I finished the Embossed Leaves socks.  I’d wanted to knit this pattern since it was first published in Interweave Knits in the Winter 2005 issue.  Somehow, I’d never gotten around to it.  But, after seeing Jennifer and Michelle (her blog photo does not reflect the true beauty of that yarn/pattern combo) working on theirs at KTog, I decided that it was finally time for my own pair.

This pattern was pretty easy to learn, and I didn’t need to refer to the chart much once I got past the first pattern repeat.  The key was to know that the yarn-overs alternated on either side of a single stitch, and the decrease moved across the pattern repeat, but always left three stitches unknit.  Once I realized that, it all just clicked.  Not the fastest pattern, but not too much work either.  These are definitely a nice addition to the sock drawer.

Pattern: Embossed Leaves
Designer: Mona Schmidt
Source: Interweave Knits, Winter 2005 (also in Favorite Socks)
Yarn: KnitPicks Risata (196 yards / 50g)
Quantity: 2 skeins (392 yards)
Color: Cocoa
Needles: KnitPicks US0 (2.0 mm)

Started: December 27, 2007
Completed: January 7, 2008

Pattern modifications:

• I only knit the ribbing to 1.5 inches.
• I added an additional pattern repeat (4.5 chart repeats instead of 3.5) on the leg to make leaf patterning on the leg longer.
• I eliminated rows 10 and 12 in the sock to shorten the sock length.
• I changed the plain stockinette heel to a slipped stitch heel pattern (eye of partridge), but I kept the garter stitch borders on the heel flap.

Yarn overview

This was my first time working with the KnitPicks Risata.  I’d asked for and received this yarn as a gift for my birthday.  The yarn line was new in 2007, I was interested it in what it had to offer.  While I love my hand knit wool socks, they sometimes a bit too warm when the weather is warmer.  So, I’ve been interested in trying yarns with a higher cotton percentage in them.  Previously, I’d only used Cascade Fixation.  While it is a fine yarn, due to the unusual elastic nature, it isn’t suited as a replacement yarn for all patterns, and I don’t love it.  The Risata, however, can be a replacement for any fingering weight yarn, and has a fiber content of 42% Cotton, 39% Superwash Merino Wool, 13% Polyamide, and 6% Elite Elastic (this elastic does not give it the same elastic propery of Fixation).

I really enjoyed the Risata.  I only had one issue with it, and that was after I had managed to tangle a bunch of loose yarn after ripping back to fix an error.  Other than that, it knit up quite nicely; I didn’t find it splitty or anything of that unpleasant source.  The socks have been washed twice now, through the washing machine and dryer, and the yarn is great.  No pilling, no fuzzing - it still looks new.  This is definitely a yarn I would buy and knit with again (and that wasn’t my experience with the other KnitPicks sock yarn I’ve used - Parade, which has been discontinued).

Here it is, my finished Sunflower Tam.  There will be no photos of it being worn.  While I love the look of the hat, I don’t love it on.  I’m not sure if it’s the style of a tam in general, or if it’s just this specifc one.   I’m not even sure if I think that it’s too big or too small.  I just know that when I try it on, it isn’t me.  It’s a great pattern for using up a small amoung of heavy worsted to bulky wool.

Pattern: Sunflower Tam
Source: Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: Elann Peruvian Highland Wool (109 yards / 50g)
Quantity: 2 skeins (218 yards)
Color: Charcoal
Needles: Bamboo US5 and US7

Started: December 21, 2007
Completed: December 25, 2007

Pattern modifications:

• I knit this at a smaller gauge (16 stitches to 4 inches) than called for in the pattern.  I read a lot of posts on Ravelry that the hat was too big when it was finished.
• I eliminated the icord and knot at the top of the hat and just finished it by pulling the yarn through the remaining stitches.

After finishing the Phyllo Yoked pullover, I decided to do a little holiday knitting.  My mom had asked for a sweater, but didn’t give me her measurements until two weeks before Christmas.  I knew that there was no way I would be able to knit it for her in time - plus I didn’t have the right yarn.  So, I decided to knit her a pair of socks instead. 

After looking through my sock stash, I settled on the Pink Granite colorway of the Socks that Rock Mediumweight that I had in the stash.  While browsing for patterns, I saw a note on Ravelry that the Go with the Flow socks were a quick knit.  Knowing that I had two weeks to knit the socks, I decided to give the pattern a try.  The person posting that comment was right.  These were a very quick knit.

Pattern: Go With the Flow Socks
Designer: Evelyn A. Clark
Source: Interweave Knits, Summer 2005
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Mediumweight (380 yards / 155g)
Quantity: 1 skein (380 yards)
Color: Pink Granite
Needles: Knitpicks 32″ US0

Started: December 12, 2007
Completed: December 19, 2007

Pattern modifications:

• I knit an Eye of Partridge heel flap on the sock instead of the pattern heel flap.   
• This wasn’t knit exactly to the specified gauge, but it still fits fine.

