FO: Kaylee Blue

Project: Kaylee by Monkey Toes (pattern not currently available)

Yarn: Opal 6-ply, shades of blue

Needle: 2.25 mm (US size 1) 32" fixed circular

I knit 12 pattern repeats in total, and went with 12 rows of 2x2 ribbing for the cuff. On the first sock I bound off in the ribbing pattern, and the second sock was a sewn bind-off. I have trouble getting the first sock on, so the stretchier sewn bind-off is definitely the better choice for me.

These are super comfy socks with a bit of heft to them, and the lace provides some ventilation without sacrificing any warmth. I really like the pairing of the self-patterning yarn with the simple lace.

Cast on: Hedera

Aha, now here's a pattern that I can drop onto an index card and have no problem knitting on the train!



Hedera from the Spring 06 issue of Knitty is a simple 4-row repeat and produces a lovely lace sock that will excel in a semi-solid colourway, such as this Dream in Color Smooshy.

Instead of the twisted rib called for in the pattern, I started with 10 rows of the regular 1x1 rib.

Cast on: Kaylee Blue

What a fun pattern! I cast on for Kaylee last night and finished the second pattern repeat at lunch today. I pretty much have to have the pattern printout in front of me when I knit it, though, so this one doesn't make for a very good commute knitting project.



I'm using a sport weight, 6-ply Opal yarn on a US size 1 needle. It's giving me a nice, sturdy fabric, and 56 stitches appears to be the perfect number.

FO: Daffodil Socks

The Daffodil socks are done!



Project: Basic toe-up sock.

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi, Daffodil colourway, probably 2/3 of a skein.

Needle: Knitpicks 32" fixed circular, size 0 (2 mm).

My basic toe-up sock goes like this: 24 stitch magic cast on, increase 4 stitches every other row to 64 stitches. 44 rows of stockinette, then 8 wraps on each side. 15 rows of stockinette on the ankle, then 10 rows of 2x2 ribbing, sewn bind off.

I have dorky duck feet: 8.5 inches in length, but a wacky 4 inches across at the widest part. These measurements give me a nice sock that are perfect for wearing at home.

The sock inventory development plan

After last month's sock yarn extravaganza, I have enough in the stash for at least 15 pairs of matching socks, and probably enough in leftovers to make an additional 2 pairs. I'm itching to knit it all up, but you know what they say: if you fail to plan, then plan to fail.

I've been pondering a sock inventory development plan, which admittedly is not much of a plan. Its initial, sole point was that I should knit plain patterns on the train and lacy patterns at home. I reasoned that my brain is way too small to memorize a stitch pattern, as evidenced by my Monkey sock experience. However, as I was happily knitting away on my Daffodil sock this evening, I noticed something useful about my work bag. There's a slim pocket on the outside of the bag, into which can slip very nicely an index card, onto which I could very easily write out the relevant stitch pattern. Genius!

A few weeks ago, in the early stages of plan development, I realized that I needed more than one size 0 circular needle if I was going to have more than one fingering weight sock project in progress. Yay for mail packages which arrive with fortuitous timing!



That's a second size 0 circular, and a size 1 just for kicks!

I really love the KnitPicks fixed circulars. They have a nice feel to them, and the cables are super flexible for magic looping.

Um, and in the interest of full disclosure, I suppose I must admit to this:



Knit Picks Essential in Meteor Twist. How can you say no to $6 socks??

It's likely that the Daffodil sock will be complete as early as this Friday, depending on how the work week goes. My exam is next Monday, so I'll probably be casting on for Kaylee on Tuesday night. And my next course doesn't ramp up until the end of the month, so I'll have a few weeks of prime knitting time to get some projects onto the needles. Yay!

So pretty

I love getting packages in the mail. Looky!



I swapped some Kureyon for two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi in this bright, happy-making variegated colourway. CM has helpfully commented that it looks like a mashup of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. He has also agreed that "Daffodil" is probably a more marketable name than "Sesame Street Vomit."

This is a basic 24-stitch magic cast on, 4 stitch increase every second row to 64 stitches. I think I'm just going to knit a straight stockinette with a short-row heel and maybe a picot edging. With the Monkey socks I learned that I prefer anklets to longer socks, so I can probably eke a pair of socks out of a single skein.

FO: Monkeying Around Socks

Put these through the washer and dryer today, and took a picture:



Project: The Crazy Monkeys, based on Cookie A's pattern.

Yarn: Jojoland Melody Superwash, significantly less than 2 skeins.

Needle: Knitpicks 32" fixed circular, size 0 (2 mm).

Notes: I really like the look of this yarn, but found it too splitty for my taste. I kept catching extra strands of the stitch in front of the one that I was knitting, which is not a usual thing for me. Superwash, though, is definitely the way to go as far as socks are concerned; I have enough to do handwashing various items for work wear, let alone having to add socks to the mix. Per the picture, one of them really is slightly longer than the other: an unfortunate side effect of not having sock blockers, I think. Whatever. This so does not bother me.

It was fun to see the simple lace pattern appear, although I am apparently not yet smart enough to memorize the 8-row pattern repeat. It's always good to try out a new technique, and this time around I learned how to do a gusset and heel flap from the bottom up. Interesting, but the result was not quite as snug a fit as the short row heel I did on my previous pair of socks. I think I may need to pick up a sock pattern book soon to learn a little more about sock construction and fit.

This project has gotten me firmly hooked on knitting socks, so yay for that! I usually wear cheap cotton ankle socks, the ones you get at the drugstore for $2 a pair, but I rather like the idea of having a pair of handknit socks for every day of the week. Maybe someday I'll even sign up for the 52 Pair Plunge. :)