Pink slippers...

are all done.

Bosnian Slipper socks design by Donna Druchunas

Another lovely pattern from Knitting Sock from Around the World, I still have a few more to go before I'm done with the book.

Just in time for Miss17 to relieve me of them when she visited recently.

The third colour is cleverly stitched on at the end to minimise tangles in the knitting.

Bendigo woollen mills luxury in Lotus and Ghost with the purple vintage Patons fingering detail.

These slippers used up most of the leftover ghost colourway but there is still enough of the Lotus for more socks.

When I saw her again a couple of days later she was wearing them to keep her toes warm. Yay!

The mother added to the yarn stash again last week with some bargain yarns suitable for sock knitting among other things, I need to get some pictures of those.

My blue cable cape from last time has seen significant progress and will soon be done.

Wishing you sunshine in your window.

Last day...

of September today, (just in case you need the reminder).

It seems I am still focussing on keeping toes warm (mostly mine) and using up the yarn stash, even the bits that keep sneaking in.

Lithuanian colour work socks from 'Knitting Socks from around the World', (a present that has proved to be a wonderful resource). The navy yarn was an oppy find, a lovely soft wool crepe with no label and the aqua is from a knitting friends machine knit scraps, Bendigo Woollen mills classic 5 ply.

Purple wall socks are in The Great wall II pattern from Qianer of HiyaHiya, the yarn is a delicious 1950's vintage  Patons Beehive 4 ply fingering.

The Neutral summer hat was made using the Drops design pattern 127-47 and while I really like it there is no way this one will fit on my head, so I think I just start on made a start on Christmas gifts.

Sure I finished my summer slippers last night just so I could count them today, not really but they were quick and a little addictive a perfect weekend project. They are super comfy and just the right weight I think for when the weather changes.

The Paws socks are that mystery which was seen here about a week ago, a plain pattern with some coloured embellishments, great for using leftovers of which there always seems to be some. Currently they are flying to their new home, all will be revealed shortly.

Hope your September was productive too.

Enjoy October.

Odd Socks

So these are the socks I've knit in the last three weeks.

Four socks that don't match.

Four different socks - and while you can't really see the burgundy one it is finished

Now I'm working on making them partners.

Blue Lithuanian colourwork sock and Purple Hiya Hiya Great Wall 11 sock

The second blue sock is at the toe and will be finished shortly. 

There is another purple sock on the needles that will match the one finished earlier this week. The pattern knits up quick even though I upsized it for my big feet. I'm looking forward to having a new pair of socks soon.

All the knitting that has been going on this past week has left little time for reading but I did listen to a complete Audiobook - 'The House of Memories' by Monica McInerney is an entertaining novel about family relationships and the individuals who make up the family unit. 

Joining those yarning along this week where you will find lots of woolly goodness.

May there be sunshine in your creative space this week.

A little...

uninterupted knitting time = a lot of knitting.

Did I work on the overdue socks for the Father?

Maybe just a little?

I am working on the foot of the second sock

Did I start a new sock?

After Saturday Knitting group

Sure I did, there's a few more skeins of the purple yarn so I am thinking I may just try it out on a couple more designs. 

An interesting design with three different stitches around the leg

They'll all work at keeping toes warm whether they match or not, Right?

At  least they will when they get toes

I joined in with the ladies on Friday night with friends and have been around to see a few already. They really are a busy group.

Hope your weekend has been full of sunshine and colour.

Casting on for FNSI

More socks - I did finish the stripey pair with just a scrap of yarn leftover.

The vintage pattern and yarn, this gorgeous burgundy Patonyle 3 ply knits up so soft.

For the blue socks I am using another of the patterns from the book 'Knitting socks from around the World', this time the Lithuanian colorwork socks designed by Donna Druchunas. I cast on the largest size and knit this bit last night. They are too big at this gauge and I don't believe I have enough of that darker blue, so I am starting over - going down one size and swapping to the navy yarn at the front of the picture.

I'll be around later to see what lovelies everyone else was working on last night.

Thanks to Wendy for hosting.

May your weekend be filled with happy creations.

A quick look at July

I do enjoy looking at all I've finished each month, even when there are several still on the needles

Purple granny beanie based on Granny Square beanie designed by Lisa Gentry in 'Donna Kooler's encyclopedia of crochet'. Pocket bag made using Linda's fabulous tutorial. Red Poppy socks designed by Anna Zilboorg from 'Knitting Socks from around the world'. Pink Tee was a test knit for a new pattern Farmer's Daughter by Lisa Kereliuk. Coloured free socks using Butterflies are free pattern designed by Rose Hiver. Mauve Miette designed by Andi Satterlund. Grey and Navy ripple beanie because the yarn was rolling around in my bag, no pattern required.

