Long Time No Post #2

My Ravatar

I may be making a habit of this. I'll just post annual updates on my blog. Seriously, Ravelry takes up most of my writing and internet time. For example, this is my new license plate, and my Ravatar. I should just post the best of my Ravelry updates here as well.

I've also been designing for Your Knitting Life and Crochet Today!, but I'm taking a break right now because design deadlines took all of my spare time and I wasn't getting anything else done. Hmmm, that just might be another reason I haven't posted much.

I designed and knit these cabled socks for Your Knitting Life, Flirty Footsies, about a year ago. They are knit toe up in aran weight yarn on size 5 needles, and work up pretty fast due to the heavier wt. of the yarn.

I also designed this cute Peony rug for Crochet Today! last fall. It was inspired by a few vintage doily patterns, but crocheted in bulky yarn instead of thread.

Meta Carolyn and her mom & dad's legs

Nathan in his Bear Hat

I've also become a great aunt twice in the last 2 years. My niece had a son, Nathan, in Feb 2011 and my nephew had a daughter, Meta Carolyn, in January of this year. Meta is named after my mom, her great grandmother. Of course, these major events demanded some hand made gifts. Since crochet is faster than knitting, and I was on a time crunch as usual, I crocheted Meta a blanket and a cute little bonnet.

Meta Carolyn's Granny Rectangle

Meta's Easter Bonnet

The yarn I used for the blanket

Market Bag in the Rose Garden

I'm really trying to knit down my stash, and have been crocheting market bags from sock yarn. The market bags are crocheted with two strands of yarn, so they use up two 100 gram skeins fast.

amandine: the beginning

I also just finished a test knit for myself. It is a top down cardigan named Amandine. It used fingering weight yarn, and took eight weeks to knit. Usually I lose interest before finishing, but this time I persevered, although I missed knitting a Ravellenics project because the test knit started just before the Olympics, and I couldn’t wait to start--as it was I needed two extra weeks to finish the test knit. I am waiting for DD to bring my (our) camera back, so I can take pictures. I used some hand dyed sock yarn from Newton’s Yarn Country which I had purchased for just such a project. It’s a good thing I got the large, 1.07 lb. skein (over 1900 yds.), because I have just a golf ball sized ball of yarn left over (enough for repairs). I need to get my camera back from DD so I can take a real picture.

This is the view of the CC in Terra Linda from the freeway

Before I finished the test knit I couldn’t resist starting a new project, the Terra Linda Cardigan, and now I’m knitting the end of the yoke, where there’s a lace pattern. It’s a top down design by Romi Hill, and it’s lovely. I’m using some yarn from my stash--Kathmandu Aran in navy, that I got in a Webs sale. Romi grew up in Terra Linda (where Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Marin County Civic Center in one of his last projects), and I grew up nearby in Mill Valley.

As if I needed more evidence of how much time I spend on Ravelry, (mostly editing yarn entries and moderating the Sock Knitter's Anonymous group) I had kind of an anxiety dream last night just before waking (so I remembered it). Someone had published a design of mine in a free e-book collection, and I was trying to copy the text and make it into a new PDF so it could be available separately as a Rav download from my page. I woke up before I finished the task. Since the e-book was free, and my name was credited as the designer, I don’t know why my dream self wanted to make it a separate download.

I also had fun on Talk like a Pirate day on Ravelry. Me pirate name be Dead Man George Sparrow, blimey! 

Long Time No Post

It's been so long since I've posted. It seems like just yesterday! I've been very busy, mostly on Ravelry, including Sock Knitters Anonymous & the Editor's Group.

Let's see. what have I been doing:

• Went to the 2nd Sock Summit, where I managed to visit the emergency room on my first day and hobbled around the rest of the time with cellulitis. My team did win the Yarn/Fiber Trivia contest Saturday night, though.
• Helped my brothers move my mom into assisted living and cleared out her home of 55 years.
  
• Traveled to Hawaii where I knitted cotton socks by the pool.
  
• Went to Olympia, WA for my nephew's wedding, where I didn't get much knitting done.
• Fell in love with a rescue dog, a black lab named Cassie, who is really my DD's dog (and her boyfriend's). I have shared custody, though.
  
• I've been designing for Knitting Today! magazine. My first design was a pair of argyle socks. I've never knit argyle socks before, so that was an experience. I plan to knit another pair when I've recovered.

