Monday, October 22, 2012

Episode 41: Rhinebeck Withdrawal




Whatcha Makin?
Aidez cardigan by Cirilia Rose- size 10 needles, Cascade Eco #8049
Vanilla Bean Striped Socks by me, with Vesper Holiday Blitz and Tempted dreamy. Free pattern (recipe) is now available
Basic handspun stockinette mitts, Knit By Design Falkland in Gratitude. CO 36 on size 5 needles, switched to 6s


Rhinebeck recap
Into the Whirled: 3 skeins Manchester base 22.28, Shetland fiber in Candy Bracelet
Loop batt: Orchids colorway
Three Feet of Fiber from Frabjous Fibers
undyed BFL (6 oz)
JessaLu bag
Beer store! “Half Time
Space Cadet
saw a Traveling Sweater sample at The Fold, going to order Blue Moon Fiber Arts Woobu


Start Spinning Giveaway
Spindle and bits of fiber. To enter the raffle, just reply to the thread (one entry per person)


Sweater KAL prize drawings!
1. $10 in patterns on Ravelry
2. One pattern on Ravelry up to $10 (donated by tashbalaz)
3. 1 skein Malabrigo Arroyo in Chispas
4. Stitch markers from craftyknitter7 (sgates7 on esty)
5. Color Grid by Gail Callahan, donated by aahoward





Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Vanilla Bean Striping Socks- Free Pattern

-->

I created this pattern while knitting a(nother) pair of plain vanilla socks in self-striping yarn. I wanted something a little different but equally mindless, and this technique fit the bill.

This pattern is really more of a recipe- it assumes that you have experience knitting socks, and does not have instructions for any particular toe or heel. It is written for toe up socks on two circulars, but could easily be modified for top down and/or magic loop. Any weight of self-striping yarn will work, if you adjust your stitch count and needle size. 

Yarn: Self-striping yarn with enough yardage for socks. Sample sock knit in Knitterly Things Vesper, in the Holiday Blitz colorway
Optional: Coordinating yarn of the same weight for toe, heel, and cuff (Sample uses Tempted Good Grrl in Dreamy)

Needles: Whatever gives you the right gauge for socks with your chosen yarn (Sample is knit on two US 1 (2.25mm) 24” circular needles)

Instructions:

Toe:
Using the coordinating color, cast on and knit a toe. I like the Seam Free Rounded Toe by Lynne Ashton.

Foot:
Switch to main color, starting at the beginning of a stripe. Knit in stockinette until you reach the beginning of the next color. 

Knit until the color change. Begin a slip 1, knit one repeat until the end of the stitches on that needle.  This will now be the instep needle.  On the second needle, knit plain- this is your sole needle. On the instep needle, finish the S1, K1 pattern until you reach the first stitch that you slipped on the previous round. Knit plain on both needles until you reach the next color change.
When you get to the next stripe, you will repeat the S1, K1 pattern, making sure that the slip stitches line up with the slip stitches from the previous stripe. 

Heel:
Use your favorite heel.  I knit a short row heel in a coordinating color, but you may prefer to do an afterthought heel to preserve the striping pattern.

Leg: Using main color, continue knitting in stockinette until the next color change. Complete one full round of the slip 1, knit 1 pattern (on both the front and back needles.  Continue this at every new stripe until 1 inch past your heel.

Increase row: K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1, K1.  Repeat on second needle. (4 stitches increased)
Continue knitting leg until you reach desired length. Knit 2 inches of ribbing and bind off loosely. 

See the pattern page on Ravelry here.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Episode 39: Booo-S Airways






Whatcha Makin?
Aidez cardigan by Cirilia Rose- size 10 needles, Cascade Eco #8049, Celtic Cast On KAL
Honey Cowl by Ann Maria with Mal Rios in Aguas, size 8 needles
Whiskey’s sweater planning stages
Vanilla Bean Socks- my own pattern, with Vesper Holiday Blitz and Tempted dreamy

Whatcha spin?
Wild Hare Fiber Studio Faux Cashmere, Sugar Maple colorway, approx. 200 yards 2 ply fractal spun

Whatcha Get?
Fiber from Retha:  Unwind Superwash Merino in Boysenberry, and Fibernymph BFL/Silk in Erin
Lollipop Yarn FaLaLaLaLa
Wedding dress!
Yarn bowl was from June at Rising Sun Earthworks
Podcast buttons! from Tiny Peach Buttons on Etsy- super reasonable and fixed my picture for free!
   
Sweater KAL going on until October 15th- will close the board the morning of Oct. 16 and draw names the following Monday.
Tag your sweaters with WSfallsweaterKAL

Fundraiser for Sara (singularknitter on Ravelry)- raising money for Susan G Komen 3 Day walk on October 12-14. Her goal is $2300. Every $5 donation enters you into the prize pool. Ends on October 11th.