Rockin' Socks

So, you may have noticed that I've been on a little sock kick lately. I love how you can play with new stitch patterns and try out new techniques--and they're close to instant gratification, because a sock can be completed much more quickly than a sweater.

My friend Gwen remarked recently that socks were also a good thing to focus on because it's fun to buy sock yarn--you can really try out new colors and new yarns because the quantity needed is so small. [I just procured some rockin' Koigu on her behalf at a certain shop's anniversary sale!]

She's right -- that's exactly why I signed up for the Rockin' Sock Club. My parcel arrived yesterday! Here's the yarn, in colorway Rainforest Jasper:

Also in the package: a binder for sock patterns, a bumper sticker...

And my favorite--a mini-skein of "emergency" sock yarn on a keychain:

And, I confess. I've also added some Lorna's Laces to the stash, colorway Confetti:

This is the same colorway that I used for this scarf, and I absolutely love the way the colors play off the white base. I think these will be really fun socks.

And yes, I actually HAVE been knitting socks. I abandoned the Nautilus pattern previously mentioned -- I really like it, but I needed something I could do without having to consult a pattern every row. So I tinked back the four pattern rows I'd done and started anew, with the Blueberry Waffle Sock pattern:

It dawned on me while taking this picture that this yarn is actually close to the color of blueberries, though it's slightly more purple than the picture hints at. Thanks to a 25-minute unexplained stop in a tunnel on the subway yesterday, I'm now only a few centimeters from turning the heel. Mmmm, quick progress... now that's what I had in mind!

Welcome, Spring

This is such a nice time of year -- all the daffodils are blooming, and the trees are starting to bud. It's getting light earlier and staying light later. [The early light helps a lot with Boot Camp... much easier to see where I'm going when it's light out!] I know that light jackets and spring sweaters are just around the corner.

Well... close, at least. But not just around the corner, because I am having SUCH a hard time with GAUGE, that evil jerk, with the RYC Natural Silk Aran. Stated gauge for Sea Breeze is supposed to be 19st/25 rows=4" on US7s.

My first swatch, on US7s, yielded 14sts/19 rows.

My second swatch, on US6s, yielded 17sts/23 rows.

I am in denial that I might have to go down to US5s to get the right gauge here. I am a tight knitter, people! I usually have to go UP, not down, to get the right gauge. This is extra frustrating because the second swatch actually had the correct gauge before it was blocked, but then it grew. Sigh. I really wanted to be knitting this sweater by now, and not still swatching!

This is where I remind myself that swatching is worth it. Knitting forward on a new yarn is never easy. The good news is that I am really liking the fabric the yarn makes, so the sweater will be fantastic. I just know it.

And when I'm not too busy being frustrated by gauge, I've been working on Breezy:

I'm almost to the end of the first hank of Blue Sky Silk & Alpaca. I'm really loving this, and it's a really easy pattern. I'm a little concerned that it won't block out wide enough to my liking, but I'm going to reserve judgement until I start a second hank and can pin out what's already done to get a good idea.

And, as promised, I started a new sock:

This is one repeat so far of Nautilus, another pattern from the very talented Anna Bell. The yarn is hand-dyed from seller kbrece on ebay -- I totally love her colors. It's not terribly soft, but it's not bad [about the same as Koigu], and I expect it to soften up with a dunk in some eucalan when I'm done.

I'm on the fence on this pattern. I love how it looks knit up, but it's a tricky 4-row repeat that involves a kfb through a double yarnover--a little finicky. I'm giving myself a few more repeats to decide if I'm going to stick with it. The socks need to be ready in 2 weeks to give to a friend, so I don't really have the time (or the patience) to deal with finicky.

****

Dress update: We now have two finalists. This
and this (in ivory). [I'm leaning toward the first one, but surprised myself by loving the second one.] Still expecting one shipment that might have a dark horse, but I think I have two great choices. Thanks for everyone who had good suggestions!

Sockapaloooza: Done!

Stick a fork in these socks, they're done!

