Paper Moon Socks

 

I had started these socks during last year's Month O'Socks, which would be February 2012. I finished the first sock in March. But then the second Sock Syndrome struck with full force, and off went this project into hibernation. I only took them out this week so that these could get done before this year's Month O'Socks. This pair is for my father, who really appreciated the first pair I knit him. He has been wearing that pair continually throughout the winter and got it promptly repaired when it developed holes. Hopefully, he will get good use out of these too. The pattern is OK, the details on the ribbing section being missing. I used Knitpicks Stroll Tonal (Kindling) for these socks.

And as you have probably already guessed, my next project is also going to be a pair of sock, or may be two, during the Month O'Sock (Feb 15-March 15). I think I will have a jump-start and start this weekend.

Anouk with Hearts

 The baby pinafore I was working on is done, except for the buttons, which I have been too lazy to pick out and sew yet. The pattern was fine, kind of confusing for me, especially the neckline instructions. But I did modify it a bit, adding the stranded work hearts above the hem, instead of pockets and also sewed on a separately knit heart to the front of the bodice. (That one is a bit lopsided but again, I was too lazy to resew it.) The yarns are Rowan All Seasons Cotton (natural) and  Rowan Cotton Rope (pink). This is the heart chart I knit:

I have already started with my next project, and for a change it is a crochet project.

On The Needles

Life has been busy and I have not had much time to knit lately. So today, I do not have any finished project and will be sharing two of my ongoing projects instead. The first one is the Paper Moon Socks I blogged about previously. I finished the first sock but am bored with the pattern and it will be some time before I start the second one. This pattern takes a long time to grow and I was totally lost in the heel section instructions.

The second project is a pinafore, anouk for my littlest. I am just about to finish the back. I was inspired by some ravelry projects to add stranded colorwork hearts, instead of the original pockets. Hopefully, I will have this one done during the next week.

Month O'Socks: Wind Up

The Month O'Socks ended a few days ago and I managed only the foot section of another sock. I ran into sizing trouble with the pattern I started on before this one and lost a considerable amount of knitting time. This pattern is going smoothly,  Alhamdolillah. But I am a bit bored with knitting at the moment and am slowing down for a while, waiting to be inspired again. Maybe I'll try some embroidery for the time being or some beaded crochet..or..cooking....!                    

Month O'Socks: Froot Loop

 Today, I completed another pair of socks for this years Month O'Socks (MOS). These socks are for my husband. The pattern is Froot Loop and the yarn is Knit Picks Felici (Firefighter). The pattern was quite simple and straightforward and the bright color sequence in the yarn kept things interesting. I am happy that the stripes match up in the two socks. No modifications here.

 Next I am going to cast another pair of socks. I had wanted to finish that too in the Month O'Socks but it is not possible now with only three days remaining till February 15, when MOS ends. Let us see how much I can manage.

Well Begun is (almost) Half Done

After ditching the Vine yoke Cardigan, my friend Shells and I decided on Girl Friday (We are doing a knit along). She also had encountered some issues with the former pattern in an earlier attempt and was wise enough to wait the outcome of my project before recasting. Anyway, we both liked Girl Friday and started it. I am happy to report that it has been such a pleasant knit so far, no issues at all. The lace pattern is very easy to memorize. I am knitting both fronts and back together and am almost at the point of splitting for armholes. Shells is well pleased with her cardigan too, you can see it here.

Hedera

My hedera socks are done. It was such a simple, uneventful knit. Perfect to knit at the end of the day, when all your work is done, kids are in bed and you are too tired to tax your mind with more involved knitting. The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll Tonal (Canopy). I love everything about these socks, the yarn, the color,  the pattern.

Blackrose Sock

These socks were a lot of fun. It took some time to determine the right size for my feet but after that it was hard to put these down. These are knit in Knit Picks Gloss (burgundy).I still have more than half of the second skein left over, enough for a pair of  Blackrose Wristlets, if I were so inclined.

Steggie

When this pattern came out in Knitty last year, I knew it was just perfect for my dinosaur-crazy son. Even though he has somewhat grown out of his obsession with dinosaur, he was still deeply interested when I decided to knit it recently. He has been deeply involved in the color choices. And he was so keenly watching its progress, I decided to work solely on this sweater in order to finish it fast. Besides the his obvious favorite in spines, he is thrilled with the hood as well. And you know what would have completed the awesomeness....a tail! LOL. 

   As for the actual knitting, it was a quick, easy knit. No special modifications except adding a few inches to the body and sleeve lengths. The yarn is good, sturdy Pakistani acrylic frogged from an pre-blogging era sweater for my husband, which ended up being too small.

