Monochrome

Nono, don't click away from this site! You're on the right blog!

(Provided, of course, that you're looking for Dove Knits. If you're looking for stamp collecting blogs, this is, indeed, the wrong blog.)

I know what you're thinking -- Dove doesn't DO monochrome. In fact, I don't generally do any color that isn't loud vibrant. And here I am with black? What gives?

Well, it turns out that my dad's feet get cold at home, so I was asked to knit a pair of warm house socks for him.

Now, my dad, unlike my husband, is very, erm, traditional in his color choices. He goes for black, navy, gray, dark brown, and beige, mostly. Sometimes a deep burgundy, if he's feeling adventurous.

So basically, nothing from my stash was going to work, and the rule of not buying any more yarn had to be broken. Off to Joann's I went to get some Classic Merino -- and black just made the most sense. The remnants of my gift certificate and the sale on Classic Merino made these socks free, and we like free.

The pattern, of course, is Thuja, a very elegant pattern that's perfect for my dad. On size 5 needles, I finished the pair in two nights.

Photographed here on Dad's Russian newspaper. I hope he likes them.

Extreme(ty) knitting, part 1: the feet

I whipped up a few FOs this past week, all of them covering extremeties. My next project is to finally finish Burridge, so I'm gonna spread out these FOs for as long as I can, because God knows that blanket will take me at least another month.

Anyway, first up are some simple top-down socks in Regia Cotton Surf (Atlantik colorway):



I won this yarn on the Christian knitters group on Ravelry for being weird. I never would have picked this yarn in this colorway for myself (I don't like blue all that much), but I ended up really loving it. The gentle hues and the smoky quality of the colors just worked very well. The one downside is that I knit these on size 1 needles, when it really should have been 0. They're quite loose at the ankles, but, more concerningly, one of the socks' stitches are really loose at the toe. That's a hole waiting to happen.

Also, does anyone have this problem? If I knit socks, my first sock's gauge is always looser than my second sock's. Always. So even though I knit the same number of rounds, my second sock is shorter than my first.

In a word, I wouldn't call this pair a winner, but I'm awfully fond of them.

Speaking of socks, thanks to my wonderful brother-in-law, there's lots more in my future! Look what he got me for Christmas:



Isn't it gorgeous? It's Fleece Artist Supermerino in Polar Sea. For a girl who doesn't like blue, I'm sure using alot of it! Just look at how gorgeously rich that color is! My BIL also got me enough Lang Jawoll for two more pairs of socks (one pair blue, one pair orange). Did I mention he's my favorite BIL?

Knitting on the road

No, not the book. The ACTION!

What's the best way to clear off the WIPs on your side bar? Well, lock yourself into a car for 14 hours one weekend with nothing but unfinished knitting projects to work on. Voila! Before long, everything is done!

Like the Plymouth Sockotta socks I started a few months ago. I actually completed an entire sock and the cuff of the second one, but stopped when I came to the heel. See, I have flap-and-gusset heels memorized, but not short-row heels, and the self-striping yarn really looks better with those. So I put the socks down until I could sit down long enough to work the heel from instructions. And, of course, once I lost momentum, it took a while to regain it.

In fact, it took a car drive. In the dark. Yes, I knit these in the dark without looking. I mean, they are just stockinette. Although I goofed and made them longer than the first pair and had to go back and fix it.



I like these. I wore them, but just to bed. I can't say I enjoy the feel of Plymouth Sockotta -- it's too...cottony and rough, and not very elastic. But the socks feel nice on. Plus, I shaped them to fit my calves. They're slouchy at the ankles, but don't let that fool you -- they actually DO stay up.

Also, they are not identical. Obviously, the yarn striped differently, especially since my gauge was quite a bit looser for the second sock than for the first -- don't know why -- but I also did the cuffs differently. I don't know why, but the first sock has 2x2 rib and the second 1x1. I just didn't look closely enough or something.

But, yeah, to sum up: Sockotta yarn, size 1 needles. Basic top-down stockinette sock with short-row heel.

And then there's these socks that I started back in July (!!!):



See? These were finished on the road. And modeled on the road. And I still had 4 hours to go, with no more knitting. I somehow survived.



These socks are in Knitpicks now-defunct Sock Garden in Daffodil, and are wonderfully soft and snug, but I'm sure will wear out quickly when I wear them with boots in the winter. They're knit on size 1 needles, top-down, using the Chevron pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks (where else?).

