March 30, 2006

French Socks

Pattern: "Yarrow rib socks" from Knitting Vintage Socks from Nancy Bush
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Gypsy Rose, less than 1 hank.
Needles: Susan Bates DPN US 1
Cast On: March 2
Cast Off: March 14
Mods: Made on 54 sts insted of the 64 recommended with double cast-on, sub dutch heel for the french heel(my favorite yet) and french tip as instructed (so french sock, get it?).
Comments: This is only my 3rd pair of socks and Im still on the search for the perfect cast-on, heel, toe, needles and technique so I'm trying different things on each pair of socks I make, making simple patterns to really get the hang of it. The Anne Bush book has been lots of help, it shows step by step instructions of lots of heels and toes and has great patterns for you to try them out, it's a real help to us beginners.

For this sock I used a double cast on, wich is simply a long-tailed cast on holding two ends of the yarn together. I didn't like it at all, it makes a horribly bulky cast on and even after blocking it looks very uneven, but on the plus side it delivers a very stretchy cast on.

The french heel I loved, it's simple and looks wonderful. I do love round heels. I picked up the stitches the pretty way and found the result delighting. The tips are good but not perfect, they are easy but I would like to have a grafted tip because the cut-yarn-and-pull-trough-remaining-stitches approach leves a little hole in the tip that I dont like, besides I prefer the decreases on the sides of the sock only.

The yarn is very good, and I can't exactly put the finger on what I liked so much about the yarn but I was sad when I finished the socks, I liked very much knitting with it and the color is gorgeous.

The socks were worked on Susan Bates DPN and against all odds I like them better than the Crystal Palace that I have, but I guess is just because I'm a tight knitter. I enjoy knitting with DPN but I guess maybe in the next project I will try magic loop and see what the rave is all about.

March 13, 2006

I'm still alive

I haven't post in a while because I was feeling discouraged at my olympic failure, but going to the LYS and seeing beautiful new spring yarns is a source of inspiration.

I found the perfect pattern for a summer top and the perfect yarn, who can resist the DB Cathay? It was lying there between the cottons, its silk shimmering in the sunset (literally) in such yummy colors just look at it. Im going to use the contrast color for the lower part of the ribbing and have made a little progress. I've made some adjustments because the pattern calls for fingering yarn and the cathay is a sport weight, but I think the lace looks good.

I've also finished a pair of socks with this yummy yarn Cherry Tree Hill in Gypsy Rose colorway, but I have to redo one toe and block them.

The Weasley sweater just lacks the front embroidering and the courage of my part to wear it long enough to take pictures because here is summer already, today it was at 32 C.