Cables Are My Friend

I'd never really been a big fan of cables before - they always seemed too hard and complicated. I'd completed the odd pair of Fetchings here and there, but never really got what the fuss was all about. Then Camp Loopy happened, and my whole attitude towards cables changed.

For the uninitiated, Camp Loopy was the invention of Sheri from The Loopy Ewe, who came up with completing a project each month over the Northern Hemisphere summer period. At the end of it. those who'd stuck with it, all got a free skein of Wollmeise.

Willing to do almost anything for Wollmeise, I was all gung-ho, completing the first project without any hassles. Then the second project was announced and it was my nemesis - cables!

I was almost ready to throw in the towel, but the lure of the Wollmeise was too strong to resist, so I persevered, and in the end I loved it! Cables are now my friend. They're addictive, they're easier than they look, and now I can't wait to do more. I finished the socks I had to complete for the Camp Loopy project, and I loved doing the cables so much I wanted to cast on another pair straight away.

Yarn: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock - Sweet Crush
Pattern: BFF Socks by Cookie A
Duration: Started 17th July 2011 - Completed 15th August 2011

By the way, I got the free skein of Wollmeise

Stash Dash

It's been a busy last few months for me, knitting wise, thanks mainly to a concept The Knitgirllls came up with called the 5K Stash Dash. The concept is that you knit your you through 5K worth of yarn over the period of 3 months. As part of that, I've managed to complete a lot of finished objects, including the ones below.

First up, Wendy of Wendyknits fame had a KAL for her latest mystery shawl. This was great timing, as I had a relatives birthday coming up, and as she'd admired the last shawl I made, I thought it would be the perfect present.

This gift was greatly appreciated by it's recipient, who remarked that I must have a great deal of patience to knit something so detailed. If only she knew! All up, this shawl only took 3 weeks and the clues were broken up into manageable chunks, so it was easy to keep up with everyone else.

Yarn: The Sanguine Gryphon Skinny Bugga - Sarah's Purple Soldier Fly
Pattern: Summer Mystery Shawlette by Wendy D. Johnson
Duration: Started 20th May 2011 - Completed 4th June 2011

Next up, I decided I desperately needed a new pair of socks, especially after all the gift knitting I had been doing for everyone else. I quite surprised with these, as I was expecting either a spiraling or striping pattern out of the yarn, as that's generally what Socks That Rock is known for. Imagine my amazement when these turned out to be variegated! All these years of hoping for a STR variegated, and I finally get one.

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Mediumweight - Blue Brick Wall
Pattern: Basic Sock Pattern
Duration: Started 24th May 2011 - Completed 26th June 2011

Last up, we have a cute and easy baby hat for my newest niece. I'd received a sample of yarn in one of the Ewe Beaut Sampler pack ages ago, and thought this would be the perfect project to show it off and use up the limited yardage. I'm very pleased with how it came up, and it's another project to be used against the stash dash.

Yarn: Ms. Gusset Sock - Ewe Beaut Xmas Sampler Colourway
Pattern : Easy Peasy Newborn Sock Hat by Keri McKiernan
Duration: Started 24th June 2011 - Completed 28th June 2011

I really enjoyed being part of the Stash Dash, and am sad that it's over. It really inspired me to to a lot more knitting over the last few of months, not to mention making a minuscule dent in my ever expanding stash.

An Addictive Combination

You have been warned.... I have just discovered the knitting equivalent of The Red Shoes - Socks That Rock and Signature needles. Once you start knitting with this combination, you can't put it down. This is how I completed one sock in three days, which is a brand new combination for me. The second sock in this pair took longer, only because I didn't touch my knitting at all for several days, as I knew I wouldn't be able to put it down once I started.

These socks were for mum's Mother's Day present this year. In fine tradition (and in accordance with my habit of deadline knitting) these were finished the night before they were due to be gifted. Mum loved them though, and put them on right away. My dad was actually disappointed that they weren't for him, as he'd been admiring the colours.

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Medium Weight - Pixie Park
Pattern: Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Duration: Started 22nd April 2011 - Completed 7th May 2011
Modifications: 56 stitches instead of 64 that the pattern calls for to give a nice snug fit, and a short row wrap & turn heel

I also found time to knit a little something for me. It's been very chilly here recently, with more nasty weather on the way, so I knit some nice grey fingerless gloves for me to wear to work.

