...pass the slipped stitch over

2006-10-28T09:37:00.000+10:00

You can find me HERE, still with the same blog name.

You will need to change any bookmarks, as URL is different.

I'm giving Betablogger a go, at least for while.

2006-10-08T08:13:00.000+10:00

how to use up leftover sock yarn

Go here for the perfect way to use up leftover bits and pieces. Be sure to click on the picture for more ideas.

However, I can't help you with ideas for the models. LOL

Saturday sky

2006-09-24T15:53:00.000+10:00

Saturdaysky2
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

I was playing around with Paint Shop Pro yesterday and rather liked some of the effects I tried out. As you can see, yesterday was an absolutely beautiful one. Clear, blue, quite warm.

Quite the opposite today. It's well over 30° here this afternoon and blowing a northerly, hot gale. The backsteps are covered with leaves and twigs and the flat surfaces feel dry and dusty.

I've knitted up one sock in the Wildfoote sock yarn shown below. I'm using the green to make the Lombard Street sock from the latest edition of Magknits. My sock looks somewhat odd because I shortrowed the heel over a full 60%of the stitches. It makes the instep fairly narrow. However, it fits well and feels good on my foot. I didn't carry the pattern down the foot, although I like the look of it. It's a bit chunky and I often wear shoes with laces, like joggers or my Rockports, and I thought the pattern might be uncomfortable.

Click for larger image.

wildfoote sock yarn

2006-09-12T17:03:00.000+10:00

wildfoote
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Click for a larger picture.

My yarn arrived by Post Office courier this afternoon. Very quick service.

It feels absolutely lovely, silky smooth.

I'm somewhat disappointed in the colours. I realise there is always a difference in the colour on the monitor and real life and that everyone's monitor varies in portrayal of colours.

I've been buying sockwool over the net for quite a while now and only been disappointed once before. One colour of Elann's sock wool was fire engine red, instead of a duller red. That was in a group of about 15 different colours, so I did pretty well. All other wool has been remarkably similar to the colour shown on the monitor and has come from varied sources.

I know I am introducing yet another variable in these photos - that of your monitor too. Not to mention my camera's take on things.

However the colour of the two wools in the photo is remarkably similar to what I make of them in good daylight.

The inset is the colour shown on the webpage. Particularly in the geranium, there is no similarity. I bought it because it looked a fresh feminine colour for either me or my little girly granddaughters. In real life, it's a dark solid masculine type colour. I'll wear it, but it wasn't what I was after. The green also shows much, much lighter than it really is. I had patterns picked out for each colour but will ahve to find others more suitable to the colour.

I find this a pity, because the wool feels so nice and I am looking forward to knitting it. However, I am not enthused about buying more if the colours are so out. The camera shows the colour, the web page doesn't. I've never had this problem before, and I'm disappointed.

monday sky

2006-09-11T11:52:00.000+10:00

monday sky
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Here's a Monday sky which is not much different to Saturday sky! Once again, five minutes after the photo was taken, it was pouring again.

My creamy briar rose, covered with spring blossom and the star jasmine which also has a lot of flowers because of the ridiculously warm weather of a couple of weeks ago, have been badly battered by the rain and wind. Not really a complaint, we are desperate for rain, just a statement. Work tomorrow, but today is good knitting weather if I had anything to do which won't be affected by the mushy head from this cold.

I hope my Wildfoote sock yarn will arrive today. It was posted about an hour after I ordered it last Friday.

As with all these photos from Flickr, clicking will produce a larger image.

slippers and socks

2006-09-11T11:36:00.000+10:00

slippers and socks
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

I have actually been doing some knitting. The white pair is another set of pocketbook slippers for a friend. These are smaller than the black ones. I did not increase quite as much as the pattern suggested. A couple of flowers on the strap and some more on the toe.

The green is cheap sock wool from Lincraft which I bought some time ago. I've done one adult size sock and developed SSS. Then I made this pair for Miss Four. There is a leafy pattern on them, and a roll top. I started them so long ago, that I can't remember where I found the pattern which does not really show much on the variegated fabric. The wool is OK to knit, although nothig amazingly wonderful. Still, it was less than $10 for 100gm, so I can't complain about the price.

The blue, which is a fairly accurate representation of the colour is Seebreeze from the Knittery. It's the pure merino, 4 ply. It's beautiful to knit with and feels great moving through the fingers.. These are for me and I've been doing them at work. That means something basic s to pattern, because I can be often interrupted.

Both sets of socks had the cuffs knitted on 2.75 mm needles and I then switched to 2.25 for the foot and heel. It's not noticeable at all on the foot, although it does show just when looking at the socks.

saturday sky

2006-09-11T11:27:00.000+10:00

saturday sky
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

It's been odd weather here since last Thurday. September average rainfall has been well and truly pass in the first week of the month. It's grey here, tending to light grey. Just after this was taken, the heavens turned black again and down the rain tumbled. Add some gale force winds which turned most umbrellas inside out and it's been a wet week.

2006-09-08T12:36:00.000+10:00

I've finished another pair of the pocketbook slippers shown below. This pair is white with some embroidery on the toe and the strap. I've also finally finished my socks from the merino I bought from the Knittery. I was doing them at work in odd moments when I was free.

Life has been hectic here. MIL has been in a hospital for nearly a month before having her third hip replacement of the one joint. I'm not sure if I mentioned it here, but she was continually dislocating the hip. Even did it while she was asleep in bed in the hospital. A total of seven times over about three years. Each time it's very painful and she goes downhill more. We did not want the operation, there were a large number of associated risks, but we couldn't leave her as she was. She was in the coronary ward for some days after as there were some problems. Now she's back at the nursing home. It seems that the hospital did not get her out of bed after the op. She's stubborn and refuses to do anything she does not want to. We have been trying to get her to do some therapy etc. No use at all. All she wants is to stay in bed. She does not realise, or won't acknowledge that her actions will lead to her losing her single room and bathroom and she will be moved permanently to the nursing section if she can't/won't get herself to the bathroom and dining room. We'll have to cross that bridge when she realises it when that inevitable decision is made next week.

We've also sold her house and have spent a lot of time on financial matters. Today I have come down with a horrendous cold and am stopping indoors, doing very little. I'd like to start some more knitting, but my brain seems to have turned to mush.

People talk about comfort food. I've done some comfort shopping. I've just bought some Brown Sheep Wildfoote sock yarn from Yarns Online. I bought geranium and mistletoe. Postage was more than reasonable, $4.80 internal Australian postage. I'll photograph the wool when it arrives and perhaps other finished stuff too. I take most of my photos outside. Today has returned to winter. It's very cold with a strong wind and there's no way I'm poking my nose out the door.

Later
Barely an hour after I had placed my order with Yarns Online and received confirming email, I had another email to say that the order had been dispatched. Now that's what I call quick service.

I also picked up a second sock for Miss Four made from sock wool from Lincraft. I had got tired of it and just pt it aside. It took about 45 minutes to finish, so that's something else off my mind.

And have you seen the sock patterns in the new MagKnits? I like all of them.

Magic

2006-08-28T10:20:00.000+10:00

pocketbook_slipper_2
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

I showed my husband the tiny basket from the photo below. His reply was that it looked pretty. I think he was just saying something so I would know he had looked. When I told him it was a slipper, he would not believe me till I had put it on.

pocketbook_slippers_1

2006-08-28T10:13:00.000+10:00

pocketbook_slippers_1
Originally uploaded by Jan.

I have been knitting, just no photos and quite a bit of frogging too. I'm on the tail end of socks for granddaughter and am knitting at work on my merino socks for myself. Unfortunately I had to rip out all the heel when I noticed a stitch I could not easily pick up had been dropped.

These pocket book slippers are for my sister. She starts radiotherapy today for a recurrence of the breast cancer of ten years ago. Five days one week and four the next for the next six weeks. Then some more chemo, hormones and probably a finish up with the new drug herceptin.

Her birthday is soonish and I thought she might like a comforting slipper to wear around either at the hospital or home. Two years ago I made the fluted banister socks for her in 8 ply as house socks. My mother says she wears them often and really likes them.

These are super easy and very quick to make. Some of the 8 ply wool I bought for $2/100gm recently. I think each slipper took about 2 hours and it's an ideal pattern to use while watching TV etc.

Saturday sky

2006-08-14T07:26:00.000+10:00

early_sun
Originally uploaded by Jan.

This was taken just after 6:00 am, far too early in my opinion for a Saturday. Less than a minute before, the sky had been a deep, dark ruby red. I ran for the camera but even a few seconds brought change.

I've been knitting but just socks. Not very motivated to do anything else. I'm well down the second sock for me with my second lot of merino from the Knittery. This stuff is just as beautiful to knit as the first lot.

I'm also onto the second sock for Miss Just Four in the cheap sock wool from Lincraft. I guessed at the length. Her dad and the three children called here unexpectedly on Saturday morning so I tried the first sock on her. Perfect. Not sloppy but a good fit around the foot and the length was good too. It can be worn now but will allow for some growth too. Then Miss Not Quite Two will get them.

I called at the top lot of shops in Burwood the other day. Had a look in the Janome shop which sells a bit of wool, no great selection and usually no great deal of colours or quality either. They had 100 gm balls of Panda pure wool, 8 ply for $2. I've been doing scarves and hats which our church gives away, so I bought six balls of this. The colour range was very limited.

2006-07-27T14:17:00.000+10:00

frog pond
I didn't realise it's been quite so long. Hmm! Do I look green from the duck and frog pond? On second thoughts, I don't really need an answer to that. I've been spending a lot of time there.

I think I mentioned I was making a beret, just to prove to myself that I could work out how to do it without a pattern. It worked fine, after a tinking back all around the cast off edge becaue it was too tight. Did I mention this is BLACK and HAIRY mohair? Done under winter light, I could hardly see the tinked stitches. Finally finished. Voilà! One beret correctly shaped. But far too big for me. I wasn't undoing that edge again. I've proved to myself that I could do it. Now this is no small thing. I don't have a great deal of spatial and visual ability. Give me words, or a different language etc and I'm fine. But charts, numbers, drawings etc just don't do anything for me at all. I'm getting better at charts, but still proceed carefully with them. So I've worked out what had to be done and I've got there. I just wasn't careful enough with the actual size. As this beret cost me about 0.35 cents with some cheap wool, I'm not undoing it.

I then started on some house socks for my sister from the same stuff. As if I hadn't had enough black by then. First was miles too big, even allowing for possible shrinkage. So I started the second sock, thinking I would undo the first later. I was down to the heel when I decided they would not be comfortable to wear with such a large percentage of nylon in them. There is very little stretch or memory to the yarn. So I've thrown them to one side too.

I bought some of the KMart Homemaker wool yesterday. This time it was reduced to $290/100gm. I realised I had bought too much as it dawned on me that these were 100 gm balls. Too bad. I'd make a scarf or two or three for giving away at the church at a lunch we run for those in the Housing Commission flats near us. I've tried several ideas and like none of them.

All my get up and go has got up and gone! Actually, I've just started back at work this week after the mid-semester break. The holidays have actually been quite stressful with an awful lot happening in them. I think I'm feeling tired from the extra work and feeling a backlash from stress. This is showing in the knitting and lack of blogging.

