And … They’re Off!

The Blue Tesselators are officially off and running!

Well, figuratively … eight double-pointed needles would make actual running pretty uncomfortable!

To avoid the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome, I like to knit both socks at the same time.  This also increases the chance that I will knit both socks the same way, ha ha!  I do a lot of ad-libbing, you see.  And I have a notebook but I don’t always write things down.  But I can just jump to the other sock and do it again.  That works nicely!

The pattern is actually for cuff-down socks, so I’ll document what I’m doing fairly thoroughly.  I hope that helps anyone else who may prefer toe-up, as I do!  My feet are size 9 1/2 and it seems that when I use regular sock yarn for a mostly stockinette pattern, a 64-stitch circumference works well.  I’m using size 1 1/2 needles (2.5mm).  From what I have knit so far, this is bearing out.  (Actually, I’m wondering if knitting on size 1 needles would give a pleasant bit of extra negative ease?  Hmmm, maybe next time …)

I’m using Zwerger Garn Opal sock yarn in the evocatively-named “1269” colorway.  It’s the first time I’m using this yarn and  I was looking forward to trying it because it seems to be very popular … I was therefore somewhat disappointed as I wound the yarn into its two center-pull balls.   First, there were 5 or 6 slip-knots which meant that I had to pause 5 or 6 times to pick them out. Second, there was a knot (broken yarn)  in the middle of the hank.  It has been recommended that we knitters accept the occasional knot, and I do, it’s just a bit  more annoying when a knot arises deep in the winding process.  Finally, the last part of the ball was a tangled mess and it took 15 minutes to pull it apart by hand so I could wind it.  It’s unfair to judge a yarn brand by one experience, but I can’t help starting off badly on this one!  As far as knitting goes, it’s OK.  A little loosely-plied, but easy to get used to.  It looks very pretty when knit up and seems to show the pattern well. 

I used Judy’s Magic Cast-On for the toes.  I cast on half the desired number of stitches (I  like a fairly blunt toe), which was 32 (16 per needle).  I like to leave 2 stitches at either end of the needle when increasing.  Don’t know why, just like the way it looks!  It took 16 rounds to get the desired number of stitches and then I knit 8 more rounds without increasing.  The sock on my left foot in the picture is at this stage.

The right sock shows one iteration of the decorative pattern.  It’s interesting and yet very easy to memorize … perfect for train knitting!  I was so interested in it that I didn’t have my ticket out for the conductor on BOTH the inward and outward-bound rides yesterday, hah!  Both conductors cut me some slack.  Maybe they knit, or know some knitters …

A Toe to be Named Later

OK, technically there is still one WIP on the needles and I really shouldn’t be starting a new project (I was going to clear the needles first) … but I’m thinking of ripping it.  It was an experiment and, although it’s OK, it’s not interesting.  Same (easy) stitch over and over.  It a good yarn (alpaca-silk) and I think I’d rather use it for something else.

With the rationalization out of the way, I give you:

An unnamed toe.  Oh yes, I spent hours browsing sock patterns and I have one in mind.  But as I was knitting this up this morning, I realized: hey, there’s no commitment to a pattern until both toes are finished!  For this pair of socks, I wanted a) to use stash b) a solid color c) a color that can be put to heavy use d) an interesting but not-too-complex pattern (to memorize and work while riding the train).  The current candidate is Tesselating Lace Socks, a pattern available for free at Ravelry. 

I was also cogitatin’ on using the mixed bag of yarn that’s left over from Christmas scarves.  It’s lovely yarn in lots of colors, but I just can’t get into any of the ideas I’ve come up with yet.  Here’s a test-swatch for a new stitch pattern:

Portcullis Stitch

Bagheera says that this looks (and feels) a lot like crochet.  Too firm and thick to become a sweater vest.  Looks wonderful in stripes though!  Maybe it can be a scarf.  Or not … it’s already ripped!

FO: Coin Cable Raglan Sweater

Whoo, they’re coming fast and furious now!!! 

The Coin Cable Raglan Sweater was my first adult-size garment … although I finished the camisole first.  The problem with the sweater was that I had made the body too long and didn’t feel up to ripping it back and re-knitting.  So the poor thing was banished to a bag where it sat for months.  Once I got it out, it only took a few days to finish, go figure!

an easy cable on sleeves and side

a loose fit for layering

Please excuse the poor quality of the photos.  Self-photography in a poorly-lit room on a wrinkled sweater (courtesy of its recent life in a bag) doesn’t make for magazine-cover quality, ha ha!

Here are the details: I used The Incredible, Custom-Fit Raglan Sweater pattern by Pamela Costello.  It’s more of an algorithm than a pattern and therefore it’s a keeper!  I had 12 hanks of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes yarn in the “Claret Heather” colorway but I think I used about 10.  I used size 8 needles (large circular for the body, small circular for the sleeves and DPNs for the cuffs).

I used the “Slip-Cross Coin Cable” stitch pattern from Barbara Walker’s “A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns”.  It’s doesn’t require a cable needle and there is only one crossing of stitches every 8 rows.  That was handy for keeping track of the decreases down the sleeves because I decreased every 8 rows too!

Good thing about knitting the whole sweater in one piece from the top down: you can try it on as you go.  (You need to put the body onto some waste yarn or thread on a second large circular needle, but it’s worth it.)  Bad thing about knitting the whole sweater in one piece: you have to lug the whole thing around with you wherever you go.  Also: knit the sleeves first and then the body.  When you’re knitting the sleeves, you turn the sweater around a lot and it’s a pain when the whole dang body is attached!

Note to self for next time: use a more flexible bind-off than the standard one (at least for the collar).

FO: Butterfly Dishcloth and More …

Here is a sweet little dishcloth called “Lacy Butteryfly” that I made in two days last week.  After finishing the Soleil camisole, I realized that I need to learn more about crochet edging. Hmmmm, an easy way to get edges?  Make a dishcloth!

I dropped the seed stitch borders that came with this pattern in order to try a chain stitch picot edging.  It went pretty well, but I think I still have some learning to do … this edging buckles a little. 

So, what a happy coincidence it was that I ran into the “Harmony Guide: Crochet Edging and Trims” for $11.97 at www.knitpicks.com.  I guess it will arrive next week (with some sock yarn … hey, what can I say?) and maybe it will help.  I may rip the edging on this and try again after I get the book … and I have a cute dragonfly dishcloth by Nicole Randome (available as a Ravelry download)  lined up to go with this one sooner or later!

In the meantime, I’m working on the Coin Cable Raglan Pullover and expect to get it off the needles pretty soon … and scheming about what will come next!!!  Heck, the planning is half the fun, ha ha !