two socks, not a pair

hopscotch sock, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

The socks I knit in Scotland went back to London in my mum's car by mistake, but now they're back in Cambridge. Here's sock one of a pair of Hopscotch socks designed by Pixeldiva. It's a lovely pattern, dead easy to memorise, but very effective. The foot has 60 stitches and fits nicely, if snuggly. I decided my ankles might be too big to get into the sock, so increased to 70 stitches above the heel. (The lace pattern is 10 stitches across). Consequently, it's a bit loose on the leg, but since it's an ankle sock, I don't think that matters. Anyway, nice pattern, sock 2 will be done soon.

lovemeknot sock, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies

This is a lovemeknot sock designed by Alice. The hearts are illusion knitted, which is so much fun! Quite mathematical and it's intriguing watching the pattern emerge as you knit. These are 72 stitches which is on the loose side (should have swatched, lazy me) but still an acceptable fit. I suspect I might have used rather more than half a ball of black for the first sock so might have to buy some more.

found some

I found this skein in a basket full of yarn at the back of Armadale Pottery in Sleat (South Skye). It's Merino Shetland cross with 12% mohair. The colour's come out a bit drained, even using my duvet cover as an improvised light tent. In person it's a heathery purple with blueish patches. The mohair gives it an extra softness. I'm planning to use it for a hat and gloves, probably some sort of cabley pattern.

This stuff came from Teo's Handspun in Broadford, also on Skye. It's kid mohair, beautifully soft and fuzzy round the edges. This picture really doesn't do the colour justice. It's a shiny purple, with patches of darker bluey purple and light patches of golden toned brownish purple. Er, sort of. Trust me, it's gorgeous. I think it's going to be some kind of shawl or scarf. It would be perfect for Clapotis, but I think I'd rather make it into something with a more complicated lace pattern. Not too formal though, something flowing. Still thinking, but since I've got loads of things on the go at the moment, not to mention Christmas knitting to start thinking about, it'll be a while before I get round to it.

I also bought some wine-red 4 ply from Shilasdair, which I might use for the border/ties of Arisaig. I almost wish we'd gone there first, as I'd spent my yarn budget by then. HP (little sister) bought a knitkit for a ribbed cardigan in lovely purple (see, it runs in the family) angora/cashmere/wool blend. All their stuff's gorgeous, mostly handspun and naturally dyed in smallish dyelots. They had a dyer's garden outside with things like bog myrtle, heathers and lichens.

In terms of knitting, I finished two socks (not a pair though) and got some way up the back of Arisaig. Unfortunately I left the bag with the socks in my mum's car and it's stuck in London until I next go home. Arisig made it home though, so I've still got something vaguely Scottish to work on.

to Scotland, in search of wool

I'm back from beautiful Scotland. We stayed in two beautiful places - Laide, (on the West coast between Ullapool and Gairloch) and Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye (over the bridge and turn left). I wanted some local yarn to remind me of where we'd been. I'll show you what I bought tomorrow, but here's a picture of possibly the most remote yarn shop in Scotland. It's just North of Applecross, on the mainland near Skye and to get to it you first have to negotiate the terrifying Pass of the Cattle and then wind your way along single track roads with passing places past gorgeous views of sea and sky and heather. We were beginning to think it wasn't really there and then, there it was.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you whether it's worth the trip because it was Monday and it was closed. Looking at their website, the grey Gotland wool sounds interesting. Ah well, if anyone else goes that way, they can find out.

Also near Applecross was Angora Ecosse, further along the same road to the North. They had angora/merino yarn, some Shetland lace and natural dark brown Hebridean wool. I didn't buy any, since I didn't like the colours of the angora (too pastelly) and I couldn't think of anyone who'd appreciate a brown, slightly itchy wool jumper. Still slightly wish I'd got some Hebridean wool anyway.

Coming soon, the yarn I did buy and some knitting progress.

need a holiday

My brain is already on holiday, but the rest of me is still stuck in the office until thursday.