Yarn: Lush Yarn Cashcotton - Haze (Yarn company now out of business)

Pattern: Fingerless Gloves - One Pattern Three Looks by Clare Vallans

Duration: Started 26th February 2011 - Completed 8th May 2011

Now that mum's socks and the fingerless gloves for me are done, I'm at a loss as to what to work on next. Should I finish up one of my many WIP's or cast on something new. You help me decide...

Gift Giving Galore

The last few months, I haven't had much knitting that I could show because it's been super secret swap and gift knitting. Now that the packages have been received though, I'm free to show off what I've been working on of late.

The first is for a swap organised through The Knitgirllls forum on Ravelry. I decided on a deceptively simple and elegant shawl for my swappee, out of a gorgeous silk/merino blend yarn. Although the pattern doesn't look complicated, the mesh pattern was actually harder than it looks, although it flows easily once you get the hang of it.

The shawl was much appreciated by its recipient, who loved the colour and yarn I picked out. I also enclosed some samples of Australian goodies, as my swappee lives in America.

Yarn: Knitabulous Fifty Fifty - Tokyo Rose
Pattern: Sarai by Vanessa Smith
Duration: Started 29th January 2011 - Completed 15th March 2011

The other item I've finished recently is a pair of socks that my mother asked me to knit for her manager's birthday. Always looking for opportunities to induct another person into the cult of hand knitted socks, I readily agreed and worked my fingers to the bone to make sure these were completed in time.

My mum's boss was absolutely blown away by the socks, as she wasn't expecting them at all. She had admired my mum's socks, but was told that only 'special' people got socks knitted for them. She actually spent the entire weekend after receiving them, showing them off to all her friends!

I wasn't too happy with some of the pooling on one of the socks, as I'm a little obsessive regarding socks matching, but other than that, I'm quite happy with how these socks turned out.

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug - Raphael
Pattern: Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Duration: Started 13th March 2011 - Completed 31st March 2011

Now that I'm finished with all this gift knitting, I can actually work on something for me, before I start work on mum's Mothers Day socks. The weather's getting cooler, and I desperately need another pair of fingerless gloves. Nothing like a bit of cold weather to get the motivation going...

Last Of The Old, First Of The New

Things have been a little slow in my knitting world of late (it's difficult to find the energy to knit when doing house renovations), but I finally have some finished objects to show.

For my last finished object of 2010, I knitted Mum a pair of socks for Christmas. It is now something of a tradition that I give Mum a pair of hand knitted socks every year for a Christmas gift. Another part of the tradition is, that no matter how much I plan ahead, I always seem to be up late on Christmas eve, doing a mad dash to finish them while watching Carols by Candlelight.

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Medium Weight - Hollyday
Pattern: Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Duration: Started 20th November 2010 - Completed 24th December 2010
Modifications: 56 stitches instead of 64 that the pattern calls for to give a nice snug fit, and a short row wrap & turn heel

For my first finished object of the new year, I have finished another pair of socks to add to my sock drawer, which brings my collection of hand knitted socks up to 13. These are the Loopy Ewe Sock Club installment from September 2010, and despite the fact that brown is not a colour I normally choose to knit with, the skein looked so pretty that I had to cast them on immediately.

Yarn: Madelinetosh tosh sock - Loopy's Favourite Season
Pattern: Berries and Leaves by Ruth Greenwald
Duration: Started 2nd October - Completed 16th January
Modifications: Extra repeat in the legs to add length

Hopefully I should have some more finished objects to show soon. At the moment I'm have two different pairs of socks on the needles (one for the S62011 KAL, and one for Dad), and a shawl for The Knitgirllls swap, so as long as I don't get distracted with casting anything else on, I should be able to finish something. Fingers crossed...

Happy Knitting New Year

Overly ambitious as always, I've completed a list of knitting related goals I want to achieve this year.

* Buy less sock yarn. Yarn purchased through sock clubs doesn't count, and sock yarn purchased for larger projects (i.e. jumpers), or for gifts also does not count. (Let's just ignore the fact, that at last count, I have signed up for at least 4 sock clubs to count, and am signing up for another 2 this weekend).

* Knit 2 jumpers - 1 for Mum as a Mother's Day present, and 1 for me.

* Knit Featherweight cardigan for me

* Knit 12 pairs of socks.