I also designed a pair of Stanford University socks, plus these.......

bike basket in my favorite mosaic stitch
striped wine bottle gift bag
felted tray and bowl
child's sunhat in a great terrycloth yarn
ribbed fisherman's cap

• I'm working on more designs right now, but they have to be kept secret until the magazines come out.
• I'm also designing for Crochet Today!. My first crocheted design was just published: Japanese House Slippers

Sock Summit!

I've been back for a week from Portland OR for the very first Sock Summit, 2009. I haven't finished unpacking my suitcase, but most of the yarn has been entered into Ravelry and pictures posted to Flikr.

The highlights for me:

• The Sock Museum, where I had three pairs of socks (one a pair of Bosnian socks I donated, and two pairs I made)
• The Sock Hop, where I wore my pedal pushers and sock hop anklets, hung out with the Frog Creek Fibers yarn ladies, and watched my roommate win the hula hoop contest
• Ravelry Party at the Forestry Center, where I hung out with two ladies who had actually purchased socks from Barbara Walker
• Barbara Walker admiring my mosaic patterned socks at the book signing
  
• Meg Swanson's class on Arch Shaped socks, which I promptly incorporated into a SIP
• Janel Laidman's class on Sideways socks, which I will incorporate)
  
• The Luminary Panel (although I had to leave early)
• meeting Joy from India (she may have traveled the longest to attend), and getting a round marker from her collection
  
• Knitting on the world's largest sock (another Guinness attempt)
  
• Knitting on straight needles while setting a Guinness World Record for most people knitting all at once.
• Carson Demers admiring my aran lace poncho in the line to board our return flight to SFO

• Sock yarn (need I say more)

• Snicklefritz yarns Summit Gnome (blue faced Leicester) for a shoulder shawl
• Fiber Optic yarns Foot Notes (4 colors)
  
• Blue Moon FA Socks that Rock Mill ends
• Koigu (on sale and mill ends)
• Periwinkle Sheep in periwinkle and a peachy yellow
• I also got some yarn to dye

More pictures soon (when Blogger will cooperate)

Cheeky Kittens

Have you seen this kitty?

LOST: August 7th, 2009, Half Moon Bay CA
4 months old, spayed, loving, ID chipped

My DD got a new kitten a few weeks ago, mostly to be a mouser and an outdoor cat since I am allergic to cats. She flew off to Costa Rica (back tonight), leaving the kitten here with us. The kitten can't go outside since she was spayed two weeks ago. DD named her Chiquita. but I'm calling her Cheeky, and she has lived up to her name. Over the weekend, Cheeky was transitioned from DD's bedroom to the garage. She slept in the garage at night and spent the day inside the house, exploring and playing with her toys and ours. She really likes the computer. Note to self: don't wear shorts with a kitty around. I was very careful to wash my hands after touching her and managed to keep the allergies at bay. Today was her first day in the garage during the day. I let her in when I came home at 3: 30 and she seemed fine, but she promptly did a number on DD's bed (misplaced anger?). The quilt is now in the washing machine and Cheeky is in the garage/aka doghouse.

She also managed to hit some hot key on my new computer and started downloading all of my saved emails, which I had been keeping on the ISP's site.

Even though Cheeky loved to bat the moving yarn, so I had to put away the knitting when she was around, I was able to finish my socks for the Sock Museum, as well as a matching mini sock for my sock blocker keychain. This is the Mermaid Sock design by Lucy Neatby, from Cool Socks, Warm Feet. The Sock Summit is only a month away, and I'm getting excited.

Thistle Lace Socks

As part of the Socks Knitters Anonymous Ravelry group's Design Your Own Sock June challenge, I've been busy designing a new sock and writing up the pattern. It's now available on the sidebar and on Ravelry.

I'm using a solid color Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in a mauvey cocoa brown color. I used a lace pattern from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury and charted it out to be knit in the round using a wonderful little app I found on the web. It's knit toe up, with a reverse Dutch heel and seed stitch side panels (or you could use ribbing) to customize the fit.

65 Questions (what happened to only 20?)

Aren't gardens wonderful? This gladiola spike was 5 feet tall.