My sister is trying to sort out options fro treatment after surgery for the recurrence of her cancer after ten years. She's bothered and my mother is still trying to cope too. She's a panic merchant. A lot is coming out by her being picky and snarky with everyone, quite over the top and a refusal to see that she is poisoning herself by being like this with little justification.

I'm going to sit in what sun we have here today and wind the second hank of my gorgeous merino sock wool from the Knittery in Melbourne. It's seabreeze and the colours look very soothing and calming. Perhaps my enthusiasm is hidden in the middle of the skein.

Tomorrow I am going to the Greek Drama Festival at Macquarie Uni. Presented by nine or ten schools, these excerpts in English from ancient Greek dramatists are always superbly done. It amazes me how well teenagers cope with situations which they could never have experienced. Good comedy too, usually hammed up. More stress relief.

2006-07-15T15:32:00.000+10:00

grey day todayIt's very grey here today,matching my mood. I'm really pleased to see somerain but hope it's raining over catchment areas and farms.

I feel lazy and think the last few weeks are catching up with me. More stress than I care for and lots of things happening.

I attend an inner city church here in Sydney. We have a group in some of the most notorious Housing Commission units in Sydney and have recently started to offer free lunches a couple of times a week in aneighburhood centre near church. About twenty people came the first time. Many of these were from the Commission units opposite what was the former Children's Hospital. The hospital is now converted into new, upmarket townhouses and units, quite a contrast from the colourless block over the road.

I've spent the morning finding knitted goods which can be given away. Last week small packs were given which had socks in them. A drive for blankets is on. I ransacked my present basket and found quite a few scarves and hats for both men and women and some wristwarmers for women. I'll pack them all up and take them tomorrow. I'm going to package thngs for women in ziplock bags and add some nice soap. This is also out of my stock. I have lots of pretty, fragrant soaps which I don't use as I prefer shower gel. Someone else may enjoy using them and they are all just packed away here. I have little disposable income, but I do have some stash which will knit up quickly. Not homemade socks I think. They take some time to finish. However, I made a scarf yesterday out of 100 gm of Aldi wool. I have several more I can use like this. It's warm and was an excellent price, $2.50/100 gm. 12 ply, so it went quickly.

2006-07-11T21:20:00.000+10:00

second pinwheel jacket
I've just finished another pinwheel jacket for Miss Four's little sister who turns two at the end of September. I'll try to get a photo tomorrow if the light's good. It's a very quick knit and I've worked out how to upsize it for their cousin but am not planning on doing it for a while. I'm all pinwheeled out. At well over two hundred stitches for the small size around the final row of the circle I was bored stiff doing the I-cord edging and joining it every three stitches to the jacket. I can't imagine what an adult size would be like to do! ASn advantage of the pink jacket was that I spit-spliced in each new ball. Different stripes on this one meant lots of ends to attend to.

This was made from leftover pink Jet, some green Jet I had left from something else, one 100 gm ball of dark blue 12 ply from Aldi and a similar ball of bone. There's quite a lot of both Aldi wools left.It's used up some stash and some bits and cost me under $10. If I had bought wool for this, I would probably have chosen toning colours. However, these look OK and I can visualise the jacket on her. Her colouring is quite different to her sister. She's the only paler complexioned and blonde hair of the fve grandchildren. All the rest could easily be brothers and sisters from the same family and have indeed been mistaken as such. Now, do I keep it till late September and give it as part of her birthday present, or do I give it to her to use no while it's cold? It will fit next year too.

back view jacket

2006-07-07T19:39:00.000+10:00

back view jacket
Originally uploaded by Jan.

This is my young granddaughter,4 last week, wearing the jacket from Elann's free patterns mentioned in the previous post. She's quite the model, I thought.

It's basically a circle, started on dpns and then transferred to a circular needle. Stitches for sleeve are put on a holder and picked up later. Loops are I-cord and were exceedingly boring to do.

The pattern is very easy to do and didn't take long on 5.5 mm needles with 12 ply Patons Jet, wool and alpaca. There were a few ends to darn in. The colour was a real hit. "What colours do you like?" "Pink." "How about blue?" "Pink." "Green?" "I only like pink."
What a cutie! She was so excited she twirled around and away from me before it was on properly. I have some of the pink left over and some dark blue and a bone as well. I think I might make the jacket for her sister who turns two at the end of September..

2006-07-05T09:51:00.000+10:00

There's not much to report here. Things have been hectic and wearing and I've a lot on my plate causing stress. I'm feeling very weary today and think I will spend it knitting.

I'm currently making the child's version of this pinwheel sweater from Elann. I started a week ago but because I don't visualise things well,I made a mistake in sleeve placings. Then life caught up with me and it wasn't till Monday that I was able to rip back. Now I'm working the loopy edging and hope to shortly pick up for the sleeves.

I think I'll find a sunny spot in the backyard and at least finish the edging today. I really don't feel up to much else. I'm using Paton's Jet,colour 704, which is a mix of wool and alpaca. The tension calls for 17 stitches/10 cm and Jet comes closest at 16.5. I'm not worried about the difference. It will fit one little girl or her sister. I rather like yhe different colours, but this is all in a dusky pink for a little girl who likes any colour, "so long as it's pink,grandma."

I don't want to be socks

2006-06-24T12:18:00.000+10:00

mosaic socks
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Speak up! I can't hear very well, you know.
Actually, I can't hear very well and have worn hearing aids for over three years now and probably should have had them a long time before that.

However, I just could not hear some wool voicing its opinion to me because I was determined that I could force it to do something else.

Along with the purple in the hat below, a lovely dark plummy colour, I also bought some orange, perjhaps an old fashioned burnt sienna colour. I really liked it. I thought I would do some socks to go in my New Balance joggers.

I wasn't sure how far the wool would go so thought about toe up. I've done this before but much prefer top down. I ripped out two different beginnings and tried a third. Much better. Then I worked about 12 cm. The fabric was very hard and unfeeling. So for an experiment I tried a size bigger needles. Much better. Emboldened, I then started a mosaic stitch from one of my Harmony stitch guides. I used the second ball of purple which I had. Very bright but really good. Then I realised that by using this extra ball, I would have plenty of wool so I ripped again and started top down.

Again I used the mosaic pattern and after about ten centimetres I decided I would turn them into house socks for my sister. A surprise gift. She's just had cancer diagnosed again after being free from it for over ten years. She's quite down about this, understandably, and these were bright and cheerful.

I did a short row heel and worked out my colour sequence. Everything was going well. Then I looked. One side of the heel was beautiful, show entry quality. The other was dreadful. I don't usually have problems with holes but there was a gaping hole in this sock where I joined the instep. Stupidly I still did not listen to the yarn but pushed on. Then I noticed I had dropped a stitch well back,just before turning the heel. I told myself that this was down where it would not be seen and that I could loop some yarn through it and weave it in onto the foot and it would felt in. I told you I had hearing problems. Brain problems too, I think.

After admiring the mosaic pattern I then discovered that this would probably not go over here foot easily. It might fit one of my grandchildren but not my sister. I had been too busy admiring the mosaic pattern to notice how the extra thickness pulled it in.

OK, OK, I hear you. You don't want to be socks.

Gail's hat

2006-06-22T11:56:00.000+10:00

Gail's hat
Originally uploaded by Jan.

Some time ago, I made a friend a lovely cashmere scarf. She asked recently for a hat to go with it. This is Filatura di Crosa Sympathie bought from Lincraft.

Size 4 mm needles, moss stitch until the decreases and a couple of metres of very boring I-cord.

The colour is actually more plummy than shows here. Much more of a match for the scarf.

Click for larger detail.

little shell socks

2006-06-16T21:35:00.000+10:00

little shell socks
Originally uploaded by Jan.

Computers, like other appliances are fine when they work. They usually work well and so I've been frustrated for at least a week with modem problems. We had it replaced and the comment from the technician was that he hadn't seen a cable modem as old as ours and still working, even if only intermiytently. However, that didn't solve the problem completely. The brand new one also gave us problems and it's taken quite a few phone calls and many minutes to get back on air.

My Little Shell Socks are finished. I used a short row heel but must have miscounted as the underneath sock is rounder than the one on top.

I think the colours in the post underneath are more accurate. The wool is very soft and beautiful to work with. It's from Daphne at The Knittery. I still have quite a bit left over. There are lots of metres on this hank. I also have the Seabreeze colourway to use.

I finished a pair of Opal blue stripes for me and a pair for young Finn 11 months old who is steadier on his feet every time I see him. He's been walking for 8 weeks already. Progress pictures, a bit blurry, are also below.

I've done the knitted clothes for a ragdoll for Miss Three's birthday next month and finished a couple of other bits and pieces. I've finished a moss stitch hat for Finn out of some of the supercheap 12 ply from Aldi. Navy with a fleck in it. I started a hat for a friend as something to do on the hour train trip from Strathfield to Woy Woy today. Finn's mum is a very good hairdresser and cuts my hair both well and cheaply for me. Added bonus of seeing the grandchildren. Miss 5 was dropped off at school where she is like a little sponge, soaking up information, but we managed to have a short conversation.

It's been good knitting weather here lately very chilly for Sydney. Last Sunday was downright freezing with low temps and a strong wind reducing them further.

2006-06-07T14:58:00.000+10:00

world'slongest scarf.
Do you fancy carting a scarf whish is 12.5 km long around with you as you knit? I didn't make a mistake. It is 12.5 kilometres long and was made for the World Cup soccer.

A picture and some more detail is available here.

I found the link at Quantum Tea which is a blog with several interests including knitting.

merino fingering

2006-06-05T10:58:00.000+10:00

merino fingering
Originally uploaded by Jan.

This is the merino 4 ply fingering I bought last week from the Knittery in Victoria. It's an absolute dream to work with. No splits and it feels wonderful. My feet keep saying "hurry up." I think they are jealous that my hands can feel this softness and they can't yet! LOL.

The ribbing is very even although it looks a bit out of line here. The saying is that cameras do not lie, but we all know that is not the case. Cameras don't always record things exactly as they are.

It was very overcast when I took the photo. I'm not complaining. It's been raining for hours and the rain is most welcome indeed here.

The pattern is by Judy Sumner and is called Little Shells. It is on the Socknitters' site. Three rows of garter stitch and one pattern row which is so easy to memorise. Cute.

seabreeze and orange blossom

2006-06-03T09:07:00.000+10:00

seabreeze and orange blossom
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Click for larger image, although this is fairly clear.

This is absolutely gorgeous 4 ply fingering, pure merino, from the knittery in Victoria. I had trouble choosing just two colours, I liked them all. 100 gm, lots of metres,nearly 500 in the hank. $17. The service was good too with just a few days from my late night order to being on my doorstep and about $3.50 postage for the two skeins. A free stitch marker was also enclosed.

I would imagine this is handwash only. This may very well mean that the socks will be for me. What a shame! LOL

grandmaand grandson

2006-06-03T09:03:00.000+10:00

grandmaand grandson
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

The usual Opal made into socks for me and a pair on the way for little Finn. He's just over 10 months and has been walking for at least the last six weeks. He has big feet like his dad so I've made these long.

Sorry about the blurry picture. I think I must have moved the camera and the day was already very overcast. it actually rained here, first time in months.

