one sock done

The first sock is done. It's a bit snug for me, but it's supposed to be. I have bigger feet than any woman I know. One pattern modification to report - after decreasing to 16 stitches at the toes I grafted the remaining stitches to finish the sock. Didn't think it needed to narrow any further than that!

Gosh, did you see that? I modified a pattern, just as if I knew what I was doing! Guess I'm starting to feel a bit more confident as a sock knitter!

My review of the sock? Five stars for the pattern. It's a well written, simple sock. But this may be the last pair of socks I make from cotton. The resulting fabric is a bit stiff - not as comfortable as wool or bamboo. Hope it softens up as with a few wearings and washings! Like a pair of jeans, I imagine. Onto sock #2!

k3p1

Down the leg, around the heel, onto the foot. Wondering if I'm bored yet? Bored of round after round of stockinette and K3P1 rib? Nope, not at all. It's been a very soothing knit.

Next on the needles will be a Pro Bono hat. I knit several of these hats last year for the Warm Hands Network. It's a simple ribbed hat, but well-fitting and warm. Really warm when knit with a double strand of wool. Several hats done but no photos taken, which leaves an empty spot on my Ravelry projects page, and I just can't bear it. Time to make another hat for photography purposes.

I think I'm ready for a few weeks of knitting hats and mittens. There's an abundance of patterns on Ravelry, and an abundance of wool in my stash. And what could be better than sharing that abundance?

the first day of spring

Nevermind that it's -5°C, today is the first day of Spring. And there are clear signs that better weather is coming. Look carefully in my garden and you'll see Tulips poking up and starting to unfurl. Peer into the dessicated clumps of Sedum and you'll find the beginnings of new growth. Examine the ground around the stalks of last year's daylilies and you'll detect tiny green shoots that show this year's promise.

And the birds! There's been a steady queue of American Goldfinches at the Niger feeder. And crowds of Cardinals and Purple House Finches gorging on Safflower. A cacophony of chirping and tweeting from the trees, shrubs and eavestroughs greets me when I step outside.

A simple knit + family time + sunny weather = a good plan for the first weekend of spring.

simple

The pattern? Wise Hilda's Basic Ribbed Sock. The yarn? A lilac fingering weight cotton that I had in my stash. It's from a project that I ripped out ages ago - I can't remember the brand. Cotton's a great choice for a summery sock, but, by it's nature it's not stretchy, so a stretchy rib pattern seemed like a good idea.

But what I really like is the charming simplicity of the pattern ... K3 P1 rib. A simplicity rooted in clean, uncluttered, unfussy lines. A simplicity reinforced with a muted, unvariegated, unfuzzy yarn. It's simple enough that it's like a meditation to knit.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." — Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)

finished monkeys

Finished and blocked - one pair of Monkey socks. Quite a fun pattern to knit, and a well-fitting, comfy pair of socks. After knitting a pair I can certainly see why the pattern is so popular. Deservedly so.

I did cast on Duckies and had a good start on the first sock. But that's about as far as these socks are likely to go. A couple of reasons, really.

Firstly, the sock is meant to be knit with a heavier, thicker yarn than the sock yarns that I have in my stash. With spring coming I'm far more interested in lighter weight knits. And using a lighter weight for this pattern would mean altering the number of stitches and adjusting the pattern to come out to the right size - a bit beyond me.

Secondly, the pattern itself strikes me as a simplified version of the Sprockets socks that I just finished. It's not really the same, but it is a column of holes created by yo stitches. Very simple and repetitive ... and not really what I'm in the mood for.

Finally, the bamboo yarn has a silky effect when knit in stockinette - an effect I was quite taken with. A more architectural pattern of cables and ribs might put this yarn to better use.

So this morning I'm ripping out what I started. And putting aside the yarn until the right pattern comes to my attention. In the meantime I'm inclined to cast on a pair of simple ribbed socks with some left over cotton in my stash.

feels like spring

It's a beautiful spring morning. A bit chilly still this morning, but sunny with blue skies. This March break Torontonians are being spoiled with several days of mild weather. And I'm loving every minute of it. On the train today, I'll cast on Duckies Socks. I joined another KAL - this one, thrifty sock knitters, encourages members to knit one of four or so monthly pattern selections in yarns from their stashes. Good idea! I have most of a skein of On Your Toes Bamboo in my stash which should do the trick!

Of course, I wouldn't cast on a new project unless I'd finished a couple of others! My hat is done and it is gorgeous. The colours are fantastic. And I still love the little seed stitch brim. This picture will have to do for now - until I can find a young child to model for me. My monkey socks are also done - pictures tomorrow once I've woven in the ends and blocked them. New project time!

a new week

I absolutely love the way this hat is knitting up. The wool is gorgeous - the colours are so warm and so rich! The yarn is extremely unevenly spun changing from thick to thin within just a few stitches, but the simple texture of the hat pattern is very forgiving. Love it!

I cast on and knit most of a hat on Saturday ... and then decided I wanted it smaller, to fit a child of six. The hat I was knitting was going to fit me perfectly. Rip. Rip. Rip. When I cast on again on Sunday, I reduced the number of stitches by 16, or two pattern repeats. Now it looks more like the size I want. Just as well, the yardage of the wool I purchased is only about 140 yds. Not enough for an adult hat. Of course, I could always get more wool...