1. First thing you wash in the shower? under my arms
2. What color is your favorite hoodie? navy blue velour (my only hoodie)
3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? of course
4. Do you plan outfits? occasionally
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? achy and in pain
6. What is the closest thing to you that’s red? the light on my mouse
7. Describe the last dream you remember having? It was about work, so I don't want to think about it any more
8. Did you meet anybody new today? only online
9. What are you craving right now? Dinner
10. Do you floss? Nowhere near as often as I should.
11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? corned beef
12. Are you emotional? I cry at sentimental movies (and even books I'm reading)
13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? Only in Spanish
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? I almost always bite, until it's all melted in the bowl or the cone
15. Do you like your hair? Most of the time
16. Do you like yourself? Usually, but there's room for improvement
17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? not in a million years, unless I got paid a million $.
18. What are you listening to right now? America's Funniest Home Videos
19. Are your parents strict? They weren't that strict, but we did have the wooden spoon and the belt as a last resort
20. Would you go sky diving? No, but I would go para sailing
21. Do you like cottage cheese? My favorite way is spread on toast, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and broiled until it melts. YUMM!
22. Have you ever met a celebrity? Jane Fonda taught a seminar at my college and ate in the cafeteria during a regular meal period.
23. Do you rent movies often? Just Netflix (4 at a time)
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you are in? My stained glass lamp
25. How many countries have you visited? Ten
26. Have you made a prank phone call? I may have when I was young and foolish
27. Ever been on a train? I rode one into New York City to go to a Broadway show once.
28. Brown or white eggs? Brown
29. Do you have a cell-phone? Yes
30. Do you use chap stick? I like the flavored stuff
31. Do you own a gun? No
32. Can you use chop sticks? Yes, but not as well as most folks.
33. Who are you going to be with tonight? Hubbie, DD, online friends
34. Are you too forgiving? It depends on how upset I am.
35. Ever been in love? Yes
36. What is/are your best friend(s) doing tomorrow? Working in my LYS (yes, you, Marina)
37. Ever have cream puffs? My absolute favorite dessert
38. Last time you cried? When my DD got angry and yelled at me
39. What was the last question you asked? What do you mean?
40. Favorite time of the year? Spring
41. Do you have any tattoos? No, and never
42. Are you sarcastic? Not usually
43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? No
44. Ever walked into a wall? Once
45. Favorite color? Blue green (teal)
46. Have you ever slapped someone? I vaguely recall doing it once
47. Is your hair curly? My hair is wavy at the ends, and would like to be curly if I cut it
48. What was the last CD you bought? probably Jimmy Buffet, but I also remember buying a Simon and Garfunkel boxed set
49. Do looks matter? To a certain extent
51. Is your phone bill sky high? No
52. Do you like your life right now? mostly, except for my job
53. Do you sleep with the TV on? Only if I fall asleep watching it in the living room, but I have done that.
54. Can you handle the truth? Yes
55. Do you have good vision? Better than I used to
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? Not right now
57. How often do you talk on the phone? not that often
58. The last person you held hands with? my 6 year old niece
59. What are you wearing? Khaki jeans, sandals and a t-shirt
60. What is your favorite animal? puppies
61. Where was your default picture taken? At my 7th birthday party
62. Can you hula hoop? Barely
63. Do you have a job? Yes
64. What was the most recent thing you bought? Yarn and clothes
65. Have you ever crawled through a window? Once

My Secret Garden

Mystery Flowers

As if my obsession with Ravelry wasn't enough, some of my friends on that site just introduced me to a new website for gardeners, Folia. This flower has been in my garden since we bought the house. We've dug the bulbs up every fall and replanted them, given them away, and still don't know what this plant is. Someone told me it was a Madeira Lily, but it doesn't look like the Madeira lilies I found online. It's tall, with dark reddish green foliage, & lots of flowers on each stalk. The corms are smallish, rust colored, cushion shaped and hairy. Any ideas would be appreciated.

ETA: Success! It's a Watsonia variety.

This one is supposed to be Ranunclulus Tecolote, but it also doesn't look like anything I found online. That's a Meyer Lemon in the background of the second picture.

Next comes this iris rhizome I've been moving from house to house for almost 30 years. It's a tall bearded iris, with a golden throat and shaded purple petals. We moved the planting this year and the iris is in heaven, blooming at least a month earlier than it usually does.

Eyelet Scarf Pattern

My blog has been sadly neglected while I spent time dealing with life, knitting and browsing & editing on Ravelry.

I have learned a few new things, one of which being how to make a PDF and link PDF patterns to the blog.

Here's a new scarf pattern I came up with today while in a stash busting mood. If you want a printable version, please click on the PDF link.

