FO: Knee-highs!

These are the inspiration shot (from this trip), along with the final product (started here):

I did simple M1R and M1L increases for the calf, up until I had 80 stitches all around.  There are neat and symmetric little slants on each side, which I quite like.  I finished off with 2x2 ribbing for 18 rows.  They hit just below the knee.

I'm in love! Warm and colorful legs this fall (or whenever it gets cold enough around these parts)!

Cast off and away!

Ecclesiates tells us that "for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ...a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew..."

I love crafty references in the Bible (amazing detail -- God is definitely the Great Craftsman)! And for me, the time has come.  Today is the day that I cast off* a project that's been on the needles for a while now.  Here's what I did during the lunch hour:

This, gentle reader, is what casting off looks like (nice, finished edge on the right).  And yes, this is the second sock.  I'm later at it than I would be if I hadn't knit this in 1x1 ribbing for 15 rows only to realize it should've been 2x2 ribbing (which is more elastic), which is how I knit the first sock. An exciting blog post awaits as both socks are reunited when I get home, and the full rainbow effect of Noro Kureyon in color 092 is unleashed for all to see. Hold your breath, reader!

Okay, okay: it's casting "off" and not "away."  I'm totally taking the verse out of context, and even using the meanings improperly, but -- honestly -- I couldn't help myself.

Sock-knitting, again

My recent visit to LACMA and Tim Burton's exhibit didn't just inspire me to get skectching again; I also brought out the tiny double pointed knitting needles. Project: knee highs begins!

I'd picked up this skein of Noro Kureyon sock yarn (color 192)  back when it debuted (ages ago!), but never got around to using it. The black mixed in with the rainbow colors just kinda killed it for me.  But with an eye to some of Tim Burton's drawings (long and skinny and stripey), I thought to break up the color gradations by creating stripes with an alternating solid color (Cascade Heritage in a rich, dark brown). Here's an initial attempt:

This was before I changed my mind and decided to make the toes in multicolor instead of dark brown. I'd also decided to decrease from a 64-stitch round to 60. It set me back a week, but will be worth it in the end when I'm happy with the final product.

These socks are being knit from the toe up so as to use as much yarn as possible. I like a rounded toe; here's how I do it:

1. Figure-eight cast-on for 10 stitches: 10 figure eights = 20 sts total


2. Increase at the beginning and end of every "row" for five rows; split stitches onto four dpns: 10 stitches on each dpn; 40 sts total


3. Increase every other round for another 10 rounds: 15 stitches on each dpn; 60 sts total

A 60-stitch circumference provides a comfortable, snuggly fit for my Size 7 feet; I'm using Size US1 needles. My stripes are three rows of each color -- not a perfect split when I got to the heel, but neither four rows nor two rows quite matched the image I had in mind. I like watching the colors gradually change, and knitting in a regular interval of colors sure makes counting rows easier! I prefer to knit both socks at once to ensure that my tension is equal and to save myself from "second sock syndrome," that feeling of having to start all over with the second sock before the project can really be complete. Here's where I am now, almost a month after the cast-on (please forgive my bleh grey berber rental carpet):

It'll soon be time to begin some calf increases.  I'm going to knit those on the fly: wishmeluck!