2006-05-27T16:23:00.000+10:00

picking up stitches or oherwise occupied
I have indeed been picking up stitches and have also been otherwise occupied. Life has been very busy lately and there has been a death in the family and an enornous funeral. Not much time for knitting.

The stitches? Someone moved my Project Spectrum May sock in shades of green. However, they weren't careful and pulled pileof stitches off the needles. Fortunately I've turned the heel and am not carrying the pattern down the instep. However, there were a lot of stitches to pick up and I really need to do this in good daylight.

I made a hat for Miss 5 but while it fits, she has so much hair that it would not stay on. It was only a bit big on her baby brother who at 10 months has been walking for the last six weeks. He's also inherited his dad's big head. However, a little boy did not look right in a mauve hat with a purple stripe. I've done him another in a dark blue. The mauve hat has gone to Miss Not-quite-2, his cousin. I took it with me to the funeral and her mum was very glad to get it as we were standing outside in a freezing southerly most of the afternoon.

I'm also working on doll's clothes, knitted, for a rag doll from the Woolshack in Perth. The clothes are almost finished but I'm a bit concerned about the hair which is made from some fleece. I'm sure I'm worrying unnecessarily and it will be fine when I try it, but I'm not looking forward to it. This will be for Miss Almost-4, the bigg sister of the hat recipient.

2006-05-14T17:45:00.000+10:00

mothers' day surprise
We had a big Mothers' Day gathering at one of my son's. All my sons, their wives and children, my mother and mother-in-law and the mum of one of my daughters-in-law and a few sundry other people as well. Jean, DIL's mum, has recntly been to England to see her own mum. She came out with a book. She saw it in England and thought of me, so bought it. It is Jean Greenhowe's Knitted Toys. It's a new, hardcover edition, reprinted in 1994 from the original 1986 printrun. I looked it up on Amazon but could not find any picture. Amazon's prices were astounding. I'm quite sure Jean paid nowhere near US$46.00 for this copy. It's gorgeous. I'm not sure I would make something from it and Jean even suggested it might just be a look-at type of book. There are more than 50 patterns in it. Quite a surprise.

2006-05-08T14:48:00.000+10:00

still here
I thought I'd better update but on looking at my last post this isn't much of an update. I've been careful not to knit for longish stretches of time but have now turned the heel on the Lincraft sockenwolle, done in feather and fan stitch of 18 stitches/repeat.

I hope this is not going to be too big. I usually stick to around 60 stitches in sock wool for me, but three repeats is definitely not enough so I've done 4 ie. 72 stitches. I am also using 5 needleas so each repeat is wholly contained on its own needle. makes the counting very easy, but I definitely prefer three needles with live stitches and one to knit with. That's a much more stable arrangement than I'm currently using.

2006-05-04T19:41:00.000+10:00

knitting again
I haven't done any knitting for almost a week. I think I made too many hats on circular needles and my left wrist became sore. It's feeling a lot better now and I've started yet another pair of socks with some of the sock wool from Lincraft at about $9 for 100 gm. Can't remember the exact price. I've chosen a mix with quite a bit of green in it, an unusual colour for me to use. Just simple feather and fan design which I can practically do with my eyes shut. I'm taking things easy with the wrist and won't push it too far too fast.

2006-04-25T21:00:00.000+10:00

cast iron socks

I've often heard comments about various sock wools wearing like cast iron. Today i can report that Patonyle, reasonably available down here, wears like cast iron.

Last year I made a pair of Bubble Yum socks in a pink and orange colour from the 2005 Knitting Pattern a Day calendar. (click picture formore detail.) These were for my grandaughter, then 2. She's getting on for 4 now. I was out there today and noticed she was wearing them. She told me she loved them and they felt good on her feet. She spent hours bouncing on the harsh surface of the trampoline in them. Apparently, definitely not for the first time. Then when she had finished that, she got off and forgot to put her shoes on. Around and around the backyard she ran and climbed. One sock fell down a bit, so she roughly dragged it back up. No finesse there from a three year old. Then back to the trampoline. Her father says they regularly go through the washing machine and often the drier too.

I had a good look at them. They were not very clean, how could they be? However, after a year of such treatment, they still looked good. No felting, no snags, just comfortable socks for a little girl.

It was good to see her so active, She broke her leg in several places about three months ago and it was hard to heal. She bounced over to the side of the trampoline and asked me for a hug. I was given a big kiss, very sloppy, and beautiful words, "You are a lovely grandma and I think you are beautiful." Now I have fairly stressful personal life and those words were like balm to me. I didn't cry then, but have teared up writing this.

2006-04-22T09:27:00.000+10:00

pattern blog
I've set up a new blog for any patterns I create, rathr than fussing around with prermalinks.

Links in the sidebar under "Patterns" have been changed. Here's the direct link to it-here's one I made earlier

eyelet pattern hat

2006-04-22T08:58:00.000+10:00

eyeletpatternhat2
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

I finished another hat last night. Basically, just a simple eyelet pattern inserted into an easy hat. I'm going to post the pattern in my pattern blog. Links in sidebar.

The hat can easily be adjusted for different sizes, as the pattern is a repeat of only three stitches.

2006-04-22T07:57:00.000+10:00

appreciation
A couple of months ago, I knitted the Odessa hat for my daughter-in-law. Hers was made from Patons Caressa in shades of grey and I used some dark grey glass beads on it. Tis was the first time I have used beads in knitting. I was pleased with that hat and when I finally got to giving it to her, so was she.

She's just rung to tell me what a success it was. She wore it to church last Sunday evening and had many compliments on it. Nice to know.

Hat picture here, although it's a bit hard to see the beads. Click for more detail.

2006-04-19T15:46:00.000+10:00

joys of a present basket
I met a delightful teenager today. (Goodness! that makes me sound SOOOO old!) I knew her for years but about six years ago, she went to NZ with her brothers and dad and I haven't seen her since. As a toddler she used to sit on my lap and fall asleep while her dad preached.

She's grown up and how! She's sixteen. Much taller than I am, and beautiful to look at. She gave me a big hug and we reminisced over events from ten or so years ago when her parents' marriage broke up and I saw quite a lot of her.

I brought out three skull cap type hats from the present basket and one was just what she had been wanting. It even matched her jumper. It was a pale blue Caressa version of Grumperina's Odessa hat without the beads. She lives in a cold part of NZ and the hat will get a lot of wearing. I poked around and found a bronze hat made from Cleckheaton Gusto and told her to take it for her brother. The other brother is basically off the scene at the moment.

She was thrilled and her Mum was touched too. Now if I only did things with a specific purpose in mind, I would not have been able to do this. I've given a few things away out of that basket lately. I need to replenish it.

hats and scarf

2006-04-17T11:17:00.000+10:00

hats and scarf
Originally uploaded by Jan.

This is the current easy knitting over the Easter break.

The scarf is from a single ball of Cleckheaton Flowerdale wool/mohair blend which I picked up for about $5 a couple of years ago. I think it's now discontinued. Knit on size 6 mm needles with a very easy stitch. Knit 1, YO, knit 2 together. Every row.

The purple hat is from Eve's Strings and Things. Link is in sidebar to Lacy Cantata hat. There is a scarf to match. Another easy pattern. It's from Nundle 8 ply, again from stash.

Green hat is Patons Jet,a mix of wool and alpaca. It's quite nice to knit with and I enjoyed the hat. It's been a long time since I knitted with 12 ply. The pattern is called Muse and comes from Shazza'a patterns. There's a link there to her knitting blog.

Click for more detailed picture.

2006-04-14T09:42:00.000+10:00

mysong is love unknown

My song is love unknown,
my Saviour's love to me,
love to the loveless shown
that they might lovely be.
O who am I
that for my sake
my Lord should take
frail flesh and die?

He came from his blest throne
salvation to bestow,
but men made strange, and none
the longed-for Christ would know.
But O my friend,
my friend indeed,
who at my need,
his life did spend.

Sometimes they strew his way,
and his strong praises sing,
resounding all the day
hosannas to their King.
Then "Crucify!"
is all their breath,
and for his death
they thirst and cry.

Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
he gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries!
Yet they at these
themselves displease,
and 'gainst him rise.

They rise, and needs will have
my dear Lord made away;
a murderer they save,
the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet steadfast he
to suffering goes,
that he his foes
from thence might free.

In life no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have:
In death no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say?
Heaven was his home;
But mine the tomb wherein he lay.

Here might I stay and sing,
no story so divine:
never was love, dear King,
never was grief like thine.
This is my friend,
in whose sweet praise
I all my days
could gladly spend.

Samuel Crossman (1624-1684)

2006-04-11T16:21:00.000+10:00

***!* weather
I think I'll refrain from commenting on the pleasant autumn weather. We are back to hot again today and tomorrow will probably be at least 30°. I now have two weeks off and hopefully will finish the Opal socks I started at work. One down and just on the heel on the other. I should get them done in a day or so.

I run a small canteen at Wesley Institute, a small tertiary college, so have time during the day to knit. I am a graduate (twice) of this college and I then moved on to do post-grad honours work at another place. Along with BA, teaching qualifications and also qualifications in agriculture, I have quite a range of experience.

I'm thinking, after looking at the way the students dress, that I may well be able to sell some hats and scarves after Easter. Just things I can churn out fairly quickly like a rolled edge hat done in thick wool and some funky scarves in that awful novelty yarn and some better. Now I need to investigate prices. Oh, and something to display them on.

2006-04-10T09:54:00.000+10:00

corriedale footlets
Hurray for autumn! I spend most of the summer barefoot and wear sandals etc only when going out. The last few mornings have been cooler than we've had for a long time.

This morning I am wearing my corriedal footlets made from homespun and dyed 5 ply corriedale. They feel great. Over the weekend I wore my Sirdar Town and Country footies and I've also worn the pink pair (picture twoposts down) I finished last week. Hurray for autumn and handknit socks. A good combination.

Project Spectrum

2006-04-09T09:20:00.000+10:00

Miss 2 1/2
Originally uploaded by Jan.

I pulled out this picture of my grandaughter for a Project Spectrum orange picture for this month. She was just over two then, and is now at school. She has an olive skin and dark hair and almost any colour suits her. Pink and orange shoes were the finishing touch.

I have another picture in mind but need to charge the camera battery. I wanted to get this one up and running while it was still April.

pink socks

2006-04-07T14:23:00.000+10:00

pinksocks1
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Here's the pink socks I finished a few days ago. Cleckheaton 5 ply crepe, pure wool. totally unblocked, unwashed, unpressed etc. I plan onwearing them with trainers/joggers or whatwever you know such shoes as.

I've started another pair of Opal socks, just plain. Have finished one sock and am almost down to the heel on the other. I took these to work. I work both for and by myself, so have no problems in knitting at work when things are slack.

I've also cast on for the April Six Sock KAL. I was doing the purled cuff with the hem. However I've just ripped it out and totally redone it. I'm using stash wool, purple Elann sock wool and rather stupidly, I tried picking up the hem stitches by artificial light. When I had a good look, I could see that I had not been consistent in picking up the same stitch from the cast on row. Yhis made a bumpy ridge around the hem row which felt as if it would be uncomfortable. It also looked awful. So I ripped it out, cast on 60 instead of 66 stitches and have redone it in bright sunlight. Much better.

