Finished Anna Socks

These are from Rowan #40. I knit these using the yarn the pattern specifies, Rowan 4-ply soft, which is the same yarn I used on the reently finished, Striped Wavy Line Sweater.

I made some modifications to the published pattern in order to get these to fit correctly. Basically, the pattern as written produces socks that are too loose and baggy at the ankles.

I found that the sock looks better if allowed to stretch out and that is why my modifications are all geared towards making the sock smaller.

These were the first socks I made using the magic loop method. I only did one sock at a time, and I don’t think I will ever go to doing two socks at a time, simply because I don’t like to do that. I found the magic loop to be much easier than fumbling around with double pointed needles, which I have always done in the past. I encourage all to try it out.

Monday May 14, 2007 : Comment [1]

Finished Striped Wavy Line Sweater

I finished this sweater way back in October, but haven’t had a chance to take a nice picture of it in its finished state yet. My girlfriend has worn it a lot in the past few months and she looks so great in it.

This sweater didn’t look like it was going to fit well or look good until I put the collar and sleeves on it, and blocked it. So, if you are working on this sweater and feeling discouraged, because it just looks like a floppy sack, keep at it, because it definately comes together nicely at the end.

Sunday March 11, 2007 : Comment [1]

Dollar and a Half Sweater

I was almost about to start making a sweater for myself, but my girlfriend and I were at Borders flipping through the latest Interweave Knits and we both really liked the Dollar and a Half Cardigan designed by Veronik Avery. So it looks like another sweater for her.

Unfortunately, the gauge is proving to be fairly tricky. The yarn used, soft linen, is very new, so none of my local places carry it. Article Pract has the sample card from the distributor and it seems like a fairly narrow yarn.

They recommended RY Classis Luxury Cotton DK, which I liked in fog color. It seems like it should have a very similar gauge to the soft linen, but I’m not so sure after my swatches.

After 3 swatches, I found myself having to use #7 needles to come close to the listed gauge in the pattern. Even the, I am having to stretch the heck out of it in the blocking stage. I don’t see how it is at all possible that she got 21 stitches in 4” using #5 needles, when I am getting closer to 26 stitches in 4”. I am waiting for my swatch to dry to find out how the yarn holds up after being stretched out as much as I did.

Tuesday March 6, 2007 : Comment

Addi Lace Needles

Up to now Inox were a common choice for lace knittting, becuase they featured a sharper tip. I have just about finished my first project with Addi turbo needles, though, and am very much convinced of Addi’s awesomeness.

So it was pretty cool to see that now Addi is making needles with a sharp point especially for lacework.

I’m sure I’m not the only knitter right now somewhat happy, but also somewhat dreading that fact that yet again, I may have to buy new needles for my next project.

Thursday February 15, 2007 : Comment

Yarn Does Go Out of Style

There seems to be some talk of a yarn buying diet for 2007. As the picture clearly shows, my “stash” is laughably small. It is such an oddball assortment of leftover yarn that I have a really hard time ever making anything out of it.

I guess I feel left out of this whole concept of going to yarn stores to buy tons of yarn for future hypothetical projects. Considering how quickly fashion and tastes change, this seems crazy to me.

Most of my stash—as small as it is—is filled with yarn that is so out of fashion that it is unlikely that I will ever be able to make anything out of it. It might seem that yarn never goes out of style, but it absolutely does.

Forest green and heather purple were pretty popular in the early 90’s, and felt like classics that would never go out of style. Now both colors just seem dorky. So, my purple and green yarn just languishes along with other yarn that reminds me of my grunge days.

Even a couple of novelty skeins of ggh yarn I bought a couple years ago now feel out of fashion and unworthy of my knitting time.

Besides, if I had a bigger stash of yarn, where in the world would I store my collection of retro video game systems that I never play, especially now that I have a Nintendo Wii?

Thursday January 25, 2007 :