October 15th 2009
Filed under Socks
At least once a year I try and do Yarnharlot’s Knitters without Borders pledge, for one week, I forgo my cappuccinos, lunches out or that extra pint in the pub, just because giving up these little luxuries for week makes no differences to me can make an amazing difference for some one else. I still get amazed when I realise how much has been raised by this concept. (At the time of writing this is is over $600, 000).
I while ago I read about the idea of of paying for patterns by pennies per hour of pleasure (or p/hop), which is an extension of this concept. The idea is simple you knit one of the patterns from the site and then donate based on how much pleasure you got from making the project.
Over the last few month, in-between making my club socks I have been working on Joy‘s Hopsox pattern, I have been keeping a record of how many hours I have been working on this project, so far I think I am about 14 hours into the pattern. I have never really “timed” myself whilst knitting so it has been quiet enlightening for me.
October 13th 2009
Filed under General, Socks, socktopus club 2009
Sock knitters all know October means Socktoberfest! This year is no different, my aim this year is to try and finish all the socks I have on the needles and take part in the TTL Mystery Sock. Not too big a task, I was working on August’s Sock Club, and just had to make a partner for my p/hop sock. However, I forgot that the next instalment of the Sock Club was due (I will post about that soon – it is truly an amazing package), so of course I had to cast that on!
Then I hit a snag with the Scadenza, one of the joys of this pattern is the continuity of the pattern, the waves are carried from the toe to cuff, then new waves are started on the base of the foot carried over the heel and onto the leg. When I joined the back and front instead of pretty waves, I ended up with some lovely waves and one rough. Jason actually named it the drunk wave!
So I frogged the pattern, started again, then I notice I have dropped a stitch whilst frogging, so had to rip it back again. Third attempt, the drunk line once again appeared!
So this time I sat down with a pen and paper and drew the pattern as I saw it should be, realising I had no idea what I was doing, I scanned the chart and got to work in Photoshop linking the charts from the front and back. After about a week of this I discovered the pattern was meant to look like this, with the drunk wave.
Of course I was not content with this idea, when back to photoshop and eventually re-drew the chart on graph paper to insure I had all sober waves. So my sixth attempt at the pattern with the help of photoshop, pen and paper and had one completely lovely sock.
October 6th 2008
Filed under General
It seems Autumn decided to arrive last week… Along with the falling leaves, grey skies and rain… Autumn seems to have helped my find my knitting mojo! Of course all knitters know October means Socktoberfest, as seeing as I have still to finish my first Ravelympics socks, what better time to catch up on some sock knitting.
The interesting addition to Socktoberfest this year has been Through the Loops‘ Mystery Sock. I have always wanted to join on of the mystery knit-alongs but always seem to discover them too late or fear that I will end up with a shawl I will never use… But a sock seems so simple.
Each Wednesday I new section of the pattern will be posted on Ravelry, so far only the cuff has been published, I think the pattern will be best worked on circular needles two socks at a time – but I am planning on knitting them on DPN’s - but still knitting both socks within the week.
Of course, the best thing about Autumn is all the new programmes returning to our screens – more reasons to stay at home and knit! So yesterday, whilst watching Fringe I cast-on and completed section one of the first sock.