Direct download: PDF pattern link

Suri Eyelet Scarf

Materials:
Knit Picks Suri Dream Hand-Dyed, 50 gram skein, 145 yds., 1 skein
Classic Elite Inca Alpaca, 50 gram skein, 115 yds., 1 skein

Size 17 US needles

Gauge: Not important, just make sure it's loose

Cast on 15 stitches, holding both yarns together as one

Knit one row

Pattern Stitch:
Row 1: Knit across
Row 2: K1,*K2 TOG, YO*, repeat between *'s across, end K2

Knit in pattern stitch until the Inca alpaca solid is almost gone. Bind off loosely. Add fringe if desired using the Suri alpaca. Weave in loose ends, wear happily.

Note: You can use any fluffy multicolored yarn with a solid in a DK or sport weight to make this scarf. Try out different combinations and different gauges. I was trying to use up some stash and came up with this combination and stitch pattern. Approx. 115 yds. of each yarn should make a scarf without fringe.

Copyright © 2009 by Margie Dougherty, Half Moon Bay Knits

You are welcome to share this pattern with friends as long as my name and this copyright notice remains attached.

Crocheted Juliet Cap

Shades of the Sixties!

Better late than never, here is a pattern in honor of Pete Seeger, whose birthday was May 3rd.

Juliet Cap

Approximately 60 grams (100 yards) worsted weight yarn

For the original hat, I used Passport Yarns London, a discontinued yarn sold at Michael's, but you can use any worsted weight yarn you have on hand. The cap pictured was crocheted using a vintage mercerized cotton yarn: Brunswick Moonbeams. Try using a different color in each round. I made a granny square stitch poncho using up all of my mom's leftover wool yarns and a similar stitch when I first learned to crochet.

Size H crochet hook

Gauge is not critical

Round 1: Chain 6, join into a ring using a slip stitch

Round 2: Chain 3, make 15 DC into ring, join with a slip stitch to top of chain 3 (16 DC)

Round 3: Chain 3, DC into 1^st stitch, 2 DC in every stitch around (Cluster), join with a slip stitch to top of chain 3 (32 DC)

Round 4: Chain 3, DC into 1^st stitch, *skip one stitch, Ch 1, 2 DC cluster in next stitch*, repeat between *’s around, end with Ch 1, skip 1 stitch, join with a slip stitch to top of chain 3 (16 Cluster stitches, 32 DC)

Round 5 (Increase Round): Slip stitch into top of next DC, slip stitch into space between next Cluster, Chain 3, DC into 1^st space, Chain 1, *2 DC in space between next set of stitches (Cluster stitch), Ch 1, Cluster in same space, Cluster in next space, Ch 1*, repeat between *’s around, join with a slip stitch to top of chain 3 (24 Cluster stitches)

Round 6: Slip stitch into top of next DC, slip stitch into space between next Cluster, Chain 3, DC into 1^st space, Chain 1, *2 DC in space between next set of stitches (Cluster stitch), Ch 1*, repeat between *’s around, join with a slip stitch to top of chain 3 (24 Cluster stitches)

Round 7 (Increase Round): Slip stitch into top of next DC, slip stitch into space between next Cluster, Chain 3, DC into 1^st space, Chain 1, *2 DC in space between next set of stitches (Cluster stitch), Ch 1, Cluster in same space, Cluster in next space, Ch 1, Cluster in next space, Ch 1*, repeat between *’s around, join with a slip stitch to top of chain 3 (32 Cluster stitches)

Repeat Round 6 until cap measures about 9" in length

Cap will start to shape into cup shape after the increases are finished. If you have a larger head, repeat Round 7 (Increase Round) before beginning round 8.

Finish with a round of SC or crab stitch and weave in ends.

Pinwheel Beret Pattern

Happy Daylight Savings Time, America!

As promised, here is the beret pattern that I developed from the Pinwheel sweater designed by Shelly Mackie for elann.com. I seem to be on a spiral kick recently. I just finished these easy spiral socks (a free pattern designed by Sandi Rosner) as well as the beret and the pinwheel sweater. I wear this beret almost every day. It looks great on my head, with just enough slouch. This hat is designed to fit an average adult female's head, 20-21" around. A great resource for making a similar hat using any weight yarn and gauge is on Kirsten Kapur's blog, which I just discovered tonight through Ravelry. Some other great hat patterns are on her blog as well as gloves, scarves, etc. I also found a very similar pattern this morning on Amy (Java Twist's) blog. Great minds think alike.

I used less than 2 skeins of Stahl Limbo Color, a superwash DK weight, self striping yarn with a subtle color variegation, 135 yds. per 50 gram skein. You could use a solid color, a tweed or heather, or use up leftover yarn and stripe the beret. Worsted weight yarn should also work.