60 stitches should be a better fit for me too. The larger number looked enormous.

Being at work part time still allows knitting time,but has cut down blogging time as I don't have a laptop. Mustask my son about getting me one.

2006-03-31T18:25:00.000+11:00

whew!!
I've just finished darning in almost sixty ends from a scarf in Caressa which I made for a young friend. Next time I think about stripes, someone please stop me! That doesn't include the narrow stripes where I carried the previous yarn up the side. I've just washed it and spread it to dry. Photos later.

2006-03-26T18:19:00.000+11:00

needles with a difference
Check this story out. It's certainly a different use for a knitting needle.

Clare killed a snake in her bedroomwith a 2.25 knitting needle. I'm not bothered by snakes or spiders and have had to deal with a few in my lifetime, but I would prefer something thicker, stronger and longer than a 2.25 mm needle.

2006-03-25T21:20:00.000+11:00

I mentioned a few posts down about the socks I had to frog several times for my youngest grandchild. We went to visit them today and I remembered to take them. This little boy is just 8 months old. The fit him quite well. I made his cousin a pair a couple of months ago. Much the same size and she was 16 months then, and is not a little thing at all.

He was funny to watch after I tried them on him. He pulls himself up and stands but wasn't used to standing in woollen socks on a tiled floor.He'll learn. His sister walked very early and I think he will be earlier. Not only does he pull himself up to standing, but he can stand by himself quite unsupported.

2006-03-19T10:45:00.000+11:00

socks and scarves
I've been doing some easy stuff while watching the Commonwealth Games events at night here. I'm home by myself for over a week, so have only myself to feed and worry about. I'm not especially interested in the games, but,unlike the Winter Olympics, they are at least on at a suitable time to watch.

A young friend has just moved to a chilly part of the Southern Highlands here and will be catching the train to work most mornings. I'm making him a gift, a cosy scarf to wear as he waits on the cold station just after 6:00 am. Beautiul place to live, but I wouldn't want to be commuting regularly in winter. Two shades of Caressa in a block of stripes.

The socks I frogged the other day have been restarted. I'm taking on some part time work running a canteen at a tertiary college. I did this ten years ago for a period of three years and know that in the winter I will need my joggers. So I'm making some more anklet socks for me with an easy small cuff with a stitch from the Knitting Stitch Bible. It covers 15 stitches and fits easily into my stitch count. I started one yesterday evening and am now about halfway down the foot. Pictures later.

2006-03-16T10:10:00.000+11:00

ten good reasons
I found this on the Yahoo socknitters group posts. Socknitters has a forum and lots and lots of useful hints,patterns and patterns if you don't already know.

I almost never post this sort of thing and never forward or reply to the cyber equivalent of a chain letter, but this was fun, so here it is:

Top ten reasons to buy yarn:

Doesn’t have to be watered, fed, repotted or pruned.

Doesn’t have a shelf date.

Doesn’t need to be walked, groomed or fed. And it doesn’t shed. Usually.

Doesn’t need a sitter when you go out. Or someone to watch it while you’re on
vacation.

Doesn’t need its litter box changed.

Doesn’t raise your blood pressure. Or your bad cholesterol.

Never talks back or asks to use the car and then returns it with the tank on
empty or borrows your handpainted yarn socks and washes them in the machine on
hot.

Makes a great interior design color splash even if you never use it.

Never changes the channel to a sports program.

And number one: isn’t fattening.

I'm not so sure about wool never talking back. I've just frogged some wool socks for the second time. This time it distinctly said,"Why didn't you listen the first time. I told you I didn't want to do this!"

Finished for Finn

2006-03-13T18:39:00.000+11:00

Finished for Finn
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

An easy knit finished. I'm fairly sure they will be too big,but the first one I started would have been too small. A true Fatty Finn.

Suddenly this morning I remembered Finn's dad at a wedding we attended when he was just walking. I distinctly pictured his very fat little calves bulging through his socks, so obviously like dad,like son.

To look at him now, you would never know he was such a big chubby bubby. He's 6'5" and perhaps 70 kg. Skin and bone.

finns_sock

2006-03-08T08:43:00.000+11:00

finns_sock
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

This is a sock for my little grandson,Finn, who is just seven months old. I sometimes joke with his dad that he was named for the old Australian comic strip Fatty Finn. He's a big boy and will be tall like his dad who is 6'5."

Who would have thought such a small sock would make me tear my hair out. Before I started on it, I looked around at baby sock patterns. All seemed to suggest around 36 stitches. I started and was halfway down the leg before I realised this would never stretch around his fat little legs. So I ripped it out and tried 40 stitches. This still looked small to me so I settled on 44. That was much better.

I increased to 48 for the leg to adjust for pattern. The pattern is just a twisted rib without a purl at either side. It actually looks more woven than knitted on the sock than the picture shows. With the purl at each side, the rib shows as a cable twist.

Did the heel on 60% of the stitches and sailed down the foot while watching something on TV. I had broken the yarn before I looked at the shape. It looked very peculiar. Quite out of shape and very odd indeed. In disgust I put it down for a couple of days.

When I picked it up last night I had worked out what to do with it. I ripped it back to the heel and did two rows after the pattern finished, decreasing to 40 stitches. Short row heel on just over 50% and down to toe. Took no time and now looks reasonable.

The books were bought at the discount bookshop in Devonshire Street tunnel at Central Station in Sydney. They have a range of different craft books. Some good, some rubbish. I had to work Monday, so called in there on the way. Texture book was $7.95 and the other was $5.95. It has a lot of mosaic stitches in it which I don't have in other references.

Click on picture for more detail.

gladdrags1

2006-03-04T16:39:00.000+11:00

gladdrags1
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Here are the February-March socks from the Six Sock Knitalong. Originally the pattern had beads and was done in a ragg yarn. This is 5 ply crepe, by Cleckheaton. Machine washable, but not for the tumble dryer.

I'm not one for beads on socks, and I had never used them,but I was inspired by the pattern to try some on the Odesssa hat in Magknits. I've done three of those.

The first sock I did was in ragg yarn but was far too big. I think they would have felted easily too. I made these instead and will keep the other yarn for something else, possibly a felted bag..

Click for larger picture.

2006-02-27T16:57:00.000+11:00

six sock KAL
I started the February /March sock and did the first. No beads, but it's a pretty, very simple lace pattern which can be done without much thought. I hated the first sock I did. It was miles too big and felt sloppy, so I set it aside.

I've just finished another sock, sized very much down. I know I'm a loose knitter, but have tightened up considerably in the last couple of years. I thught what I went down to would have been enough.

This time I used some pink Cleckheaton 5 ply crepe. It's pink. Not Barbie pink, but quite pink all the same. I love purples etc but I don't wear much pink. I was surprised to see that I quite like the sock which is now finished and I've cast on the second one. The pattern repeat goes quickly and sped the knitting along. I put seven repeats down the leg, and have also put six repeats down the instep where I did two widths of pattern with a border of 2 purls each side. I like it.

I'm using a set of the casein dpns which I bought from the Woolshack I love them. Never had casein dpns before. I think I like them even more than my rosewood set and that's saying something. Only one problem and I've worked out how to solve that. Most dpns down here are 9" long. These are 10". I've been using a smaller set of steel needles which I bought at an Open Day of the NSW Spinners and Weavers Guild. Quite old,I think and they are 7". They were $1 for the set. I've got used to the shorter length and really like it. So I gave my husband one casein needle and a short steel one. With some hesitation, he attacked the long needle with a very fine toothed hacksaw. Success! He sharpened the end slightly and smoothed it all down. It works well, sohe can do the rest of that set for me.

bubbleyum

2006-02-24T09:48:00.000+11:00

bubbleyum
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Pink socks, sort of, for Miss 5. Bubble Yum pattern from last year's 2005 Pattern a Day Calendar. Patonyle but I think the colour is discontinued.

quiet but busy

2006-02-20T11:41:00.000+11:00

olympic_dpns
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

The blog's been quiet,but the needles have been fairly busy. The photo shows some of what I've been doing. The grey is a beaded Odessa hat from this current edition of Magknits. The shape looks a bit odd in the photo, but I think that must be the angle I took the photo from. It looks fine in real life. A headhugging hat, with beads and a swirly rib. This is the first time I've used beads and I put each on individually with a tiny crochet hook. I tried stringing them, but hated the feel of the weight on the yarn, and the fact that I had to pull the yarn through them all the time. I have done another hat without the beads in blue for a friend who is having chemotherapy and am starting on the third hat to put in the present basket. I have about 5 cm of the third one done.

All of these were done in Patons Caressa which has been around a very long time. My almost 30 yo son had a jumper made for him in Caressa when he was a baby and it wore and wore and was washed many times. I was going to say "when he was tiny" but he was never what you might call tiny. Caressa is 45% wool, 45% acrylic and 10% mohair. I noticed that the blue ws much kinder on my fingers than the grey which felt a bit harsh sometimes. I'm assuming it was the dye which made the difference.

The socks are for Miss 5. They are the Bubble Yum socks from the 2005 Pattern a Day Calendar. She really wanted pink and this was the closest I could find. The completed sock was rearranged on needles for the heel so that the pink/mauve was mostly in the front where she could see it. I'll finish this quickly as we are seeing them on Saturday.

However I have now found some plain pink sock wool. I had bought some Cleckheaton easycare 5 ply in pink but saw some Opal Uni at Champion Textiles one day last week. I almost bought it but decided against it. Not sure why. Then I looked yesterday at the Bead and Opal Wool Queen in Melbourne. She has several Opal Uni colours for $15/100 gm. I ordered the rosepink which isn't quite so "in your face Barbie pink" as the shade just called pink. Also ordered another couple of solids. Free shipping within Australia from there, so that was good too. There are quite a few different Opal wools in stock there. Some of the others are also $15 while most are $20. Opal is not my favourite sock yarn. I find it very thin to knit with, but I have several pairs of socks from various Opals and they are comfortable and get thrown in the washer and often the drier too with no ill effects.

update

I just checked her site again and find that this morning the Opal solids are now $20/100gm. All that is left of quite a few of the $15 is some Opal Prisma! Just as well I have my confirming email saying order went through last night at cheaper price!

2006-02-12T18:13:00.000+11:00

solid socks contest
All my life I have rarely won anything. I've had some lovely surprise gifts,but not much in the way of wins. So iamgine my surprise to see my Winding Road socks and a really lovely cosy looking air of socks (first pair of socks too, so well done, as the winners at Pixiepurl's blog.

Pattern for the actual winding road twists, turns and potholes is in the sidebar here. I just fitted it into a standard sock set of stitches for me.

As I said to Pixie, I was getting out the camera when I saw the book on top of a pile of unsorted books in my study. The title just fitted. From there it was a quick step (no pun intended) to adding the joggers too!

2006-02-11T08:53:00.000+11:00

well, guess what?
I did some beads on a hat! And took them off, as well.

I started the Odessa hat mentioned in the second post below from Magknits. I was using some beads I had in my wool stash. I have no idea why I bought them in the first place, except I think it might have been for the colour - a lovely, deep aqua of the shade which goes well with purples, aquas etc. However, in the cold hard light of day, they are entirely the wrong colour for the yarn I had. I had cast on, done the ribbing, the first bead row and several plain rows after that. Then I looked at what I was doing in good daylight, and realised that the yarn I though had a mauve tinge to the blue, was definitely much more of a powder blue and the beads did not go at all. I've picked up the stitches and will make this one sans beads.