As with the previous pair, I knit the first sock and half of the second one, to the heel. These have "afterthought" heels, and I worked the first one per Charlene Schurch's instructions -- you cast on separately for the heel as you come to it and basically work it like you're doing a toe decrease, then knit the foot of the sock. Well, of course, since this isn't flap-and-gusset, I didn't know how to do this off the top of my head, and lost momentum. As it was, I ended up working the heel of the second one differently -- rather than working the heel immediately, I knit half the stitches on scrap yarn and then continued knitting the foot of the sock as a tube. Then I undid the scrap yarn stitches and decreased the heel after the rest of the sock was done.

I really prefer "forethought" heels to short-row heels. They LOOK nicer, are easier to do, and don't have those holes. I just can't avoid holes along the sides of short-row heels, no matter how hard I try!

Also, for some reason, the second Daffodil sock took alot less yarn than the first. And I have a decent amount left over of the Sockotta. I'm saving my sock yarn scraps so that I can one day make crazy leftover socks, with different-colored heels and toes and stuff.

Finally, the reason we were on the road:



My little brother-in-law graduated from college this weekend. This was one of his gifts. The pattern -- you guessed it -- is a Jean Greenhowe (from Knitted Animals).

Finally, some knitting

I've been so busy with other projects -- namely cleaning everything in sight -- that I haven't done much knitting. Just as well -- I'd have no tendons left in my hands had I kept up my crazy knitting pace!

Here are the things I HAVE done:

-Organized all cupboards and drawers at my house
-Lots and lots and lots of laundry
-Washed 20% of my windows
-Cleaned the living room
-Finally framed and put up wedding pictures! (You know, 15 months later...)
-Oh, and knit these:


They're house socks for my friend J., who is expecting in November.

Yarn: Knitpicks Swish (LOVE!)
Needles: Boye DPNs, size 3, set of 4 (including the bent one that ran into a recliner)
Pattern: Cabled sock pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks; cable with moss stitch panels pattern
Notes: 12 rows of 1X1 rib, plus 1 cable repeat (8 rows) formed the cuff. A regular flap-and-gusset heel and easy toe were used. I reversed the cable on sock #2 for symmetry. They're about a half-inch too short for me, because J. has a smaller foot.

Also on the needles is this:



It's the elephant from World of Knitted Toys. I actually have the head made, but I ran out of stuffing. The body took a whopping bag and a half of stuffing! I need to get over to Joann's and get more. But this sucker is HUGE! Over a foot long, and about a foot tall. Crazy!

Also, I have discovered I have floors. What a crazy concept!

She's gone mad.

(Not least because she's talking about herself in the third person.)

I have a grant due tomorrow. And what have I been spending my time on? Knitting baby things so that I can send off a baby care package for my brother by September 12-14ish. A bit of a time crunch, especially since I'd like to send two sweaters, two toys, two pairs of socks/booties, mitts, and a couple of hats. Plus Thujas for my sister-in-law, plus a hat, mitts, and a toy for my other niece. Mad, I tell you.

Or maybe not. Here is toy #1, a Jean Greenhowe duckling, from Knitted Animals:



(All various kinds of acrylic.)

I knit the pieces back in April '05. Yes, that's over 16 months ago. (Note how much looser and more uneven my stitching is.) I was making it as a last-minute gift for a baby shower, and had all the pieces done in a few hours. I even got the body, feet, and wings all sewn together. For some reason, I just didn't finish. I think I got bored. Anyway, I sewed it up last night (took 10 minutes), so it counts as this year's FO :)

As far as baby socks: I have the pair of Mary Janes, and just finished off a pair of baby socks from IK summer '05 issue (these are the XOX socks):

Here they are, standing up. They really need a blocking!



They're done in Knitpicks Palette on size 0 needles. Needles that pointy and yarn that splitty = hated project. That XOX cable sure is cute, though.

A fuzzy size comparison photo. They're actually pretty big, which is good because the babe will wear them awhile, and they can be worn over cotton socks for extra warmth.



Still working on the Trellis (I have the back and one front completed), and have just started a pair of teeny mitts out of the same sky-blue Palette as the socks, with the same XOX pattern. I'm winging it, because how hard could it be to make thumbless mittens? If they turn out ok, I'll post the pattern, such as it is. I'm also thinking of making a matching hat, and the other hat will be made to match the Trellis.

I have no idea what I'm going to make for the second sweater or the second toy, but I do have 12 hours of car-time this weekend, so I'm bringing a bunch of yarn along.