I'm making one using rose pink Malabrigo worsted (aran weight) on size 8 needles right now, at a larger gauge, so I'll knit fewer increase rounds before decreasing for the bottom of the beret. It looks like it will need 20 stitches in each section, 160 total, to make a 12" diameter circle before decreasing. I think I'll call this one the Raspberry Beret, or maybe the Red Beret? I stayed up way too late last knit knitting this one. Hopefully my DD won't steal it out of hands as soon as it's finished.

Gauge for the heavier weight yarn : 18 st/24 rounds over 4 inches

Direct PDF link for the Raspberry Beret pattern

There was a wonderful documentary about Pete Seeger on PBS that I had to finish watching. I had tears in my eyes when he sang Guantanamera with Arlo Guthrie and his own grandson, Tao Rodríguez- Seeger. Pete and I share a birthday. I think I'll have to design a pattern to honor him that day. He'll be 89 and I'll be ... ahem, not that old.

4.5 mm (US 7) 16" circular needle
4.5 mm (US 7) set of five double pointed needles (DPN's)

You will also need a set of smaller (4 mm, US 6) DPN's or 16" circular to knit the ribbing (optional).

If you prefer, use the two circular or magic loop methods to knit this hat. The first few rounds are tricky, so I like to use wooden double points that the yarn will stick to.

Gauge: 22 stitches and 28 rounds over 4 inches/10 cm on size 7 US (4.5mm) needles

Using the 4.5mm double-pointed needles, cast on 4 stitches. Place 1 stitch on each needle.

Round 1: Join into a round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Knit into the front and the back of each stitch - 8 stitches in this round.

Mark the beginning of the round with a stitch marker and move this marker up every round.

Round 2 and all even numbered rounds: Knit.
Round 3: *K1 , YO*, repeat between *'s to end of round, making sure you make your last yo on each needle or beginning of the new needle. 4 sts on each needle, 16 total stitches
Round 5: *K2, YO*, repeat between *'s to end of round. (6 sts on each needle)
Round 7: *K3, YO*, repeat between *'s to end of round. (8 sts on each needle)
Round 9: *K4, YO*, repeat between *'s to end of round. (10 sts on each needle)
Round 11: *K5, YO*, repeat between *'s to end of round. (12 sts on each needle)
Round 13: *K6, YO*, repeat between *'s to end of round. (14 sts on each needle, 56 total stitches)

Switch to knitting on the 16" circular needle whenever you have enough stitches to knit comfortably, or use two longer circulars or magic loop from the beginning.

Continue increasing in this manner, changing to the circular needle when possible, until you have 21 stitches between increases (176 stitches total). Beret should measure about 12" across at this point. I inserted an attempt at a pattern stitch, which will be the rolled edge of the beret and looks very pretty. Some easy one round stitch pattern suggestions:

Round 1: *YO, SL 1, K2 TOG, PSSO, YO, K2*, repeat between *'s to end of round.
Rounds 2 & 4: Knit around
Round 3: *K2, YO, SL 1, K2 TOG, PSSO, YO*, repeat between *'s to end of round.

OR: The 4 round lace/texture pattern of your choice. Maybe a bobble pattern? I'm going to try a stranded or slip stitch design using some leftover Malabrigo in a different color.

After four rounds of pattern stitch (or just 4 plain knitting rounds), begin decreasing for the brim of the hat.

1st decrease round: *Knit 6, K2 TOG*, repeat between *'s to end of round (154 stitches)
Rounds 2-3: Knit around
2nd decrease round: *Knit 5, K2 TOG*, repeat between *'s to end of round (132 stitches)
Rounds 5-6: Knit around
3rd decrease round: *Knit 4, K2 TOG*, repeat between *'s to end of round, (110 stitches)
Rounds 8-9: Knit around
4th decrease round: *Knit 3, K2 TOG*, repeat between *'s to end of round, (88 stitches)

Switch to the smaller needles at this point (or not) and begin ribbing pattern.

Ribbing Pattern: *K2, P2*, repeat between *'s to end of round

Repeat the last round of ribbing for 8-10 rounds. Bind off in pattern. Weave in ends, block using a large plate as a form. and wear with pride.

Stitches West 2008!

