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Friday, June 27, 2008
Yup, finished some more socks. Having succumbed to working up single socks as prototypes over the years is now paying off! I have the pleasure of knitting a single sock now and ending up with a pair! These are JA 27 The Camper socks in men’s size L. 
I knit these in Briggs and Little Regal worsted weight 100% wool, which I no longer have in the shop; however, Briggs and Little’s Tuffy which has some nylon for strength, would be a great substitute. (Takes a single skein for sizes up to about Ladies’ S or M, and then you’ll need a couple for the other sizes.) I really enjoyed knitting these: they are just mindless enough for visiting or “zoning out” with a simple two-stitch cable (which also makes this sock pattern perfect for beginning sock knitters), but just fancy enough with the cabled heel flap and toe to keep things interesting. Great for boots, great for birks; great for camping, great for cross-country skiing! Here’s a blurry photo of the heel: 
This is actually a real “workhorse” pattern, as I’ve sized it from size 2 years to men’s XL, so it’s a must-have for your basic collection. Otherwise, we’re gearing up for a forecasted HOT weekend, and boy, are we ready! Is summer going to finally start?? This weekend I’ll be closed Saturday June 28 through to Tuesday July 1 for the Canada Day long weekend. I’ve also given things considerable thought and have decided to close Saturdays until further notice—at least until the end of summer. Of course my secure order form is always available, and you can send me an email at any time (although I’ll only be answering emails during working hours). Off to put a few more rows on the second front of a little cotton summer top. With this piece done I’ll be able to block and get ready to seam. I’ve got some yarn coming for a project in a Winter magazine issue, so I anticipate having not a lot of time to do anything but, once it arrives. (The crocheted sandals are advancing slowly…not making any promises as to when the pattern will be ready, but I am working on it!) Have a good one, and enjoy the sun! |
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Friday, June 20, 2008 I promised finished items this week, and I give you finished items. Little Breeze anklets in purple Mandarin Petit cotton (see my June 5/08 post): 
I just needed to knit the second one, as the first one was done as a prototype for the Knitty pattern waaaaaaaaaay last year. I knit the ladies’ small, but the feet filling the socks are still a kid’s size, so they don’t quite fill the anklets the way they should, but you get the drift. Kinda like the rolled ankle option. Fun, fun, fun and fast…the way a summer sock project should be. I also got a certain winter jacket done…and choose your viewpoint, but it’s either late for last winter, or I’m way ahead of the game for the winter upcoming. I like to choose the latter scenario. Positive thinking.    
Lovely, lovely project. Knit in Garnstudio Angora Tweed, with various shades of Jo Sharp DK for fairisle, and since Garnstudio no longer makes Pelliza, which was actually a very nice eyelash…a bit firmer feeling, and not too long of lashes…I substituted Garnstudio Vivaldi mohair. If I did it again, I would double the Vivaldi in the fairisle section. It looks fine, but it’s just not “stiff” enough to hold up the stitches above those sections all that nicely. I used a strand each of the Angora Tweed and the Vivaldi for the collar…and I may add an inch or two…it seems a little short to fold over properly in the back. But for now, it’s done, and I really like it. It’s a little big, which is good, considering I’m hoping it will fit for most of the coming winter. I’m making OKAY progress on the crocheted sandals. They’re coming along slower than I had hoped (for various reasons…the crocheting itself is quick but you have to a) actually sit down and work on them and b) not have to calculate the sizing and patterning…in order for them to actually get done in a reasonable time frame). In other shop news, I did get in some cherry double-points from Rocky Brook in New Brunswick. John recommends these for people who have a tendency to snap their birch needles, as the wood is a bit more flexible. Let me know if you’re interested in a set! Otherwise, we’ve been keeping ourselves occupied trying to keep warm. I know lots of folks are sweltering in heat…if only it were me!! It’s been unusually chilly here the last couple of weeks, and our garden is really growing slowly. Still, we’ve been making good use of herbs and a harvest of lettuce, and I’ve been pulling out bags of berries, etc. from the freezer to start getting it cleaned out for this year’s harvest season. Just made a batch of Saskatoon jam last night from some of last year’s berries…and added the luxury of a couple of tablespoons of orange brandy to the pot. Mmmmmmmmmmm. More fresh bread definitely in order. Enjoy your weekend and your knitting! P.S. Since I know you’ll ask, the jacket is a Garnstudio pattern…can’t remember the number, but I’m pretty sure they have it on their site as a free pattern. Thursday, June 12, 2008 I’ve been putting in a few minutes here and there on various and sundry partly-finished projects, and it’s really paying off! A couple of finished items, and a few more that are ALMOST there. A pair of socks out of the fabulous Grundl sock yarn from a month or so ago (sold out, unfortunately…it was such a great deal!): 
