February Finishes

Lots of knitting going on here in February - though two of the three pairs of socks were started in January. The finishing of a long term crochet project, the pastel blanket, inspires me to start another bigger project but I'm thinking I'll wait for some cooler weather before working on another blanket.

There are more finished than started projects this month and I am enjoying those finishes even if they are only small.

I cast on another sock yesterday and learnt my lesson about starting a new pattern in company, I did some unravelling when I got home and now have something that looks like the pattern quite a shock really!

Sure hope February was a good month for creating in your space (though I see some people have misplaced February).

A project for every occasion...

Lots of variety here at the moment.

I'm done knitting the socks - just need to weave in some ends and they will be finished.
The rib turned out to be perfect for knitting in company and there was lots of that this week.

The weather has been perfect this week for a little sitting at the beach with knitting in hand so I started another hat with some silvery purple yarn from the stash.

I have progressed from here but don't have a new picture, I'll need to add another colour to finish this one.

The Pastel blanket has all the squares joined - it just needs a small border to finish it off.

I joined the blocks for the centre row with a plain pastel blue colour and then joined the row in with a plain lemon, borrowed from another unfinished blanket - guess it will be a while before I start a new crocheted blanket.

 This weekend is going to be all about finishing these.

Currently trying to decide whose socks to cast on next, I have the patterns picked out.

The stash busting is going well so far, even encouraging some finishing of ageing projects.

Have a wonderful weekend. Stay cool.

Resting squares - no more

Finally joining these squares I made back in 2011 when there was a lot of commuter hooky projects in my bag.
The squares were made from the leftover stash of acrylic and nylon baby yarns in any combination. I added a ball of the white for the outer square borders. Now I am crocheting these together with a pretty blue/mint/lemon colourway Patons feathersoft yarn. There may or may not be sufficient to finish joining all the rows, hence starting at both sides. There are still leftovers to choose from should I need something else to complete this project.
All this to delay casting on another sock before the ribbing on the last pair is finished. I am up to the second sock, so not much more to go!
Wishing you a cool Sunday with time for stitches.

One turned...

and the second one knitted to the ankle.

A couple of pictures to give an idea of how the heel and toe fit nicely on the foot,

Now I've knitted the fun part and just have the boring bit to do.

Not sure I like the toe up thing, though I sure like these socks, there is nothing to look forward to, no decreasing to make it end quickly.

Very happy with these, my first pair of toe up socks.

I think I will be casting on something else interesting before all that ribbing is finished for the legs!

Pattern -Albanian Anklets from 'Knitting Socks from around the world'.

Yarn mostly Bendigo Woollen mills Luxury and Cleckheaton Bambino Merino 4 ply.

Nice and soft, and very warm for when the temperatures drop.

Hope your week has been colourful so far.
Updating for the knit along with crafts from the Cwtch.

Take Two

Both pink Owlie socks are complete! 

That's 4x25g balls of yarn less in the stash - Yay.

Unfortunately the Estonian Kapotad socks were not the correct size for the intended recipient - while I was prepared to alter them to fit, they were quickly snapped up by another family member who had put in an order. Of course they fit perfectly and saved me some unravelling. Love adaptable relatives.

Now I am trying another design from the book 'Knitting Socks from around the World'.

This time the pattern 'Albanian Anklets' adapted to suit the yarn available. This pattern is worked from the toe up and as I now have the relevant dimensions I should be able to get the sizing right this time.

The swirl toe construction is interesting and while it looks a little skewed  it sits neatly on the foot. This is knitting up very quickly and the simple two colour design that continues through the heel is easily remembered.

The challenge for me will be the heel construction from this angle.

Wishing you all a wonderfully cool and creative weekend.

Change of plans

FNWF started out okay with a couple of stitches added to the Sunflower stitchery I was working on last week but I was soon distracted by some pretty cotton and my hook.

I whipped up this little soap holder just for me.

It doubles as a wash cloth so I'm hoping I'll spend less time chasing the soap.

Today was the first meeting of the year for the local knitting group and I finally managed to finish sewing in all the threads on the socks. 

Good thing really as it is the intended recipients celebration is tonight!

Nothing like last minute finishing.

These socks are based on the Nancy Bush design, Estonian Kapotad socks which appears in 'Knitting Socks from around the world'. As I was using leftover yarns I made a number of changes to accommodate the colours in the quantities I had available. The major change is the main colour should be consistent for the entire sock.

Happy creating.