The nominees for toy #2 are:

-Clown fish from World of Knitted Toys
-Frog from Knitted Animals
-Tube doll from a vintage knitting book I have

Kick!

Yeah, I'm definitely on a sock kick (pun intended).

See, my husband was out of town. I went to pick him up Sunday, which involved a 1.5 hr ride on the El. Especially for such an occasion, I cast on a sock on Friday night, so that I could have the heel turned by Sunday to knit it on the train. (Yes, that means I finished the Hederas.)

I haven't been knitting very much besides the train (I got the Sims 2 in the mail, so my after-work obsessions have changed!), so I'm still working on the same sock.



It's in the gorgeous Lorna's Laces Irving Park colorway that Grumperina sent me. This is my first attempt at a toe-up sock, as well as a short-row heel, and I like toe-up socks thus far. There was alot of yarn in this hank, and I'm using it all up by making these go halfway up my calf. I'm even shaping them to go over my calf. Pretty soon, I'll start the top ribbing. I'm quite pleased with these socks, especially the color and feel of the yarn, but I did a poor job with the heel, and it's holey. I'll need to weave some yarn through there.

I've also been totally yarn-splurging. In addition to the KnitPicks shopping spree my husband promised me, my in-laws sent me a hefty gift certificate to Joann Fabrics, which I already spent on some size 3 mercerized cotton in Natural for these dresses for my nieces; some more of the same stuff in teal and lime for the Daisy Dresses from Zoe Mellor's Adorable Knits for Tots, again for my nieces; and some TLC Cotton Plus for a light short-sleeved top from the summer's Vogue Knitting. I still haven't gone on the Knitpicks shopping spree, but I will tonight.

Anyway, besides that, I took advantage of working short hours last week to drop by my LYS for the first time. I was a bit disappointed by their selection -- almost nothing I could really afford, and way too much slubby/novelty yarn, which I don't like. HOWEVER, I did find something I just HAD to get -- the Baby Alpaca Grande from Plymouth Yarns. I snatched up 3 skeins with the remnants of my birthday cash and ran. Originally, it was going to be the Robin Hood sweater from Adorable Knits for Tots, but a quarter of the way up the back I realized I won't have enough yarn. Like, REALLY won't have enough yarn. And at $12 a hank, I couldn't exactly afford more than one more skein. Plus, cables and bulky alpaca just don't go together.

So I frogged and started a super-simple, super-plain hoodie of my own "design":



The back took quite a bit less than one skein, so I'm guessing the front will take that much, too, and the remaining skein and the leftovers will make the hood. I can buy ONE more skein to finish up, but not more than that.

It'll be extremely simple. Stockinette with moss stitch hems and cuffs, dropped sleeves, no shaping except at the front neck. The front will be a split neck rather than a button-down, cardigan thing that the hood will fit into. I'm loosely following the Robin Hood dimensions, but using mostly my own judgement. It seems like too simple a pattern to do the yarn justice, but at the same time, anything else takes away from the softness and drape of the alpaca. My sister-in-law will kill me for presenting her with a handwash-only alpaca toddler jacket. Ah well, I just couldn't resist!

So, let's see...once I get the Knitpicks yarn order, I'll finish off the circle cardigan. Still can't bring myself to finish the Fir Cone shawl. Will finish the Chevron Socks after I finish the first toe-up sock. Still need to remake that hat. I know a few babies due in November, so I'll need to make some Trellis sweaters for them, since they're quick, cute, and can go for either sex if done in cream, blue, or green. I'll need to make those dresses for my nieces for Christmas presents. I need to make a few toys for the new babies, their big sisters, and my nieces, too. I need to make a vest for my dad for Christmas, and hopefully a sweater for my husband. And hopefully a Tubey for myself...

Yes, lots of projects!

Oh, Hedera! And my bookshelf.

Because I really should post more pictures, here is a Hedera sock.



Its mate is an evening away from completion.

These socks are....eh. I'm not loving them. I like the lace pattern, but for some reason -- maybe the roughness of Essential yarn -- I'm just not digging them. They also look REALLY weird not worn. The foot is oddly short. I do like them worn, though. And even though Essential isn't the greatest joy to work with, it is a sturdy yarn, and my feet can't tell the difference. I'm also really excited about new Essential colors -- I love bright colors!

In other news, I'm sure y'all wanna know what books I got for my birthday!

From my brother (these are all in Russian, by the way):

Emma King, 25 Bags to Knit

. My first knitted bag book, and I'm excited about some of these purses.