However, it has shown me several things; first off, I can do the beads. I'd never done them before and had no desire to put them on socks. They went on fine and sat just right. Everything was good about their placement except the colour. Secondly, it has shown me that I need to swatch a small piece and try beads with a crochet hook individually. I really, really disliked moving the beads down my yarn and hated the feel of them on the yarn as I worked my way down it. I have a tiny crochet hook, so will practise. Stringing them was no problem, just the use on the yarn. Thirdly, I need to be careful what shape bead I buy. These were flattish, rather than rounder, like slices cut off a roll of biscuit dough. They looked OK, but rounder beads would be better.

We learn by experience, as the saying goes. And learn by our mistakes. So hopefully I've learnt several lessons.

2006-02-10T14:15:00.000+11:00

knitting banned in New Zealand parliament
Here's an amusing piece about a NZ minister banned from knitting in parliament. I rather liked her wry comment in the last paragraph.

2006-02-10T09:15:00.000+11:00

odessa hat
I've just strung 150 beds for Grumperina's Odessa hat at the February edition of Magknits. I haven't done any beaded knitting of any sort before. I passed twice on the beads from the Six Sock KAL as I just don't see beads on socks, pretty as some of them were.

However, I like the look of this hat. Can't find the Rowan Cashsoft here, not even at the the Woolshack which sells other Rowan yarns. So I'm trying some Patons Caressa. It's 45% wool, 45% acrylic and 10% mohair. If this turns out fine, I'll buy some better beads than the ones I had in my stash and some cashmere/merino blend I saw at Tapestry Craft. They have a couple of blends. I'll see what colour appeals.

I've almost finished the first Bubble Yum sock in the Patonyle for my eldedst grandaughter. That is now mindless TV type knitting as I'm on the foot and it just goes round and round.

I love my casein straight needles. They are very easy to use with fingers which have bumps and knobs, although fortunately not too many or too pronounced, fromarthritis. They still ache however with certain needles. The rosewood dpns which came from Santa via one DIL are good, but expensive down here. These were AUS$34 a set. The Woolshack, mentioned above, has casein dpns at AUS$6.30/set. I'm going to order some when I've finished here. The smallest size is 2.75mm, which is a pity but I think I'll get a couple of sets.

2006-02-08T15:28:00.000+11:00

i'm still here

I'm still here but haven't done much knitting. My little three year old grandaughter broke her leg in two places while playing with her big brother nine days ago.

I was rung by distraught DIL and asked to come out. I was there several days, re-honing skills on dealing with littlies all the time. Andrew started school again after the summer break and my son started a new job. Same firm but new, very responsible statewide job.

I didn't take my knitting. I know from experience that I rarely get much done there.

Fortunately Tora was allowed to come home with a cast on. Several other little girls were put into traction on the same day with similar injuries. The bone broke just above ankle and further up the leg there is a spiral crack which ascends the bone and is cracked all around it. She can put no weight on it for 5 weeks and will then have another cast on it for another four weeks.

My bad elbow is still protesting strongly about the use I put it to in lifting the toddler and in doing repetitive housework and hanging out loads of washing etc.

When I returned home I started the February Six Sock KAL sock. I'm not using the beads. I think they look pretty, but can not really see the point of beads on socks. I've finished the first sock and soaked it in some wool wash. I have a suspicion this might shrink and I want to see what happens before I cast on for the second sock.

While I'm waiting for it to dry, I've started a sock for Miss Five,the cousin of the the recipients of teh socks froma few weeks ago.. It's a variegated Patonyle which seems to wear well for children's socks. Bubble Yum pattern from last year's Pattern-a -Day Calendar. It's really a four row modified feather and fan stitch pattern.

2006-01-28T19:44:00.000+11:00

not happy Jan
I've not had a great deal of time to knit this week. I've done one sock in Elann Essential wool in a deathly boring beige. I made a mistake at the heel and frogged the lot abck to the ribbing. Slowly rebuilt it with a different pattern but I've nearly died of boredom. Now it's finished, I can't pinpoint the problem but it's not comfortable. I'm not going to waste my time on the second sock as I'll probably never wear them. I've put the sock back with my yarn in case I need contrast heeels/toes some time.

I have also almost completed the first boot sock for a friend who moved to Armidale to study last year. The city is in the New England Tableland area of New South Wales and she almsot froze last winter. It's in dark red/grey Lionbrand Magic Stripes and feels warm. I'm much happpier with this than I am with the sock I abandoned.

Andrews socks

2006-01-20T07:50:00.000+11:00

Andrew's socks
Originally uploaded by Jan.

These are for my eldest grandchild, Andrew, who turned seven a couple of weeks ago. He's a very active little boy, very good at sport. His current ambition is to play Test cricket for Australia and he's heading in the right direction. He bowls off a full length pitch,unlike the rest of his age group team. Fielders spread out when he bats. He has worked out how to practise bowling and batting by himself at home. He bowls against the back wall of the house and then grabs his bat and hits the ball on its return to him. He's been doing that a couple of years. Next season he will be in the ten year old team rather than a team based on age. He was good enough to be there this year, but just a bit young! He also loves football and soccer and is good at that too. For the rest of the time he's never still. Bike riding,climbing, running etc.

So he needed cast iron socks. These are Lionbrand magic stripes. They will be a bit big now. I had to undo the toe of the first one and lengthen it. I also had to make a wedge toe to suit his foot.

Personally, I would make the cuff longer, ut he always has hot feet, even in winter and doesn't like long socks.

toras socks

2006-01-17T15:45:00.000+11:00

toras socks
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Victoria Claire, otherwise known as Tora, is 3 1/2 years old. She's a petite sweetie who looks like a Victorian postcard. Big dark eyes, lots of long curly dark hair which is usually pulled into one bunch, strangely old fashioned but which totally suits her.

The feet on these look huge for her little legs, but I rang her mum to find out the length.

I bought the yarn at the Stitches and Craftshow last winter as an experiment. $3/ball, it's 45%wool, 45% cotton and 10% nylon from Bendigo Mills although the actual yarn is from Italy. Socks feel OK but the yarn was hard moving through my fingers.

morganssocks

2006-01-16T07:56:00.000+11:00

morganssocks
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Fire engine red, much redder than photo shows. These are for my youngest grandaughter who is just over one year old.

A very quick knit, done while watching the tennis or cricket.

plain jane picot

2006-01-13T13:40:00.000+11:00

plain jane picot
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Don't go calling me a sock knitting machine! Extenuating circumstances here, I plead. I can take weeks on one pair too. These have basically been not quite two days.

I don't have young children around the house who need constant feeding and looking after. Just a husband who is pretty good on needing food, but he's not been home much the last few days.

Part time work has dried up over the holiday period too.

It's been coolish and damp, good knitting weather. I haven't been sleeping well, so why not knit? Tghis morning I was in the shower at 5:00 after waking at 3:15 and started knitting not long after 5:00.

Yesterday I did a lot of housework and finally got all the cat fur off the lounge and dining room rugs. Also scrubbed kitchen and bathroom. My elbow was burning hot when I finished so it's still not right. Today I'm taking things easy and knitting which doesn't use the elbow.

This is some 5 ply 100% Corriedale which I bought at Champion Textiles at Newtown about two years ago. It seems to me to be quite a bit thicker than commercial 5 ply and it's also a bit coarser than merino. Knits up quickly and I used 2,75 needles and still had quite a dense fabric.

The ball band has long since disappeared but it was handspun and dyed somewhere in NSW. I've started to use it twice before and frogged it each time as it didn't want to be what I wanted it to be.

Along with all this, the socks are short and fit well in my New Balance trainers. I made them short because I wasn't sure how far the wool would go. When I weighed it to divide in two it was just over 80 gm instead of 100 gm. I haven't used any of it for anything, so was shortchanged, but both the ballband and receipt are lost. Too late to complain now. The wool was thick and I wasn't sure how far it would go.

ninas socks

2006-01-11T10:19:00.000+11:00

ninas socks
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

An easy, quick knit from Jeanie Townsend's sock knitalong. Easy pattern, short cuffs.

It wasn't till I was well down the cuff on the first sock that I realised I had omitted 8 rows of stocking stitch immediately after the ribbing. I did another pattern repeat to make up the length. Pattern has heel flap and gusset, but I experimented with a double wrap on the short row heel.

Colour was really hard to get. It's a teal blue with a grey look to it, sometimes looks powdery blue in afternoon light, so this is just an approximation.

These will be a present for a dancer friend of mine with small feet. She knits, so will appreciate them.

2006-01-06T20:24:00.000+11:00

why socks?

Karen asked in a comment on the post below to blog about why I like knitting socks. So I'll try and give some reasons. I'm sure there would be plenty of other reasons than mine.

My husband's grandmother knitted all his socks for him for many years until his doctor managed to convince him that cotton socks would be better for a particular skin condition he has. I was never tempted to do socks. It was always just something Nana, an old Scotswoman, did. Besides, he has enormous feet and there was no way I was knitting cotton to that size.

I stopped knitting for quite a few years and returned with a vengeance to it almost three years ago. Browsing the internet brought me into contact with sock fanatics and I decided to try. I hadn't done any since some handspun Border Leicester socks which wore like iron which I made when my sons were small.

I get cold feet and have poor circulation, so even though winter here does not compare with a northern hemisphere winter, my feet need all the help they can get. I used to wear Holeproof Explorer woollen socks before I started this journey.

Making socks means I can make them to suit me...longer cuff, better fitting foot, snug heels etc. While I could definitely lose some weight and it does seem to be shifting recently, my legs are fairly slim and many bought socks are floppy and loose. They also often have a very high proportion of manmade material in them, much higher than sock yarn. Pure cotton bought socks are quite expensive. I have warm, non-sweaty feet in handknit socks.

Which brings me to another point. I have assets but not much disposable income and although I have a credit card or two, I prefer not to use them. Wool is expensive for the good stuff. Unless of course there is a sale and then I do stock up. I can buy enough good, sometimes even luxury, wool for a pair of socks for a relatively low price. Note: relatively. Homeknitted socks are usually dearer than bought socks, just on a price comparison. But remember, mine fit and are comfortable and hardwearing. Even the bottom end sock wool in Australia makes a pair dearer than commercial. Socks don't take a lot of wool and I use up bits and pieces on the grandchildren's socks.

The oldest three all love "grandma's socks" and their excitement at getting a pair is another reason I knit them. Purely emotional for me, but it is still a reason.

When I knitted as a teenager, I finished few things I started. Socks are quick and give a sense of achievement. In fact, I think that because I have done quite a few pairs of socks in the last thirty months and have finished them, I now have a much better attitude to finishing other projects. Socks also break up other projects. I used to only ever knit one thing at a time. I would rapidly become bored and the finish rate plummeted. Now I have several on the go at once and everything gets done as I swap and change.

