princessdeia

October 18th 2011
Filed under General

Back in May, I mentioned that I had been working on a super secret project for Alice. Well I can now reveal that I did in fact knit the Vorticity Sock from page 84 in the book. Last week, before Alice flew off to pastures new, I popped by the Socktopus studio for a catch up and Alice presented me with a signed copy of the finished book.

Obviously Alice is know as the Queen on Socks in London, first offering us an online store to buy our lovely sock yarn, then the bricks and mortar shop (that also became our knitting haven) and now also as indie dyer extraordinaire. Not to mentioned the amazing Knit Love Club (which is about to enter it’s fifth year).

This collection offers 17 different sock patterns, from a simple Vanilla Sock to the wonderfully lacy 2LuvCrew to the masculine Farmer McGregor sock. The first half of the book focuses on Sock Yarn, describing the different types of fiber (complete with some amazing artwork), piles and twists. Whereas the second half is the patterns.

I didn’t have time to scan the book to show you the lovely photos shoots included in the book (instead you have to put up with my photos of the projects). Brighton (I think) provides the perfect backdrop of carousels, eclectic stores, and the beach to showcase the socks in an environment that seems to tone with the yarn (like the green socks on the cover next to the green door).

Each pattern features a cute drawing to explain the gauge of the sock (both the circumference and leg length) and a box explaining techniques that are used in the pattern, where the technique is complicated a wonderful photo tutorial is included.

This book isn’t really aimed for a beginner (even though it includes a plain sock), some of the techniques like the snipping used in Spring Shoot can be a little daunting to a beginner, If you have knitted several pairs of socks and are looking to advance your skills this book is perfect.

Congratulations Alice on a fabulous first book – can’t wait to get knitting!

June 2nd 2011
Filed under General

One of the great things I have discovered about Project Spectrum in the past is re-examining your stash, well this year I have enjoyed I new discovery. Re-examining your WIPs, first I finally got around to finishing my red 2luvcrew sock and then I rediscovered my leftover sock yarn blanket. I started working on this blanket over 2 years ago.

Originally I started knitting the hexagons one at a time, sewing them together as I went, but I soon discovered it was a lot easier to leave the stitches live and Kitchener stitch them together or knit one long hexagon scarf. Before I started knitting more I figure I should sew up what I had, realizing I nearly had enough for half the blanket. Then I dug out all my red leftover sock yarn and added a few more hexagons.

May 27th 2011
Filed under 101 Things, 52 in 52

I was reading a blog (strangely I can’t find the article anymore) about things to do before June to get ready for the summer. Number One on the list was revisiting your resolutions from January! Well I didn’t really make any resolutions more a plan of things I wanted to do in 2011, and of course I failed in February (mainly due to being ill), however I have decided to start again! This week should be week 21, I should have sent 21 letters, made 21 things, read 21 books and watched a few movies! Instead I have made about 8 things, written very few letters and read about 4 books. So I’m renumbering this to week one.

Having read this article about my friends sister in Chicago, I had to send her a congratuations letter, (if you are in the Chicago area please go and see her second play). I have also been productive and final finished my 2luvcrew socks and read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

EDITED: to include photo.

May 9th 2011
Filed under Project Spectrum 2011

You may have noticed Project Spectrum is back – in fact it is invading most the social networking sites! Which is amazing an explosion of colour on Flickr, Ravelry, Tumblr, Pinterest and personal blogs! Now in the past during project spectrum, I have started out with full memento but my enthusiasm has faultier over time – usually when we come up to a colour I am not fond of (yellow or orange ). Going back to devoting a month per colour, I hope will keep my enthusiasm going.

The first month is RED! Now, I recently mentioned my love of all things red and even started a pinterest board devoted to the colour (do you thing deep down I know PS, would be back?) So I’m not going to re-express my love but instead show some of previous red projects.

1. 2luvcrew by Alice Yu, 2. Poppy’s Dress by Ysolda,
3. Scadenza by Yarnissima, 4. Heart & Sole by Ysolda.

I should point out I never got around to finishing the second 2luvcrew sock, so I guess that is my first PS project!

February 17th 2011
Filed under General, Socks

At the moment, I seem to be obsessed with the colour red! I’m not sure where it started, but I have been painting my nails red, wearing red lipstick (due to the fact I finally found a lipstick that suits my skin tone), and of course knitting with red!

This is the 2luvcrew pattern from last years Knit Love Club, done in the Bill Compton yarn, Alice dyed for the Bloodlines Sock Club. I think the sock look like little tiny hearts – perfect for Valentine’s Day, however I didn’t finish them in time.

My other obsession this week, has been Pinterest, we are planning on decorating our bedroom, so I am spending hours online looking for inspiration and this online pin-board is perfect to help me sort my ideas but also to get ideas. Of course I had to combine both my loves and am working on a Red board

September 9th 2010
Filed under Knit Love Club 2010, Socks

I actually finished these socks a while ago, but wanted to wait until after the watershed to post about them, then I wore them, so had to wait until I had time to wash them before posting! This sock wasn’t that challenging, but the lace pattern was so easy to memorise that they were knitted up in no time!

The only “new” technique for me was the casting on – which left these lovely little picots that lead into the twisted rib. Once again Alice didn’t disappoint as this pattern just flows so beautifully, the inclusion of little transitional charts works the rib into the pattern than then on to the heel and eventually the toe. I love this pattern so much, I am already planning to knit another pair.

August 20th 2010
Filed under General

I seem to have got my knitting mojo back! I just loved the newest Knit Love Club pattern, that I have been happily knitting away! I actually managed to finish one sock in four days, that has to be some sort of record for me. Yet again Alice has managed to create a pattern that has managed to teach, engage and amuse me. I won’t blog too much about this sock as it is still within the blackout, but I had to include a shot of the lovely cuff.

With my knitting mojo back, I have decided to take full advantage and see if I can finish my demon UFO. I started this project for the Ravelympic, but it quickly got pushed to the side. I have picked the cardigan up again several times, and taken it along to knit night in the hope that seeing others knit might inspire me, but instead it has become a running joke. This week I have managed to finally finish one sleeve and am feeling pretty smug with myself.