Lots of stash busting going on here, or at least not allowing yarn to build up. I only purchased the light coloured yarn (cheap at the Spotlight sale!) for the Purple granny beanie, though some of the other yarn used was gifted to me. The dark purple yarn was leftover from my textured vest I finished back in 2011.

 An oldie but a goodie.

How was July for you? Lots of starting or lots of finishing? Lots of stashing or stash busting?


Have colourful Tuesday afternoon.

Off the needles

Apparently I have been misleading you all into believing that there I don't do reverse knitting on my socks - So not true. These socks caused significant issues at various points of construction and there were times when there was serious competition between forward and reverse. They were socks that required a lot of attention. In an effort to complete projects I usually deal with the reverse action and reknit, if I stop to contemplate the task I am less inclined to fix it, I know I have several incomplete projects from my past for this reason.

Poppy socks designed by Anna Zilboorg from 'Knitting socks from around the world'. 

Knit in Patons Patonyle 4 ply red and cream - almost 50g of each.

Special socks for MsM's 'O' birthday

The grey and navy crochet ripple hat used all but a metre or so of each of those bits.

These are the true colours

Yay!

Thanks to Linda and Ana for the stash buster challenge I am making space for some fresh yarn.

Wishing you a wonderful week of creative fun.

My FNWF

While I got this book from the library for inspiration and I really did think I would start a sewing project.

 I spent some time looking at the projects being very indecisive, so I picked up my needles to do a few stitches while I decided. No sewing decisions were made, instead I kept knitting along. (Hope my clicking needles weren't too distracting)

Some good progress was made on my pretty pink knitting as well as completing one of the front bands on the Mauve Miette, which is creeping closer to finish.

A little textured band

Thanks Cheryll for inviting us to stitch along.
Today was my local knitting group and I worked on my socks. The one with the cream sole is finished and I am about half done with the leg on the second one. I'm ready for them to be done as I already have yarn and a pattern chosen for my next sock knit.

Poppy socks by Anna Zilboorg from 'Knitting socks from around the world'

Sunday is the official opening of the Hottie Challenge exhibition in support of the Margaret Pratt Foundation. I'll be heading over there to check out the gorgeous creations in real life.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

A year of socks

Nothing new here, just realised this week that it is a year since I cast on the first sock and decided to collect them together to see what they looked like.

Nice!

Starting at the top left by row(ish) -Czarina's Lace from 'Knitting Knee Highs', Blue stripes using designs from 'Socks a La Carte', His socks from 'Knitted Gifts', San Juan free soles by Anna Zilboorg, Estonian Kapotad Socks from 'Knitting Socks from Around the world', Sanquhar Socks from 'Knitting Socks from around the world', Hugs and Kisses by General Hogbuffer, Red socks using designs from 'Socks A La Carte', pink Owlie socks by Julie Suchomel, Red Katya's from 'Knitting Knee Highs', Purple Diagonals by Ann Budd, Mauve Triumph crochet socks by Victoria Selnes, Red Two Horse Hitch socks by Anne Podlesak, Blue Davidson Road socks from 'Knitting Knee Highs',
Brown Maid Marian socks from 'Knitting Knee Highs', Albanian Anklets from 'Knitting socks from Around the world', Purple candle socks using designs from 'Socks a La carte' and Cable cuffs from 'Fab feet and Cosy toes'.

Now you know why there has been a lot of posts about knitting socks - an average of 3 socks a month for a whole year! There will be more socks in the future, I still have some family requests to fill which is probably just as well, as I was gifted two more skeins of yarn for sock knitting this week.

May there be many stitches in your weekend.

Poppy and Miette

My interpretations of these excellent patterns.

I'm very happy with the Poppy socks and have the first one ready to start the leg. I cast on the second one and love the different look of the colours in the opposite places. This pattern is written for a negative/positive sock and it works perfectly with this yarn as I have an equal quantity of both. 

Poppy Socks by Anna Zilboorg from Knitting Socks from around the world

My cardigan is coming along nicely too, the knitting is easy. After increasing the length of the body I am up to the final pattern, I understand it is hard to see with all that fur, before the lower band. Maybe I do like fat needles and yarn after all. (Probably just as well considering there are a few more jackets worth in the cupboard!)