Socks are small. They can be knit all year round. It's summer down here. A very hot summer and still quite a few weeks to go. 45° on New Year's Day. Socks don't weigh on the hands and fill the lap with warmth. Ideal summer knitting. Because they are not heavy they don't weigh my wrists and hands down, important because I have arthritis in far too many joints and the beginnings of some nasty lumps and bumps on my fingers. Knitting is therapy. I use dpns for socks, although I use circulars for bigger projects like shawls. Using dpns forces me to relax my grip, to loosen up every time I change needles.

Socks are portable. They don't take up much room in a handbag and are always available for knitting.

Allied to being able to buy luxury wool for socks is the pattern. I can test out patterns on a small quick area. I've done some myself with a basic sock pattern and have slotted in some patterns I either made up (as much as any pattern can be!) or found in a stitch dictionary.

I often knit on the train, in waiting rooms etc and am used to being stared at. I actually quite like it when someone asks what I'm doing. I've had some lovely conversations on long train trips with other knitters and also spoken to several older women who used to knit socks for their families. One of these was an old German woman who nearly cried to see someone knitting socks. This is great for broadening my own horizons.

In another aspect of my life I am a student at doctoral level, although not officially in any programme right now. I'm used to delving into old papers and writings reading theology. I'm an academic at heart and by training and knitting actually fits in well with this. I get a kick out of seeing things fit together and out of making discoveries about the meanings of words etc and how they have influenced our thoughts. I realise I am in a minority here. I have several friends, very close, who feel like this and understand me but many don't and think I'm weird.

However, knitting socks fosters this. It's an old art, handed down through many, many years. I like being part of this tradition, just as I enjoy tracing thought and arguments through the centuries. I've started looking at vintage patterns and am making one pair of socks from 1900. I made a preWorld War II pattern a few weeks ago. I like feeling "connected" to those who knitted then.

So here are a few reasons for doing socks for me. Personally and practically - socks have a lot going for them.

2006-01-05T16:14:00.000+11:00

I've finished the gold socks in the photo below. Cloverleaf. A quick easy knit, although it's not my favourite lacy sock pattern. Don't quite know what I didn't enjoy, although perhaps "enjoy" isn't the right word.

I also tidied my stash and moved the boxes out of the hall where I've been tripping over them for months. I had moved them there to tidy somewhere else! I've laso sorted out all the needles and tidied them up too so I feel quite virtuous.

Just don't look at my floors. Some weeks ago I had a really nasty infection in my elbow which then resembled a purple golf ball. I took two courses of antibiotics. On Christmas Eve, when I visited him for the fifth time in two weeks, the doctor told me to be careful and not use it too much as there was still inflammation there. No sweeping or vacuuming I was told. As if I needed an excuse.

So another two weeks on and I thought that although it it still sore to straighten completely and extremely painful if I bump it, that perhaps I ought to tackle the several weeks of business shirts which neede ironing. I did it yesterday because it was cool.

So what happened? I'd hardly finished than the elbow was again very hot to the touch. Not as hot as before, but still not right. So I knit instead of housework.

vintage sock and cloverleaf

2006-01-03T08:56:00.000+11:00

vintage sock and cloverleaf
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Proof that I have been doing some socks. The dark blue pair are the free Nancy Bush vintage pattern from 1900. I don't have the link handy right now, but it's easy enough to find in a search. I really like the edging. It's similar to a feather and fan, but much tighter where the feaher and fan is more of a wave. I might use it on some socks for the little grandaughters. Twelve row pattern. The dark colour drove my eyes crazy after a while. Bad choice with the lace.

The gold, actually a bit darker than shown here, is cloverleaf design from Six Sock Knitalong. The actual clover leaf is not all that easy to see.

The row which makes the two holes is "kn1, YO, Sl 1, kn 2 tog, psso, YO, kn1, p1." The second yarn over does not show up anywhere near as large as the first. The third hole, under the first two is made by "YO, SSK." Again it's not as big as the very first.

Still,it's an easy quick pattern. I did a lot of this on that dreadful New Year's Day where it reached 45 deg here. As can be seen, I've started the second gold sock on my new rosewood needles.

2005-12-31T21:10:00.000+11:00

Heatwave! And how! Tomorrow is supposed to be 41 deg where I live and 43 out in the western suburbs. That usually means more in both areas. Too hot for much at all, and the promised cool change is "late evening Sunday" or "Monday morning." I'm not taking any bets on its arrival before Monday.

When eventually it was a bit cooler this afternoon I sat on the deck and finished my Nancy Bush vintage sock, #1. I'm giving my eyes a rest, the dark blue was hard on them and have started a gold pair in a cloverleaf design. This was the first pattern in the Six Sock Knitalong, (sidebar). The gold is certainly easier on the eyes and my new rosewood needles are nice, although not as slick as I thought they might have been.

Photos when it's a bit cooler,perhaps.

Happy New Year to all.

working harbour

2005-12-30T15:12:00.000+11:00

working harbour
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

I'm taking a page from Donna's book. It's too hot to knit, and forecast to be hotter still till Monday.

This is a view of Darling Harbour, part of the main harbour in Sydney. We caught the rivercat hydrofoil down to the Quay yesterday and went on several other ferry trips. It's late afternoon on a hot,slow afternoon. January means holidays and even those who work seem to be moving more slowly. Lots of holiday and festival events too.

The picture is hazy. The afternoon was hazy and it waas late afternoon too. Lots of fine high cloud above.

Click for a larger picture.

2005-12-27T08:26:00.000+11:00

post-Christmas
I hope all have had a pleasant time over Christmas. It's cooler here although a very hot day is again forecast for tomorrow.

We had a lovely family day yesterday on Boxing Day. We share this around among the foundation family members and we all contribute to the food etc. That way, no-one feels too overworked. Yesterday was at my second son's. They have three young children who were a bit frazzled from a hectic day on Christmas Day. Overall, they coped well. All the littlies in the family get presents from everyone and the adults draw names from a hat to buy one present.

That works for most people, except me. My husband always tells me to buy for his recipient and I also have to buy for his mother to give. She's getting almost past knowing what is happening and never was a present giver as she makes Scrooge look like Santa Claus in generosity. She have her first great grandchild a block of chocolate for his first bitrhday. This had been given to her! Anyhow, I'm determined not to turn into a bitter old woman as she is.

My eldest son's wife had drawn my name and I gave Sarah some suggestions , althugh Jean is fairly inventive with presents. To my surprise, I found wrapped up with my name on it Montse Stanley's Handbook of Knitting along with a stand to hold a pattern book. Lots of information there from basic to advanced. I often peruse the shelves in bookstores and haven't seen this one in Sydney. I had suggested to Sarah that her mum bought some some rosewood dpns. As I wasn't on Sarah's list, I expected nothing, but she bought me some. Bliss! They are sooo smooth. I was also given some money for knitting so I did really well and feel blessed.

I'm currently knitting, along with a couple of other things, the free Nancy Bush vintage sock pattern. I went to transfer the knitting this morning but I'm using some dark blue elann sock wool and would have gone crosseyed with the dark wood and stitches. I am doing the knitting early in the morning, one or two repeats of the pattern. I sit outside on our covered deck, listen to the rosellas squabbling in the bottlebrush tree and knit. The light comes in from the eastand makes it easy to see the stitches with the dark wool.

I am thinking I might use the rosewood dpns to make another pair of Amble socks in a pale colour. These were from the Six Sock KAL (see sidebar) a few months ago. I love the pair I made for me and they are very comfortable. If I start these early, I might get them finished in time for a birthday present for my sister with no pressure.

To those still on holiday stay safe, enjoy yourself and your family. Apart from the heat, I love January down here. There's usually a relaxed feel to it, long days, picnic meals, we take ours down to Parramatta River a few minutes away, free concerts etc.

2005-12-22T14:49:00.000+11:00

Not much to report in the way of knitting. I've finished the Aran pocketbook from a Knitter's Dozen but I'm still working on the actual strap which also forms the side walls of the bag. Nine stitches only, but i-cord at each end formed by slipping the last three stitches on every row and pulling across the yarn on the next row. I'm about a quarter done and then need to find something to line it with.

It certainly hasn't been knitting weather here on some days. Yesterday was another hot day and Christmas Eve promises to be 38° and sultry. That's the actual forecast, so we can probably add several more degrees to that. Fortunately there should be a cool change from the south that night so the next couple of days should be more bearable. Our family christmas is always celebrated on Boxing Day and this year we will be at one of my son's. BBQ chicken and pork, lots of salad etc. They have shade and a big outdoor area.

My elbow is much better but not right and I am going to the doctor yet again tomorrow morning. When I was there on Tuesday he suggested I might need a third ~~curse~~, oops I meant course, of antibiotics. Freudian slip, I think. For someone who hasn't had these for seven years, this is just over the top. However, there still seems to be some infection there and I don't want it flaring up in the holidays. This will be the fifth visit in fourteen days! Far too many and if my stomach sees another erythromycin tablet, I think it will violently rebel.

Not only have there been so many visits, but blood tests revealed raised liver function. This meant an upper abdomen ultrasound. I spent an anxious weekend before the procedure last Mondy morning, as a friend's mum died over the weekend from liver cancer. Nothing nasty, thankfully was found. While there, I had x-rays of the arm too. Can you tell I wish all this would clear?

I have no socks in progress just now and feel lost. I spent some hours searching the other day for something which appealed to me. I think I was in a contrary mood because of sickness. I might start Dublin Bay socks for the present basket. I have quite a few pairs myself and feel a bit guilty about doing more for me. Then again, I might combine some of my scraps and make some for one of the grandchildren.

In case I don't update in the next couple of days, I hope that all who read this have a happy time these Christmas holidays and a blessed 2006 with lots of time for knitting.

2005-12-15T12:47:00.001+11:00

My elbow is still most unsightly and a horrible colour, but I've been knitting again. Done a pair of footlet socks, shown above, and am working on the Aran pocketbook bag from Bags: a knitter's dozen.

lux_sockees1938

2005-12-15T12:47:00.000+11:00

lux_sockees1938
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

I found this 1938 pattern at Brainylady's blog". I had only one 50 gm ball of Sirdar Town and Country sock wool, so wasn't sure how far it would go. I cut down the length of the cuff because of that, although I like this length. I have quite a bit left over. Otherwise I followed the pattern because I was interested in doing the older pattern.

I'd reshape the toe another time. I like star toes but this comes down too far to 7 stitches.

I'm not too sure what happened to my tension. The first sock is much looser than the second.

Deliberately fraternal twins. I'm usually not fussed about matching stripes although I can get very close when I do try.

2005-12-06T07:15:00.000+11:00

ouch and double ouch!

Actually it's been somewhat more than "ouch!" I've had bursitis in my right elbow for some days now. Very painful indeed, most unsightly as well. The sac surrounding the joint is inflamed and swollen so I find it difficult as well as painful to bend or sraighten the arm and the actual tip of the elbow is very sensitive. Swollen, bright red and HOT.

Repetitive movement can cause this. I haven't been knitting any more than I have knit for years and years, nor has my computer use changed. I haven't done any knitting for several days, although when I tried it, I could feel nothing in the elbow. It can come from leaning on the joint and compressing the sac around it, so perhaps that's what I did.

