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I was all set to come and show you a pair of finished socks today.

But, then last night, I realized I had made a fatal flaw in the socks just before I started my decreases for the toe. I made the error just after I finished the heel and somehow totally managed to ignore it until I got to the toe. It wasn’t until I pulled out the first sock to compare length that I realized my mistake.I whipped out my camera so I could show you all. Can you see it?

 

See it now? Yep, the missing garter ridge just after the heel is the problem.

I had a brief, and delusional moment when I toyed with the idea of dropping each stitch down individually and re-working them one at a time, but then I came to my sense and realized what I had to do. Frog.

Now, if you know me, you know I hate frogging. With a passion. I can’t make myself do it.

So, I think I need to pay a visit to my dear friend, the Divine Miss M. That lady frogs with ruthless abandon.

She is my hero.

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The Slog

Somehow, in the earlier part of this year, I managed to commit myself to 9 pairs of socks on contract. Which, when all is said and done, is frankly, a lot. A lot of socks.

And, I have been slogging along on these in between some other light knitting to keep myself sane. I have four and a half pairs left to go. Which is good. But, in the meantime, I have to admit, I get the joy of knitting with yarn I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to get to know. And, I get to decide which yarn makes nice socks and which yarn might not be the best choice for socks.

These socks I finished at the beginning of September and while I loved the pattern, I am not entirely convinced that I love the yarn itself.

Although, I do have to concede that the yarn/pattern combo does make a pretty nice pair of socks. I hope the new owner will agree.

This particular pair were knit with Vesper sock yarn in Monet’s Garden.

And, while the pattern and yarn go well together, I have to admit, I found the yarn a bit thin for my tastes. I think I prefer a sproingier and more full bodied (does that make sense?) yarn.

I know I like me a good, sproingy yarn, because the socks I am knitting right now out of Bugga seem to be the Bee’s Knees. I love them.

But more on that later…

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I fully expect to cast off the right front of my Fireside Sweater tonight. See how far I have come in just two and a half days?

And, I was totally right about this yarn. Soft, yet sproingy. Perfect. See you in another day or so for a check in.

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I started another clap. This one is being knit out of the Wollmeise; but this time I am using a color called Krauterbeet.

Clap in Repose

It’s also not for me. Once I finish this clapotis, I have only one more pair of socks to knit and I can call the contract knitting quits. Wish me speedy needles.

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I have a sore throat. So, I thought the right thing to do would be to get in a blog post before the thing that is to be a head cold takes over my body and I am no longer able to make sense at all.

I knit a fish. It is also a hat.

Sew Me Up!

The hat is from Knitty’s Winter ’08 issue.  I used left over Malabrigo, handspun, and some other, unidentifiable yarn. It will soon belong to this person:

A Hat for Bunnah

Tonight she told me that Cowboys is a dumb name because they don’t ride cows. She prefers “Horse Guys”. We settled on “Horse Persons”. Wacky is as wacky does, I guess. Hopefully she loves the hat.

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A new sweater jumped onto my needles a while back. It’s being knit in fingering weight and has a gajillion stitches. So, the progress has been slow and not very picture worthy to date. This morning though, I decided I had enough of a sweater to really show off the amazing color that is the Wollmeise.

 

Sweater, Begun

 

The yarn is Wollmeise 80/20 twin in Spice Market. The pattern is Slipped Hours, which I think will show off the yarn, and hopefully my figure, to it’s best advantage.If all goes well, it will look like this in the end.

So far, I have had some mixed reviews of my gauge and the overall density of the fabric that the yarn/needle combo that I have choosen is producing. See, the Wollmeise has a tendancy to act a little like cotton when knit. It does not bloom. At all. And so, the fabric is not very dense at all.

At first, I was very worried, but as I knit more, things are looking much better and I think that in the end, I will be happy with the rather drapey fabric that is produced. It may mean that some waist shaping will be needed as the fabric won’t cling the same way it would normally, however, I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

See? Swatching; it’s for chumps.

p.s. Hubby, if you are reading this, I really really need a light box, tripod, and light for Xmas. Just sayin.

 

 

 

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I haven’t had the posting Mojo lately. I think I have been spending too much time on Ravelry.

I did cast on for a pair of socks though. These are being knit out of that new fangled merino/cashmere/nylon blend that all the kids are raving about these days.

Squoosh MCN Sock in Dahlia

Squoosh MCN Sock in Dahlia

You can’t tell that these are Sunshine from the new Cookie A. book, but soon enough, it will become easier to recognize.

I know that we had agreed, as per the vote, that I would knit these out of the Alchemy sock that you all helped to choose. But, really, I tried and just couldn’t get gauge. The yarn was too fine. So, here we are with the Squoosh.

And, I am all but finished the Shroomin’ Sweater.

Cozy Malabrigo, oh how I love thee

Cozy Malabrigo, oh how I love thee

Although you can’t tell from this pic, I only have the sleeves to do and this is one finished sweater. Winter, I am ready!

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Mush-swoon

Oh, so it’s a cheezy title for a blog post. But, seriously, this sweater is making me swoon. I am totally enamoured with the baby cables and velvety softness that is Malabrigo.

Mmmmmmmushroom

Mmmmmmmushroom

I know it doesn’t look like much yet, but as far as sweaters go, I think this one will be a hit right out of the ball park. Perfect.

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I Am Learned

Check these out. Notice anything different?

Look closely...

Look closely...

Yes, they are pretty. And yes, you may have guessed that they are being knit magic-loop style. But what you may not have noticed is that they are both being knit on the same circ! At the same time.

Two socks - one circ

Two socks - one circ

I picked up this handy new way of knitting socks whilst at Sock Summit this year and I have to tell you, it’s the bombdotcom! Not only can you ensure that both socks are the same size, but it pretty much annihilates that pesky second sock syndrome that most people suffer from. Yup, both socks will be done at the same time!

If you think that this is something that you might be into, check out this book. I actually took the class from the author herself and she let us know that she will have a toe-up sock book coming out in April of next year.

Yup, it really works!

Yup, it really works!

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Long after the gardening gloves are put away for good…

…after the flowers have wilted and died…

…and not long after the last steak has been BBQ’ed…

It will be Sweater Time again!

Yup, it’s that time of year again where my thoughts turn to falling leaves, Halloween, and dare I say it, SNOW! I can’t wait to get out the snuggly warm hand-knit sweaters and socks of seasons past and start dreaming of hand-knits present and future.

I have the yarn wound and ready to start my first sweater of the season; Wicked.

I am thinking that this Malabrigo will suit the pattern just fine.

And, then it’s off to the races with the Apres Surf Hoodie from last Summer’s Interweave Knits. Hopefully soon, this:

will become this:

And finally, I am thinking that with the return of fall, also comes the return of knee socks. So, watch out for these socks coming soon to needles near you!

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