I have signed up for the S62011 group on Ravelry, and have chosen the below selection of yarn, which includes my first ever skein of Wollmeise purchased. Can you believe that I've been stalking Wollmeise for over a year and haven't knit with it once?!?

I'm also going to knit from my personal sock club along side this, as there's several patterns that I've wanted to knit for ages, that I've never gotten around to doing.

In my personal sock club for this year, I've got the following patterns earmarked:
* Hayrick
* Flaming Desire
* Holidazed
* Lenore

I've also got to do some gift sock knitting in there too, with 2-3 pairs for Mum, and 2 pairs for Dad.

This list of goals doesn't even begin to cover all the other things I want to knit this year either. Other assorted items I want to knit this year include the Yarn Harlot's Pretty Thing cowl, a shawl or two, several pairs of fingerless gloves, and somewhere along the line, actually finishing my niece's jumper while she can still fit into it.

I'm overwhelmed just thinking about all the knitting I want to do this year. I think I need to go and have a lie down...

Cause for celebration ..... or not?

I was lucky enough to pick up four Socks That Rock Rare Gems skeins at the start of the year (see here), and they had been languishing in my stash ever since. So in order to celebrate getting a temporary job (hey, when you're unemployed, even a days work is good news), I decided to celebrate by casting on a special pair of socks. The job fizzled out, but the socks turned out much better than I had hoped.

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight - Water
Pattern: Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder
Duration: Started 28th August 2010 - Completed 1st October 2010

The colourway of this particular Rare Gem didn't initially appeal to me, but I'm really happy with how these turned out. Apart from some pooling on sock number one, the textured pattern really brings out the best of these colours. I'll definitely be using this pattern again for some of my other Socks That Rock skeins.

In other news, I had to redo the Smooshy Winter Gloves I made for my mother. It turns out that Sanguine Gryphon Bugga stretches a lot, and the pair I made for my mother's smallish hands now fit my father's giant sized ones!

Yarn: Sanguine Gryphon Bugga - David Attenborough

Pattern: Fingerless Gloves - One Pattern Three Looks by Clare Vallans

Duration: Started 8th October 2010 - Completed 15th October 2010

Modifications: Cast on 50 stitches instead of the 60 the pattern calls for. This way when they stretch, they'll actually end up being the perfect size.

Other than these, I've actually been working on some of my old WIP's, tyring to finish them so that I can start on Christmas knitting with a clear conscience. (I figure I might as well actually finish my niece's jumper while she can still fit into it.) We'll just ignore the little slip up I might've had with the latest installment of The Loopy Ewe sock club. Brown is not really my colour, but somehow before I knew it, this had happened....

Oops!

Father's Day Socks

Recently, my father who has always picked on me for knitting, decided that he wanted to see what all the fuss was about regarding hand knit socks.

When presented with such a perfect opportunity to convert him to the dark side (so to speak), how could I resist?

So I decided to knit him a pair of socks for Father's Day. Given that my father has huge, giant sized feet, I decided to use the Yarn Harlot's Earl Grey socks pattern, hoping and praying throughout the whole time I was knitting them, that they would fit.

Yarn: Patonyle - Grey
Pattern: Earl Grey by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Duration: Started 14th June 2010 - Completed 5th September 2010

I did my usual last minute rush on these, actually finishing them half an hour before my dad woke up on Father's Day. Talk about cutting it fine!

When I gifted these to my dad he was very happy to finally have his very own pair of hand knitted socks, and has already placed a request for another pair! The socks were pronounced as being "comfy", which coming from my dad is high praise. Having socks custom made for him means that he gets a perfect fit around the heel, which is something he doesn't get with store bought socks.

So now that these are over and done with, it's time to start knitting another pair for him for Christmas. Time to get started on all of the other Christmas knitting as well!

For The Love of Swaps

I recently took part in the Low Budget Swap on the Australian Knitters board on Ravelry, and I wanted to knit something nice for my swappee, Bribroday. As she had expressed a desire for some hand knit socks, but was unable to knit them herself, I decided to knit up these for her, and off they went with some yummy edible treats.

Yarn: Moda Vera Noir - Bushland
Pattern: Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Duration: Started 19th July 2010 - Completed 10th August 2010

In return, from the lovely Celia, I received this delightful package - nice warm bed socks and chocolates in my favourite brand.



Celia actually sent me the first ever swap package I received, and the fingerless gloves she sent me years ago are still in regular use today.

