Marching into Sock Month Three

It's that time again, to talk about my new sock project for March! I am thrilled that I have already got two pairs of socks of my own and am looking forward to a third pair very soon. I have ambitious sock goals for this month. In addition to the pair outlined below, I need to finish my Dad's birthday socks (they were supposed to be Christmas socks, but I got a bad case of SSS [second sock syndrome]) plus I am taking a class on how to do two socks at a time on a circular needle. I'm very excited about this idea because it means no more SSS for me!

March Self-Imposed Sock & Book Challenge:

The Socks: I can't wait for Spring. One of my very favourite times of year, I love the return of the warmth and all the green. Even though this winter has not been too bad I am dreaming of longer days if sunshine, picnics, long walks and planting my balcony garden.

So with that in mind, I have chosen these socks: Tadpoles by Jenna Swanson. This free pattern on Ravelry features a lace pattern on the front of the leg and toe. These will be my first pair of lace socks and I am looking forward to wearing them this spring.

Photo from Ravelry page, see above for link.

The Yarn: For these socks I have chosen to use up a skein of Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in the Springtime colourway that has been in my stash for a while. I love the light green colour and it will show the pattern nicely. I love Knit Picks products for their affordability and their sock yarn comes in so many colours and varieties that it is never hard to find a great yarn for a project. I forgot to get a picture of the skein before I wound it, but here is an idea of the colourway.

The books: Well, I am still working on that pile of books for my class. And of course by working on I mean I look at them from time to time and feel slightly guilty about not reading them, but I will have to get cracking soon. I have however rediscovered LibriVox, an amazing website that allows you to download free audiobooks of books that are in the public domain read by volunteers. I am almost finished Alice's Adventures in Wonderland which was my knitting companion this weekend. Next up is a book that actually resides in my school pile, Jane Eyre.

My progress: I will confess that I started these socks a bit early this month as I knew I had loft sock goals and wasn't quite ready to dive into the monstrosity yarn that is my Dad's second sock - imagine neon orange and black tiger stripes, yikes! This means that I have completed one sock. I love the pattern and can't wait to block this sock to make the lace pattern really shine.

Happy Sock Knitting, 

msi. 

Happy Leap Day!

I know that technically it should be WIP Wednesday, but since it is the last day of February it's only appropriate that I show off and review for you my February Love Socks!

The pattern: This was my first time doing stripes and I loved it. i found that the colour changes made it more interesting to do the stocking leg and heel. I also enjoyed the combination intarsia/stranded colourwork on the heel and love the cute hearts. I have actually taken my shoes off multiple times to show relative strangers my heels. Awkward...

 I am glad that I ended up doing them the opposite colours for a pair of "fraternal" socks. All and all the pattern was very good, although I did have a bit of trouble with the heel, I think the numbers may have been slightly off in the pattern. The pattern is available for free on Ravelry and it is by Devon Clement.

The yarn: We all know that I love Tanis Fiber Arts and the Purple Label is extra yummy with the addition of cashmere (used the Sand colourway here). The red is leftover Fleece Artist 2/6 Merino that I had leftover from the guy's Valentine's heart. I loved this yarn also (it was my first time working with it) and the tones to the red are really beautiful.

The stack of books: Is still a stack of books. Actually, now that all of my students have finished choosing their books it has gotten a bit taller. Sigh...

And just because it is WIP Wednesday here is a sneak peak of my Mom's birthday present in progress.

Happy Leap Day!

msi

Love is on the Heel

It's time to introduce you to the February Sock I have chosen for the self-imposed sock challenge this year! 

February Self-Imposed Sock and Book(?) Challenge 


The Socks:  In honour of Valentines Day I am making LoveSocks by Devon Clement, free pattern on Ravelry. These socks have a simple stripe pattern with a combination fair isle and intarsia heart on the heel!

Photo from Ravelry page, see link above.

The Yarn (the stringy variety, not the story): I will be using leftovers of two great yarns. Tanis Fiber Arts Purple Label in Sand and Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 in Ruby Red. 

I love Tanis's yarns and the purple label is extra special with cashmere. Seen here in the Sand colourway. I had a bunch leftover from a pair of fingerless mitts I made for a friend for Christmas. It is amazing how far a skein of this will go!

This is leftover from a secret Valentines Project that I will reveal next week,  Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 in Ruby Red. Available for purchase from the amazing online yarn shop The Loopy Ewe. 

