed by the participant to my left and that tulip pink I had made up earlier. I arranged the dampened skein on a plastic bag in front of me and dabbed small sections of each colour until the yarn was entirely coloured. Piled damply in front of me it didn't look like much. But after drying it at home and knitting it up on sock needles, it's not a bad effort. I'm calling my colourway "Hydrangea".

If you had asked me yesterday I'd have told you that I had no plans to dye yarn for myself again. It was fun to try it, but it's really not for me. The process was very messy (at least for me) and the results were extremely unpredictable. There was lots of talk of "unexpected results" and "happy accidents" in the room yesterday - which is way outside my control-freak comfort zone. Not to mention that the pervasive smell of warm, damp wool is not something I want in my kitchen. But this morning it occurred to me that in the next few weeks I'm going to need about 25 grams of flesh-coloured sock yarn. It'd be cheaper and easier to dye some natural colour scraps I have, wouldn't it? Because I pretty confident about immersion dyeing a mini-skein but I think I'll keep buying full skeins from all those talented indy dyers out there. Let them experiment and I'll enjoy the spoils of their labour!