Had a great day yesterday visiting with my cousin who was up from sunny SOCAL. I sewed the last button on my mom's tweed stitch cardigan and she modeled it for the camera, so I will soon have pictures to post. The cardigan was originally for me, but gauge was not my friend once again. It was my first steeked garment, adapted heavily from a pullover in Sally Melville's Color book. My mom loves it, though, so it all worked out well. She's been wearing it with only three buttons all winter long.

I'm busy getting ready to go to Stitches West next week. I have homework to do ahead of time for all three sock classes I'm taking. I may not get much shopping done, which will be good for my budget and my stash. It seems like February is the month for knitting socks, both at home and in classes. I got in from the waiting last for one Cat Bordhi class, and also signed up for a class from Lucy Neatby and a more advanced design class with Cat as well.

I knit a little bit on my Printemps/Primavera socks yesterday as well. This is a really easy pattern that looks hard and makes the best of some of the more muted self striping yarns. I'm trying to get a few pairs of socks to the right point so I can have something to knit at Stitches besides homework. I don't like to bring a sock project out in public while working on the heel. I've finished sock one and started on sock two. I also turned the heel on the second spiral eyelet sock so I can bring them as well, and I just need to finish the top section of the first Cat Bordhi's Salish Sea sock from the last Rockin' Sock club shipment I got. I decided not to sign up again this year, since I haven't finished any of last year's socks. I have too much wonderful yarn and more patterns than I can ever knit now. I'm also working on a pair of hiking socks in DK weight wool for DH. The Thuja pattern from Knitty is another great, simple pattern that adapts well to many weights of yarn, and is really easy to knit.

That's My Story and I'm Sticking to it

Mea culpa (I'm not Catholic, but the image & words popped into my head.) It' s been over 2 months since my last post, so here's one I was working on BR (before )
I have been knitting, and here's proof: a felted bag project (my own design) finished and ready to shrink.

I also started (and finished) a larger felted tote, knit in a stranded design using two colors of Kureyon over the long, cold Thanksgiving weekend. The pattern was in MagKnits a couple of years ago and it turned out really nice. I hope everyone had some time to knit in the past few weeks.

I've gotten back into sock knitting recently as well. Must be the time of year. I finally finished my fishtail lace socks and started this spiral eyelet lace striped sock on Christmas Eve, and I'm also working on a pair of worsted weight socks for my DH.

I was an anthropology major in college but I got sidetracked by theater and costume design. My last semester in college I forgot to file for graduation so I took one Linguistics class and a whole bunch of fiber classes at the local junior college. This was back when they offered them for credit. I took quiltmaking, spinning and natural dyeing, weaving, upholstery and knitting, all in the same semester. The only two which stuck were knitting and quiltmaking. I stopped crocheting much and stayed with the quiltmaking through the following decades, coming back to knitting once when I got Kaffe Fassett's first book and then again about 9 years ago (for good this time.) The first item I knitted was a top down circular sweater made of Bernat Berella acrylic. My mom wore that sweater for many years up in the snow.

I learned to crochet right after high school and crocheted all through college, even during classes. Having something to do with my hands helped me to concentrate. If I didn't crochet, I would doodle and lose all of my focus. I made doilies, a tablecloth and a blouse from crochet cotton, along with shawls, afghans, ponchos and a room sized rug. When I learned to knit I switched to that because I liked the fluid look and feel of knitting better than crochet, even though crochet was easier and faster. I also wanted to make a fairisle sweater. Still haven't done that. Did I mention I was told that I was allergic to wool? I still am sensitive to Shetland wool and some other scratchy wools, as well as mohair and even some alpaca.

Instead of using my anthropology degree (did I mention I was also allergic to dust, which was a bad thing if you wanted to be an archaeologist), I owned a natural fiber clothing/fiber supply store for 11 years right after college. We had dye packets that didn't sell, so I dyed cotton and rayon t-shirts for the store. I also made custom cowboy shirts, wallets and quilts to sell.

I still love to dye fabric, yarn and clothing and create with color. I like to knit socks, felted items, scarves, cardigans and all manner of stranded and slip stitch designs. I first got into designing socks because I could never find patterns that fit my thick ankles & high insteps. I would just find a nice stitch pattern, adjust for pattern multiples/repeats and gauge and use my favorite heel and toe. After having success with socks, I have made sweaters for myself and family members. I would find a pattern with shaping that I liked and drop in my choice of stitch pattern. I usually don't write down what I do at the time I'm doing it, which I am trying to change.

I Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing

It's been a month since I posted. What can I say? I've been busy at work, knitting, and spending way too much time on Ravelry. I also went to a quilt festival and our big local whoop te do, the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival. I'm lucky I can walk there, otherwise I wouldn't be attending. 300,000 people descend on our small town over two days, and traffic is a nightmare. All the locals do their grocery shopping on Friday night and stay home, or leave town early in the morning and come back late (like I did to go to the quilt show on Sunday). I also went to see Across the Universe on Saturday night after a sushi dinner for my husband's birthday. It was really a trip (back in time, too), and great singing too. I highly recommend it. Bono is great. I didn't recognize him at all, although I knew I had seen him before somewhere. I had to wait for the credits to see who it was playing his character. (I won't give it away.) I also went to two yarn stores last Thursday night during a local shop hop and had Chinese food afterwards. Great fun shopping with other like minded folk from my knitting group.

I've been knitting on my cotton sideways striped sweater in cotton. I saw this pattern in the Spring 2000 issue of Knitter's and have wanted to make it ever since. I had the solid colored cotton yarn, but I needed the variegated yarn, which is very thin, boucle loop cotton, and discontinued. I found someone who was destashing the exact amount I needed, in the right color. A trip to the Paypal site and it was mine! I've knit one front and most of the back already. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the sleeves. Horizontal stripes don't look that good on my arms.

I also finished a stranded beret and am working on a few more. At least one is going to be felted. I found the free pattern through Ravelry and cast on immediately. I'd recommend you cast on fewer stitches for the brim, though, as the designer recommends. I'm plugging away at my lace socks, too, but they are usually relegated to waiting room knitting, or waiting for the movie to start.

Corrections to Fish Scales Pattern

I ran into a little trouble making my second sock.

Here is the corrected Fishtail Lace stitch pattern in its entirety:

Multiple of 8 stitches

Round 1: K1, *YO, K2, SL1, K2tog, PSSO, K2, YO, K1* repeat between *’s to end

Rounds 2, 4 & 6: Knit

Round 3: K2, *YO, K1, SL1, K2tog, PSSO, K1, YO, K3* repeat between *’s to last 6 stitches, end YO, K1, SL1, K2tog, PSSO, K1, YO, K1

Round 5: K3, *YO, SL1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, K5* repeat between *’s to last 5 stitches, end YO, SL1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, K2

Repeat these 6 rounds for pattern.

Sock Number One is Finished

Corrected 9/22/07
I finally finished the first sock of my most recent self designed pattern. Basically, I take a stitch pattern and plug it into my favorite basic sock pattern that fits me, but here it is if you are interested. I think that if I make this pattern again I'll leave an open area, or maybe a cable, between the lace repeats. The stitch pattern is Fishtail Lace, from the 365 stitch patterns calendar, and the yarn has a strand of glittery thread woven through it, so it's fish scales. I made my socks with 72 stitches, but my ankles are thick. The pattern is written for normal sized ankles. I wear a size 8.5" shoe, and I had about 10" of yarn left over, so you should be able to make a pair of 64 stitch socks up to about a women's size 11 shoe with 460 yds. of sock weight yarn.

Fish Scales Socks

Knitted on one 12" Circular Needle

Sized to fit Women's Medium (size 8 feet)
Gauge: 8 sts and 9 rows to the inch in stockinette.

Supplies Needed:

Size 2.5 MM Addi Turbo(r) Circular needle (U.S. size 1 (1.5) (or the size needed to achieve gauge)

Size 2.5 mm or 2.25 mm (1 U.S.) double point needles, which you will need for the heel and the toes, set of 5.

I prefer using a 12" ADDI turbo circular to knit my sock, so that's how this pattern is written. It can certainly be knit using any method you prefer. See my post about using markers instead of needles to avoid ladders and convert any pattern to your preferred method of knitting.

100 grams of Sisu Glitter sock yarn. This pattern will also look nice in solid, semi solid or self striping yarns.

2 small circular markers

Abbreviations:

CO = Cast on
K = Knit
KW = knit wise, or inserting your needle into the next stitch as if you were going to knit it
P = Purl
PSSO = Pass the slipped stitch over the stitch you just knitted (just like binding off)
PW = purl wise, or inserting your needle into the next stitch as if you were going to purl it
SL = Slip
SSK = slip a st PW to right needle, slip a second st KW to right needle, then move them back to the left needle knit those two together
TOG = together (as in K2TOG: knit two stitches together to decrease one stitch)
YO = Bring the yarn to the front of the work as if you were going to purl. Instead, bring the yarn back over the needle and knit the next stitch. This creates a hole, and a new stitch, which must be accounted for with an accompanying decrease
DD = Double Decrease (K1, SL1, K2 TOG, PSSO)

Sock Pattern
CO 64 sts. Join, being careful not to twist, and knit in 2 X 2 rib for 1 1/2 to 2 inches. *Knit 2, Purl 2*, repeat between *'s around.

