random threads

My knitting mending basket has been growing, so over the Christmas break, I did sit down and address two items. First, my Central Park Hoodie ended up with two holes on the left sleeve. I’m not exactly sure how this happened, but they appear to be rips in the yarn, not “wearing-thin-areas.”  I need to treat my hand-knits more carefully, I guess.

I did locate some of my remaining Miski yarn in the blue yarn pile, and set to fixing the problems as best I could. The holes were a bit too large to successfully duplicate stitch across, so I added in a bit of weaving. Before and after shots show an improvement, but you can still see the patchy areas. I’m glad it is on the sleeve and not a more noticeable area.

The second patient was my Annetralac socks.  They developed a small hole on the bottom of the foot. This time, I was able to duplicate stitch over the missing stitches with matching yarn and get a near invisible patch. Here are some in process photos where I used knitters pins as mini-stitch holders.
Before:

During ( I couldn’t find my darning egg at the time, so I pressed a water bottle into service. I’ve also used a light bulb on occasion as a substitute darning egg.):

After:

If you’d like an excellent tutorial with good pictures, head over to the HJS Studio (I should have before I attempted my CPH repairs…) here.

It being Toesday and all, and not having much of anything sock-related to report from my own needles…I instead offer up some free online sock patterns, highlighting two designers, Kathleen Taylor of Dakota Dreams and Nicole Masson of Switzerland aka stephanina .

Kathleen is an author of several mystery books and knitting books (including I [Heart] Felt: 33 Eye-Popping Projects for the Inspired Knitter and Yarns to Dye For: Creating Self Patterning Yarns for Knitting) and regularly posts free patterns on Fridays on her blog, Kathleen Taylor’s Dakota Dreams.  Two sock patterns I found interesting:

• Mitered Square Socks–these are knit flat and seamed up the side, using a heavy fingering weight yarn.
• Niblet Socks–a nice textured leg design, using worsted weight yarn. Knit from the cuff down.

You might find it interesting to hear how she bravely cut down a beautiful stranded cardigan by 15″  to get it to fit her new body size.

The second designer is Nicole Masson, who is blogless as near as I can tell, but has a Flickr id of stephanina.

• Pomme de pin Socks, knit toe up, in fingering weight yarn, with a rice stitch heel and a pretty textured design on the leg.
• Bleuet Socks, knit toe up in fingering weight, with a simple but effective knit/purl texture design.
• Sea Waves Socks, again a toe-up design, with a short row heel, and another nice knit/purl design.

I hope you enjoy the patterns from these two designers! For those of you on Ravelry, you can see their designs from these links:

Kathleen Taylor Dakota Dreams

Nicole Masson (stephanina)

Oh, I had fun on Saturday and the results were spectacular, if I say so myself!  I took a class at Baskets of Yarn, my LYS, on Dying Sock Blanks from dyer/handspinner/polymer clay and all-around artist-extroidinaire Sue Dial.

If you aren’t familiar with sock blanks, they are a flat stockinette-knitted rectangle of fingering-weight sock yarn, which has been machine-knit up with two strands of the yarn at once.  They come in plain white, or some vendors sell already-dyed blanks if you don’t want to tackle the dying yourself.  Knit Picks has been carrying the undyed blanks for several months and has a tutorial on their website about dying them.  Conjoined Creations sells pre-dyed blanks to a variety of retailers, check to see if available near you or at an online store you frequent.  In the class on Saturday, we used undyed ‘Happy Choices’ from Plymouth Yarn, which is 90% superwash merino wool, 10% nylon. Plymouth is also selling pre-dyed blanks.

Sue brought six basic colors of pre-mixed acid dyes, and a ton of foam brushes.  The sock blanks were soaked for about 20-30 minutes in either plain water or in a mix of water and vinegar.  After squeezing most of the liquid out of our blanks, we then set to painting on our blanks, making sure the dye soaked through to the back side. After doing stripes, chevrons, checkerboards, color transitions, dots, and whatever we liked, each blank was wrapped in its plastic wrap, coiled up and placed in a steam bath for 30 minutes. I did an extra sock blank (2 were included in the class=2 pair of matching socks), so I have 3 pairs of socks-to-be in a chevron rainbow, a warm color stripe and a gradation from dark to medium to light blue to light to medium to dark green.

After leaving the steamed blanks still in their plastic cocoons overnight to cool thoroughly ensuring maximum dye absorption and color brightness, I washed them under cool water for a few minutes to make sure all unattached dye was washed out–almost all was absorbed in the yarn. Then they were hung on the fence in the 88 degree weather for a few hours to dry.