Miette (with extra length) design by Andi Satterlund

I am still waiting for the pattern to transform the pretty pink yarn pictured last week, it should be here by the weekend. I'm all ready to cast on again.

This week I am reading 'The boy in the moon' by Kate O'Riordan. An interesting and tragic novel dealing with family relationships across generations. A tale formed around a small number of key life events, it explores the individuals reactions while exploring their past experience.

Joining the yarn along this week for more yarn inspiration.

Hope the sun is shining in your creative space.

Perfect Mr Google...

It may or may not animate?

Friday's Google Doodle celebrating the winter solstice.

A glorious weekend - cold overnight with brilliant sunshiny days in my part of the world.

Lots of time for working on knitting projects - the sock has grown considerably I am almost done with the foot.

A little look inside

As I am not good at working on only one thing at a time I cast on another project. This time my first ever top down cardigan. I understand the yarn is not good for showing the design at its best, but as I have started and abandoned a number of projects with this yarn I am going to keep knitting and enjoy wearing this number.

The pattern is Miette and the yarn is Cleckheaton Divine, as you can see in this picture the yarn is a rather odd construction and while it is not as difficult to knit with as it at first looks it does produce a lovely light and fluffy fabric. 

Hope your weekend was full of sunshine.

Casting on...

always follows a finish or two.

Not much to see yet.

There is a new sock on the needles, my (very late)  hooky contribution to the Hottie Challenge and yarn for another project awaiting the pattern.

Back to working my way through my Knitting Socks from Around the World, I'm doing Poppy Socks this time designed by Anna Zilboorg.

furry?

There has been some reading this week - cool wet weather is perfect for curling up with a book, (not in the picture) but I've almost finished 'Remarkable Creatures' a novel by Tracy Chevalier. The two main characters are young women - one from an affluent family and one from a poor family - who share a fascination with collecting fossils. One for pleasure and one to help sustain her family. Set in a period when women were not taken seriously as individuals it highlights the injustices faced by women in that era. Interesting reading.

Joining the yarn along again this week.

The evidence

I did finish the socks and the mint and citrus blanket. I even dealt with all the threads before I took their photo's while the sun was visiting today.

The blanket was a previously resting project which saw daylight again in March. It was started a few years ago to use up stash yarn but as I was fixated on the pretty white border I had to buy another ball of yarn to finish it. Fortunately I used more than half the ball completing the border.

The yarn is Patons Big Baby 4 ply in lemon, mint green, white and a multi coloured - blue/green/lemon.

The cream and burgundy Sanquar socks were started in March and finished this week.

Mother's day sorted - yippee.

Even the inside looks cool

Sanquhar socks designed by Beth B Parrott from 'Knitting socks from Around the World'.

Yarn from the stash - Bendigo Woollen Mills 3 ply and vintage Patons Beehive 3 ply.

 

Slowly working my way through my stash of yarn.

Thanks to Ana and Linda for the Stash buster initiative.

Wishing you sunshine in your creative space.

Still Socking along

One is finished and the second is on the needles - nice.

The pattern is easy to knit and the interesting design repeats both around and down the sock.

Sanquar socks in cream and burgundy
The yarns are working up nicely together, with just a little stretch.

Of course all this knitting means the blanket has been sadly neglected - so close and still so far. That last round is taking forever! (oh, I know I need to pick it and work on it)

I finished reading 'The Necessary Aptitude - A Memoir' by Pam Ayres. A very enjoyable read. 
Now I am reading 'Small Acts of Kindness' by Bronwyn Donaghy, a novel about enduring friendship.

Joining Ginny and all the talented crafters Yarning along this week.

Starting again

A whole week passed without a stitch being knitted.

Today was the day to remedy that.

I selected these two stash yarns - cream Bendigo woollen mills luxury and this very old Patons yarn in a deep burgundy colour to make the Sanquhar Socks from 'Knitting socks from around the world'.

These are knit from the cuff, so far I have completed the band. The coming Easter break, which is promising to be considerably cooler, should see good progress on these. I am eager to see this pattern grow in the fabric.

The hook has not been idle. I am currently working on the final round of the blanket but the rows are long and I need to concentrate so it may take a couple more days.

I recently started reading 'The Necessary Aptitude - A Memoir' by Pam Ayres. The title refers to the reason for being dismissed from her first job - as in 'lacks the necessary aptitude'. Guess her superiors didn't appreciate her humour?

While the book includes a lot of detail it is written in her easy to read style and is quite entertaining.

Joining all the talented participants who yarn along.

Hope there's some time to create in your week.

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.

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.