Happy Halloween!

Scary Mask- au naturale

Toby and Paco refuse to wear adorable Halloween costumes like other dogs.

17th pair's a charm...

They're my 17th pair, so hopefully I've got this sock knitting thing down! Without a doubt these are not only my favorite socks, but are my favorite project from the past year.

Autumn Toes:

yarn: Wollmeise, Spice Market colorway

pattern: Elongated Corded Rib in "Sensational Knitted Socks"

needles/gauge: Knit Picks 2.25 dpns at approx. 10.5 sts/inch

As you might be able to see, I'm a tight sock knitter and the gauge (approx. 10ish sts/in) is dense. I used to knit with 2.25 Crystal Palace bamboo needles-- but switching over to KP has been fantastic. Dare I say, a revolutionary change in my sock knitting? I'm finally able to knit as tight as I want without breaking or severely bending needles!

The Spice Market colorway was such an unexpected joy to knit with. Last summer I ordered five skeins of Wollmeise Sock Yarn in a combined order with friends. I hate to say it, but the Spice Market skein was not my favorite of the bunch. So, I thought I'd knit it up first. As the sock took form, I absolutely adored how the color knit up. Claudia's hue combination is great-- she's a dying genious. I just love the cumin, saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, and curry all mixed together. Over time, I found that even if you're not attracted to a specific color or combination, her dye work makes you totally fall for it. I've never seen dyework like hers before.

Claudia's yarns have become wildly popular since that order. If you're looking to buy a skein or two, watch her weekend updates like a hawk. According to the Wollmeiseholics Anonymous discussion board on Ravelry, he most recent sale on 2/9/08 sold out in 15 minutes!

The pattern used is a simple eyelet rib from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch -- Elongated Corded Rib. I thought a simple pattern would be the best way to showcase the color. A touch of calf shaping at the top, and an eye of the partridge heel were the only adjustments made.

Go on-- knit yourself a pair!

Exhaustion

There's a wee bit of knitting in my life at the moment. It's a second sock!

I'm thouroughly. totally. completely. exhausted.

Work is dragging me through the coals at the moment.

Weekend events: St. Paul Art Crawl, Twin City's 2nd Annual (yarn) Shop Hop

Both events were excellent. Thanks to those who attended with me- I had a great time!

(I'll blather about them later if time is available.)

Tonight, the film The Devil Came on Horseback at the Bell.

It's o.k. I'll sleep next week.

Ripple or Pop?

Not so attractive, right? The two skeins on the right are Lucia skeins from Posh Yarns. I over-dyed the middle one for a friend, and another friend gave me the (not)-so-gorgeous skein on the right. They both over-dyed nicely. I don't have a picture of the middle skein, but the right one was used below. (Please excuse the poor lighting! All of a sudden it's winter in Minnesota.)

Maia Discoe designed a wonderful pattern for September's Sock Knitters Anonymous KAL on Ravelry. She's called it Sheherezade's Slippers, and it's free. Clicking the link above will bring you to clue #1. Later posts in her blog (http://maiaspins.typepad.com/) will lead you to clues 2-4. I'm a little late to the game, but thought I'd give it a go. [Note slight detour from Wollmeise socks...]

If you've seen pictures of other's sheherezade slippers, you'll see that I modified rows 0 (cast-on) through 7. I've also changed rows 49 and 51 slightly.

Requesting Advice: Ripple or Pop?

The cables really don't pop in the Posh yarn. Elemm has recommended ripping them out and twisting the cables. Whaddya think? Leave them as a ripple texture, or rip out and force them to pop as traveling stitches?

Toby and Paco don't care-- they just want to be wrapped in wool for the entire cool season!

Single Sock Details

Common ground for yesterday's single socks: Wollmeise sockenwolle, Knit Pick's 2.25 nickel-plated dpns, and eye of the partridge heels.


Spice Market

For me, once complete these will be perfect fall socks. Claudia's color combination is great-- I just love it! The pattern is a simple eyelet rib from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch -- Elongated Rib. I've started the second one, and am determined to finish it by the end of the month. I'm particullarly determined to finish them by Halloween as they are my 'official' Socks in the Cities KAL socks.

Suzanne Chevron

Now, the Chevron socks don't scream fall to me-- but they're delightful, too. The fit is fabulous, and I love the unexpected colorway. The Jaywalker pattern is great for verigated yarn-- but it's a very stiff pattern. The eylet rows from Welt Fantastic, another Sensational Knitted Socks pattern, was just the thing to make a well-fitting chevron sock.

Two Timin' Woman

Two socks does not a pair make.

Is it time to give up and join the Single Sock Liberation Movement?

Single sock syndrome, startitis-- call it what you will, but clearly I'm having problems here.

small gift knits

I'm enjoying the last few weeks of flowers before the frost. Here's a few finished objects from the past two weeks hanging out in the front yard:

Fingerless Pomatomus mittens, a 2007 holiday gift: 2-socks-on-circs, Fiesta Boomerang, US 3's.

Man, did these seem to take for-ev-er... Another holiday gift:

[No one in my family knows about this blog. E, no sharing!]

liberation

For the month of October I joined two related KALs.


Socks in the Cities is hosted by the Yarnery in St. Paul. It's local, low-pressure, and includes a prize or two for a lucky few. Everyone's asked to finish a pair of socks during the month.

The second KAL is very low-key. Socktober! It's soo low-key that there isn't a new 2007 button. It's loosely based via Socktober's Flickr group and the Socktober Ravelry group. Essentially, lots of pictures and chatting about all things socks. Right up my alley!

I'll be honest with you all, I feel Liberated!

Fall is a time for wintry knitting. Wool, texture, colorwork-- Sweaters. Yep. This year I was all jazzed when planning projects, but I'm more than happy to just knit socks for the moment, thank-you-very-much. I just don't want to be bogged down with such a bit project at the moment.

Perhaps I'm really just a sock knitter at heart.

(or, I'm working too much)

eye of the partridge heel-- love it!

Proof.

Wee swatch

becomes Sock Cuff.

Calf shaping, yes.
Wollmeise sock yarn in Spice Market.

See? I *have* been knitting.

Claudia's new store just opened up today. Go and buy some Wollmeise!