Monday 30 August 2010

Queensland socks

Here I am back again from a lovely holiday. I don't have much to show knitting wise though. I did very little knitting while we were away but I did manage to knit these socks.



The socks started life as a pair of Tuscany socks. They are toe-up socks. Once I started the pattern on the leg section I found that it didn't really grab me. Perhaps I should rephrase that because they grabbed a little too much - the legs were a touch too tight for me. I didn't want to start all over again so instead I ripped back just the legs and then knitted a simple slip stitch pattern which I borrowed from the Lava Flow pattern.



Oh and the yarn is Opal Neon. This was also my July Personal Sock Club Yarn. I'm running behind now because I haven't even looked at what August has on offer for me. I think I might have to let it lie for a while because I am eager to get my Summer Swatch Stole finished. I have some catching up to do - such a lovely prospect.

It was warm and sunny in Queensland and we managed to miss the awful weather that Victoria experienced in our absence. We have come home to definite signs of spring.




What a welcome sight!

Saturday 7 August 2010

By the skin of my teeth

I have managed to complete one more project before leaving for warmer climes. Haruni, my tenth shawl for the 10 shawls in 2010 group on Ravelry.

The shawl is still wet and blocking in these photos and there is no time to wait for the shawl to dry. I knitted this in Bendigo Woollen Mills 4ply Luxury in Ice on 3.5 mm circulars. My only modification was to knit an extra repeat of Chart A.



I had a near disaster 4 rows from the finish when my cable broke and I watched my stitches running away from me. It took me ages to transfer the stitches and then carefully pick up the stitches that had run away. Fortunately it is a very easy pattern and I was able to hook the stitches all back in place.



Now as to the travel knitting. I am taking along a pair of socks for the plane trip and the Featherweight cardi for the balmy tropical evenings.

Annie, I will be gone for 3 weeks and will only have intermittent internet access. I have already signed up for the Klabouter KAL but will only be able to knit the shawl when I get back.

Did you mutter something about measurements Mary? I don't think I quite heard you!

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Decision time again

Before talking about my need to make decisions, I want to show off my new socks.



These are the Trail Socks designed by BadCatDesigns and are part of the Summer Swatch Me project. This is such a good KAL. We are knitting a sampler and have reached week 7. Each week, in addition to the sampler pattern, there is also a pattern for either a hat, mitts, socks, scarves or bookmarks or any combination of the afore mentioned. Treat yourself and go and check it out if you haven't yet.

I knitted these socks using Little Lotus bamboo sock yarn on 2.75mm needles. And note that the socks are mirror images!

Now for those decisions. I am about to leave for warmer climes. We are heading for the sub-tropics for three weeks to escape the last of the winter. So what do I take with me to knit while I am away? I'm thinking maybe socks (I have yet to knit both my July and August Personal Sock Yarn Club socks), or a scarf or maybe another Featherweight cardi or some combination of these. What would you recommend?