It was nice to go full circle with the swaps and the kindness and generosity of everybody in ensuring that their swapee's had lovely packages to brighten their days reminds me of why I love swaps. I love going to that extra effort of making something that someone I've never met will adore, and then receiving a package in the mail, with the contents a total surprise, and knowing that a total stranger has also gone to that extra effort to make something nice for you ..... the kindness and generosity of other knitters is why I love swaps.

P.S. On a totally unrelated matter, I got a mention on Round the Twist video podcast. Carin chose my suggestion for a name for the newest pair of socks that she's knitting. Check out her blog to see.

Socks, Socks and More Socks

Well, it appears that the upside to being made unemployed / redundant, is that I now have a lot of free time on my hands to knit. Specifically to knit socks and try and make my way through the mountain of sock yarn in my stash before it collapses on me. So, in the interests of not being buried alive under a pile of yarn, I've finished off these little pretties.

The first is a pair of socks that I knitted for my mother for Mother's Day. In a change of routine with me and deadline orientated gift knitting, I actually finished these with time to spare (as opposed to my usual routine of staying up till midnight knitting my fingers to the bone, trying to get the present completed).

Yarn: sKnitches Cinema Sock Club - Feed Me Seymour
Pattern: Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Duration: Started 27th February 2010 - Completed 8th May 2010

Nice and bright, these socks were well received, and I was left with a clear conscience to knit on something for me.

Orange is not normally a colour I like to knit with (think the ugly burnt orange of 70's appliances if you want to know why), but I saw the design process on the Knitspot blog, and I had to knit it.

Yarn: Dye Dreams Classy Sox - A Sockwork Orange
Pattern: Fishbone Gansey Sock by Anne Hanson
Duration: Started 28th April 2010 - Completed 25th May 2010

Then, because my dad has finally stopped picking on me about the fact that I knit, long enough to actually request something, I had to start these.

I love socks!

Another Pair of Socks to Show

I started this par of socks way back in January, on the same day as the Summer Lovin' socks in fact, but I only finished them recently.


I love knitting the Nutkins pattern, and the wool is so soft and squishy, but I kept on getting distracted with other projects (I know, how unusual for me *eye roll*).


Yarn: Jolly Jumbuck Hercules - Wild Orchid (purchased Melbourne Stitches & Craft Show 2008)
Pattern: Nutkin by Beth LaPensee
Duration: Started 10th January 2010 - Completed 18th April 2010

Anyway, they're done now, which leaves me more time to focus on other projects like this:


And this


On a sadder note, my favourite podcast Lime 'n Violet has just finished after 105 episodes. Unfortunately I never got to download them all before they were removed from iTunes, and now I don't know what I'll listen to while I knit. Any suggestions?

Sharing the Sock Love

Now that Autumn is underway, it's time to get cracking on the sock knitting, so that I can have nice toasty feet this winter.

Luckily, I recently finished this pair, right in time for the cold rainy weather of the season.


These are probably the most difficult pair of lace socks that I've knitted so far, but are definitely worth it. This pattern definitely required a lot of concentration, and the heel, whereas it is extremely durable, hurt my wrists so much to knit, with slipped stitches on both the knit and the purl sides.


Yarn: Lush Yarn Merino Socks - Baby Blue Eyes (December '09 Installment of Lush Yarn Sock Club)
Pattern: Summer Lovin Socks by Knitting Nonstop
Duration: Started 10th January 2010 - Completed 6th March 2010

All in all though, these socks are gorgeous, and are definitely worth all the hard work. I'll probably knit this pattern again, but not for a while yet. Too many other gorgeous sock patterns to try.

A Parade of Finished Objects

I have a busy little knitter of late, so I have some nice little finished objects to show you.

Firstly, I present these socks...


Ta da. Finally these socks are done! I promised several years ago, that I would knit a friend of the family a pair of socks. Started early last year, and finished early this year, this is probably the longest time it has ever taken me to knit a pair of socks. Despite the fact that the wool was 8 ply and knitted on 4mm needles, and therefore should have been a quick and easy knit, I couldn't seem to get into the swing of things with these, and kept on getting distracted with other projects.

Yarn: Spotlight Basics Harvest Pure Wool - Grey
Pattern: Socks from Socks and Scarf Pattern - Creative Knitting 2009 Annual Australia
Duration: Started 26th February 2009 - Completed 9th January 2010

And of course, I have yet another dishcloth to show you...


