Finally on track

Last night I cast on a pair of RPM socks, and I seem to be not messing them up so far. I like the look so far, can you see the spiral starting around them? The yarn is Wildfoot, it has already been the beginnings of a Jaywalker, but it didn't like that. It spoke to me again, and here it is. Should be quick.

We are starting to get into our busy summer time.

This Saturday we are driving to our hometown for my nephew Stephen's graduation party. He is going to Paul Smith college in September. It'll be a 4 hour drive, husband is going with myself and the 3 youngest. We're not staying over, just going up and back that night. Then Sunday morning #4 is goign to Boy Scout camp for the week for the first time. Monday husband has a trip until Wednesday, then Thursday they have their annual trip to Cooperstown, Baseball Hall Of Fame induction weekend. They stalk hall-of-famers for their autographs. I will actually only have my 2 quietest kids, and the youngest for 4 days. I'll practically be alone! Sometime in August one kid has Webelos extended camp. Dad is going with him the whole time, it's 3 nights at the Boy Scout Camp. Plus the 2 homeschooled kids are going to begin their year August 1 so they can spread their time out more through the year and not always have to do 5 days a week. Little do they know it won't be hard to fill in schoolwork days. A lot of usual days are filled with learning experiences we will count. OK, bored with me yet? Nothing particularly funny or exciting going on. Will report more on the RPM again when I get more progress done.

Pomatomus

So to not be the only blogger who hasn't done a Cookie A sock, I give you Pomatomus. I tried the P a while back, and just didn't have the good juju on my side. Friday night the stars were aligned correctly and my try this time has worked out. It is a bit of magic. The patterning doesn't go around and around, the KTBL's give it a nice ridge within each shell. Just fun, you just don't want to put these down. I am doing them on bamboo 2 DPN's, unusual for me. I like the old magic loop 2 at a time. But these lend themselves better to DPN's because you have to shift a stitch here and there. Onward...

You're Puttin Me On Socks

You're Puttin Me On Socks, otherwise known as "these are the socks that never end...they just go on and on my friend..." Mainly because they were done on Addi 1's. They fit perfectly. I like short socks. I did Cat Bordhi's heel from youtube. One thing I did learn from that is you don't turn that one as early as other types of heels. I turned it, then had to rip, and make it longer. But it is a wonderful type of heel. Also I used E. Zimmermann's sewn cast-off. Again, very easy, and definitely elastic. Perfect for toe-up. I enjoyed these so much I cast on some for my husband. They are modeled after the Harris Tweed socks, but with Judy's cast on, Cat's heel, and E.'s cast off.

Toe up socks

I have cast on for magic loop version of the You're Putting Me On socks. They use Judy Becker's Cast On which is pretty fun. I am using some Lisa Souza Lime N Violet colorway sock yarn. I didn't think I liked the colors that much, but it is turning out nicely.

Finished!

I know, you can't see the lace pattern on the top. But THEY ARE DONE! I do like the colors. They are just footies. Comfortable. I will make them again in a plain sock yarn. I certainly am well practiced in the stitch pattern.

A great big green FROG session!

Geez! I just spent last night and this morning working on my second Breeze sock, and was to the toe decrease when I realized that I read the pattern incorrectly the second time around. I left 24 stitches on each of needle 1&2, rather than 15. 15 + 15 is 30, which is the same as the stitch count on the top, so it will match up on the toe decrease! 24 + 24 is 48, so the entire foot circumference is off by 18! Significant! And because it's a fiddly lace pattern it's not all that easy to figure out which row I have pulled back to. I have cold feet (I thought I was going to put these on when they were finished) and I'm hungry because I didn't want to stop until I was done. And I think I need a nap! So there.

Crap! I forgot how addicting socks are to knit!

Well, I have opened a can of worms here, I am about 3/4 done with my first Breeze, and while I wouldn't show it off due to the lace patterning being hidden by the variegated yarn, I am now consumed again with thoughts of sock techniques. I need to get better at the toe-up. I need to try all the different heels. Good thing I have a stash to support the upcoming sock illness. Although I do need some plain colors...

Breeze sock

I started the Breeze ankle sock from Knitty last night. I have always liked the tilting ladder lace pattern. I tried it right out of the barbara Walker treasury, but it was confusing as it was knit flat. It seems easier in the round. I like the pattern. I am using some reclaimed sock yarn I found in the basement, that had begun and sat as a scarf for years, so this is found yarn (picture on right is from Knitty). It's varigated, and it doesn't show off the stitch very well, but I consider it a practice pair. I'll do these again in a plain yarn.