Muir

I had a knitting marathon yesterday to help me finish the Muir shawl I had been working on for so long. I am happy to finish it before the weekend. The pattern is fun to do, easy and by the second half, I had it memorized. I especially love the picots around the edges. There were a few modifications I did to the pattern. Because the yarn is on the heavier side of lace weight, I used larger sized needles, i.e 4.5 mm then recommended and worked 2 pattern repeats across rather than three.I did 14 repeats instead of 13 to get a longer shawl.

So here it is in the unblocked state, about 24 x 76 inches:

Here it is blocking:

 It turned out to be approximately 31 X 96 inches after blocking. The post blocking glory:

Little Hedera

Another pair of socks for my daughter. I was bored with plain stockinette st and wanted something more interesting. So I decided to adapt the hedera pattern to 40 sts. It worked out quite nicely. The yarn is Knit Picks Dancing. My daughter loves the socks.

Zozos

My kids had started noticing and commenting on the fact that I hadn't done a project for them for a while. They find it most weird and unusual that I would want to knit something for myself. So, they guilted me into knitting up these:

A zozo is easy to knit up though it has a lot of I-cord knitting and ends to weaves. But result is totally worth it:

My son is now planning a full alien invasion with further addtions to the brood. While he is busy coming up with modifications in Zozo's body parts and colors, I am going to catch up on my regular knitting.

Clap Splendor

The clapotis is finally done, alhamdolillah! It took one year to finish but turned out just the way I wanted it...light, airy and large. It is 31 inch (79cm) x 94 (218) after blocking. The yarn is Knit Picks Shimmer Hand Dyed Lace Yarn in Turquoise Splendor colorway. I used up about 2.8 hanks, single-stranded on 3.75 mm needles. The rule of fifths is an excellent guide to divide up your yarn for the increase, straight and decrease sections (1:3:1) of the pattern.

I have a feeling this stole will get a lot of wear as it is just the right size and color for me and I love it.

New Lace

So with my clapotis about 2/3rd knitted, I was itching to start a new project. And our warm weather does not encourage handling of heavier yarns, so i have picked another lace weight project. It is Muir and I have to say I am very pleased with it so far. It is easy, straight-forward and seems to knit up quite fast. The yarn I'm using is Shetland wool from a giveaway at the ravelry destash forum. It is much prettier in life than it appears in the photo.

Monkey Socks II

My second pair of Monkey socks is finally done. The yarn is Heirloom Jigsaw and my only modification to the pattern was seven lace repeats instead of six to make the leg longer.
Now on to the other WIPs.

My Bane Project

I had started this clapotis last spring but quickly got bored with it and it went neglected and untouched for about ten months. This month however, I have taken it out of hibernation and resumed knitting on it. I have to say it is getting less boring now that it has started to grow. I have resolved to put in a few rows on it each day. That ought to make it easier to get done. And the resolve not to cast on another lace project until it nears completion.

Skew Socks

I cast off the second sock today. It might not be the most comfortably fitting sock pattern but it was fun to the end. And the fit is not that bad either, though on a tighter side. I am quite happy with the pair on the whole.

Another Sock

My Sporum friends are having a having a Month O'Socks right now which made me want to cast on too. Skew is a brilliant pattern and a very interesting knit. It is simple yet requires a bit of attention (can't have a read-along with this :)). A bit like BSJ in construction that you are unsure about how it is going to turn out until the heel is put together and beyond. I have worked on it over the weekend and finish the left sock. The yarn is Lang Jawoll Color Jacquard.

The origami movement at heel was hard to photograph, I'll retry that when both socks are done.

Amelia

My Ravelympics cardigan Amelia is all done. It was a quick and very enjoyable knit and the FO is perfect in its size and everything :) The yarn, Araucania Nature wool Solid is also very nice.

The few modifications that I did to the pattern were:
1. I used 5 sts instead of 4 for the front garter band as some had mentioned problems with the thin band folding in.
2. I added two inches to cardigan length.
3. Instead of binding off the sts at the neckline and than picking up sts for the neck band, I simply picked sts up at the fronts and decreased the rest of sts to the neck band specifications.

Another plus of this knit was that I was able to read while knitting and so finished my first book of my 2010 reading list.

Ravelympics Day 5

This is Amelia at noon on day five.

I have reached the first buttonhole on the cardigan. This means another 1.5 inches before I set aside the body and start work on the sleeves. We have a KAL going and Shells is forging ahead with her cardigan.