I wanted to spice things up a bit so instead of immediately casting on for jaywalkers mate, I decided to cast on for something else.
This is the Crosshatch Lace pattern from the second sensational socks book (try saying that ten times fast). I really heart that book by the way. The yarn is Lisa Souza Sock! Merino yarn in the Gendarme color way. When I first started, I increased the toe to 64 stitches, did a couple of rows before I tried it on. #1, it was too big and #2, it was pooling something awful. Normally, I’m a fan of pooling, but I like a pool that more or less sweeps to the side and zigzags and all that good stuff. This pool was just vertical globs of color (yuck). So I ripped (yeah you read that right, I frogged) it back to 60 stitches and just flipped through the book until I found a pattern that I liked and would work for my stitch count. Did I mention that I really heart this book? To make a long story short, now I have a pool that kinda looks like stripes, now how cool is that? I’m usually a gusset gal but I didn’t want to mess with the pool action on the instep so I opted for a short row heel. I have to make another road trip this weekend so hopefully I can finish it during the 4 hour ride and I’ll be halfway to two pairs of socks.
As for the fiber, yesterday I received my package from the fiber swap I hosted and all I can say is Oh Boy. My partner really outdid herself and I can’t thank her enough. Here’s the goodies
Not only did she send about 6 ounces of wool, but she also sent me some of her Mango beeswax lip balm and some handmade soap from her shop. The soap filled the whole package with the most wonderful aroma. Can you imagine the aromatherapy effects once I get to spinning this wool. All I can say is Thanks Maggie and I will definitely will be ordering some more soap from you guys.
Also my buddy Kim gifted me with this lovely mystery fiber out of the blue. I'm not a member of the Eye Candy Friday group but I couldn't resist showing yall a bit of the fiber pron (tee hee)
Like I said before I didn’t get much time to spin this week. I made a learn to spin kit as a door prize for my meetups’ Knit In Public day event but of course I forgot to take a picture of it. I hand painted the spindle and it looks something like this one but not quite.
I should have a couple more spinning kits available in the shop by the end of next week so stay tuned. I would appreciate it if someone (read: Tawanna or Allena) could take a picture of it tomorrow and send it me. I’ll owe you one. I did manage to spin a little though. After reading Abby’s post on plying and getting this book, I can’t wait to try out these techniques. I had some of Abby’s luxury batts in my stash so I kinda eyeballed it and split the whole thing into thirds. I want to ply my first three-ply yarn so I’m trying to spin my singles really thin. I don’t have any plans for the finish yarn but I’m mainly spinning this to practice spinning evenly and plying. My only problem is lack of bobbins. I need like 20 more but I can’t justify the purchase right now. It just aint in the budget so I have to find another way to accomplish my goal. I spun the first bobbin, let it sit for a coupla days, then wound it into a center pull ball. I slid the single right off the ball winder and onto a knitting needle so I can set it up in my makeshift lazy kate seen here.
(My Fiber Basket)
Now I can still use my original bobbin to spin the other two singles. I think I’ll just slide them all on the needle side by side and ply them that way. I am so anxious to see how this comes out so of course I’ll keep you guys posted.
Well that’s it for now kiddies, I need to go pack. By the way, if you’re on ravelry…lets be friends!
Happy knitting!
13 comments:
Wow! Both socks look REALLY good! Go you!
Love the Jaywalker and the Crosshatch Lace socks! I have the yarn you used for the Jaywalker, but hadn't decided on a pattern.
Just added you as a Ravelry friend. See you there!
I started my first Jaywalker, too. yes, now we know why it's so popular. It's visually interesting without being too busy, easy pattern to memorize but not as boring as plain st st. Yours is looking good.
Oh, and congrats on the socks with your own handspun. I love the fraternal look with your particular dye job. I think they look great.
Hey I thought you said you had "nuthin" this week. Someone has been really busy...make all the rest of us look bad.
Those two socs look beautiful. I really love the color of Lisa Souza's yarn. Beautiful.
Both socks look fantastic.
Nice socks! I love that book, too--haven't made anything out of it YET, but there's so many patterns I want to try.
Have fun on your road trip!! Too bad I'm not going to the city for KIP Day. I don't have the energy and there's a buncha crap to take with me so I'll KIP in Prospect this year. You did good bringing the stitch count back to 60, the 'stripes' are cool!! I feel you on not having enough bobbins.. So much fiber so few bobbins.
The Crosshatch Lace socks go really well with that fabulous yarn.
Thanks for fiber pron - love that yellow! It should be spectacular as yarn, and knitted into peds, like I just saw at throughtheloops -
http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/through_the_loops/2007/05/peds.html
I don't bother with lazy kate, justwind everything into center pull balls and ply away.
Hi Chante,
Your socks look great, I still haven't started mine, but when I do I will probably need your help. Hope to see you soon.
Nice socks! See you at B&N tonight if I can get out of work on time.
You're inspiring me to write a poem on knitting, seeing those colorful pics does something to my poetic brain :)
I already have Jaywalkers on my must knit list. I guess I will be adding the Crosshatch Lace socks to the list as well. I really like the look of the stitch pattern. Can't wait to see them both all knit up.
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