Sunday, July 8, 2018

Year of Projects 8 - Week 2

Vanilla Ribbed Socks in Nordlys yarn
A couple of people enquired in comments last week about the 2018 Paper Bag Project mentioned in my list for Year 8, so let me explain: it's a challenge within a Ravelry Group called "Canada Let's Swap!" At the beginning of the year participants created 12 paper bags containing projects - new or unfinished - and each month we select one bag at random to complete. I fell behind so I'm still finishing up my June project and have yet to select a project for July.

My June Paper Bag contained a skein of Nordlys by Viking Yarn in a blue gradient. It's a bit of a difficult yarn to work with - single ply, lots of halo, pills easily, thick and thin in sections, very splitty, sticky, impossible to frog and easily torn - so I opted for a very simple ribbed vanilla sock loosely based on the pattern Vanilla is the New Black.

When I started these socks I planned to make them matching however I've abandoned that now. The first sock took 48 grams of 101 grams available so I really don't have any additional yardage to make that work. Besides there was a knot in the yarn resulting in a hard break in the gradation about an inch from the toe of the first sock. Matched socks are not to be! I'm at the heel of the second sock and hope to finish these by the end of the week.

Although I don't generally like to have multiple WIPs, last week's extreme heat made knitting that Nordlys yarn with sweaty fingers extra unpleasant. As an alternative I cast on Afshari using Dye-Version Stretch Bamboo Sock ... a very smooth shiny yarn that was much nicer to knit as the temperature and humidity soared. This "Tropical Sunrise" colourway is very summery and fun! The patterned section at the top of the leg of the first sock is done and now I'm trying to decide how much plain stockinette I want before starting the heel. Fingers crossed that the stretch in the yarn helps that top section stay up!

By next week I hope to make a start on my July Paper Bag and, if time allows, maybe turn the heel on my first Afshari sock. But if the weather stays as beautiful as it has been for the last couple of days, I might be spending all day outdoors in the lake or in the garden instead of knitting!


2018 Paper Bag Project - July, August, September, October, November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Feny Socks - using Lang Jawoll Superwash in turquoise and chocolate
      Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
      Pattern TBD - using unknown variegated red yarn
      Pattern TBD - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird
      Pattern TBD - using unknown variegated green yarn

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

      Afshari - Dye-Version Stretch Bamboo Sock yarn in Peach
      Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
      Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
      Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
      Bill Huggins - in various scraps
      Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
      Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
      Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
      Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps

14 comments:

Wanderingcatstudio said...

That new sock is gorgeous!

Caffeine Girl said...

I laughed out loud when I read that you don't like having multiple WIPs. I suffer from a severe and chronic form of cast-on-itis. I don't even want to know how many projects I have on the needles. Still, I think it's better to be disciplined like you are!

Breathing Life said...

I love the paper bag idea - like a grab bag - u never know what is next up and saves on making decisions. I am all for that. I love the pattern on the cuff of your bamboo sock. Gorgeous.

Lucy Bowen said...

The Viking yarn might be horrible to work with, but it makes a beautiful looking sock! The new socks are amazing - it looks like colourwork.

Ella said...

I saw those Afshari socks and thought they looked familiar - no wonder, the book is on my Amazon list! Thanks for showing them, they look so lovely, and I love the yarn and colourway you chose for them.

Sam I Am...... said...

Okay, when you do the paper bags you then swap yours with someelse's? Or are they your projects and your yarn? The gradient socks are so cool..literally and figuratively. Sorry you're having a difficult time with the yarn but you'd never know it by the looks of them. Your summery yarn reminds me of a dreamsicle or sherbert...yumm! The color is gorgeous and so is the design at the top of the sock. If I could only be as disciplined as you with your single mindedness and devotion to one project. I did cast on a sock this afternoon....it feels so good! LOL!

Anonymous said...

Oh my sweet stars! Afshari is GORGEOUS!!!

Becki said...

Well, that Nordlys yarn is sure beautiful knitted up. I can imagine you're just as glad to not have to keep knitting with it, but I'm kind of sad I won't see a matching pair of socks from it. It makes gorgeous stripes.

Ruby Dolling said...

The Viking yarn is certainly pretty, even if it is a pain to work with. But the Afshari socks! Love the yarn and everything about them.

Zana said...

Love the paper bag idea! Those gradient socks are gorgeous and I love the texture with your Afshan socks.

Leftycrafter said...

Afshari!!!!!! So pretty. That cuff would be super cool on gloves.

Alleigh said...

Why is that the worst yarn to work with looks so good. We'd never know you were having problems with it, they are coming along beautifully! What a great pattern the Afshari is. My daughter is vegan and has had problem with finding sock yarn with no wool. I love that they are coming out with more options like the bamboo, I've really enjoyed the bamboo yarn when I've worked with it.

Gracey is not my name.... said...

I bought some Nordlys while I was in Norway.....but haven't used it yet....and as you know I have so many WIPs on the needles and hooks...just too many now....

Iris said...

That sock in the graduated yarn looks amazing. Beautiful, and the simple pattern brings out the colour variations really well.