R.I.P. Falling Leaves

Okay so way overly dramatic! The problem with two socks on two circs is that before you get to the point where you have the problem you have done quite a bit of knitting, well double anyway, as you would have with a single sock to get to the same point. I was feeling kind of bad about scrapping all my work when it became clear that the Falling Leaves were going to be too big. After reading the advice I think I the key would be to go down to a Addi 0 which I need to get anyway and then I could probably save the socks but it's probably really not worth it considering I've already decreased on the foot and would now have to increase back up to the proper number. Probably have wavy bottoms! For me it's much easier to frog something after I've put some distance between me and the project. I've started Hedera and they seem to be going well. I'm using the STR colorway 'Algae'. Pictures as soon as I've got something to show for all my knitting! Thanks to all for the thoughts on the Falling Leaves! Sock Knitters Rule! :)

Started Falling Leaves in STR Waterlillies

Advice/Thoughts Needed!

Started: May 4, 2006

Pattern: Knitty's Falling Leaves

Yarn: Socks That Rock Waterlillies (light weight)

Needles: Addi size 1 (two circulars)

First let me say I wasn't looking forward to toe up socks. The idea of using "waste yarn" to cast on and then grafting together sounds like a big pain in the ass. Recently someone on one of the sock lists I'm on pointed out Judy Becker's Magic Cast On for Toe Up Socks from the most recent issue of Knitty. This is absolutely brilliant! If this hasn't been "discovered" before this women should get some kind of Nobel Prize for knitting! It is so easy and it looks just like the toe has been kitchnered closed.

So the sock is going fine except I think it is going to be really big. The sock is based on a lace pattern that is a 12 stitch repeat. So if it is based on 72 stitches rather than the 64 I would usually cast on. In order to make it fit better I've decreased some stitches on the sole. This might work out well enough for the instep and sole but I'm not sure how it will effect turning the short row heal and I will definitely have to increase to go back up to the 72 stitches around the ankle to do the lace pattern around the whole cuff.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm not really looking forward to frogging and giving up this pattern especially since I've done the work for getting to this point with two socks.

Belated Seattle Knitting Expo Report

I wasn't able to post my purchases after the Seattle Knitting & Fiber Expo because I was planning to gift one of the skeins of Socks That Rock to Cindi for her birthday.




This one on the left is the one I got Cindi, a new STR color called Mist. I really liked it so it was hard to give it to her! I'm an STR collector(adict?), what can I say?

This one on the right is another STR yarn called Chapman Springs.

Above is the lovely STR named, Algae. Who knew Algae was so pretty?



And because I figured I should at least try one yarn other than my beloved STR, I got some of this Monarch Super Sport. The cool thing about this yarn is that it is 8 oz/650 yards. That's enough for two pairs of socks if you are careful. So you and a friend could each get some and split the skeins!

That's all I bought although I saw other nice yarn. When I first saw the STR booth I filled my arms with colors I would want! I narrowed it down to just these few. I tried hard to exercise restraint!

Finished Fleece Artist Pomatomus Sock

Yarn: Fleece Artist Sock Yarn

Needles: CP 1.5 double points

Started: 2/16/06

Finished: 5/4/06

It was with great relief that I finished these socks yesterday. I really enjoyed knitting them so I can't really explain why I took such a long break between them (to knit other socks!). The yarn color was absolutely beautiful but I thought ever so slightly splitty. I'm also noticing there is slight fuzzing on the first sock just from being carried around, tried on, etc. So it will be interesting to see how they wear (probably won't be wearing them much - it was actually hot today!). I really did like the pattern. The first time I did the foot I really messed up the pattern and had to frog but it was easy the second time if I actually looked at the pattern. The cuff really doesn't need much attention to the pattern and in once it is figured out can be knit in front of the t.v. (where I do most of my knitting!). I would most likely do this again if I could figure out how to do it two at a time on two circulars - my new preferred method. Although it is really tempting to cast it on and keep one going as a side knitting project. I saw someone's blog had some in STR Lagoon that looked really nice. Anyway, I'll end this with yet another close up of the cuff because it's just so pretty! I'll post some other pics if I can get some decent ones of them on my feet.