Fiona McTague, Knitted Toys

. Very cute toys in here!

A nifty Russian mitten book. These mittens are gorgeous, y'all. I've gotta make me some...it's been a while since I've made mittens.

From my husband:

Zoe Mellor, Adorable Knits for Tots

. I have been lusting after this book for a year. It has the cutest baby/toddler clothes! And I have no shortage of babies to knit for -- I owe at least 5 babies/toddlers presents.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, At Knit's End

. I love this book!

One of these days I'm gonna post all of my knitting books. Speaking of, I need a new bookcase -- Russell and I have entirely too many books. Right now they're living in piles. Any suggestions? We want cheap but pretty sturdy.

And to wrap up, here is the recepient of all those toys and baby sweaters -- my beautiul niece. (In this picture, she had stuffed a whole cookie in her mouth.) She is almost one, and in November, she will be a big sister. I told you I have no shortage of babies! (Three friends and countless acquaintences are expecting, too!)

I know, I say this every time...

...but these are my favorite socks so far.



I decided to hold off on finishing the circle cardi until I order more yarn, so I started a sock!



It's in Knitpicks Sock Garden, Daffodil, following a pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. I think the stitch pattern is called Chevron, and it has a forethought heel and regular toe, and I used size 1 needles.

I cast on a second sock, but not its mate -- rather, I now have a Hedera on the needles, because darn it, I CAN.

Jaywalkers!

Completed in Milwaukee while hanging out with my good friend (who liked her kitty, btw).



The specs:

Pattern: Jaywalkers from Magknits, by Grumperina
Yarn: Knitpicks Sock Memories in Grandma

One lonely little Jaywalker

I'm saving the mate for a bit. It's not the second sock syndrome; I just don't want to be done with these yet.

FO: Thujas!

So I finished the Thujas last night!

Here they are unworn:


And here they are worn:


And here is an emo foot picture! Yay!


Pattern: Thuja from Knitty's winter '05 issue
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease, about 1 skein

Also, I got alot of work done on the Sleepy Bear. He's in significantly fewer pieces now, as I've assembled the legs, arms, body, and most of the head. I should have him done to show on Friday.

In progress: Short'n'Sweet, Thuja

Soooo I bought the Happy Hooker book. It's my only crochet reference/pattern book, although I have about 10 for knitting! Can you tell where my loyalties lie?

Anyway, I like pretty much all the tops in it! So I started on "Short'n'Sweet." Here is what I have so far:



I think it's coming out quite nicely. The yarn is Aunt Lydia's Denim, but I'm thinking I might scrap it and start over in Shine the next time I place a Knitpicks order.

And because I'm addicted to socks, I started Thujas Tuesday night, and last night I finished one! They go FAST.



They're in Wool-Ease, and they're going to be a Christmas present for a friend. I had started a reversible scarf and hat for her (in the very same Wool-Ease), but the scarf came out horribly. I apparently can't do Fair Isle quite yet. So I think she's getting nice yellow socks instead!

Actually, now I'm looking at the scarf again, and maybe it's not so bad. A wash and block might help...So maybe she'll get a scarf and socks.

Socks!

My first picture post! My non-existant readers must be thrilled!







Pattern: Go with the Flow socks, from Interweave Knits Summer '05.
Yarn: KnitPicks Essential in Cocoa

I love these socks. They're the first pair of socks I've ever made that are a) for me and b) actually fit me. They're probably my favorite project ever, too. Usually, I'm disappointed by my project in some way: it doesn't fit as well as I'd hoped; it fits, but isn't nearly as flattering as I'd hoped; there's a messy seam that I just can't get right, or a loose patch that just won't tighten; I realize I should've used different (nicer?) yarn; or it looks great, but was a pain or a bore to make.

Not these. I loved making them so much I almost didn't want to finish. They fit like a glove, or, well, sock. They're comfortable and warm. I love how they look. I love the yarn and the color.

I did mess up the lace pattern on one whole sock, though. I reversed the order of the k2tog and the ssk, but even I have trouble telling the difference. So I kept the sock as it is.

These were my train knitting for a while, so they took over a month to complete. Work has been hell, so I haven't had alot of time for knitting. Last night I celebrated being almost done with work by finishing these up.

I also cast on a Thuja last night, and am already up to the heel flap. Hooray for worsted-weight yarn and size 4 needles! Although they feel HUGE after doing the Go with the Flows.