Sock KAL 2

Well, last week I had cast on the toes but hadn't decided what pattern I was planning to use *laughs* I'm happy to say that the pattern has been selected (sort of, I'll explain shortly!) and I have made a small amount of progress...

The yarn (Juno Fibre Arts Buffy Sock) is knitting up beautifully, I love the splashes of red and blue.

As for the pattern... Well, it is based on the Embellishing Hilda Sock pattern, but with some modifications. The pattern has 4 repeats of the diagonal lines, but I'm only doing 2. I am also considering reversing the direction of the diagonal once I get to the left side of the sock, to make a zig zag pattern instead - although then I'll have to decide what to do on the rear of the leg.

Oh, and I'm not reversing the pattern on the second sock - but that's not really a design decision, it's because I forgot *laughs*

I'll probably do a regular short row heel rather than the heel in the pattern, mainly because the pattern writing is slightly confusing and I'm too lazy to decipher it. Plus, I like short row heels.

Actually, talking of heels - usually I do the short row type over half of the stitches (my usual cast on is 64, so the heel goes across 32). On my Ice Cream Waffle socks, the heel is done over 29 stitches for some reason, and from trying on the first sock it seems to fit better than usual. So I might use these to experiment with a narrower heel. The design is flexible enough that it won't disrupt the pattern.

Click the picture below to head over to Sarah's blog and check out everyone else's links :)

Sock KAL 1

So, today is the start of the Sock Knitalong, hosted by Sarah of Crafts from the Cwtch.

I have selected the yarn I'll be using....

This gorgeous Juno Fiber Arts, Buffy Sock (which just so happens to have been a gift from the lovely Sarah *grins*)

I have cast on, however I still haven't quite finalised the pattern I plan to use *laughs* As I'm doing the socks 2 at a time, toe up, I have knit the toes and now I'm narrowing down my choices.

The yarn is so pretty, with splashes of red and blue, and I really want to make the most of it. I think I want to go for a pattern with something like slipped, winding or twisted stitches, pretty but not too bulky. There isn't too much variegation, so I can afford to make something with a bit of pattern as it won't get completely lost.

Currently my frontrunner is Charybdis... But you never know ;)

Sock KAL

I mentioned yesterday that I have cast on a new sock, to make up for the annoyance I am feeling at my Noro socks (hate the yarn, it tangles every few stitches. I'll finish them, but I won't like it!)

New sock - has another repeat since last night but I forgot to take a new picture!

Anyway, I had already decided to join in with the latest Knitalong (KAL) from Sarah at Crafts from the Cwtch. So, you may wonder why I have already cast on, if the KAL hasn't started yet (the official start date will be Thursday 24th January)

Well, as I am knitting these socks one at a time, I thought the community aspect of a knitalong would help me to try and overcome second sock syndrome - but if I want to have a hope of getting to the second sock in the appropriate timespan, I needed to start right away *laughs*

This is a fairly long-winded way of saying:

• Sarah is having a sock KAL - check out her blog today for details
• I am participating, because I love socks
• I have already started, but that's ok because reasons

Anyway, although I don't consider myself an expert by any stretch of the imagination, I have knitted socks toe up, top down, one at a time, 2 at a time, on DPNs and using magic loop - so if anyone has any questions during the KAL, I'll do my best to help!

Stripe Study Shawl KAL Update #4

I must admit, I haven't done much on my shawl this week. I'm on the border, so technically it's nearly done, but the border rows are just so long *laughs*

At least the green wedges had some interest from the wrap and turns, and the sense of achievement at finishing them. Now I find I am lacking the motivation to pick it up and just get it done!

I've probably done about a fifth of the border, and it's at a stage where it's very much "so close and yet so far". I know I'll finish it, and relatively soon, but I'm not forcing myself to pick it up. I'll do a row and then work on something else for a bit. I love the way the shawl is looking, so I don't want to end up resenting it *laughs*

This of course means that I am going to be way behind the others in the knitalong, some of whom have already finished, but hey, it's supposed to be fun, right?!