I really enjoyed trying out this particular pattern, and will probably use it again. Considering the wear and tear on dishcloths around here, if it lasts longer than a few months, then the pattern is definitely a keeper!

Yarn: Red Heart Eco Cotton Blend
Pattern: Flying Geese Dishcloth by Vaunda Rae Giberson
Duration: Started 23rd January 2010 - Completed 29th January 2010

In my other spare time, I have been working on stash accumulation - not that I really need more sock yarn of course, but I can't resist all those pretty colours. Also I've discovered that Sanguine Gryphon is a lot easier to stalk than Wollmeise, so I've managed to score quite a bit of yarn in their updates.


I have lots more of this on the way, and can't wait for it to arrive - at this rate I'll be able to build a house out of all the yarn that's being delivered. Oh well, at least it's good for insulation....

Speaking of yarn being delivered, check out my newest sock club packages


Last installment of Knitabulous Indian Summer club - I've already signed up for the Black Japan club that she's got running too


Also the last installment of the Lush Summer Sock Club - check out the pretty blue yarn. I've already signed up for the Autumn installment of this one too, so I can keep on getting my hands on the goodies.

I also received this pretty lace weight....


I've signed up for the Evenstar KAL on Ravelry, and this little pretty is going to be an Evenstar shawl. Quite a challenge considering I've never knit a full size shawl before - I'm jumping in the deep end with this one. Oh well, it'll definitely keep me busy....

First Finished Object of 2010

I've completed my first finished object of the new year, which is actually the first Rockin' Sock Club installment of last year. I absolutely love the pattern and the colour of the yarn, and may use this pattern again.

This is actually the only installment I knitted from last years club as last year was a very gift/swap heavy year for me. I've made it one of my new years resolutions this year to knit more stuff for me!


Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight - My Blue Heaven
Pattern: Queen of Beads - Sivia Harding
Duration: Started 4th October 2009 - Completed 4th January 2009

I'm very happy with these, the only thing I'm disappointed about is the fact that we're in the middle of a heatwave and I'll have to wait until the weather cools down again to wear them!

And just when I was looking for a new project to start, look what appears on my doorstep...


It's the new installment of Knitabulous Indian Summer Club. The yarn is 50/50 silk merino in Bollywood Nights, to be knitted up into the Bollywood capelet. As usual, she has included lots of extra goodies as well (edible treat, pincushion, candle and stitchmarkers). I love using her yarn, and the colours she comes up with are gorgeous as well.

Can't wait to get started on this one. Only one more gift project to get out of the way, and then finally I can knit something for me!

Xmas Wrap Up

Christmas this year has been totally hectic, and I'm glad to finally be able to sit back and take a breather.

First up with the Xmas knitting this year, was a package for the Aussie Swappers Xmas Swap on Ravelry. I knitted this Travelling Woman shawlette in Knitabulous Merino Sock yarn in Pumpkin Head.Shown in more close up detail here:
My swappee loved it, which was great, but it was my first time knitting a shawl, and by the end of it, with so many stitches on the needles, each row seemed to take forever!

I then received this package in return, with yummy Malabrigo sock yarn, which I've been wanting to try for ages!


Next up was socks for Mum. As I knit her a pair of socks every year for Xmas, I couldn't break with tradition.


Yarn was Socks that Rock Mediumweight - Spaun of Brawn colourway. I used a basic toe up pattern, with afterthought heels. Went down to the wire on these ones, finishing up at 10 minutes to midnight on Xmas Eve! Sock 2 was done in 2 days, both very very hot, and knitting in 40 degree heat - not fun. Mum did love them though, and that's what counts.

And last up - the two yarn club packages I received in December. First up is the delightful package I received as the first installment of Knitabulous' Indian Summer Club.


The colour of the yarn is gorgeous, and I loved all the extra goodies that were included - DPN's, lip gloss, tea, chocolate - all of my favourite things.

The other package was the first installment of Lush Yarn's Summer Sock club package.

The pattern is gorgeous, and I had to refrain myself from casting it on right away. I loved the extra goodies included in this, especially the 50g ball of cashcotton (can't wait to try it out).

All of this is the reason I am now crawled up in a ball, waiting for the new year! Somebody pass me a cup of tea....