I don’t normally rib all the way down the cuff with self-striping yarns…the colorwork seems to show better on stockinette. But the wide stripes on this yarn worked beautifully with K1P1 rib, and I just got into the rhythm and didn’t stop till the ankle. Shhh….I think these will be a great Father’s Day present. (No, he’s not MY father, but still, he’s pretty much the best Papa in all the world and definitely deserves some new handknit socks.) Also, and you’ll excuse the fact that this isn’t a KNITTING finished object, but I finished the embroidery on a tea towel: 
I’ve been finding that a few minutes of embroidery is a great break for my hands, and really spices up things like tea towels and pillowcases. I’ve actually done 3 pillowcases and 2 tea towels since Christmas, and there’s no stopping me now! As for other knitting…I’ve turned the heel and am about halfway thru the instep on the second purple Breeze sock from the pattern photo. If you recall from August of last year, I finally finished the second lime one and gave the pair to myself (I love these suckers and wear them all the time!!)…and yes, I realize I wrote the pattern in February of 2007, but better late than never to knit the second purple sock! No, don’t talk to me about the turquoise one! The purple one has the rolled cuff option and my oldest keeps enquiring about them. Maybe a good Christmas “cache” item for enquiring minds, ya think? Speaking of my oldest, I started a jacket for her before Christmas (with high hopes, but alas)…and am just about done. Thankfully I think it’ll work for cooler summer evenings and will still fit for the fall, and crossing my fingers about winter. Just need to sew the sleeve caps into the armholes, darn in a few ends and choose some buttons. It’s gorgeous, and I’ve really enjoyed knitting it. I don’t seem to be the only one with the urge to clean up some works-in-progress. Look around in blogland and you’ll see the parade of old “friends” finally having their moment of glory, after having been abandoned for so long. My motivation was cleaning up to get our house ready for the market, and actually finding all the projects I’ve started over the years. Yipes! is all I can say. I have no illusions of finishing them all…all those single socks from sock pattern prototypes and swatches with big plans awaiting…but putting the final touches on a few helps make some space and makes me feel a little organized. Of course, I can’t help dreaming about NEW projects…what can I say? I’ve got to keep interest up in the shop, right? So I’ll be starting a new cardi in Misti Cotton soon from a White Lies Designs pattern, and I’m working away at my crocheted sandal leaflet. Promise to show photos of an angora blend jacket next week, and maybe a cotton anklet! Thursday, June 05, 2008 Hey, good news for chart lovers! I’ve just revamped JA18 Split Lattice Anklets to have a chart for the faux cable and lace pattern across the top of the foot. My previous version only had written directions, and I’ve had many requests over the years to add a chart for a visual reference. Done. I have actually REPLACED the written instructions to some degree with the chart, and overall I think the pattern is much clearer and easy to use. 
These are a fun little project for warm weather knitting and wearing. They only take a skein of most sock yarns to knit a pair, and they are lovely in Mandarin Petit Cotton. MANDARIN PETIT by SANDNESGARN (Norway) 100% Egyptian Cotton 180 metres/50 grams Tension: approx. 27 sts = 4 inches on 3.0 mm needles Price: $5.99 CDN solid shades, $6.25 CDN multi tones   #4418 Red and #6705 Turquoise MULTI TONES: 
#2406 Yellow/Green/Orange/Red and #5200 Blue/Green/Purple/Turquoise Knit up a few pairs in different colors and tie together with a bright ribbon for a fabulous gift! Ordering is easy…you can call toll-free in North America (1-866-690-WOOL), send me a quick email, or use my secure order form. Leaflet only is $6.49…shipping to Canada is $1.15, and GST or HST is applicable, depending on your province. Shipping to the U.S. is $1.92, bringing the total to $8.41 CDN. Or, if you’d like a couple of skeins of the Mandarin Petit cotton, too, to knit a pair or two, remember that the adult sizes Small and Medium will take a single skein for sure, but the Large might take JUST into a second skein, depending on the knitter. Shipping depends on your location and the weight of the parcel, but just send me a note for a quote, and I’ll calculate it out for ya. Happy Knitting! |
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THE WOOLLEN EARTH, PO Box 2530, Vanderhoof BC V0J 3A0 Canada Phone: (250) 690-7777 1-866-690-9665(WOOL) Email: |