50% Majestic

Remember that pile of Majestic yarn I spoke about last weekend? Well, as you can see from the picture above, it was a pile of yarn. In only a couple days I had the cuff re-knit into a more suitable size. And after a week of knitting, I now have 50% of a pair of Majestic Socks done.

The cuff re-knit super easy (since I had done it once before). The rest of the sock, however, gave me a few fits. Parts of the charts, to me, are a bit screwy. The top of the arch pattern, has two extra stitches in it (which I still can't figure out why they are there) and the foot chart is written only for the small size which confused me at first. If not for the stitch counts noted throughout the shaping portions, I would have been working and reworking parts.

Overall, though, it's a great pattern. Very pretty! And I love the construction. Different then I've ever done before and they should fit a future recipient great. If they weren't a tad snug on my large feet...I'd be keeping them! Who am I kidding...if the color looked better on me, I'd be keeping them!!

Anyway, here's one more pic of the 1st sock. The other cuff is already in the works. Maybe I can get the second sock done before my next Rockin' Sock Club shipment arrives...cross your fingers!

A Majestic sock cuff...

...about to be a majestic pile of ripped out yarn. As I mentioned in my last post, I have been trying to weigh my options carefully before ripping out a sock cuff that is so pretty. But, with a weeks worth of barely knitting on it because I know it's not right...I have decided to commence the ripping. I know I'll be much happier with it. And the new, properly fitting socks will fly off the needles. So, say goodbye to the Majestic cuff!

Finally, another sock club shipment

This past Thursday, I finally got my 1st Woolgirl Sock club shipment. About a week late, but I totally love it. Above is the box....now, here's the contents:



So much in there that it barely fits in the picture. Here's the list of booty:

• 1 skein of Zen Yarn Garden, Serenity cashmere/merino sock yarn in a "Gold Dynasty" colorway
• An intricate cabled sock pattern called "Majestic".
• A pretty lacy scarf pattern called "Alexandria"
• One jewel themed stitch marker
• A large silk sock sack (to carry your knitting in) from Lantern Moon.
• A nice pen with "Queen of Knitting" on it.
• Hand made hand lotion.
• A little pyramid gift box with two delicious chocolates in it (yum!)
• A 2009 calendar magnet with all the ship dates for Woolgirl
• A hand made/painted greeting card
• a small sized SOAK (to clean your knits with)

I'm about 3/4 of the way up the first sock cuff...but now I'm thinking they are too small. Well, too small for me. I don't think I'll be keeping these socks, though. So I'm wondering if the current size will fit a future recipient. Before ripping it out...I'm seriously considering things. While I seriously love the color and pattern, the color doesn't love me. I'll have to remake this pattern in a different colorway for myself in the future.

Sock pictures to come in a future post.

Not Yet Baby Blanket

This blanket went on my needles in about August of 2007. It was always meant to stay in the background and only come out of hiding in between other projects...but a year and a half is quite enough. It needs to be finished!

So...as usual...I'm still waiting for my next shipment of sock club yarn. Rather then cast on for a small project I thought I'd make a mad dash for the finish line with this blanket. It was about 75% done last week. I'm currently working on the crocheted border.

It's a feather and fan design (with some intermittent rows of stockinette stitch) and the pattern came out of one of my vintage knitting books - a 1943 Minerva yarn pattern book. The pictures don't really capture how pretty it is. But, in general it's a super easy pattern and I think it will work for either a boy or girl (that is not even conceived let alone born yet). I wanted to make a blanket ahead so I didn't have to drop everything and madly knit...

I've got to say....I'm not a crocheter. I can knit for hours with no aches and pains. Pretty much the second I pick up a crochet hook my right wrist starts aching. I've been around the edge 1.75 times and I feel like my hand is going to fall off. Only 1.25 times left to go and then I have to add a fringe all the way around. I've sworn off any more crocheting for now. Give my wrist a break.

My sock club shipment should be here by mid to late next week. So I really don't have to crochet 'til my hand falls off. Here's a close-up.

Finished Octopus

My Octopus Socks are finished! I could have finished them much earlier this week, but got to the toe and then got distracted. I've gotta say, I think these are my favorite socks I've ever made. The pattern is so easy and fun to knit. The yarn I used is so soft and nice. And the socks fit so good. 

Sock Stats:

Pattern: Circles Socks by Anne Campbell

Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Dakota (this color is no longer available)

Needles: #2 circular

Size: Made to fit size 9 women's foot. Used the same amount of stitches specified but used a size larger needle then the pattern states. I cast on once (and made an entire 1st cuff) with size 1 and it was too small. 

Notes: I added an extra repeat to the cuff and did 6 total. I wanted to use up all of my yarn but still have a bit left over. I probably could have done one more repeat.

More gratuitous pictures...

Octopus and an FO

While I'm again waiting for my next sock club yarn to arrive, I'm making a pair of Circle Socks (or what I've dubbed my octopus socks). Octopus because the pattern reminds me of the suckers on the bottom of an octopus arm. A colorful octopus arm.  My next sock club doesn't arrive for a couple of weeks now and will be a package from Woolgirl. Of course I can't wait..

Anyway, the octopus socks are super easy to make. Simple knit, purl, with a few slip stitches for the 'bars' between the two. I've been knitting these while on the subway and was able to ditch the pattern within the first pattern repeat. I had some striped sock yarn laying around in my stash but didn't just want to make a boring pair of striped socks. This pattern jazzed it up without getting too complicated. I finished the first sock this morning.

I have also finished my Queen of Beads socks from my first shipment of the Rockin' Sock Club.  They came out beautiful and fit great. I haven't actually worn them out of the house, though...I have to get on that.

My next Rockin' Sock Club shipment isn't until March. Thank god I have another sock club to dream about.

First Rockin Sock of '09

Over a week ago I finally received my first sock club shipment of the year. I was so excited I didn't even take a picture of the shipment before winding the yarn and getting started. Next month I'll be more blog conscious...I promise.



I have one and 3/4 of the second sock done. The picture above was taken yesterday morning - I honestly didn't realize I had knit so much over last night and this morning. I'm one pattern repeat from starting the toe. Woohoo!

But, as you can see, these socks are beaded. The pattern is called "Queen of Beads" and at the start was a ROYAL pain in my butt! The beads barely (barely!) fit over the yarn and were a almost impossible to get strung. I've made beaded stoles/shawls before and were so easy in comparison!! However, that being said, I really love the look of beaded socks and the yarn/bead combo on these is really nice in person. The pictures don't do it justice!

One thing I love about these sock clubs is that I learn so much with every pair. Right off the bat I learned how to do a tubular cast on that uses yarn overs. It was way easier then I thought it was going to be (once I got the hang of it). The directions that came with the sock was very easy to follow and I think I'll be using it for all (maybe?) future socks. 

Here's a close up of the beading: