BF's SIsters Christmas Socks

Pattern: This pattern was based on this pattern for Brigit socks, with the cable changed substantially. The ribbing, heels and toes were unchanged.

Yarn: Regia sock yarn hand dyed with acid dyes

Needles: 2.5mm

Time taken: 6 days, interupted by knitting a quick hat!

Finished, just in time to cosy up in front of the fire now the clocks have changed and the dark nights are drawing in.... Excedpt these aren't knitted for me. These were probably my quickest socks so far, mostly wide ribbing with a 6 stitch cable every 10 rows. I wanted to knit these without the recipient having to try them on, so a stretchy ribbed pattern seemed a good idea. They are a little large on my size 5 feet so hopefully will be okay for size 8 feet. I am pleasantly surprised how the hand dyed wool turned out, and looking forward to playing with sock yarn and dye again.

These are currently blocking on my new cardboard sock blockers, so there may be more photos to follow.

5 hour hat

Pattern: Kind of made up as I went along

Wool: Jaeger Baby Merino, was quite nice to knit with, should be soft once washed and machine washable on a wool cycle

Needles: 4mm circular, using the magic loop technique

The next time one of my colleagues asks, "could you knit a hat?" I might realise they are not asking if I would be able to knit a hat if i so wished, but might be asking me to actually knit a hat, for them... It was a good friend from work whose small daughter had grown out of her previous had, a handkit from her grandma, and apparently much nicer than the mass produced hats in shops. She had discussed knitting at lunchtimes when I'd knitted at my desk, and wondered if I could knit a hat to replace her daughters! I am kind of chuffed to be asked, but I have so many projects I really want to get on with at the moment, that I wanted this to be a fast knit. I started this yesterday evening, and finished it this morning. Just a quick wash and a bit of blocking and I can take it into work Monday.

FO - Bayerische Socks

These were finished far too quickly! With the tiny crossing stitches I really liked the way these grew and you gradually got to see the pattern emerging. When "just one more round" takes a few minutes it's amazing that these were finished in about 11 days, and I still found time to eat, sleep and go to work...

Pattern: Bayerische socks from Eunny Jang

Yarn: Opal

Modifications: One or two errors in the cabling I think, but other than that knitted as pattern

My second Eunny Jang pattern in a row! It was well written and no problem to follow. I am not so sure about the Opal yarn. It is the first time i have used it and it feels a little rough at present. I'm hoping it will feel better after washing. I also seemed to keep finding thinner and thicker lengths which got quite annoying. As I am so chuffed, there are a couple of gratuitous close up shots!

Spotted - Juliet

I have no knitting to show, the bayerische sock is ongoing, but I have found time to surf t'interweb, and I keep seeing versions of Juliet from the Zephyr Girls that I really like.

It is also one of the knits for the Sexy Knitter's Club this month.

I'm not entirely sure how well the boxy, chunky knit will suit my shape, and if October is really the right time of year to knit a short sleeved cardigan, but I like the details such as the assymetric buttons and the lacey pattern. Having never knitted anything in bulky wool I would be interested to see how it goes. I bought a new jacket a couple of months ago which is a similar style, and I still love the jacket.

I think this version from a mingled yarn looks great.

Long, long, long white socks

The long white socks are finished. BF joined his ship today, so this was a little late. I did get a modelled shot before he left, and they are blocking now. Following on from the previous post these have knitting-in elastic throughout the turnover, which is 2*2 rib rather than the garter rib used through the rest of them.

We were concerned they wouldn't stay up, so they also have shaping after the calf with the number of stitches reduced to. ............ by reducing two stitches every ..... rows. He now thinks they might be a bit too tight, but i'm sure they'll change with washing and wearing, though I guess they could get tighter. Time will tell.

With those finished, and my last weeks project of gloves to match my Shedir hat going badly wrong, I have cast on for these Bayerische Socks. Going well so far, but with 98 stitches criss-crossing in such an intricate pattern I think this could be a slow project. I have wanted to knit these for a long time, and feel like I want to get them out of the way! I also started these once previously, only to find they were too big, so these are on tiny 2mm needles.

Tilted Duster?

I really like this pattern, and I have bought a copy of the pattern. There are some lovely examples of finished sweaters already. There is even a knitalong here.

I am having trouble deciding which yarn to use. The pattern uses Berrocco Peruvian in the colour Purpura. I quite like the colour, but I also like several of the others. But I'm not sure how easy it will be to get, and there are some reports of it not washing or wearing too well.

The guage called for is 17sts and 21 rows to 4" in stocking stitch. Apparently I'll need 700g, or 7 balls of 174 yd each.

This Peruvian Highland Wool is about the right guage and it looks like I could order it direct from the site, but I would pay about $43 in postage and packing, which makes this no cheaper than buying yarn here.

This Tess Dawson Merino Aran from Angel Yarns looks nice, but I'm not sure about any of the colours. The black or brown might be nice, but I think I'd really like something bluer or red.

I do like any of the Rowan tweed yarns, but the price is not good. However, I have just seen this Rowan pure wool aran, which looks like a possibility.

I love this reddish tweedy colour yarn, but the rowan yarn is no longer available, and I haven't managed to find anything similar at a decent price.

I also like this version in Plymouth Encore Worsted

Endpaper knits - done

These were a quick knit taking just less than a week of knitting time. The plan is that these are a christmas present, but I like these and might well have to knit myself a pair too.

Pattern: Endpaper Mitts from Eunny Jang

Yarn: Rowan 4-ply soft, Less than 100g in each colour

Needles: 2mm for the ribbing, 3.25mm for the main part

I loved the Italian tubular cast on suggested for these mittens, and used this tubular cast off too. The two colour knitting went a lot better than i thought it might, and I enjoyed knitting these.

FIsh Afghan - A small start

I'm not sure how big I am really planning this to be, but bigger than it is at the moment! Still, five fish is a good start. These were completed in a couple of days, and have made a small dent in the bag of wool I received from a kind freecycler. They are also an easy project to do as and when I am between main projects.