When combined with the fishscales already there from psoriasis, there is a most unattractive look. This morning I woke up and tentatively moved my arm. It was a bit freer, so I think the swelling is receding. It was very localised, about 2 centimetres all around the bump on my elbow. Looked very grotesque. Not that elbows are attractive to start with.

long and short

2005-11-30T14:51:00.000+11:00

long and short
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Just a bit of difference? The booties are from set shown below and the yellow is my first finished pair of toe up socks. An easy six stitch repeat on instep and cuff.

hat mittens booties

2005-11-30T14:49:00.000+11:00

hat mittens booties
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

A simple little set for a pregnant friend. Booties and mittens are separate patterns in teh 2006 Knittng Pattern a day Calendar. I put a bit of cr****t on the mittens as they seem far too short for me. Pattern shows them joined with i-cord but I'm not keen on cord and little babies together. hat patttern is on blog sidebar.

daisy_daisy

2005-11-30T14:46:00.000+11:00

daisy_daisy
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

A hat from Cleckheaton's Gusto for my grandaughter. Knitted top down. I have more of this yarn but cannot knit it often. It's very thick and needs big needles which make my wrists ache.

daisy_daisy1

2005-11-30T14:44:00.000+11:00

daisy_daisy1
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Here's the daisy on top of Tora's hat. That's all the yarn I had left after knitting it top down.

shifting_sands_sock

2005-11-28T09:16:00.000+11:00

shifting_sands_sock
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

This is a vertical chevron pattern,very easy to do and memorise. I'm doing it toe up as an experiment. I'm now knitting up the leg of the second sock and should finish it soon. Just as well as the December Six Sock KAL is due out in a few days. I've made two pairs for me in the last couple of weeks. Perhaps the KAL ones should be a present. I've never got anywhere near this far in toe up socks. It must just be the right time for it for me. They've always been ripped as I didn't like the toe. However, I often do star toes on top down socks and this is just a reversal of that. It looks a bit pointy but actually fits well and is comfortable. Second sock's toe looks much better.

Yesterday was freezing here in comparison to some recent weather. Lovely and wet too which we very much need. I think Sydney's main dam is still below 40% capacity so every drop helps. My outside thermometer showed 14° here all day.

I spent much of the afternoon knitting and have made a pair of baby mittens and some garter stitch booties for a young friend who is pregnant. Will post photos when the weather is better for taking them. Still raining this morning.

I also made a daisy from the last little bit of Cleckheaton Gusto which I used to make a top down,rolled brim hat for one of my small grandaughters. The daisy is now sewn flat to the top and looks good. I started to block the hat a couple of days ago, but with the thick wool and the damp weather, it's still not dry. It's a pretty pale blue which will look great on her dark hair.

Her cousin, a little bit older, was here on Saturday afternoon and saw me working on my sock. She asked for some socks for her. Her father, my son, reminded her that she had several pairs which I had made her. These are different. She wants a pair made with one sock blue/red and the other green/pink!

Winding Road pattern

2005-11-23T11:43:00.000+11:00

Winding Road pattern
Here are the instructions for the pattern in the Winding Road socks.

The pattern itself takes nine stitches.  I put a border of two stitches each side of the pattern, so the total was thirteen stitches.  As I was using 5 ply wool and 2.75 needles, this meant a total cast on of 52 stitches.  I had four repeats of the pattern around sock, knitting in the round, so there were NO purl rows..

For ease of use I placed stitches like this…Needle 1- 13 stitches.  Needle 2- 26 stitches.  Needle 3- 13 stitches.  This meant repeats were complete on each needle with no carrying pattern across needles.

If I used thinner sock wool like Opal, I would probably cast on 60 stitches total and add an extra stitch each side of the pattern, thus making 15 stitches per repeat.

I’m not a very “visual” person.  I can use simple charts, but spent a lot of time trying to make this one into a chart, and ended up frustrated.  So here goes!

Abbreviations:  yf          Yarn forward
             Skpo          Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over
             K 2 tog     Knit 2 stitches together

Row 1, right side: K3, skpo, yf, k 2 tog., yf, k2

Row 2 and every alternate row: knit

Row 3: K2, skpo, yf, k2 tog., yf, k3

Row 5: K1, skpo, yf, k2 tog., yf, k4

Row 7: skpo, yf, k2 tog., k5

Row 9: k2, yf, skpo, yf, k2 tog., k3

Row 11: K3, yf, skpo, yf, k2 tog., k2

Row 13:  K4, yf, skpo, yf, k2 tog., k1

Row 15: K5, yf, skpo, yf, k2 tog.

Row 16: Knit to end

Repeat these rows as many times as desired.  I continued down the foot, so began heel shaping after Row 16, leaving instep stitches on a spare needle and repeating pattern again from beginning.  I finished pattern on foot at row 8.

I have since found this or very similar in a couple of pattern collections.  As I said, I did it in the 60s and it probably wasn’t new then.

Free pattern for personal use only. Trackback or link appreciated ifyou use it.

Copyright Jan Bishop231105

WindingRoad socks

2005-11-21T10:36:00.000+11:00

WindingRoad socks
Originally uploaded by Jan.

Earlier last week I was looking at a cardigan which I made many decades ago, back in the 60s for my mother from Patons Bluebell crepe. Apart from a stain it's in good condition and I made it when I was still in High School. Very long lasting. The pattern was sort of similar to these socks and was knitted in one piece from one sleeve cuff, across back to the other cuff. Hundreds of small stitches on small needles.

I had been wondering what to do for Pixie Purl's solid sock competition. The pattern looked liked a winding road to me. My life has seen a lot of bends and twists, not to mention potholes, this year. So I worked out the pattern and put it into these socks, calling them Winding Road. The wool is Heirloom's Easycare. It's 5 ply. so knitted quickly.

It's an unusual colour for me. I'm more into purple etc, but I liked this when I first saw it.

So Winding road socks go with my joggers and an appropriately titled book as my entry for her.

As usual, click to enlarge.

Mya_Finn_Santa

2005-11-21T10:23:00.000+11:00

Mya_Finn_Santa
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Not strictly knitting related, but a page from Grandma's brag book. Mya turned five last August and is going to big school after Christmas. She's my eldest grandaughter, although not the eldest grandchild. Her cousin will be seven early in 2006.

Little Finn is obviously thriving. His mum calls him "Thunderthighs." He's just four months and looks as if he will be tall like his dad who is 6'5". Earlier in the year I made him a multicoloured top from Heirloom baby wool as well as several pairs of bright baby socks.
This is a photo of a photo, so not the best quality. Click to enlarge.

winding_road

2005-11-18T11:45:00.000+11:00

winding_road
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Here's a photo of my almost completed Winding roads sock using Heirloom easy care 5 ply Merino. They knit quickly and easily although I do keep a count of the stitches to make sure I haven't missed a yarn over.

Knitting on the myteryshawl2 edging has come to a halt this week. I know the 10 row pattern by heart now but I think I did too much of it last week. I have about 25 repeats still to do down the second side, then blocking.

Off to babysit grandchildren today so am not sure how much knitting I'll get done. The youngest, almost 14 months, is teething with molars and not very happy at all.

2005-11-12T11:11:00.000+11:00

happy birthday!

It's my youngest son's birthday today. He turns 30. How could that be? I remeber trying to have a rest on the 11/11 thirty years ago and listening to the dismissal of Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister. Then a troubled night as labour stopped and started several times and finally an induction, followed about an hour later by Tim's arrival. Now he has two little ones of his own, a delight to knit for. It was his daughter , now five, who remarked a couple of years ago thet the socks I was knitting were a triangle up top and a circle down where they came out. happy birthday.

On the knitting front, I've finished the first On the Road socks as I am calling them. I know they won't be a perfect match, but I'll make the next one a few stitches smaller. I really don't like sloppy socks and forgot that these were 5 ply, not tiny Opal or similar. Pictures later.

Mystery shawl 2? I'm over a 1/3rd of the way down the edging. Easy pattern for the edging, just lots of knitting.

2005-11-07T12:27:00.000+11:00

socks and shawl
Not much connection between my two heading words, except they both start with "s." I tried to update several times over the weekend but could not get into BLOGGER to do so.

I've finished clue 4 on my mystryshawl2 and am now s.l.o.w.l.y working my way arounfd the 311 live stitches with the edging. One live stitch is picked up every second row of a 10 row edging. Just a few repeats have even fewer pickups. This is not going to be a quick finish, although the pattern is easy.

Finished one of the 1938 footlet socks but am tired of them at the moment. I've cast on for a solid sock in some 5 ply merino by Heirloom for a contest on Pixiepurl's blog. This is for a solid colour sock. I like the merino and will keep these for myself as they will be a handwash knit. I'm doing something I made up and will post the pattern later. Closing date for this contest is New Years Eve, a fair way off yet, although this is the rundown to Christmas when everything just picks up speed and momentum.

2005-11-02T17:01:00.000+11:00

well behind in knitting
I took my sock to the conference but did nothing on it. After the first day I removed it from my bag as one less thing to carry. I'm now down to the toe decreases and have another sock to do. It seems to fit well, although trying it on completed will give a better picture than carefully manoeuvring dpns around my foot does.

I still have nine rows to do of the fourth clue in the mysteryshawl2 KAL. I've missed out several days but am gradually catching up. I was wrong about a pice across the top. The final clue incorporates an edging which is knitted on to the shawl and increases its size greatly.

2005-10-28T07:47:00.000+10:00

conference
I'm off for a conference for a few days. Early departure from home and last night I didn't return till 11:00 pm. No time for blogging, or knitting for that matter..

2005-10-26T07:42:00.000+10:00

progress report
I finished the Opal Elemente socks from the yarn I bought in July, or was it June? Started the socks then. They look fine but I didn't enjoy knitting them. I've used lots of Opal before but really didn't like this stuff. I hope it fluffs and blooms when washed because it felt like dental floss, or the waxed thread I used to use to fix lots of camping things. It was extremely fine and hurt my fingers. I'm a loose knitter but had no trouble with the gauge because it was so fine.

In contrast, the Sirdar sock wool pictured below is a similar mix but couldn't be more different to knit. It feels great. I'm making the sockees from Brainylady and I've almost finished the heel flap. Then I'll do the heel this afternoon and just have straight knitting on the foot to do at the conference.

I'm now down to row 15 in the mysteryshawl 2, clue 4. I'm enjoying this clue where clue 3 drove me crazy. I was already stressed and didn't have enough markers. Those that I did have always seeme to be involved in YOs or knit 2 tog. I obviously didn't look closely enough at the pattern before placing them. This lot is going well

2005-10-25T15:31:00.000+10:00

1938 footlets
I wanted something small to take to the conference Thursday -Saturday. I probably won't knit during the sessions, but there is free time.

Over here I found a 1938 pattern for some sports socks or footlets rather. I've cast on and done about a centimetre and will take these to the conference. I'm using the Sirdar variegated grey sock wool shown two posts down. This is 50 gm and the pattern calls for 2 ounces, so I should have plenty. I don't want the cuff as long as the picture shows, so will probably cut it by half. I plan on using these in my joggers when walking. I need to do more exercise and the only way my now diabetic husband will walk is if I go with him. This light wool should be fine inthe design for early morning walking.

I have about a centimetre to go before the toe of the Opal Elements sock. I bought the yarn at the Craft Show but have neglected it for weeks. Might finish it tonight.