The advantage of having two strands of yarn dyed at the same time, means you will have matching socks, and you can knit directly from the blank (no need to re-wind the yarn into balls) two at a time, which, of course is my favorite way: two-at-a-time, toe-up.  I plan to start knitting the rainbow chevron patterned yarn first. Can’t wait to see how it looks different in the sock (but I am trying to finish up my Two Musketeers sweater first), so it may be a week or two before I have any results to show.

and that is the case for my Kureyon Ziggies (Ravelry link). The pattern: Ziggy Socks in the Knitty Summer 2008 issue, designed by Meg Meredith. I started out using the recommended needle size of 1.5 (US, 2.5 mm), even tho’ as a loose knitter I usually go down a needle size for most published patterns. I knit the toe, and went, ‘hmm, awfully loose, I’d better use US 1’s (2.25 mm).’ So I switched needles shortly after starting the stranding. Stranding with two hands, one holding the yarn for picking, the other holding the yarn for throwing went pretty well. After the first inch or so I had a good rhythm and my tension was pretty consistent.

Then the colors started blending together. I don’t mind a little of that, the ‘disappearing stripes’ offer some variation/interest for your eye. However, this was getting a bit out of hand, pink on fuschia, so I skipped a bunch of pink on one skein to get to the red just before I started the heel that was knit in one color (no stranding). As I tried on the sock and it grew up on my high arch, I got worried about fit, and switched back to the US 1.5 needles. Definitely NO GIVE in this pattern due to the stranding. Meg discussed in her pattern how to add extra stitches–I probably should have done that. Hindsight is 20/20, isn’t it?

The pattern calls for a short-row heel, with a variation on picking up wraps from how I usually do it. So, in the interest in learning new techniques, and I had not done a short heel in a while, I followed the pattern. As you can see from the photo, the heel barely seems to fit. I think this is a case where I should not have done a short row heel with my high arch and no give in the yarn fabric. More hindsight.

So the Ziggy sock is set aside (in timeout, shall we say?) for a while. I’m doubting even the first sock will be finished by the end of the Ravelympics on Sunday. (Only 4 and a half days more to knit!) I’m focusing my knitting time on other projects. More on that tomorrow.

Since it is Toesday, I thought I’d post some free sock patterns I’ve run across recently and added to my Ravelry queue…of course, I do that at the drop of a hat, er… sock, since I have over 300 projects queued.

Express Lane by Diane Mulholland. This is a toe up, short-row toe and heel sock with a lovely leafy simple design centered on the front. It is provided in two sizes and has calf shaping, so those of you with ’shapely’ calves will like this to make taller socks. Designed for fingering weight yarn, Diane recommends either a solid or patterned yarn as the simple pattern will show off both types of yarn well. Take a gander at the Ravelry project pages (if you have a Ravelry sign on, you do, don’t you?) for inspiration. The pattern provides both charts for the leaf design, but it is a simple chart, so if you aren’t too experienced in knitting from charts, this would be a good one to tackle.

Jules by Kate Blackburn. This is a traditional heel flap, knit cuff down, on 5 DPNs style sock. It is offered in two sizes, Woman’s 4-7 and Mens 10-12. The stitch pattern is a slip-stitch rib, but an alternative, more stretchy rib is described as well. The pattern includes charts and written instructions for the stitch pattern. People on Ravelry (project gallery here) have knit this pattern in solids, semi-solids and patterned yarns and have rated the pattern 4.5 stars out of 5.

Both of these patterns are from the new online knitting magazine, The Inside Loop, which is edited by Diane and Kate. They are publishing issues five times a year and have two issues online so far. Their focus is on UK designers and yarns, but is not intended to exclude others–they just want to make sure that “everything you fall in love with on this site is easily found in your (UK-ed.) local bricks-and-mortar or online yarn store.” An admirable goal, and the online world could use a bit of non-US focus now and again, in my opinion.

In addition to patterns, they spotlight UK businesses, and in the Summer issue, have articles on Natural Dyeing, The Hyperbolic Coral Reef, and learning the Magic Loop technique for knitting socks. In addition to socks, there are patterns for a camisole, a beach bag, arm warmers, a scarf and a crocheted stole in the Summer issue. Do take a look at the spring issue in their archive for more articles and patterns. If you want to print out the patterns, do open up the ‘printer-friendly’ .pdf versions first, as they have larger charts.

The Teal Tofutsies‘ socks have now been finished. These were knit as samples for my toe-up, two-at-a-time, one needle socks class at Baskets of Yarn. The ribbing pattern is a plan K3, P2 on the instep and cuff. The heel has a traditional gusset and heel flap with the sl 1, k1 padded heel stitch.