I've been thinking about what to take away with me. I'm off up North to Scotland, so I thought I'd take some Scottish inspired knits - Arisaig, which I've been wanting to make for ages and Pixeldiva's Hopscotch socks. And then, for Project Spectrum's August neutrals and black and white, a black and white version of Alice's Lovemeknot socks. Which is quite a lot of knitting for a fortnight's holiday. Hopscotch sock one is already up to the heel and will probably get finished this week. I started Arisaig yesterday sitting in the sun in my back garden. It's lovely, but it's going to take a long time to knit. It starts with 7 inches or so of 2x2 rib, over 154 stitches on 2.25mm needles. After a couple of hours I had about an inch and a half and the ribbing (and the sunshine) were sending me to sleep. I'll take it, but I suspect it's not going to get finished any time soon. But I can spend the next few months knitting it and remembering my Scottish holiday. Sounds like a good plan to me.

psychedelic tigers

psychedelic tigers, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

Finished late last night, just in time for the end of July for Project Spectrum.

Pattern: Jaywalker (my third pair)

Yarn: Fyberspates Hand-dyed sock yarn

Needles: 2.5mm

Modifications: Started with 92 stitches, decreased to 78 after the heel by leaving out one set of increases and continuing to decrease the heel gussets until there were 36 stitches on the sole. This means I can get my feet into them, but they aren't too baggy on the foot, which was a problem with the first pair I made.

These socks remind me of an art project I did aged about 13. It was based around self-portraits and finiding an animal we thought expressed our personality. I chose a tiger. Not entirely sure why, I think a tabby cat might have been more appropriate. My favourite colour combination at the time was purple and yellow, so my final piece involved a self-portrait of me as a tiger, trying to snarl, done in purple and yellow stripes. Hmm. Anyway, that's why they're psychedelic tiger socks.

I'm intrigued by the way the yarn's pooled differently on each sock. It was one big 100g skein, but it's made the two socks look quite different, especially on the leg. Curious, but it's part of what makes them unique.

lavender days

bee on lavender, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

More purple for Project Spectrum.

The dominant smell of these heatwave days (if you ignore the sweat and smelly feet) has been lavender. There are several large clumps in the college garden and whenever I walk past, the scent coming off them is amazing. There are insects on the flowers all day long, bumble bees and butterflies during the day, moths in the evening.

too hot to knit

And too busy. I'm busy at work, helping organise a conference and although I brought some socks, they've languished in my room unknit. Here's something I started at the weekend, in the 24 hours or so break between the end of the first week and beginning of the second. I was too tired to read or do much, but it was too hot to sleep during the day, so I knitted and found enough brain power to read instructions and charts. This is the Diamond Fantasy shawl by Sivia Harding. It's going to be a Christmas present for my grandma (who doesn't read my blog) whose monster stash I raided last Christmas. The yarn is HipKnits cashmere sock yarn in a greyish blue with purple bits, one of the cashmere club shades. It's a more subtle colour than I might have chosen myself, but it's grown on me. There's enough colour variation to be interesting without competing with the lace pattern.

It's fun watching the lace grow. Charted lace is so intuitive. I knitted the first part (chart A) from the written instructions, mostly because I was very tired and wanted to make sure I got it exactly right, but once I got to the main body of the pattern, following the chart was easier. I can see why people get hooked on lace knitting.

the comfort of cashmere

Today I'm wearing my cashmere socks. They're keeping my very cold feet warm. I think it's the lack of food and electrolytes, despite the digusting rehydration fluids I've been drinking (stomach bug since Monday, gradually getting back to normal, but mostly subsisting on rice cakes at the moment). Not much energy, but at least my feet are comfortable.

Incidentally, I put them through the washing maching by mistake earlier this week. Both of them. And they're fine. Don't think I'd do it regularly, but good to know if it happens accidentally it's OK. It's Hipknits cashmere sock yarn. Good job Kerrie.

purple aliens

aliens, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

I love these plants. They're love-in-a-mist or Nigella. They're pretty when flowering, but I like them even better when the flowers are over and the spiky purple seed pods can be seen. They look like aliens, mini-triffids taking over the garden. Soon they'll dry out and start to scatter their seeds to start all over again next year.

knitting and scissors

A scary combination.

2 posts down is Angelica. If I'm ever going to wear her, the keyhole neckline has to go. But it's knit from the top down. What can I do? If I were sewing, it would be easy. I'd just cut, maybe make a new neckline facing. I could just tuck the end bits in as Katie does. Or I could do a scary cutting, sort of steeking but not really because steeks won't work thing.

