I did start a sock during the first days I was here, but am still stuck after the heel.
The pattern are the Elfine Socks (sorry, no link), in Koigu P609, a wonderfully coloured yarn. Problem is that the heel part is a bit too tight and I'm going to have to rip it. This has taken all steam out of my desire to knit them as I'm not sure how to go about it exactly yet without having to rip the whole sock (or rather, it seems like too much work). Backburner.
On a more successful not, I did finish the Noro Hat from this month's MagKnits issue.
Started: Nov 7, 2006
Finished: Nov 17, 2006
Note: This hat would've taken me only a day or two if I hadn't knit it about 3 times in total.
Yarn: Noro Kureyon in #124 (1 skein) and Debbie Bliss Merino Aran in black (1 skein)
Needles: 4mm Addi Turbo 40cm circulars, 5 4mm DPNs
Comments: The pattern is lovely and my apparent inability to get it right has absolutely nothing to do with it. I consider it a very quick knit and the resulting pattern is great.
I also really enjoyed knitting with both yarns. The Debbie Bliss is very similar to my favourite yarn from my LYS at home and even though the Kureyon is a bit scratchy to knit with, I'm thinking it will soften once I actually wash the hat (no time for blocking, because I wore it the day I finished it). The yarn is perfect for spit splicing which was helpful when I had already cut the end, but then needed more yarn after I had ripped back. It also is a lot more sturdy than it looks and held up wonderfully to the repeated ripping. And not to forget the great colour changes that just kept me glued to the hat while working on it and make me put it on my head ever so often, just to look at it in the mirror.
Mods: I started this hat without a gauge swatch, as for once I'm actually using the yarn recommended in the pattern and, of course, fell flat on my face with it. :)
In the end I increased to 120 stitches for the first stranded part and did 10 pattern repeats. I also added an additional 10 rows after the first stranded part and then decided to leave out the second stranded pattern altogether as I though the striping from the additional length *and* the pattern would look too restless.
I'm also thinking about adding a fold-over cuff from by picking up the cast-on stitches and folding it in to the inside, because even though the yarns are wool, it is still a bit chilly around the ears where the pattern isn't stranded.