2005-10-25T15:27:00.000+10:00

mysteryshawl2
I'm emjoying clue 4 of the mysteryshawl2 knitalong. I found it easy to pick up the stitches, probably because of the number I've picked up along heel flaps! I've put a lot of markers in and these have been really helpful in checking my work.

OK, so p2togtbl isn't too much fun, but really, there aren't that many of them to do.

On looking at how this is shaping up,I'm guessing clue 5 might involve picking up stitches all across the top and doing somethng there.

gelato_mohair

2005-10-24T09:42:00.000+10:00

gelato_mohair
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

One more purchase from yesterday. I just couldn't leave this on the shelf. It called my name very loudly, although it's not a colour I wear very often at all. It's gossamer like, soft mohair from NZ. Hand painted. The name is gelato which is very suitable. 100 gm was $30 but the price was lower because of the sale.

Tapestry Craft sale

2005-10-24T09:40:00.000+10:00

TapestryCraftsale
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

I went to Tapestry Craft yesterday after church to see if I could get a longer circular needle to pick up the stitches for the mystery shawl2, clue 4. They didn't have what I was after but I had a look around at the sale which was 25% off most stuff in the shop.

I consoled myself with some purchases. The grey sock yarn, bottom left is Sirdar and I hadn't seen it before. Purple/green is more of the NZ semi-worsted which I will use for felted bags. I'm thinking perhaps something rectangular, clutch style.

The Anny Blatt feels just gorgeous and so were the colours, while the Heirloom is for socks which will have to be handwash, so they had better be for just me. What a pity, she says, tongue in cheek.

I looked at some of their books but was horrified by their prices, even with 25% off. A few posts down, I have a picture of the Knitting Stitch Bible. They didn't have that, but had one exactly the same for crochet. Same publisher, design, layout etc. Price for this was $57.95. I imagine the knitting version would be similar. I paid either $7.95 or $7.50 for the knitting stitch a couple of days ago.

Mother in law is berating nurses who were annoyed with her rudeness and her getting out of bed when she had to stay their to give a slight chance of healing any tears. My husband also said that she seemed to have had another TIA (small stroke) as her speech was very slurred. He raced around and had registrar examine her but he couldn't find other evidence. She'll probably have another brain scan today which will show lots of past episodes like this.

Life is not always pleasant, but it's certainly not dull around here.

fiddlesticks_scarf

2005-10-24T09:29:00.000+10:00

fiddlesticks_scarf
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

I was in Spotlight at Birkenhead Point on Saturday when I saw these scarf kits. I've seen similar before but the yarn has been pretty horrible and has had the feathers stuff which hurts my fingers to knit. The thick grey, white and silver yarn is 48% wool, quite a bit of nylon and a small amunt of acrylic. The novelty frou-frou stuff is silver and grey but fairly soft. Also Turkish. The kit with the little bag was under $10 so I bought this one and a a pretty pale blue. It didn't take long to knit and is now in present box. Called Fiddlesticks and imported by a firm in Victoria.

2005-10-22T19:46:00.000+10:00

what's next?
My mother-in-law who is 86 lives in a nursing home a few blocks from here. She has had a hip replacement which was followed by three dislocated hips which led to a second hip replacement. Last night about 9:00 pm we were rung. She had dislocated the hip again by moving in bed. Fortunately she had collapsed onto the bed and not the floor like the time before. Her problem is that she totally refuses to move and lies on her bed all day except for meals. Muscle tone is non-existent and cannot hold the joint together. She would be pushing it to walk 500 metres total in a week.

We raced up and followed the ambulance to Concord Hospital where she has been several times. Casualty was not very busy at all for a Friday evening. However we had to wait while they settled her in a bed. Xrays followed and she was finally seen by a doctor after 1:00 am. Pain killers and we left just after 2:00.

The hip has been reduced with a quick anaesthetic today but she will be there till Tuesday. My husband finally got through to her that if this happened again, she would be in the hospital section of the home. This frightens her so perhaps she may listen to the physiotherapist and do something.

Unfortunately we flew out the door in such a hurry that I forgot to pick up my sock to knit. I had to sit at the hospital for several hours twiddling my thumbs.

2005-10-19T18:16:00.000+10:00

picking upsocks again

I've picked up the Opal elemente socks which I started a couple of months ago. After the thick Tapestry the yarn feels like spiderweb in my fingers. The second sock was done down to the heel. I turned it and am now coming down the foot. I should get it finished in the train tomorrow. I'm off to mind little Finn while his sister, very grown-up Miss Five, has an orientation day at "Big school."

2005-10-19T18:12:00.000+10:00

I've finished clue 3 in the mysteryshawl2. Several rows were the stuff of nightmares. I think my brain is still tied up working out why husbands sugar levels fluctuate so wildly. Certainly they are down but only a bit and are all over the place.

One row I frogged several times and even now I've finished the clue, I can see other mistakes. I'm putting this down to a learning experience. After all my knitting is to de-stress, not add more in my life. LOL

Mystery_shawl_clue2

2005-10-14T10:04:00.000+10:00

Mystery_shawl_clue2
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

Mystery shawl2, clues 1 and 2. The second clue drove me crazy when I tried it earlier in the week. I was quite stressed with husband's diabetes diagnosis and sudden appendectomy for DIL with problems for the baby who would not feed from a bottle. I put it aside for a few days and tried again yesterday.

This will be quite a heavy shawl, but I was after something thick and warm. Graph in background shows the way I cope with a graph. I'm much more a verbal person than visual. Words are my stock in trade. I have problems with graphs. Vertical dark lines mark the 19 stitich centre pannel and I have highlighted the pattern rows. I cover up the top rows with a sheet of paper so I look at just the one pattern rows. Count back the sections on the purl rows so numbers match.It usually works but is not foolproof. Even with precautions, I still have to frog sometimes.

Clue 3 is due soon.

DebbieBliss_cables

2005-10-14T09:58:00.000+10:00

DebbieBliss_cables
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

The back of a size 2-3 cable sweater from the Debbie Bliss book shown below. This is in Cleckheaton Tapestry. I love both the colours and the cables. However, if I was using variegated wool agin for this pattern, I think I would make all the cables similar, instead of groups of two with a Cable front and then a Cable back. The effect is lost in the patterned yarn. It would show in a plain colour.

Lace in background is a wshed out shot of mystery shawl 2.

MDscarf_acrylic

2005-10-14T09:54:00.000+10:00

MDscarf_acrylic
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

This MD scarf is made from teh acrylic I bought to practise with. I've only just finished this but did two similar scarves with woo which were finished over a week ago. I've also done the zigzag scarf in wool which works on similar principles.

I like the colour of this and I've used other acrylics. Am currently using Patons Zest for a toddlers jacket. This hurt my fingers, almost leaving them feeling burnt. I won't use it again.

2005-10-13T16:49:00.000+10:00

sort of looking up
DIL returned home from hospital but is still very sore and finds it hard to pick up baby etc. My husband's blood glucose levels are all over the place and right now its hard to pinpoint what causes something to go up and down like that. I had the feeling that the people at the diabetes clinic at the hospital where we've been several times this week, really think he'll end up on insulin. I hope not. Tablets are certainly more convenient, but if that's the way to control things, then that's the way to go.

I tried to finish the second clue frommy mysteryshawlalong2 the other day. My stressed mind refused to count YOs and decreases properly and I frogged it several times. Mohair frogged at least four times does not look good, so I put it aside. I restarted with other yarn and finally finished the second clue today. I designated today as "me" time and spent the morning knitting.

I'm still working on the KMart acrylic MD scarf. The colours loook good but this doesn't even feel like ordinary acrylic. I try not to be a yarn snob but this actually burns my fingers with a sort of rough feeling. I'll give it to a nephew as part of his Christmas present. It's not the pattern, I've already made three other MD scarves. This was bought as a practice run but it's the last finished of four.

I'm also making a cable 2-3 year old sweater from the DEbbie Bliss book photgraphed below. It has eight cables across the fron, interspersed with rib and the cables are alternately done front and back. Cleckheaton Tapestry in lovely shades of blue, purple and green. It looks really good.

2005-10-10T21:02:00.000+10:00

it never rains but it pours around here
Thank goodness for my knitting. Things have been hectic around here.

Last Thursday my husband was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Not at all unexpected by all the family but a total surprise to him and a real shock. His blood sugar levels were so high that the diabetes educator today described his blood as "syrup." He's on medication and levels have come down slightly. The educator seems certain that he will end up on insulin. I hope not but he has ignored warning symptoms for years and knows it runs in the family. He used to eat the healthy food I prepared and another vastpile of takeaway, sweets, gallons of juice etc.

Then #3 son rang this morning. His wife had an emergency appendectomy last night. Absolutely no warning apart from not being well yesterday. His main problem was the 10 week old baby who absolutely refused formula and was consequently starving and screaming. Fortunately teh hospital found her a private room and the baby is now with her. Miss Five was very worried about her mum but has seen her today. I think I'll be there some days at least. She's going to need help.

knittingbooks

2005-10-10T21:01:00.000+10:00

knittingbooks
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

I worked last Friday at the Mercure Hotel at central. After finishing, I decided to look at a cheapie bookshop at the entrace to the Devonshire Street tunnel to Central Station (for my Sydney readers.)

I was actually looking for specific cooking books. However I found the soft cover edition of the book I make most of my bread from. It was only $7.95 and my copy was over $30 some years ago. Recipes come in three sizes and I've never had a failure. So that went into the basket.

These three knitting books were too tempting not to get. I drooled over all the stitches in the stitch bible. Far more than I'll ever get around to using, but hey, it too was $7.95 and the paper feels good and the pictures are great with clear instructions.

I've seen the sweater book mentioned so bought that too, although I'm not sure how much use I'll get from it. Split pages so designs can be mixed and matched.

Most Debbie Bliss books are around $35-45 that I've seen. This is supposedly a beginner's book but has some really nice children's patterns in it. She looks at different types of knitting and then gives examples. Lots of graphs for intarsia children's motifs. Lots of lace edgings and patterns too. A great section on finishing off and another on designing a sweater, both metric and imperial.

So the four boooks cost me just over $40 and I'm pleased with what I got. Bread book is destined as part of a present for a daughter-in-law.

zigzag1

2005-10-10T20:52:00.000+10:00

zigzag1
Originally uploaded by Jan2132.

This is the second pattern I have done in the modular knitting group. It's the zigzag scarf, very similar to the multidirectional scarf but the zigzag goes down the middle. Very easy and quick to do.

mysteryshawl_clue1

2005-10-04T09:57:00.000+10:00

mysteryshawl_clue1
Originally uploaded by Jan.

I joined the mysteryshawlalong2 the other day. Each Friday for five weeks a small part of the pattern is posted as a clue. When all is done, voilà! a full shawl with differing section is revealed.
This is some old mohair from the stash which I used for two reasons. I really want to finish it up. Each ball has metre upon metre of the stuff in it. Secondly, I know I'll have plenty for the shawl. Blocking would show a big improvement in this, as with most lace. I'm planning to overdye it when it's finished. I'd dye the yarn itself, but its already in balls. Not too sure of what colour I'll choose. I'll have a look at the Landscapes colour chart and see what calls my name. Possible a deep rose or a vibrant blue. Finish the shawl first, however.