sock porn for knitting voyeurs.

Monday, October 23, 2006

of carrots, horses, needles and yarn.

I am shocked at my devotion to Lizard Ridge over the past few weeks...

LR2nd
Lizard Ridge, 2nd panel
(about 3 squares, 1/2way thru)

...so I made a deal with myself that I could satiate myself on some selfish socks if I had finished up a few projects that woefully only needed finishing.

***click link for pics and details***
Baby sweater for Kristi's babies in waiting (via: Warm Up the Dutchicans triplets' virtual baby shower)
Started: September 25, 2006
Finished: October 21, 2006
more details re: yarn & needles on the flickr link
(keeping pics off in case its supposed ot be a secret :))

Its really silly, this sweater didn't need anything but seaming, blocking and buttons (still need buttons!) from the last (and only) time I posted about it, but its just sat here staring at me til this weekend and those babies aren't going to wait forever! (woohoo for +28 weeks, Kristi! :))

The babies and the virtual baby shower (can I say TRIPLETS again? the idea gets my bioclock going crazy!) can use more handknits-- check out the virtual baby shower link for ideas and inspiration if you're inclined :)

One seamed baby sweater wasn't quite enough to let me off the lizard hook, so...

knucks
Knucks from Knitty Summer 2006
Started: September 11, 2006
Finished: October 19, 2006
Handspun, handdyed superwash merino
US 2.5 (3.0mm) dpns, 4 (Holz & Stein 7" and Suzannes 4")

Terrible pic, I know. Better ones found in lower links-- its hard holding a camera with your chin! :) Again, another "just needed finishing project." I ran out of the orange handspun to do a proper cuff with, so I knit one round in a black handspun of mine and did a regular bindoff for the little black edge at the cuff. I've decided to not embroider them, at least not right now, my skilz are sorely lacking and I kinda like the plain. As I wear them more as the weather cools, I may decide otherwise.

They're very thick and hurt my hands a bit to knit-- pushing a heavy dk/light worsted yarn with the sock-ish sized needles was a bit of a pain. I'm happy though, how tightly knit they are-- and surprised the cuff doesn't roll as I've omitted any ribbing or anything to keep it taut. I started them early on the morning to see the yarn harlot's talk (I vacillated between writing "stephanie's" & "tyh" here! such a dork) @ Full Thread Ahead, and finished them the same day-- again minus the finishing! I think they're great and hold a nice memory of the day in my head when I look at them. Great, fun pattern and I'm not afraid of glove fingers anymore (though the 4" needles were a godsend to me)... thinking if I will knit a pair as a holiday gift. These are MINE though! :)

Previous post on Knucks:
September 8, 2006
September 11, 2006


After the finishing fest, I was going to knit (another??!) pair of Pomatomus socks from the regia bamboo Kristen sent me for her Vintage Knitalong pics project (thanks again Kristen!!)...

bamboo
Regia Bamboo color 1065

...but I still had a bit of the colorwork bug from my class last week so...

redherring1
Red Herring from Knitty Fall 2006
(thanks again for a cool pattern, Cookie!)
Started: October 21, 2006
Knit Picks Gloss in Dusk & Pumpkin
US 1.5 (2.5mm) 32" Holtz & Stein ebony circular for magic loop

Can I be in love with colorwork? Over, under, round & round... where I'll stop, nobody knows.

The magic loop isn't my favorite (the loops bug me as they "hit" the palms of my hands, I greatly prefer 2 socks on 2 circular needles, but I also started/learned that way so its not too surprising), but the joins on the Holz & Stein circulars is quite nice-- not as slide-y as the Addis, but I think that's quite a tough bar to meet. I'm not nearly good enough to know why Wendy and others prefer ebony for colorwork, but hey! it works for me so I can't complain too much. (I will try it on Addis, sometime.)

I do wish the "turns" weren't as pocky as they are; they're not bad, but I can definitely see the "fold" where one needle ends and my latest goal is to figure out how to lessen it. Other than that, I think I'm the most surprised of all how nice and non-oddball the colorwork looks... like I said, I've tried it before and it was SO uneven because I thought it was "easier" to knit one color, drop it, and pick up another. Now that I'm getting the hang of 2 colors in one hand and consistent in the over/under (pattern color goes under, background color goes over according to The Art of Fair Isle Knitting by Ann Feitelson), its greatly improved the tensioning.

For all yall that like the up the skirt shots (admit it!)...

redherring2

Color's much more true on this one, but I couldn't resist the mag pic above :)

12 comments:

KnitterBunny said...

Gotta love that up the skirt shot. Makes me want to try colorwork.

Anonymous said...

Oh no, another sock pattern! So many patterns, so little time! It's looking fabulous, though.

I thought I was prefering 2 circs over the magic loop, but last time I used that method, I couldn't stand the dangling needles. I don't mind the loops.

Your afghan is looking amazing!

lexa said...

Colorwork is looking great! Are you still planning on mirroring the herrings? LOL!

There's a colorwork sweater pattern I have my eye on for the boys. If I do decide to go for it, it will definitely be after Christmas!

Anonymous said...

I love the afghan.
The Red Herrings look really great. Your colourwork looks so even and tidy! I'll need to learn stranded knitting somday...

soapy said...

Great progress on your lizard ridge!! WOOHOO!! Keep up the good work!

Soo jealous I haven't seen that gloss yet.. Drooling! I need to get over to KP again soon! Looking good!

Love the Regia Bamboo! ! So nice!! Is it as nice as Regia silk sock yarns too??

HPNY KNITS said...

love your knucks and that little baby sweater! fun!
if you feel that you get a "seam" in the round, alternate the stitches between needles.
can't wait to see lizard alll done!!!

Anonymous said...

Damn, you have been pumping out that Lizard Ridge! At this rate, you'll be done in no time.

Your colorwork looks ridiculously even. Mine was a mess before blocking!

Jennifer said...

I love your colorwork! Gorgeous!

tatjana said...

wow! you're just a knitting macheen these days! The afghan is awesome...between the colour variations and the texture, it's like a landscape in yarn, very beautiful. And I'm in love with the cape, couldn't have turned out better :)

Zonda said...

Lizard Ridge is looking awesome! Nice knucks, and your Red Herrings..wow!

Interested to see what the bamboo ends up being :)and your thoughts of knitting with it.

Stacey said...

Red herring is looking good - eventually I'll have to try those needles! I do ML exclusively - I can't stand the "extra" needles from 2S2C hitting me in the hands. I give the needle an extra twist so that the cords are next to each other when I switch sides - that way, no ladders or noticible difference.....

Leah said...

Wow!! Your colorwork is looking fab! I adore Cookie's patterns. I can't wait to see yours all knit up!

Oh & the mag shot? Priceless!!! :)

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