Finished Project: Hiking Socks

Around November my brother, ever the sentimentalist, was going on and on about how much he loves the socks I made him last Christmas. He said he would really love a pair of red socks, if I had the time. I assured him I did not have the time to complete them for Christmas, but his birthday at the end of January was a definite possibility.

It is winter and he wears big hulking boots to work, so I decided to make the tall version of the Hiking Socks in The Knitting Man(ual) by Kristin Spurkland. A friend had made them recently and they were a little different than the Hunter Socks I had made my brother before.

I used Lamb's Pride Superwash, as I always do for thick socks, it is the nicest softest most delightful yarn.

The birthday is Sunday and the socks are drying on the blockers as we speak. They seem huge, but he needs them to go up over his boots and if they are too big he could layer them over other socks for extra warmth. Did I mention how wintry it is here?

Update: Pullover Progress

I am working along on my Cozy V Neck Pullover, my first adult-sized sweater! This weekend I reached a point where I could put the top on scrap yarn to try it on and I am so happy to report that it fits! It actually fits pretty well.

I have moved on to the ribbing and would like to finish that this week so I can bind off and bring it home and model it for my mother. Then I will tackle the sleeves...

I love the yarn, itis Cascade Pastaza and although it is a little sheddy and a little splitty it is soft in my hands, knits up beautifully and is a gorgeous heathered red with flecks of black that make a very rich vibrant looking sweater, the picture does not do it justice.

I am loving my first sweater project!

BFF Sock Update

I totally forgot to mention on Tuesday that I used a new cast-on for my BFF Socks. Over the weekend my friend taught me the Long Tail Cast-on. Tackling those 2011 Knitting Goals early!

Now most people who only know one cast on know that one, but I didn't, I had only ever Knit On. I had read any number of books about Long Tail and could not get the hang of it, but just watching her do it a few times and I figured it out.

Cookie A recommends a Long Tail Cast-on for her sock patterns, so it was timely to learn as I was preparing to start the BFF Socks.

Here is an updated photo of those socks, it is slow going, but I am also knitting a sweater at the same time.

New Project: The BFF Socks

So my friend Three Good Rats gave me a lovely holiday gift, the new self-published sock book by designer Cookie A. It is called knit.sock.love and you should buy it for the photos even if you don't knit socks or you know, knit at all. It is a gorgeous book and I find myself just flipping through it for the aesthetics.

Over the weekend I sat down with it and decided on the first pair I want to make out of the book and settled on The BFF Socks. Many of the patterns in the book are quite intricate and involve serious charting, this one has some charting, but it is a much simpler repeat and since I am also knitting my first sweater, I thought it best to err on the side of caution.

I am using Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn in a beautiful magenta color that I bought myself as a treat in the fall at Windsor Button's Columbus Day Sale. I have a feeling I am going to love these socks!

Finished Project: Hat and Scarf

While knitting many Christmas gifts I did manage to make myself a hat and scarf to go with the new coat I knew I was getting from Santa. The coat is a jewel-tone red and my current hats were all various shades of red that clashed.

I got some beautiful Cascade yarn in a black tweed, so it is black and neutral, but has flecks of many different colors so it is festive! I made a Brattleboro Hat in the Worsted weight and a simple 4 stitch pattern repeat scarf in the bulky weight.

The result is a nice set to match my new coat!

Finished Project: Woven Fingerless Gloves

For Christmas I both gave and received the fabulous new book Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders as a gift. Immediately upon getting it I dug into my sock yarn stash and made these adorable fingerless gloves:


I used some Knit Picks Gloss sock yarn in Jade, making them a nice match to my new red coat, very festive!

I found the thumb gusset to be a little tricky and needed to do some weaving in to close the whole where I rejoined the yarn for the thumb, but the end result isn't too messy and the dark yarn helps hide the flaws. All in all, I am thrilled with my new fingerless gloves, and my newly painted nails!

New Project: Cozy V-Neck Pullover

So I am planning to cast-on this weekend for my first adult-sized sweater. I have opted to do the Cozy V-Neck Pullover from Stefanie Japel's Fitted Knits for a couple of reasons:

1. I really like it
2. I think I possess the skills needed
3. A friend has already made it, so I have some resources

I bought the yarn the pattern calls for, Cascade Pastaza, in a lovely deep red. Here it all is:


I still need to get the needles as my gauge swatch indicated I needed to go up a size. If my plans for tomorrow or Friday work out I will be able to get the needles at Windsor and be ready to go come the weekend!

2011 Knitting Goals

So last year I made some knitting goals for myself and am happy to report that I accomplished all of them. I learned Magic Loop, did a color work project (actually did 3 or 4) and made stockings for my nieces.

This year I have the following goals:

1. Learn a couple more cast-on methods including long tail and provisional.
2. Knit my first adult-sized sweater
3. Write a simple pattern
4. Try Toe Up Socks

I am well on my way to the first 2 goals, setting up an afternoon gathering on cast-ons and choosing my sweater pattern, yarn and swatching for gauge for my sweater (more on that soon!).