Snowy Cable Socks

So I've finished my first pair of patterned socks, and I LOVE them. I found the pattern in the November - January Issue of Cast On Magazine. I was a little hesitant to knit them since no one on Ravelry has knit these socks and I really like to see others results for projects before I knit them. But I decided to just go for it and I'm really really happy.

I used the Colinette Jitterbug yarn and I'm hooked. The yarn is fantastic!! It's so soft and so freakin squishy. I just want to live in these socks.

The bonus also about being the first person to knit this pattern on Ravelry is that now my picture of my socks is the post picture for the pattern.

Winter Light

So the winter light or lack there of is really putting a strain on my Ravelry/Blog updating. I leave for work Monday through Friday and it’s just before sunrise. Then I get out of work each night just after sunset. So Monday thru Friday I’m missing the sun all together. And my home lighting situation is just not adequate for good (or even decent) photography after dark. So all my pictures need to basically be taken on the weekends; but again this pose some issues with lighting also, I’m limited to photograph between basically 7:30am(I don’t think I’ve ever seen 7:30 am on a weekend) and 4:30 pm. But the cloudy days and bluish tinge to the light that winter has makes even these times difficult. So I post with out pictures and my Ravelry page just stays the same.

2009 Sock Kal

I’ve decided to join the 2009 sock kal. Although I’m not sure that I’m going to be in this for the full 12 month knitting since some of the months don’t get me all hot and bothered. So the agenda for the year is as follows

January : Red/Pink socks

February : Socks for a Cause/Charity

March : Lace socks

April : UFO socks

May : Cable socks

June : Green socks

July : New technique socks

August : Send a Skein

September : Unsocks

October : Pick something from my stash socks

November : Knitty pattern

December : Pick a designer month (tbd)

I’m actually excited to get the ball rolling on this one. I went over the weekend and bought some Casacade 220 in a pretty pink color for the January Red/Pink socks. I’ve chosen the travelers sock pattern which I found through Ravelry. I really like the pattern. I just think that I would like the socks to be just a little longer since these are my house/slipper/all the time feet keeping warm socks and I plan on changing the pattern to cuff down though. I did a gauge swatch and once I pick up an extra needle tonight on my way home I’ll be good to go on these.

So I’m definitely doing the January socks. February not so much, March sounds good. I’ve got some pretty Madelinetosh yarn that I think would be great in Lace or if I’m feeling super fancy I would love some more of the Jitterbug yarn. I love love love the feel of the socks I’ve just made with that yarn. I think after March I’ll have to see what happens. I love the idea of the year of socks and all that goodness, I just don’t know if I want to spend all my time knitting socks.

New Year, New Blogger, New FOs

New Year New Blogger or I hope to be at least a little better then I have been recently. It’s been almost two whole months since I last posted. I feel guilty. I don’t know how it happened. I don’t want to make any ambitious goals for 2009 like I’m going to blog everyday, or three post a week for ‘09’ since I don’t want to force myself into blog slavery (blogavery) but I do want to have a better track record with posting items. So I’m just going to aim to be a better blogger. Period.

What’s off my sticks:

I’ve completed two Habitat hats (his and hers). The pattern was great and the end results are fantastic. I love mine. I used the Homestead Farms yarn for mine in pinkish shades. For the “his” I used the Manos in a charcoal color. For the man’s version I used the longer M/L version of the pattern. I have to give the pattern two very enthusiastic thumbs up. I love it! Love It!

I finished my first pull over sweater. I finally finished my Golden (Green) Gables Hoodie (without the hoodie). I decided I would never wear the hood up and I looked at a lot of the FO’s and decided I wasn’t loving the look of the hood when the hood was down….so I left it off. I really am pretty pleased. My only issue is with the sleeves. I had tighter tension on the sleeves since I used the magic loop method. Only I did not check the gauge again since I had gotten gauge the entire body piece. So the arms are snugger then I would like. Certainly not too tight to wear or even uncomfortable; it’s just that I cannot wear anything under the sweater that is too bulky. I did wear the sweater for Christmas people were surprised that it was a handmade sweater so I’m thinking that’s about as good as you can hope for. I think when it comes too all my hand knit items that is what I strive for, store bought appearance.

I also finished some think men’s worsted weight socks using the Ann Budd Pattern for the Ladders for Life. They are from what I hear very warm and get used daily. I’m pretty sure that it’s a good sign when the item is worn daily. It was an easy pattern, very easy to memorize and when it comes to socks that is really what I’m looking for. I like patterns on the socks but I don’t like to have to have the pattern in front of me at all times and constantly be paying attention to the pattern. So these were great. But I have to say I would not knit this pattern for me or any women for that matter. The pattern has a very masculine look and feel to it, which was great since it was in fact for a man.

On the needles: Titled Duster, Snowy Cabled Socks, and Irish Hiking Scarf more of this to come later.