I used a stretchy Russian bindoff, made popular by Wendy of Wendy Knits. I tried out the Icelandic bindoff which is shown on Youtube here or here (but called a Russian bind off, it looks the same as the one called Icelandic bindoff), and found it toooo tight–maybe if I went up several needle sizes, it would work, but I’m happy enough with the Russian bind off to stick with that. I can achieve a good castoff on the same size needles, without resorting to a sewn bind off, so it’s good for me. It does fluff a little at the edge when not being worn, but I can live with that.

I’m still working on the eyelet socks, the shadow rib socks and the campfire rib socks from the class to move them to the next stage of demo’s (ie, stop before the gusset, stop before the heel turn, stop before the bind off) for the next class which is scheduled for June 7th and 21th.

My arm got twisted by Margaret and Betsey, and as a result, I’m teaching a Toe-Up Socks class at Baskets of Yarn in May. It’s not that I don’t enjoy teaching, it’s just that when I did teach quilting, I got to the point where I was always thinking about what was a marketable class idea, and not making projects for my own enjoyment. I don’t want knitting to get to be that way as well.

So we’ll go slow and just start out with this class on knitting two toe-up socks at a time on a single needle. It’s the Magic Loop method, which I really have come to enjoy. It saves me from having to figure out where I put that fifth DPN, and I don’t have to worry about dropping it on the airplane (always the worst place to lose a needle!)

So I have been working on a pair of sample socks, knit out of teal Tofutsies, and I am halfway through the gusset at this point. I’ve been refining my basic pattern for a standard heel flap done toe-up, and at the same time putting the finishing touches on the Wrapped Zig-Zag Ribbed Socks (the socks previously known as ‘Dad’s Birthday socks’) for free distribution soon.

While I have several skeins of Tofutsies in my stash, this is the first time I’ve knit with it. It is 50% Superwash Wool, 25% SOYSILK brand fiber, 22.5% Cotton and the mysterious 2.5% Chitin (made from shrimp and crab shells!) It feels much softer than other cotton blends, probably due to the high wool and soysilk blend. SOYSILK is made from soy proteins and according to SWTC, ‘feels like silk and is as warm as cashmere.’ Some complain of the yarn splitting a lot, while I have had an occasional issue with splitting, it has not been enough to put me off the yarn.

In addition to teaching basic ‘magic-looping’ in the class, I’ll be teaching the following techniques:

• Judy Becker’s Magic Cast-On (my favorite cast-on for casting on toe-ups)
• What size to make for your socks so they fit (and you won’t need to make a separate swatch!)
• Lifted increases, made popular by Cat Bordhi–nearly invisible!
• A traditional-style heel flap even tho’ we’ll be knitting toe-up
• My favorite stretchy cast off for the cuff, the Russian Bindoff

Sorry for being a bit quiet the past few days, but I have been a bit under the weather with sinus issues and a queasy stomach (again!). My awake hours have been focused on knitting furiously on Dad’s birthday socks (60% done), which will be posted as a free pattern once I finish sock #2 and take some pics and get the write-up done. Photos on the current status will be displayed tomorrow on WIP Wednesday.

This being Toesday and all, I will offer some other interesting free sock patterns I’ve run across in my Ravelry surfing. (For those of you not in Ravelry, whatcha waiting for? Get over to the homepage advance card cash creditcash till payday loanadvance cash faxing magnum,magnum cash advancefast cash advance,cash advance,online cash advanceallied cash advanceinheritance cash advanceadvance america cash advance,advance advance america cash center,ace advance america cashnational cash advancecash advance until pay day,advance cash day paycash until payday loanno fax cash advance for bad credit,bad credit cash advance,advance bad cash credit servicescash advance new yorkpayday cash loanadvance cash day loan paycash loan payday tilcash loan payday untiladvance cash loan overnight,advance cash overnight,overnight cash advanceadvance america cash advance center inc,advance america cash loan,cash advance americapay day loan cash advance,pay day cash advance payday loanget payday cash advance fast online loan,fast no fax cash advance,fast cash advanceno fax faxless cash advance payday loan,faxless cash advance,advance cash faxless loanquick cash payday loanadvance cash fax loan no payday quick,advance cash fax loan no payday,no fax cash advanceadvance cash loan onlinecash til payday loancash fast loan paydayquick and easy cash advance,quick cash advance,instant quick cash advance loanstrip roulettecraps ruleswww poli poqueraprender a jugar pokerrevista pokerjuego poker online gratisplay 7 card studapuestas onlinejugar 7 card stud gratisholdem poker gratispoker sin dinerobunny pokerjugar poker sin dineropoquer poquerpoker portales internetjugar poquerreglas de pokerpoker de asespoker en linea gratis,poker en linea,jugar poker en lineadraw pokertorneos de poker gratiscartas internetjuego al instante pagina web and sign up for a free id to join in all sorts of fibery wonderfulness!) Never fear, these links are to non-Ravelry sites (but you really should check them out in Ravelry as well!)

