Finished Object Friday

Pattern: Juta's Stockings

Yarn: Sydney Sock with Nylon from Studio June Yarns

Modifications: None. (I know, pretty amazing eh?)

Comments: The sock yarn was given to me by Jill at Studio June Yarn as a 'thank you" for designing some Ravelry ads for her. The colourway is unnamed on the label, but it makes me think of summer skies streaked with the thinnest cirrus clouds.

This yarn is beautifully smooth yielding perfect stitch definition which is very satisfying for a simple sock like this. Other than lace panels on the side of the legs and the top of the foot it's a vanilla sock pattern, but the result is quite elegant I think. It's another winning sock pattern from Nancy Bush!

It's Friday so check the links at Tami's Amis. Why not see what everyone else has finished? It's also Socktoberfest, so chances are these socks are in some good company!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday

My friend's birthday is fast approaching, and it seems to me that now's the time to finish these shelf liners I started for her more than two years ago. I planned to make three, but only finished one and started a second. Look how wrinkled they are from being scrunched up in a bag in the cupboard for so many months! Once I finish them they'll definitely need some steam blocking.

The pattern is based on this Montague table runner which I have adjusted to make longer and narrower. There's also an intentional jog in the seed stitch borders at the beginning and end of each liner where the framing of the cupboard narrows the otherwise open shelf space.

I'm knitting in dishcloth cotton; after attending a tent sale at the Spinrite Factory Outlet I find myself with a ton of it. This is a great way to make some headway through that part of my stash. isn't it. It's also a practical choice for a shelf liner I think - machine washable, can be bleached if needed, absorbent and not linty. Also, the worsted weight cotton makes a thick cushion for glasses and dinnerware.

The only downside is the tedium ... it's like knitting three matching scarves. I guess that explains why it's been on the needles for what seems like forever. Well that stops right now. I'm going to try to knit monogamously on these shelf liners until they're done. Wish me luck ... or patience and self-discipline, more likely.

Of course it's Work-in-Progress Wednesday so I'm linking up with the gang at Tami's Amis. Why not have a look to see what everyone else has been up to?

Year of Projects 2: Juta's Stockings 01 and Merike's Gloves 05

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

Finally I can show you some progress on my second of Merike's Gloves! I've knit the cuff of the right glove and started the thumb gusset. In the pattern the right is worked as the left with the shapings reversed. I'd prefer if full written instructions were provided for both gloves, but they're not, so I guess I'll have to keep my thinking cap on. It does slow me down a bit, because I don't want to start a shaping section unless I'm certain to have time to finish it.

At the same time I've cast on Juta's Stockings. The yarn is a lovely subtle tonal in summer sky blues from Studio June Yarn. Because the pattern is so simple - mostly stockinette with a simple column of lace on each side of the leg and the top of the foot - I can readily pick it up and put it down without losing track of the pattern. Easy, peasy; the first sock is already off the needles.

Having a second project on the needles helps make me feel like I'm making better progress on my list of projects. At least now I have something more to post about in my weekly updates. As well, making visible progress on one project makes me less impatient with the slow pace of progress on the other. So that's the plan going forward. Besides, the Christmas gift pile still needs several more pairs of socks.

Work-in-Progress Wednesday

All of a sudden I cast on a sock. Well, it's Socktoberfest, so why not? After all I can't show you my secret Christmas knitting, can I? And I suspect you may be nearly as sick of the second glove I have on the needles as I am. So a new sock project is definitely in order.

The pattern is Juta's Stockings. It's little more than a vanilla sock with a narrow column of very simple lace on each side of the leg. I'm knitting it with Sydney Sock from Studio June Yarn and I'm loving it so far. The yarn is entirely smooth so stitch definition is perfect. Very satisfying for a vanilla sock.

And that's all I've got today, but of course, you can get your fill of yarn projects through the links at Tami's Amis. Have a great Work-in-Progress Wednesday!

fo: Pillow cases

Pattern: Pillow Cases Small Sewing Card by Valori Wells (scroll down towards the bottom of the linked page to see this particular pattern)

Materials: Quilting cotton in three patterns - a light fern leaf pattern, a dark brown batik and a dark green pattern called "Camelot". There is such a huge variety of quilting cotton available that I could readily find colours and patterns that matched my paint colours, my headboard and my existing bedding.

Comments: These really took no time at all (maybe an hour each?) and I love them. It's amazing how a small thing like this makes such an impact in the room. It really ties the colours in my room together. In fact,  I love them so much that I'm already considering making some for the guest bedroom, and maybe some Christmas themed ones ...

 My friend seemed dismayed that I would pay $3 for the Sewing Card pattern, however the front cover image was really bright, colourful and inspirational, and, I have a sincere appreciation for having all the math done for me - exactly how many yards I should buy and to what exact size I should cut the pieces. Well worth the $3 in my mind. I followed the directions exactly as written, and the cases fit my pillows perfectly, every inside raw edge is oversewn to prevent fraying and I had very small scraps of fabric leftover. All good.

Year of Projects 2: Merike's Gloves 04

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

I'm only slightly further ahead on my Year of Projects this week compared to last week. At least now I've cast on and started that second glove. Although it may not look like much yet, chances are there will be lots of progress this week. After all those are my only size 0 needles, so I have to finish this second glove before starting anything else. And by anything else, of course I mean socks.

Seems like that's all I feel like knitting these days ... socks, socks and more socks. And that's just when I feel like knitting; I've spent the last couple of days sewing instead. (More on that tomorrow). In the interest of not falling too far behind on my Year of Projects I've decided to knit some of the sock patterns in the book sooner rather than later. It's not a bad idea considering how much sock yarn I have on hand. Besides, socks make great Christmas presents so it's two birds with one stone, right?

Is it really mid-October already? Christmas in 10 weeks or so? YIKES! 

Finished Object Friday

Pattern: Sagittarius

Yarn: Alley Cat BFL in "Badlands" colourway

Modifications: As usual I upped the primary stitch count to switch to size 0 needles, this time casting on 78 sts. I prefer the fabric I get from finer needles. I also switched out one pattern repeat on either side of the leg for K4P2 rib to make the sock stretchier. And as usual, I opted for Eye of Partridge heel.

With all those modifications it took me about three tries to get the fit the way I wanted. Ripping out once, then again was annoying but now that they're done I'm very satisfied with how it all worked out.

Comments: The last socks I knit were from a cashmere/merino/nylon blend and I thought I was sold on that, but now this BFL yarn is giving me pause. It's really soft too, and lovely to work with. This pair is part of my Christmas knitting but it's going to be really hard to give them away. I opted for the men's version of this sock pattern, with M1s in place of lacier YOs and with an unpatterned foot to suit the guy on my list.

It's Friday so check the links at Tami's Amis. Why not see what everyone else has finished? It's also Socktoberfest, so chances are these socks are in some good company!