FO: Xmas 2009 Jasmine socks

Yarn: Unicorn in Pink and Blue from The Natural Dye Studio
Needles: 2.25mm dpns
Pattern: Cast on 60 sts. Work k2 p2 rib for several rounds. Knit until desired length. Work short row heel. Knit until instep is desired length less heel length. Work short row toe. Cast off using three needle zigzag technique.





These socks are completely gorgeous. I thought about doing something more complicated but stocking stitch really shows off the lovely colours. I've called it Pink and Blue but there are several shades of pink and blue and purple and almost white. I haven't weighed these yet to see how much was used but I think I've enough left for a pair of footsies for me.


These are beautiful socks but I did want to add some decorative finishing to make them a little less ordinary. The zigzag bind off suits a short-row toe really well and has the double bonus of not having to graft the toe. It's a variation on a three needle bind off where here you alternate between knitting one stitch from the front needle and purling one stitch from the back needle.


When working the short rows, I decided to make the seams more noticeable. To do this I used k3tog tbl and p3tog when working the wraps. If you use k3tog and p3tog tbl the seams are less visable but I think this way is pretty.

Starting the next pair of socks

I am being so disciplined with Xmas 2009 knitting but it is getting a bit dull. Perhaps I shouldn't have decided eveyone would have socks. Maybe a hat or some gloves or even a scarf (blerugh) would have made it seem more interesting. So here's another yarn cake and another swatch.




Tomorrow there should be something a bit Christmassy to show you.

One Down

three to go. I've finished one pair of Xmas 2009 socks, I just need to weave in the ends. I really have no idea where all my darning needles have gone.



I bought a few more needles in my fight to get everything finished on time. My sister's celebration socks are coming along well but I think I will start the other one now, without finishing the first. I want to use as much Unicorn as possible. I've weighed the ball and know that I have more than 50g left so I haven't gone too far.




I've already used the circular needle for Elfyn to try on the sock once I'd turned the heel. Now, the foreseeable future is strictly Unicorn as I need to wind the yarn for neice's socks. It really helps having two pairs on the go. Whenever I need to pause on one, for measuring in particular, I can work on the other. Also, the children's socks are stocking stitch so are easier to work on in front of Alias Season 4.

Socks

I've made a start on my Christmas 2009 knitting. I've tried to be very sensible about how many presents I plan to knit this year. I was going to stick to two pairs of adult socks but then I added in two pairs of children's socks too and have brought the deadline for one pair of socks forward to the beginning of December for the Elfyn's 30th. Mwahahahahha. She will be 30.

Here is the swatch for the Elfyn's 2009 Celebration socks:

Um, how can I have waited this long to knit with Unicorns? It is GORGEOUS. I'm trying to guess what it's made of based on how much I like knitting with it. I have a feeling there is some alpaca, angora and silk in there but my friend at knitting last night threw Quviut into the ring. Who knoes, but it's very soft and makes my eyes itch ever so slightly.

Last Friday, my friend Susan visited. I haven't seen her for ages and we first met at a knitting group in London. She arrived at 11am and left at 9pm and we pretty much knitted and talked non-stop (and ate Oreos) the whole time. It's amazing how much Celebration sock can be knitted in 10 hours.



I'm using 2mm dpns and Cookie A's Angee pattern. It calls for completely different yarn and gauge (I've got 40 sts to 10 cm) so I've changed it to toe up so I can check the fit and use up as much Unicorn as possible. I've ordered some more needles so Elfyn can try it on now I've turned the heel. There's always a risk of snapping or bending dpns when trying socks on so I prefer to knit a round on a circular needle for trying on purposes. I used to slip all the stitches to scrap yarn but that was a bit fiddly and I'm impatient.

I've also knitted one nephew sock using Koigu and 2.5mm needles and finished the Blossom socks apart from a bit of weaving in ends. I have no idea where my darning needles are.