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!

March 26th 2010
Filed under General

As promised from last week, here is the finished version of my Rumpled socks, I found it very strange knitting with the yarn – it was 6 ply so was extremely awkward to knit the lace part of the sock with – however, the thinker yarn also looks so good in the pattern – so I guess it was worth it.

I also managed to finish my Skew socks just in time for the second Knit Love Club sock to arrive – and I have to say it is a “scary” pattern!

March 12th 2010
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I have been a little slow with this because I didn’t want to blog about the new Knit Love Club over the release blackout – however as I result I haven’t got around to blogging until the sock is nearly complete!

Alice changed things a little this year, all the patterns will be designed by her – so she has more control over the club and unfortunately there are no more “goodies” – which I will miss! However, we do still get some seriously yummy yarn and some lovely patterns.

Normally, I would steer clear of yellow shade, they really are at the end of my comfort zone of colours, but having received six wonderful shade last year, I didn’t mind this yarn – and I have to say it has grown on me, especially as it suits the pattern so well.