Pattern notes:

• This is the fastest pair of socks that I’ve ever knit.  Eight days from start to finish - I still can’t believe that I finished them so quickly.
• The pattern is easy to knit, but looks much more complex.
• I like the combination of lace and ribbing.  The lace provides a nice detail, while the ribbing provides an allowance for sizing and fit.

I finished the Mad Color Weave socks.  I really like the length of the leg of this sock, which is a little bit longer than I usually knit.

Pattern: Mad Color Weave
Source: Knit Tenacity
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight (360 yards / 122g)
Quantity: 1 skeins (360 yards)
Color: In the Navy
Needles: KnitPicks 32″ US0

Started: October 29, 2007
Completed: December 10, 2007

Pattern modifications:

• I knit 9 repeats of the pattern on the leg.
• I continued decreasing the toe until I had 8 stitches remaining because my sock ended up a tiny bit short.

The Phyllo-Yoked Pullover made it’s debut at the KTog Holiday party last Friday, but I never got a good photo of it there. 

I love this sweater.  It is very comfortable to wear, and the yarn is smooshy and soft.  I wasn’t sure about the sleeves before I started, but the bell sleeves are one of my favorite things about the sweater now that it’s finished. 

Pattern: Phyllo Yoked Pullover
Source: Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: Baruffa Merinos Sei (135 yards / 50g)
Quantity: 11 skeins (~1485 yards)
Color: Olive Green
Needles: Denise US5

Started: November 01, 2007
Completed: December 04, 2007

Pattern modifications:

• I shortened the sweater and the sleeves by an inch.  I still wish the sweater was a tiny bit shorter.
• I knit a different edging on the sleeves and body because I did not want a rolled stockinette edge.  I did three rows knit, three rows purl (knit flat). 

After returning home from my trip to Oregon, I was able to dig in the stash and find an additional skein of the Phildar Leader to finish the February Baby Sweater.  After finishing the knitting and weaving in the ends, I faced an even bigger challenge.  I needed to find buttons.

I don’t have much of a button stash, and from having browsed sites like Ravelry, and the Zimmerman knitalong, I knew that great buttons really make a difference on this sweater.  I checked a few of the local big box craft stores, but was a bit disappointed at the selection. 

So, I decided it was time to try a specialty sewing store.  At the Libertyville Sewing Center, they had a large bucket of buttons.  As the person at the store explained, they’d run out of space to keep buttons on display on cards, so they ripped them all off and stored them in a bucket.  They have a large table that you can dump the bucket onto to help in the sorting of buttons.  While I had fun looking through the bucket, this is not the way to go if you need a lot of buttons or if you don’t have a lot of time.  But, all the buttons in the bucket are only ten cents each, so you can find some deals. What buttons did I find?

It’s a little difficult to capture them accurately in a photo.  They’re round plastic buttons with wood grain finish and a dark purple/maroon shade rubbed in the edges and the detail cuts on the button.  I think that they match the sweater well, and I love that they aren’t too babyish.

I think I understand now why so many knitters have knit this pattern.  Overall, you get a sweater that looks much more complex than the effort put into it.  I thought it was really fun to knit too.  I will definitely be knitting more of these as future baby presents.  Here are some photos of the finished sweater.

Pattern:  February Baby Sweater (a.k.a. Baby Sweater on Two Needles)
Source: Knitters Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Yarn:  Phildar Leader (220 yards / 100g)
Quantity: A little over 1 skein (~300 yards)
Color: Maroon/Eggplant
Needles: Addi Turbo 40″ 3.5mm (US 4)

Started: September 09, 2007
Completed: October 01, 2007

Pattern modifications:

• I used only three button holes in the yoke area for the sweater.  I like the open sweater look.
• I knit the sleeves in the round to avoid seaming at the sweater completion.  This allowed me to pickup stitches instead of casting them on as I continued working the body. 
• My gauge was larger than the pattern gauge of 5 stitches per inch, but this way the baby can grow into the sweater.
• Since I made a slightly larger sweater, I extend the length of the sweater by half an inch.

Pattern tips:

• Elizabeth Zimmerman’s “pithy” patterns leave a lot of room for interpretation.  The instructions for beginning the body after the sleeves and casting-on “4×7″… I’m still not sure I understood them correctly. 
• This pattern is a wonderful example of why you should read an entire pattern before beginning to knit it.  She doesn’t mention buttonholes until you have finished knitting the yoke.  If you wanted yoke buttonholes, you’d be out of luck.

There will be more of this sweater in my future.  I just have to wait now for more news of babies.

