Design Update: And another pair ...

... of socks come off the needles. These are done in Laines du Nord's Papiro (100% cotton) on #4s. I did them toe-up (of course) with a simple k2p2 rib on top and bottom of the foot and then again round the leg (with a loose BO in rib). The heel is done on the bottom in short-row stockinette and then "heel stitch" on the back of the heel.

Design Update: More Socks!

"Autumn Attitude" just came off the needles! These are done toe-up with a garter-stitch short-row heel then finished with alternating bands of knit and purl.
Knit using Rowan's Cotton Glace (which knits up wonderfully!), the sole of the foot is a 2x2 rib to gain needed elasticity, while the top of the foot is a fun (and easily remembered) slip-stitch pattern.
Once the garter-stitch short-row heel was done, I changed to alternate bands of purl and knit to give the slouchy socks some fun.
These can be worn pulled up mid-calf or pushed down with just a hint of the green showing. Wouldn't these be cute with leggings?

Design Update: Socks, socks, socks

Good morning! I haven't posted any projects in a while (except the one of mom's sweater which seemed to consume MUCH of my time!). But I've been on a sock-knitting binge, trying to "unvent" the best way to do toe-up, short-rowed heel, socks for all times of year. I've been knitting wool socks and cotton socks.

And I'm having a blast!

Here are the two pair I finished this week:

"LACY DAYS OF SUMMER" in Paton's Grace (mercerized cotton)

"GARDEN TRELLIS" in Schaeffer Yarn's Lola (100% Merino Wool Superwash)

Custom Knitting: woman's sweater

I just (finally) finished a sweater for my mom ... it's knit using Knit Picks washable Swish.This yarn feels so nice while knitting and washes marvelously. Using a US7, I got a great "hand" with a gauge of 6.25/inch. It's a standard, drop-shoulder cardigan, but since she wanted it longer than most sweaters (it's about 3 inches longer than a normal sweater) and she likes plain ... it was quite boring to knit. Since it's a cardigan, it was just knitting back and forth, back and forth.

The hipband, knit-in button-band and neck are seed stitch and I added just a hint of color (using a skein of Swish bare) to make it a bit more fun and interesting. The sleeves are knit from the armhole down ... working in the round to avoid seams, and finishing with a k1p1 rib on US2 dpns -- I've found that ribs are heartier when you go down quite a few sizes from the body needles.

She likes it, though and in the final analysis -- that's ALL that matters!

RMCHEC -- come on by and say hi

Please join us down in Colorado Springs on June 6 and 7 for the 9th annual

RMCHEC, this year organized by the Colorado Springs Catholic home-educators, is a wonderful schedule of speakers and events for the two-day conference. Bishop Sheridan will celebrate Mass on Friday morning and a wonderful banquet on Friday evening.

I'll be speaking on "Handcrafts in the Homeschool" on Saturday afternoon as well as running a table selling living books from Hillside Education, Cay Gibson and others (and yes, my book -- Great Yarns for the Close-Knit Family -- will be available too!)

Stop on by and say hi!