Friday, July 22, 2011

Finished Object Friday


This week has been a lot more successful for me ... maybe because I'm using the recommended yarns, the recommended needle sizes and following the patterns? I guess that's a lesson I need to learn over and over and over again!

The Wild Irish Rose necklace crocheted up quite satisfactorily. If I were to do it again I would make the necklace band plainer and not so ruffled. Also, my local stores stocked only white, ivory and this natural colour in crochet cotton; it'd be nice to try it in a fresher pastel colour. Andrea said it was very comfortable to wear, not too hot or heavy, and considering how hot is was yesterday, that's really saying something. If we get a cool evening in the next few days I'm going to try to give the necklace a very light steam blocking. Overall it worked out pretty well, I think.

My second Hourglass sock is also finished; I grafted the toe this morning. The yarn is Viola in a colourway called Robin's Egg and I just made it with only a few meters leftover. It's nerve-wracking to watch the yarn disappear while working the foot on top-down socks!

As for the pattern, it's pretty but I wouldn't knit it again. Why? The fabric has very little stretch so the sock doesn't fit snugly. Me, I like my socks to fit snugly! I added gusset decreases and shifted two stitches on each side of the instep to the bottom of the foot to bring the total number of stitches down to 68 otherwise they would have been HUGE.

Coincidentally, you may notice in future posts that Andrea's long, long hair has disappeared. Hours after the photos were taken she had it all chopped off to donate to charity. Nice, huh?

For lots more posts and lots more finished objects to inspire you, check Tami's list here.

21 comments:

Wool Diaries said...

Beautiful necklace and on such a stunning model. Your socks are so pretty. Have a fantastic crafty weekend.

pinkundine said...

Love the socks, but good to know that they're not the most snug, I'll keep that in mind if I make them! The necklace is beautiful, and modelled to perfection ;)

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, that necklace is simply stunning (as is your model!). I'm so glad it's not just me that continually ignores the instructions regarding the correct needles, tension and wool then, to much the same effect as you've experienced in the past!

Paula said...

That necklace is stunning, well done!

sara said...

Such a lovely necklace!!

stephanni :] said...

i love the necklace & those socks are fabulous! love cables in socks! :)

thanks for the comment. :)

Affiknitty said...

The necklace and the socks are lovely. Your friend must be as generous as she is pretty to have donated to the Angel Hair program!

Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtch said...

Such beautiful objects! The necklace is looking stunning!!!!

Anonymous said...

That's a bummer when the socks don't fit well. They are SO pretty.

You mentioned about me needing some shade about now --- actually we aren't too bad. It's hot temperature-wise, but there has been a nice sea breeze. Makes it much more tolerable.

I feel bad for the people in the northeast and mid part of the country that are suffering through unbearable heat.

Sandy said...

WOW x 2...a wow for each project and then some. The necklace is truly beautiful.

Frieda said...

Congrats on all the finished projects, both are beautiful ! I think the necklace is just perfect .

suse-the-slow-knitta said...

fabulous necklace and Andrea is gorgeous! well done her for getting her locks chopped for charity!

wrchili said...

The necklace and socks turned out great!

geeky Heather said...

Both are beautiful; congratulations!

Mrs H Knits said...

Love the necklace, absolutely beautiful.

Wanderingcatstudio said...

I really like those little roses - they'd make nice hair clip decorations.

WildflowerWool said...

Very nice necklace and socks!

Alittlebitsheepish said...

Lovely FOs, I agree on the socks, I like a bit of ribbing down the length to hold them nicely on the foot

Tami Klockau said...

The necklace is gorgeous! WOW! Love the socks as well. What a great pattern!

Delusional Knitter said...

Love the necklace, its beautiful!!

Stacey said...

Beautiful socks and necklace!