Basketcase

The first of the basektcase socks is almost done!
I'm still enjoying the pattern. Only changed a few things. For one I'm working with a tighter gauge yarn, so I cast on 72 instead of 60 stitches. I also continued the pattern over all of the 36 instep stitches, instead of only 18 (or 24 with this number of cast-on stitches).

And I have to say I absolutely love the heel flap. So far I have only ever done the usual sl1, k1 and then p the WS, but with this slightly staggerd pattern the things I don't like about the look of a heel flap have been eleminated, so I'll always use this one from now on, I think.

More Socks...

So, I finally got myself a new computer and now have a working DVD drive. Which means I spend more time knitting (I don't own a TV)! Still nothing fantasitc this week, but at least some progress:

The Pomatomus now looks... stripe-y

I'm still not quite happy with it, because the contrast is too great. I think I'll duplicate stitch up the sides of the soles and around the cuff and heel to incorporate the dark blue a bit more into the overall pattern. But at least I had enough yarn!

And for some reason the whole sock refused to be photographed, it's been hexing the camera to only shoot unfocused pics when I tried. ;)

And I finally found a good pattern for my dark red sock yarn: the basketcase socks! I'm totally in love with this simple pattern. One shot for colour accuracy and the other one for the patterning:

Ripped my try at the Child's French Socks *again*. And I won't try anymore. I can take a hint when a pattern isn't meant to be made by me. After several attempts and a severe concussion from all the hints it's been throwing at me. :D And the Cut Your Teeth Socks are also history.

PS: Also excuse the crappy photo quality but I haven't installed my usual programmes on the new computer yet, so I had to make do with what was on it.

Socks

I seem to have lost my knitting mojo.

Worked a bit more on the Pomatomus, but ran into a problem. See:

14 toe rounds left to do and I ran out of yarn. *sigh* Still pondering what to do about it. My LYS doesn't have that sock yarn anymore, so buying more is not an option (it's the LYS' own brand, so I can forget about getting it anywhere else). I think I'm going to rip back to the beginning of the toe and then start striping with some dark blue yarn I have. That should work and not look too stupid.

I also worked on the Child's French Socks, but didn't even take photo of it before I ripped back (for the second time). First time was because I simply couldn't knit this on two circular needles, then because I think the gauge is too tight. Have to think about either using a different yarn or going up to 3mm needles and changing the stitch count a bit.

And lastly, because I was so frustrated with the other socks, I started a new pair yesterday. Cut Your Teeth Socks. The problem with these is that I'm still not sold on the pattern, even though I have finished the cuff by now. It looks great in the pattern, but as I'm using one-coloured yarn for the cuff and multi-coloured for the main part, I just think the little bumps this pattern creates are way too easy to see.

The top of the cuff is folded down, so the side that will be seen is the purl side and I just don't like the way it looks. Add a lot of very loose stitches that I don't know what to do about and a million ends to weave in and I think this is going to be ripped fairly quickly.

On a better note, I bought a new knitting basket for my WIPs. My current fascination with all things hot pink had to be shown there as well. :D Pretty.

Back to the Important Stuff...

... also known as knitting. ;) Finally had my exam today and already know I passed with a 2.0 (somewhat equivalent to a B)! :D

Of course, even though I had promised myself not to do any knitting, I couldn't stick to that. Made four swatches, threee for socks, the other one for the zombie pulse warmers. No pictures because they are boring and it's almost dark outside, but I think I have fallen in love with a yarn. The Peruvian Collection Baby Silk. So soft... I just keep petting it instead of knitting.

And I ordered some yarn from Wolle Halle, which is a German company that sells yarn on cones, usually untwisted. I bought some of my sock yarn there already and even though it can be a bit challenging to knit, their prices are simply unbelievable. And so far I haven't been disappointed in their quality. So I ordered some 70%merino/30%cashmere in a beige/grey tone for a present for my mum.


The left one is the one I bought.

I really hope that it will soften up when washed as it looks quite scratchy to me now. But for 1.50€ per 50gr I can't really go wrong even if it turns out to be not so soft. Still, then I'll have to continue searching for a yarn for my mum's birthday present as I'm hoping to make Convertible for her. My dad and she always go camping and near the sea it's usually chilly in the evening even in summer, so I know she'll like something like this.

So, more free time from now on and that means I'll finally make more progress with my various ideas (mainly socks *g*). I've collected quite a few patterns over the last few weeks and will put them up on the future projects list as soon as I finally get some more online time.