Tricotine

Worless Wednesday #4

Wordless Wednesday

Knitting Lesson

Making memories...

OOPS!

I spent the weekend trying to make up the DSS pattern on 2 circulars, and this is what I ended up with...

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OOPS!  Not really the shape of a sock, huh?  I won't report here my Husband's "funny" comments, but I bet you can easily imagine...

What went wrong? Well, I am not completely sure... I was trying to figure out by myself how to make a Toe-Up Flap Heel Sock; I had never done before or even seen a pattern for it, as most of Toe-Up socks have short row heel. To make it short, I tried to reverse the instructions for a cuff down sock and obviously I got a little confused... I have to admit that if I am pretty comfortable with making up socks the Cuff Down way, I still have lots to learn about Toe-Up sock making!

They say practice makes perfect, right?  Well, I experimented, had a good laugh, took a photo and ripped off to the point where I wanted the heel to be shaped, and I finally came up with something more conventionally shaped and that fits my son's foot perfectly...   

Here is sock #1 in progress, the high and ribbed cuff is almost finished and my son is really impatient to get his socks "just like Daddy"! 

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I am taking notes of what I am doing so I can make sock #2 identical and publish  the pattern here when the pair is completed.  Stay tuned!

Saturday Sky

For Sandy's Saturday Sky Watchers, a picture of the sky above me right now.
We are expecting snow today...

   

DSS on the needles

With the remains of DHS, I think I can make a pair of kid socks.  To make sure I will have enough of yarn, I have decided to make a Toe-Up sock; the lengh of the cuff will be determined by the amount of yarn left. 

DSS #1 is on its way and it is sock project #20...

Pattern: My own
Yarn: Magic Stripes, color "Brown/Blue Pattern" - 1 skein
Needles:  2 - 16" Circulars - size US #3
Foot size: Kid 12 US

Featuring my wonderful wooden darning egg; a present from my dear friend Betty. It was very useful to tighten my cast on.

DHS Completed

Pair of Socks # 19 in progress...

... and  4 hours later, DHS finished.
Perfect identical twin socks like my friend Betty would say.

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Pattern: My own
Yarn: Magic Stripes, color "Brown/Blue Pattern" - 2 skeins
Needles:  2 - 16" Circulars - size US #3
Foot size: Man 11 US

Featuring my new Plastic Sock blockers from The Loopy Ewe.

About Stash Reduction

I went through my stash this morning and I was pleased to note that I have done a pretty great job at Destashing!This is what I consider being my good stash but, although I am glad and proud to have it narrowd, it kind of upsets me to see how small it has become...

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Of course, there is also the other stash, the basic one - the one that contains Acrylics and remains of finished projects - but I didn't even bother taking a photo of it...  Using that stash requires lots or imagination and creativity!

And... There is also the Sock Yarn, but everybody knows by now (except my Husband who doesn't believe in that theory) that it doesn't count as stash, right?   

There is some Bamboo yarn: Reggia and Trekking Pro-Natura, some Austerman Step with Aloe Vera & Jojoba oil and my favorite, the one I barely dare touching, the fabulous Lorna's hand-dyed Shepherd Somerset.  My first hank EVER and first hand-dyed as well!

That yarn impresses the casual knitter that I always have been so much that I cannot decide which pattern would give best justice to that yarn!  I have heard from few experienced Knitters that going simple is the best way to show off a very special yarn though, so maybe that is what I will do after all...

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In that basket is potential for 10 adult size pair of socks and 1 kid size.
Few hours of sock-knitting fun, right there! 

~ My Guidelines ~

Super Knit Sunday

On February 4, 5 pm - 11 pm ET, it is Super Knit Sunday: DIY Network is staging a "Knit In" to encourage needle arts enthusiasts to knit or crochet a square for charity.

Instructions for 7x9" squares also available
on the Warm Up America's website.

Wordless Wednesday #3

Wordless Wednesday

Mystery Knits Revealed

My Swapee, Jane, received what I have made her for the Mystery Skein Swap, so it is time for me to post here photos of my knits.  Well, in fact one project is knitted and the other one, the pouch, is crocheted!

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Pattern: Knitted Beret
Yarn:  Crystal Palace Merino Frappe, color Cranberry
Needles: 29 "Circular and Double Pointed, US #7

That yarn has almost instantly "told" me to turn it in a beret or a purse of some sort, because of its felted looks and touch.  Yes, yes... Some yarns have that power... and some others don't! Like for example the yarn I sent to Jane for her to make something out of it for me; well, it was never able to tell me what it wanted to be!    

The Crocheted Pouch instructions can be found HERE. Same yarn and Crochet Hook #8 US.  I tried to felt the pouch but it didn't work. As I suspected, that yarn constains 20% polyamide and it doesn't felt. Previous Post Here.