This is what I thought of. Work out how I want the neckline to be and mark the stitches that would be the end of the row. (maybe borrow a technique from steeking and do a line of crochet). Cut and unravel rows up to (or near) the stitches I've marked. Neaten the resulting ends in such a way that they're going nowhere. Either turn under like a facing, or pick up and knit a new edging all round the neckline. What do you think? Worth trying or a recipe for tears and a sad pile of yarn?

fading from blue to purple

I've been passing this field every day since January and in that time it first got greener and greener and then more and more blue-ish purple. Close up, the flowers are more blue than purple, but each one is surrounded by greyish purple leaves and the effect over the whole field is a haze of purple. I thought it might be an appropriate way to shade from the blue of June to the purple of July.

Purple, ah purple. My favourite colour, not hard to guess, really, looking at the things I've done recently. So is there purple knitting in the near future? There's another purple and yellow sock to knit and I've just started a pink and purple thing that might be a birthday present. I think it's safe to say, I never stray far from the purple.

(Anyone know what the plant is, by the way?)

remember this?

angelica in progress, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

Angelica still looks like this, more or less, although the neckline now has an i-cord trim and I've weaved in a few ends. The trouble is, I can't summon up the enthusiasm to finish it. The armholes are HUGE! This photo doesn't convey it, but they are. I knitted about half a sleeve, which took forever and didn't like it. The odd decreases at the top make the arm look weird. I'm not convinced the neckline's really me, nor the flippy bottom. Last night I came very close to just ripping the whole thing out. I haven't, I've just put it aside again. I don't know what to do with it. The thing I love is the yarn. It's so soft and strokable. It's also fine, so it takes ages to make any progress and dark, so it's hard to see details. I really wanted to make it into a beautiful, simple but stylish top that would make me feel elegant and luxurious, but this just isn't doing it. Should I rip or persevere?

second finished object of the week

somewhat cowl finished, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

I finished this in the pub last night, which was great. I finished the second cuff, sewed in a couple of ends and it was done. I do love top-down raglans!

Started 28 April 2006, finished 27 June 2006

Pattern: Somewhat Cowl by Wendy Barnard, with various modifications

Yarn: 700g of Debbie Bliss Maya

Needles: 5mm and 4.5mm circulars

Modifications: different gauge, so followed directions for the smallest size, fiddled with the raglan increases so the armholes didn't end up huge, added short row shaping at the bust, did the waist shaping as decrease darts under the bust and then increase darts at the side. Long arms, with shaping. Collar is only one layer, rather than folded over. Sewn bind-off on neckling and cuffs.

Notes: I love it! I did the neckline before the arms so that I could just split the remaining yarn in half and make the arms as long as I could. I ended up with a small ball of yarn, maybe 20m. It's a beautiful colour and very warm. I did put it on in the pub garden last night when it started to get cool, but I don't think I'll be wearing it much until the autumn. Perhaps on holiday in Scotland this summer.

Monday morning FO

red and purple socks, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

Actually finished last night, just after Dr Who. (This seems to be a common occurance. What am I going to do when it ends?) Note: You can see me knitting these socks in some of the punting photos.

Started, 4 May 2006, finished 25 June 2006.

Pattern: toe-up, 64 stitches, k3 p1 rib, flap heel, finished with 12 rows of k1p1 rib, sewn bind-off.

Yarn: Fyberspates in Valentine

Needles: 2.5mm Addi turbos

Notes: These just about fit me, but they're a little on the small side. I think I know someone else who might like them though.

I might have another FO to show you tomorrow. Somewhat Cowl is about 40 sleeve rows away from be done. I doubt I'm going to have finished all my projects by the end of the month, but I'll have made a good dent in the list.

knitting in style

knitting, punting, headless punter, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

We went punting. Actually we went knitting and someone else did the punting. It was lovely, drifting past ducks, colleges and other punters. Having someone who knows what they're doing tends to mean you go a little faster and stay out of trouble. This bit of river, past the backs, tends to be full of tourists who've never been in a punt before who are struggling to keep it going straight.

This is the bit of the river next to King's College. In the front row, absorbed in their knitting are Alison and Anne. Behind them, Avril, Arthur and Marcelle and beyond them, Mary (who you can't see) and Diane. The other person you can't see is Emily, who was sitting next to me.

It was a lovely afternoon for punting and a good time was had by all. Thanks Mary for organising it! You can find other people's pictures here, here and here. More on my flickr photostream.

Ooh, and I won the draw and came home with a couple of skeins of Rowanspun tweed. Yummy!

not knitting, but I made it

Debs is ready for Kentwell, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

This is my sister Debbie's Kentwell costume. I made it last night. (It's a Tudor re-enactment place. Schools go on trips, everyone has to dress up. I've never been to Kentwell, but both my sisters have and I seem to be family costumier).