The Books: Despite my success with my January socks, the reading didn't go so well. I'm still trying to find time to read Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - good book, but so little free time in which I am not knitting! On top of this I assigned a book review for the class I am teaching about aging and disability so I have this lovely stack of novels to get through in the next few months. I also need to find my copy of Tuesday's With Morrie as several students have chosen this book. So the reading for pure pleasure part of the challenge is on hiatus, but I'm sure to enjoy some or all of the books in this looming stack. 

My Progress: As you can see in the previous photo I have already managed to make one sock. This is a really easy pattern (very much appreciated after last month's cables), so I have been able to zip through it quickly. I love the yarn combination and heart on the heel is so sweet. My colourwork skills are nothing to write home about, but I want to get more practice so this was a neat way to combine fair isle and intarsia on the heel flap. 

Close-up of the inside of the heel showing intarsia technique at the top of the heart and the switch to intarsia for the body of the heart. 

All that I have left to decide is if I want to do my second sock in the alternate colour pattern (like in the pattern above) or if I want them to match. I kind of like the idea of matching them. What do you think?


msi. 

Done in the nick of time...

I finished my My Vampire Boyfriend socks last night, just a few days ahead of schedule! I am super impressed that I managed to finish these on time and that I didn't give into second sock syndrome. So what did I think about my first month of my self-imposed sock challenge?

The pattern: A really enjoyable pattern by Kate Atherley. By the end of the first sock I had the pattern down. My chart was always near by, but the second sock went much faster and I managed to knit it in a little more than a week. It was a great pattern that you need to pay attention to and it challenged me (in a good way) the whole way along. I love the addition of the "bitemark" cable along the sides and the modified heart for the heel and toe. This pattern is available for free in the Fall 2009 issue of Knitty.

The yarn: This was a wonderful skein of Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label in a one-of-a-kind colourway. I love Tanis's yarn and it feels great to finally have a pair of socks in it! The socks are soft and sturdy and the colour variations are beautiful.

The book: As you may recall, I am also reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter as my book challenge for this month. I am not quite done, but it has been a great book so far. Between the three jobs and the sock knitting I have been a busy bee this month.

I'll be back with the February sock of choice soon.

Happy Knitting!

msi

Literary Knitting

I mentioned in my New Years post that this year I would be participating in the Self Imposed Sock Knitter's Club in 2012. This idea by the Yarn Harlot is a wonderful way to both destash my ridiculous sock yarn collection and inspire me to move away from plain "vanilla" socks and try new and challenging sock patterns. I have always been envious of people who have patience to make a sock with features like cables and lace, heck, even ribbed socks impress me! I have a collection of sock knitting books but I never knit from them. This year is going to change all that. I am determined to become a more adventurous sock knitter.

As per usual with these silly ideas I have, that wasn't enough. Another goal for 2012 is that I want to read more for pleasure. With knitting taking over my life, most of the reading time I have is saved for academic purposes and my teaching. I want to read at least 12 books this year for fun. This is a low goal and I hope it will be attainable. These two ideas came together and I thought, wouldn't it be fun if the books I read somehow have a connection to the projects I'm knitting. Realizing that my idea of fun might greatly differ from the majority of the population, I picked out January's project and book with gusto. 

January Self-Imposed Sock and Book Club

The Socks: My Vampire Boyfriend by Kate Atherley, published in Knitty, Fall 2009, free pattern

Photo borrowed from Knitty, Fall 2009. Link above.

The Yarn (the stringy variety, not the story): Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label in a One-of-a-Kind Colourway

The Book: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

My progress:

I think I may have chosen a doozy of a first non-plain sock to start with. The cables in this sock make my eyes come in and out of focus, but so far I am enjoying the challenge (and it is getting easier. I have knit the three pattern repeats for the leg and am about the start on the heel flap. I have a long way to go and must not give in to SSS (second sock syndrome). I have joined two KAL (knit-a-long) groups on Ravelry for moral support and encouragement to get these done by the end of the month. I think I am going to need it!

Close up of the heart cable

Close up of the "bite mark" cable, which looks like it is being punctured by little eyelets. Love this!

As for the book, it is the perfect choice to curl up with on cold January nights. It combines two of my favourite genres: historical fiction and fantasy. The book reads like a historical biography, the story mixed in with excerpts from Honest Abe's real and imagined journals and writings. I don't want to reveal much of the plot, but essentially the journals reveal that vampires do exist and Abe was a bad-ass vampire hunter, who vowed to take out all vampires in America. The book could have come off as just plain ridiculous, but is well written and combines enough historical fact to allow the reader to suspend disbelief for the fiction. I am thoroughly enjoying it so far. This preview video for the book on YouTube says it all.

Happy knitting and reading!

msi