Pattern: Elfine Socks by Anna Bell
Needle: US1 Addi Turbos, done on 2 circs
Yarn: Tess Designer Yarns Super Sock & Baby, lilac, purchased at Md. Sheep and Wool
For: My sock pal!
Started: Feb. 23
Finished: March 12
Modifications: Changed top to 2x2 ribbing
New techniques learned: Toe-up, short-row heels

As I've said before, this is an addictive little lace pattern. I made a lot of mistakes on the first sock, and painstakingly tinked back again and again until I wrapped my mind around the rhythm of the lace. It was worth it though -- the second sock was tink-free! I consider that a major victory.

I made one small modification to the pattern: It calls for a garter-stitch top, but I really wanted there to be extra stretch to help these slide over the heel. So I converted it to four rows of 2x2 ribbing. It lines up pretty well with the lace pattern:

The lace really blooms on the foot -- I'm not going to block these socks, but there is a good bit of stretch in the lace pattern. I tried one on -- it doesn't look great around the toe, since my sock pal has bigger feet than me. But you get the idea.

All in all, I'm really happy with the way these turned out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my pal will like them too! [And a very special thanks to Anna Bell for publishing such a delightful pattern!]

***

And with that out of the way, it's time for some NEW PROJECTS!

I've been totally inspired by the warm spring weather here, and the great new designs I'm seeing, that I was compelled to start not one but two new items! First up:

That doesn't look like much, but it's actually the start of Breezy, from RY Classic Summer:

I'm in desperate need of a wrap, and I bought a good bit of Blue Sky Silk Alpaca in a silvery-blue color when it went on sale at the happy place for such a purpose. And, for the past 6 weeks or so, I've been casting about for a pattern. I think this will suit me well - I'm always cold at fancy functions, yet I love slipdresses. So the silk-alpaca will help keep me warm. And, bonus: when I finish the knitting, there's a tiny bit of BEADING around the edges! So I will tip my toe into the beading waters.

Also, what have we here?

It's the smallest beginning of a Sea Breeze.

I am so in love with this sweater it hurts. Not sure about the yarn yet -- when I was swatching, it was a little uneven, and also felt a little twiny. But then again, the US7s I was using felt like broom handles. And I do love the way that the swatch looks - tiny bits of tweedy silk catch the light and reflect away in a delightful manner.

And, of course, I will be casting on soon for a sock... just a little something to keep my hands happy on the subway.

***

In other news... the wedding is officially less than 2 months away! The date is May 12, and we'll be getting married at Roberts Grove in Belize. I'm so excited, but also am starting to feel a little overwhelmed by a few details. Like... my general fitness level and shape--so now I'm hitting boot camp at 5:45 a.m. for the next 7 weeks. [Moral support welcomed!] And like... the dress. Not liking anything I'm finding locally [I'm a buy-off-the-rack kind of girl.] This morning, I ordered just about everything in the J.Crew bridal collection, hoping that something will work out. But I welcome any suggestions for good local stores or good online sites that might have a low-key but distinctive dress appropriate for a beach wedding. [This is perfect, but I'm not so much a tummy-cutout sorta girl.]

And in house news... looks like this will be the year I discover whether I have a green thumb. We have a lot of landscaping to do! Stay tuned!

Back to the Living

I lost three days to a terrible sinus infection, replete with high fever and sore throat. Yuck. It was so bad that I couldn't even bear to watch bad TV and knit... I just partnered up with my buddy Nyquil every few hours and slept. And on the third day, I went to my doctor, who handed me some drug samples and an RX and sent me home. Miracle of miracles, by that night I felt like knitting again! And the next day even saw me back at work. [I am a total wimp when it comes to pain. I would never even have lived to 20 before antibiotics.]

In any event, there hasn't been much going on around here. I finished the first Elfine sock:

and cast on for the second, and I'm in such a groove with this pattern that I'm almost done! Only three more repeats, then the weaving in of the ends, and my part in sockapaloooza will be complete! So close.

And now that I'm nearing the finish line, I'm starting to wonder what my next project will be. I've had a good little sock run. Are more socks in my future? Or are my larger needles feeling lonely?