Stripe Study Shawl KAL Update #3

I missed a week of the SSSKAL updates due to Knitting and Crochet Blog Week, but I'm back today with news of how the shawl is growing *smiles*

It's now impossible to photograph properly on the needles, not enough room to stretch it out without losing a lot of stitches!

I've (finally) finished the twelfth and final green stripe, so now it's just the loooooooong rows of the border to do. Luckily I'm still excited about the shawl, because those long rows are really a bit of a chore *laughs*

From a picture I saw on instagram yesterday, it looks like my co-conspirator Sarah has finished her shawl and is blocking it already. Go Sarah *grins* I'm a little way off, thanks to my finger mishap of a few weeks ago, plus focusing on my Narragansett when I realised how close that was to being finished...But hopefully I'll be there soon.

I've added a Mr Linky below, in case you're participating in the kintalong and want to showcase your post too - I'd love to read it! And I'm linking up with Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm Crafting On again this week.

Pop back later though, as I have another post coming (I know, 2 in 1 day!)

Stripe Study Shawl KAL Update #2

Good morning and welcome to my second Stripe Study Shawl Knitalong update *smiles*

It's getting harder to photograph now *laughs* The rows seem to be getting really long, and yet the shawl itself still seems pretty small. Which does not bode well for the length of the upcoming rows!

Luckily I am still loving it, both the simplicity of knitting garter stitch and the striking look of the shawl. Each row adds to the overall look and I really like that. I'm part way through row 10 at this stage. I would have been further along had it not been for this:

I sliced open my finger (not entirely sure how either), which then swelled up and was incredibly sore. So that stopped me being able to knit for a good few days :(

I tested it out last night, and am happy to announce that it has healed enough to knit, albeit slower than usual!

As there are now a few people joining in with the Knitalong, I thought it might be worth adding a Mr. Linky, so please do drop your links in there so that we can keep track! And the fabulous Sarah, my co-conspirator in this knitalong, sent me the details of how to add a collage of the knitalong projects pictured on Instagram (if you want yours featured here, just tag your photo with #sssknitalong):

Oh, and I'm also linking up with Frontier Dreams, with Keep Calm Crafting on today too *grins*

Stripe Study Shawl KAL Update #1

It's Tuesday, which means it is the first update in the Stripe Study Shawl Knitalong that Sarah and I are doing *grins*

I took my grey skein of yarn with my to my mum's over Easter and she kindly helped to wind it (saving poor boyfriend the arm ache of a second skein of Wollmeise!). When I got back, I saw that Sarah had tweeted that she already had stripes! So I cast on immediately *laughs*

And now I have stripes too...

5 of them. I'm completely in love with this shawl already. I love the simplicity of it, the Wollmeise feels gorgeous once knit (I find it somewhat nondescript in the skein - pretty but not amazing to touch) and the colours are so vibrant.

This picture should show the colours a bit better:

I don't usually complain about the sun, but the way it was streaming through my window this morning made it very difficult to get a good picture of the wonderful bright green!

Don't forget to go and check out Sarah's lovely blog, Crafts from the Cwtch, to see her progress today. And if you're still wavering about joining us, here is an excellent Q&A post she cunningly put together to entice you. We've only just started, and the first bit is so quick, so you can definitely catch up!

And if you are participating, let me know so I can link to your blog too *smiles*

Here are some of the other participants:

Maya
Kat

Knit-a-long

As I've mentioned a few times, I have pattern and yarn to knit the gorgeous Stripe Study Shawl. And, the very lovely Sarah (of Crafts from the Cwtch) is also planning to knit the same shawl.

So we decided it might be fun to have a bit of a knitalong (KAL). We're both probably starting sometime over the course of this weekend.

Sarah very kindly designed this pretty banner to go with our posts (don't worry, she checked with the designer that it was ok to use the picture!)

And this cute button for the sidebar too *smiles*

If anyone wants to join in, we'd love to have you!

I don't think we have any rules, we just figured it would be a bit of fun to do a KAL, as we'd both be knitting the same/similar patterns at the same sort of time *grins* We're planning to post progress on Tuesdays so we have a weekly sort of check in.

I'm all excited to get started now!