Last night, I finally finished the Bayerische socks.  It feels as if a major weight has been lifted from my shoulders.  I haven’t been knitting much over the last month.  I’m not sure if it has been because this sock was the only thing I had on the needles, or if life has just been that busy.  I’m thinking that it might be a combination of both. 

Pattern: Bayerische Socks, Eunny Jang
Yarn: Froehlich Wolle Special Blauband (225 yards/50g)
Quantity: 2 skeins (450 yards / 100g)
Color: Olive Green
Needles: Addi Turbo 40″ 2.0mm (US 0)

Started: June 18, 2007
Completed: August 19, 2007

Pattern modifications:

• I used 3 repeats of Chart D on the legs.  I would have liked to have an additional repeat, but I did not have enough yardage.
• I decreased down to 32 stitches on the sole of the foot.  The pattern called for 36 stitches, which was too loose.
• Due to concern about yarn yardage, I reduced the ribbing to 7 rows instead of 14.

Based upon collective experience of members of KTog knitting this sock, I can offer the following observations. 

• This pattern tends to make any yarn seem very splitty.  I would not recommend using any sock yarn that seems to split easily in stockinette. 
• Knit the last row of twisted rib in the cuff very loosely.  This is essential for success in the increase row of the sock.
• The finished socks are beautiful, but be prepared for very slow knitting.  Even once I knew the pattern, each row took a significant length of time. 
• The pattern is very methodical.  Knit stitches always cross in front of purl stitches.  Outside of Chart D, everything is either K2, P2 or K, P.  If the stitches don’t line up that way, the knitter has made a mistake.
• The cabling is much easier without a cable needle.

After a long and stressful month of June, I decided I needed a little less intense knitting than my Bayerische sock.  To those who wonder, this does not mean I have not worked on the sock, just that over the last week I’ve focused on knitting the Peaches & Creme.  As you can see, I’ve created a small pile of dishcloths.

First, we have the Dragonfly and His Dinner in Cream.  This was a quick knit, but I did have to pay close attention to the row I was on.  When I didn’t, my dragonfly ended up with lopsided wings.

Next is the Knitted Round Dishcloth in Daisy Ombre. This was another quick knit, but the finished cloth is a bit larger than I’d expected.

Below is a DW dishcloth in Sea Breeze.  It is interesting how emphasized the stripes look in the photo.  They are noticeable in person, but not quite as bold. I may have to try this in the Daisy Ombre and see how it looks.

Finally, there are two different Swish with a Twist, in Yellow and Delft Blue.  I really enjoy this one, and I’ll probably knit up a few more in additional colors.  But, knitting this pattern was not without problems.  My two dishcloths do not match.

Do you see the difference in them? Can you notice it below?

In this one, the difference is more pronounced. If you fail to read the pattern note that instructs to slip all stitches with the yarn on the wrong side of the work, the finished item will look like the blue cloth. If you notice where the stitches cross, the elongated stitches are surrounded by the carried yarn from the slipped stitch. In the yellow cloth, the carried yarn is at the back, and the stitches cross cleanly.

I still need to get started on a ballband dishcloth.  I’ve been meaning to knit one, but it’s just that there are so many other great patterns out there.  I am looking for more patterns because I have a huge pile of cotton.  Know a great pattern that I should knit?  Leave it in the comments and I’ll take a look.

I finished a project this evening.  After finishing the baby blanket, I decided not to jump right into a lace project.  Instead, I cast on for a pair of socks.  I love knitting socks, and have been knitting them since my very early days as a knitter.

I decided to knit Monkey based upon recommendations from some friends who recently knit up the pattern.  I’ll agree that it was a simple to memorize pattern, and enjoyable knitting.  Like most of my knitting, however, I did not follow the pattern exactly as written.  First, I knit the pattern at a slightly larger gauge than the pattern called for, based upon how I like the Socks that Rock when it knits up.  Second, I did not complete the plain knit heel.  Instead, I substitued the Eye of Partridge heel.  Last, I like a rounder toe, so I modified the toe shaping to reduce to 8 stitches before grafting.

The yarn is a bit more pink than I had hoped would end up in the finished sock.  But, overall I’m pleased with the way the socks turned out. 

Pattern: Monkey, Winter 2006 Knitty
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight (100% Superwash Merino)
Quantity: 1 skein, 360 yards / 329m
Color: Waterlilies
Needles: Addi Turbo 2.5mm

Started: May 26, 2007
Completed: June 12, 2007

This is a baby hat I finished pre-blog.  For me, this hat pattern is my standard baby gift.  This one is going to be gifted tomorrow, so I thought I’d photograph it first.  Since there are no small children here to model, Mr. Puffin volunteered to be my model.  The baby is already a few months old.  I hope the hat still fits him.