Toe-up Monkeys
Pattern | Monkeys by Cookie A
Yarn | Lorna Laces Shepherd Sock in Irving Park
Needles | 2.75 mm DPNs (very loose cast off by using 4 mm needles)
It took me a while before I finally jumped onto the Cookie A bandwagon and braved some Monkeys for my sock collection. But it was worth it! I chose to knit mine toe-up instead of cuff-down as per the pattern and substituted the heel flap for a more familiar short-row heel. Michelle did mention that heel flaps were easier to knit but I still like the whole “wrap and turn” thing.
The cuff and overall fit, however, is something that I’m not very pleased with. The foot is fine but from the leg up to the calf, it seems to be a bit tad loose and after trying it out on my feet, well, it has a tendency to scoot down towards the ankles. This was discovered even before I started on the second sock and thus, I started on my other sock WIPs in smaller needle sizes in hopes of getting a better fit. I’m tempted to even experiment with one size for the foot and another smaller one for the needle but we’ll see how 2.5mm goes with my other sock.
I also need to be more patient and knit a longer cuff. I suspect that the short cuff is not helping the issue at all!!!!!!!!!! Yes, so definitely a two inch cuff will be on the list for all my other projects.
Oh yes, those are DIY sock blockers which I just churned out earlier today with some simple instructions from Maryann. I couldn’t find cardboard so I had to use 220gm paper and because my placemats were transparent (is it just me or the Swiss just love soft Styrofoam-like placemats?), I had to cover both sides just to make it look…presentable. The cement glue didn’t help but beggars can’t be choosers. Other than that, the project was quick, easy and super fun! These red ones are for me; Nil will have a pair of his own which will be done either tomorrow or after next week, when we are done with our holiday in France.
Yes, he took a week off and we’ll be busy showing Mum around. So I’m bringing some sock projects to work on while we’re on vacation! Here’s the knitting in public!
Even though it’s freeform, it isn’t all that easy blogging about popcorn machines when it’s hardly about making popcorn or buying a machine for that purpose. You’d be surprised to know that there are vendors out there for cinema machinery and equipment online - yes, I know you can find them offline but imagine buying popcorn machines in differing styles - contemporary, branded, antique, theatre-style, etc.
After cracking my head for a few minutes, I got distracted by Mr Bean’s Holiday and a new project. I know I’m not supposed to cast on any more knitting projects until I get rid of my toe-up Monkeys but I simply couldn’t resist!!!!!!!! So yes, here’s to another sock in the making…
On a completely unrelated note, the weather is supposed to hit an all high of 29 C but it’s just been sunny and breezy. I hope it continues on this way; I’ll die if it gets any warmer than 30 C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m just not a “hot weather” girl.
Boy o’ boy have I got it bad but of lately, I’ve been buying up sock yarn - after yesterday’s new purchase, I have nearly 15 pairs of socks waiting to be knitted; these include the two that I’m currently working on, Toe-Up Monkeys (see pic above) and a simple stockinette pair for Nil.
The trouble is not so much the purchase of yarns, but the acquiring of gorgeous, addictive patterns - blame Ravelry for my “misery”, really… but in my to-do queue, I have
On a completely different note, how do you juggle knitting, cross-stitch, MyLotting (I have another 3 bucks to go before payout day!), writing for stuff like Cobra golf clubs and a visit from the mother-in-law?
With less than nine months to go before Junior is due and before winter hits, I thought I had better get started on some serious baby knits. I have a few projects in mind and am definitely going to add more to the list once my yarn stash arrives from home (either end of this month or in June).
I’ll probably move the baby knits and related stuff over to the baby blog. I reckon it’ll be more suitable being discussed there than here but I’ll share pics here anyway. So here is the current list so far…
Now to turn on my knitting speed demon!
Today is an extremely productive day - I completely two projects!!!
Elfine Socks
Pattern | Elfine Socks by Anna
Yarn | Sockenwollen Wool in Teal
Needles | 2.75 mm DPNs (very loose cast off by using 5 mm needles)
I have always been fascinated with handknitted socks, particularly lace ones and when I picked this pattern, I had no idea that it would be this addictive!
I had a superb time knitting this pair; the pattern was interesting and easy to remember PLUS the feel of the wool against my skin and the needle made it all the more easier to chug quickly along!
The bind off is still a little bit tad loose but it’s for wearing at home so I guess it’ll be alright anyway. As long as it goes over and past my heel, I’m happy!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read the rest of this entry »
I’m halfway there and chugging on ever so slowly. If only I had knitting superpowers…
After being inspired by some knitters, especially this one here, I thought I’d brave the waters and start work on a more complicated sock. I had a couple of choices but finally settled for the well-known Elfine Sock by Anna.
But as I tried to make head and tail of how to go about doing my own cast-on AND utilizing the Magic Loop, I ran into some issues (crappy bamboo needles is one!). So I gave up and did it with DPNs (double point needles) instead! I definitely have to make a note somewhere to get some metal DPNs instead of bamboo ones that aren’t polished.
It didn’t help that I kept switching needle sizes - I forgot that I left my 2.25mm DPNs at home with my other sock WIP - and it wasn’t until I reached the 10-stitch-per-needle thing that I finally decided to go with 2.75mm DPNs. Yes, I’m lame in that sense.
In the mean time, here’s to Persepolis, La Vie En Rose and knitting…
