Year End Re-Cap, Part I

Since I was so lousy at actually posting the last few months, hence re-cap, in parts. This is mainly "what I did in my spare time" project wise. For those who need to know, you know?

In August, I finished up pair #12 in my attempt to reduce the sock stash. Ha! That's a battle I have little hope of winning.



Basic sock pattern in Joann's Sensations Soles & More. I've worn these several times already and like how they are holding up. No pilling or felting.

#13 was a kit that I got years ago when I signed up for a sock club sponsored by a shop here in the Bay Area.



Pedicure socks in Interlacements Tiny Toes. As my sister-in-law commented, they think of everything. I concur. I made these simply for the fact I was tired of moving them from one project pile to another. I might try to wear these with my sandals, since I don't get professional pedicures.

Pair #14 was a joy to do. The yarn is from my favorite podcaster, Miss Violet of LimeNViolet.



The cables are a little hard to see, but it's a beautiful pattern by Kat and the pattern can be found here. The pattern is called Lacy Mock Cable Socks. The yarn is Lime & Violet Sasquatch Superwash in the colorway John the Sword Swallower (Miss Violet's hubby).

#15 comes from two of my favorites - Gigi Silva (aka MommaMonkey, Monkey Toes) and Georgia Schlegel of Yarn Pirate fame. Gigi passed away a few years ago and her wonderful talent is missed.



The pattern is Eleanor and the yarn colorway is Rain Shadow. I found out that Georgia is expecting her second child and taking a hiatus from the Booty Club. No monthly sock goodness for me for a while. However, her timing is excellent. My Yarn Pirate stash is slowly disappearing. I love her base yarns!

And that's it for socks. Worth noting, I only finished two pairs for Socktober. Need to do better next year. I have two other pairs on the needles, but they'll be done in 2010.

Part II forthcoming.......

Red Stripe

Socktober Pair No. 8!!!



Made it with a day to spare! The joy in knitting a basic sock, is that after a while you don't have to think about what you're doing. You just knit. No cable needles. No rows to count. Just knit, or purl. These were knit using Zwerger Garn Opal Prisma, in a 2x2 rib carried onto the instep and knit on size 1US needles.

Conwy

Socktober Pair No. 7!!!



The yarn is from White Willow. She referred to the colors as Violet, Olive and Silver. She has a shop on Etsy, which is one of my favorites. The pattern is from one of my favorite designer's, Nancy Bush. This is from the Knitting on the Road book, which is one I go back to often. I think this is my third or fourth completed pair from it.

What I love about Nancy's designs, is that they fit my feet quite well. I always get gauge, and typically use the recommended needle size. The finished product is always amazing. If you haven't had the opportunity to knit a Nancy Bush design, I would highly recommend it. The instructions are very well written, and you learn quite a bit when using one of her books.

STR RPM

Socktober Pair No. 6!



At Stitches West this year, I bought a skein of mill ends Socks That Rock. It saved me a few bucks, so why not. It's a medium weight, which I hadn't tried before. The pattern RPM, from knitty.com, called for this specific yarn, so I had to do it.

I knit these in 3 days. The pattern is easy to remember. I will no doubt do these again someday, since it was a piece of cake to do.

Tirzah's Delight

Socktober Pair No. 5!!!



Pattern is Tirzah's Delight by Heatherly Walker. It came with my shipment of Chewy Spaghetti yarn in the colorway Hazy. I love these socks! I've already worn them too, and they felt great. The pattern was quick and the sock yarn was a heavy fingering weight. I knit them on US2 needles.

Socktober Slippin' Strippin' Socks

These are the Slippin' Strippin', highly irritatin', never knittin' socks with lace weight again socks. The pattern is by Tina Lorin and this was part of Sock Madness 2. I like the pattern and I like the look, but the fabric is so thin in places. I used Jojoland Harmony and Jaggerspun Zephyr Wool-Silk.

I started these back in April as we were leaving for our Pacific Northwest Cruise. I actually started them on the way to San Francisco, with the grand plan of having them done by the time we got back. Nope.

Another thing I didn't like - all the ends I had to weave in. Every 10 rows, one yarn changed. Ugh.

Hey - they are done. That's something to be happy about. I probably won't wear these much. I just don't see them holding up well.

Socktober Reversai Redo

Technically, I finished these in April, but I did the second sock on smaller needles and like it better. So sock 1 had to be ripped out and redone. It just took for-ev-er!





Knit in Socks That Rock Lightweight in Lenore. The pattern in Reversai by Janine Le Cras and knit on size 0US! And they're still "roomy". I knit tight too. At least they're wearable now.

Berries Basic Sock

Socktober pair #2!



Should it count if it's Red Heart? Yes, I knit a pair of socks with Red Heart. The reality is I like wearing socks or slippers, or both, in the winter. We have hard wood floors and lousy insulation, and my feet get cold. Do I want to waste good wool yarn on these floors? No. Red Heart wears like iron and I can throw them in the washer AND dryer and not have to think twice about it. Besides, I usually wear a pair of light cotton socks inside the Red Heart socks. Worsted weight socks knit very fast too - another plus.

Again, a basic 2x2 rib pattern continued onto the instep. 2 days start to finish. You have to love it!

Harris Tweed and Socktober

I am officially caught up. I am now officially posting completed items in the month they were completed. I have no more backlogged projects. Yipee!

It is officially Socktober, so my intention this month is to knit lots of socks. Here is pair number 1!



When I was visiting the Yarn Boutique earlier this month, my hands discovered this beautiful skein of Melienweit Cotton Spirit and wouldn't let it go. I came home and searched Ravelry until I found a pattern that I could do quickly and would be one that I would enjoy wearing. I came across Harris Tweed, and cast on.

I worked on these socks while I was in Santa Rosa at the Harlot event. I guess these will be my Harlot socks. They took 3 days from start to finish and I can't wait to wear them. No, it isn't cold enough yet!