• Kathleen Taylor’s Dakota Dreams: Niblet Socks, a quick knit in a worsted weight yarn, that makes a cushy sock.
• Jane Prater’s Merely A Suggestion: Chicken Feet Socks, uses two colors of fingering weight sock yarn to add a ‘chicken track’ look to the leg. Jane is a Charlotte knitter, who also teaches knitting. I have taken several classes from her some years ago when I was just starting to get hooked on knitting again.
• Anne Campbell’s Needlework: Show Off Stranded Socks, which works well for hand-dyed sock weight yarns. The sock architecture looks a bit unusual, not quite like one of Cat Bordhi’s, but the patterning is done down the heel and three suggested patterns are offered for the gusset triangle.

And for our seasonal fun, I offer up:

• Easter Peeps by Kat Lewinski, in duckie or bunny flavors
• Chick Egg Cozies by Derya Davenport for keeping the chocolate variety or the soft-boiled variety of eggs cozy.
• Felted Bunny by Christine Manitz of Strickanleitungen (pattern is in English).

And if you are partial to crochet, these Miniature Easter Baskets look so sweet with some jelly beans in them, from Marilee Norris of Blogless Knitting.

For Toesday, I thought I’d share a few free sock patterns I found of interest:

Modified Cloverleaf Rib Socks from Edina of ‘knit with me’. These are two-at-a-time, toe-up socks, knit with magic loop using a fingering weight yarn.

Lara’s Herringbone Lace Socks, from Lara of ‘Ramblings of a Knitting Nerd.’ These are knit cuff down, with a traditional heel flap, on 4 DPNs. Again, for a fingering weight yarn.

Roundabout Socks, from Ruth, ‘The Yarnarian.’ These have a yarnover pattern that moves around the foot, knit from the cuff down on your choice of needles (DPNs, 2 circulars or magic loop). It has a traditional heel flap, and uses fingering/sock-weight yarn.

While these are not socks, I thought they were seasonably appropriate, and darn cute:

Knitted Easter eggs, from Julie of Little Cotton Rabbits, which includes several different patterns for stripes, zig-zags, dots, checks.

Even tho’ this is really a WIP, I’d thought I’d comment on it on ‘Toesday,’ as it is a sock, and is being knit up from the toe.

I bought some Knits Picks Felici yarn on sale a month or two ago and thougt the grey/black/red colorway (called Firefighter) would be good for my dad. His 85th birthday is in early April, so I plan to have these done in time to mail to him for his birthday. Since this is a striped yarn, I struggled for a few days to find a suitable stitch pattern. Not just plain stockinette, and I’ve already made him Chevrons. I do like ribs for good fit, so I ended up browsing my stitch dictionaries and finally came up with a simple but interesting pattern. Just for some variety, I’m knitting this one on five 6″ DPNs, either Colonials or Lantern Moon, not sure which they are.

I still did the Judy Becker Magic Cast-on, but geez, the first knit round is mighty tough to do on DPNs. I either need to start with circular needles a la magic loop and switch to DPNs or do a different cast-on. This is likely to become another free pattern, this time for fingering weight yarn. I’m knitting Dad’s socks on 70 stitches (pattern is a multiple of 7).

Not sure yet what kind of a heel I’ll do. Short row is easy but doesn’t fit as well for some people as flap and gusset. I haven’t done a toe-up flap and gusset yet with which I’m completely happy. So we’ll see.

As far as resources for toe-up heel flaps, we have:

• Widdershins, which was the basis for the heel flap I did on Dad’s Spartan Socks.
• The Eclectic Heel, sort-of a combination of heel-flap and short row heel. Short-row with a mini-gusset.
• From Becca at Forward Motion, gusset and small short rowed section then knitheel flap, not unlike what I did on my Undulating Ribs socks. I may try this for these socks but try to get a tighter fit than Undulating Ribs (it didn’t help that those were 45% bamboo).
• Also I said previously I would try out the MimKnits tutorial from Miriam Felton–again, a gusset and flap, also similar to Widdershins.
• And another writeup from Knot Another Hat of what seems to be a similar approach, using a formula so you can plug in your own stitch counts (caution, not for the math-phobic or algebra-averse!)