The bodice took the longest. It's a man's jacket from a charity shop, with the arms and collar taken off and some remodelling. The skirt is a simple drawstring tube, the apron is a square on a long skinny rectangle and the hat is the corner of an old fitted sheet, gathered onto a headband. I didn't make the undershirt, Debs happened to find a shirt with a suitable lacing at the neckline. She also made the hanging pocket and cupstring. It's not exactly authentic (the breast pocket on the bodice gives away its origins) but it's good enough. And it's laced up properly. Apparently, crossed lacing means you're a woman of ill repute. And you wouldn't want that.

big sock little sock

big sock little sock, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

Those unpaired socks I was talking about. Purple and red sock 2 is on the needles. I'm amused by how much bigger the jaywalker sock is. The red sock is 64 stitches, k3 p1 ribbing, so looks pretty small when relaxed and jaywalkers are notoriously unstretchy because the stitches are on the bias. (Incidentally, I once spent a whole bus journey planning an experiment to investigate the stretchiness of the knitted stitch, involving finding Young's Modulus for different sorts of stitch patterns in different directions. I've never got round to doing the experiment. I'd have to find a school lab to borrow equipment from and stuff, but wouldn't it be a fun experiment to do? Or is that just me?)

Sorry Cambridge knitters, I failed to make it to a meet-up yet again. Blame post-exam tiredness and the rain. And the choir rehearsal. Mostly the choir rehearsal. Anyone want to come and hear us?

blue for June

ferry boat blue, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

I've got some socks to show you. Two socks, but not a pair. Shall I wait until they're paired or show you anyway? I can't actually show you them because I haven't taken any pictures of them.

I'm torn. There's a Cambridge knitalong tonight and I haven't been in ages, but I've also got an extra rehearsal before choir concerts this weekend. And I could do with the rehearsal. I might be showing up to knit for half an hour and then dashing off to the rehearsal.

blue knitting

Not done any yet, but here's a good excuse to knit in blue: Knit a River

"Help I Knit and WaterAid campaign for water and toilets for all by knitting a river. I Knit and WaterAid have joined forces to produce an innovative campaign tool to demand water and toilets for all."

Found via Kerrie.

WiP round-up

I have decided that this month, in preparation for moving across town (finally found somewhere to live yesterday. Not finalised yet, but looking good, hurrah!) I will aim to finish all my current knitting projects, with two exceptions. This is my current list.

Angelica: Oldest WiP. The body is done and the front opening. I tried the neckline treatment as written, decided I didn't like it and did an i-cord cast-off instead. She needs arms. This is a problem. The armholes are huge. I got 2/3 down one sleeve, decided it was far too large and ripped. The answer is probably some sort of short puff sleeve, although I'm not totally convinced that puff sleeves will match the slinkiness of the body. Any suggestions? I want to get her finished and I really don't want to frog until I've tried everything possible.

Somewhat Cowl: Rather less of a cowl, more of a long low scoopy neck. Body and neckline are finished, she needs arms. I'd like long arms, length will probably depend on how long the yarn lasts.

Forecast: Still looks like this. This is one thing I plan not to complete this month, in fact I want to get other things done so I can work on it.

Garter stitch shawl: This is a long-term stashbusting/using up scraps of yarn project, so I don't expect it to get finished anytime soon.

Purple and red socks: Toe-up ribbed socks. One sock done, one yet to be started. Awaiting a decision on whether they're for me or someone else.

Purple and yellow Jaywalkers aka psychedelic tiger socks: Started this weekend while revising (i.e. watching videos of As You Like It and Top Girls). I'll explain the name when they're done. Sock one is already past the heel and into decreasing the heel gussets. I know I had lots of problems with Jaywalkers the first time round and wasn't very enthusiastic about the completed pair, but actually, of all my handknit socks (4 pairs), they're the ones I wear most frequently. I think I've fixed my sizing issues, and somehow this pattern's perfect for variegated yarn when you want to make something that isn't plain stocking stitch or rib.

So that's four arms and 2 and a half socks to knit by the end of the month. Possible, I think.

Waiting in the wings to be started once I've cleared the decks: Arisaig in vintage Jaeger gaelicspun (swatched last week, got gauge, hooray!), Diamond fantasy shawl in HipKnits cashmere sock yarn, more Elfines, possibly for me, possibly for someone else, Hopscotch socks as designed by Pixeldiva in more HipKnits cashmere.