Fishtail Lace Pattern Stitch (8 stitch repeat) Corrected/Edited 9/22/07

Round 1: k1, *YO, k2, sl1, k2tog, psso (DD), k2, yo, k1*; rep between *’s
Round 3: k2, *YO, k1, sl1, k2tog, psso (DD), k1, yo, k3*; repeat between *’s until last stitch, end k1
Round 5: k3, *YO, sl1, k2tog, psso (DD), yo, k5*; repeat between *’s until last 2 stitches, end k2

Rounds 2, 4 & 6: Knit around
Repeats rounds 1-6 for pattern

Place a marker at the join. The striping pattern of most yarns should look nice at this gauge. Knit around in the fishtail lace pattern stitch until the sock tube measures 6-7 inches long (slightly stretched), ending with round 5 of the lace pattern.

Remove marker until the heel is finished. Change to double pointed needles (or keep using two circulars or one long magic loop circular), keeping the instep stitches on the circular needle (or another holder). I knit the heel on double point needles. Knit across the first 32 stitches. This is the first row of the heel.

Heel: Eye of Partridge with slipped stitch edge (EOP)

Row 1: *slip 1, K1,* repeat between *'s to end

Row 2: slip 1, P to end

Row 3: slip 1, K1, *k1, slip 1,* repeat between *'s to last 2 sts, end K2 (Don’t end with a slipped stitch.) This alternates the slipped stitches, creating the EOP pattern. I originally discovered (unvented) this variation when I made a mistake doing the heel stitch and liked what I created. Later on I learned that it had a name. Many patterns will have you slip two stitches at the start of row 3, then K1, SL1, but for stability I prefer to have two knit stitches in a row instead of two slipped stitches.

Row 4: repeat Row 2.

Knit in this pattern until heel flap is 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 inches long. This is a matter of personal preference. Measure the bare foot of the intended recipient from floor to middle of ankle bone to determine the correct measurement. You can also knit until the heel flap is square, as many patterns state, but with the eye of partridge stitch drawing in the heel I prefer to use an actual measurement.

Heel turn: (round heel) Thanks to Dave Mackay's "heels by number" which was the inspiration for these.

(Note: SSK = slip a st PW* to right needle, slip a second st KW* to right needle, then knit those two together)

Row 1: slip 1, knit 18, ssk, k 1, turn

Row 2: slip 1, purl 5, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 3: slip 1, knit 6, ssk, k1, turn

Row 4: slip 1, purl 7, p2tog, p 1, turn.

Continue on, adding one st knitted or purled at the center of the row until all sts have been worked. I try to keep knitting the heel turn in the EOP stitch, but it's not essential. You should be ending with a knit row. If not, knit across the heel until you reach the first pick up edge.

Using a new double point needle, pick up & knit one st from each slipped st along the edge of the heel flap (about 20). If there is a little gap where the heel meets the instep stitches, pick up a strand and twist it, then knit it to close the hole. If you have to, pick up another loose area and repeat the process. Place the first marker here. Knit across the 32 instep stitches (still waiting patiently on the circular needle holder) , place the second marker. This will be round 6 of the fishtail lace stitch (plain knit), which you didn't knit earlier. Pick up & knit stitches on the opposite side of heel flap, knit across heel flap to three stitches from first marker. You should have about 88-96 stitches on the needle at this point. It is not critical to have an exact number of stitches, as you will continue to decrease the extra stitches away until you return to the same number that you started with.

NOTE: I've recently rediscovered a great band heel which mitigates the wider heel stripes and all decrease rounds at this great site. I knit my last two pairs using this heel and it is very nice. I still use the EOP slip stitch, which means I have to add a few rows to the heel flap before decreasing. Then I have a few decrease rounds after picking up the gusset stitches. Thanks to Nan for this great pattern and tutorial, and to Nancy Bush for popularizing the band heel.

Decrease Rounds:

Three stitches from the first marker, K2 TOG, K 1. Slip marker, and knit across the 32 stitch instep in the fishtail lace pattern to the second marker, slip it, K 1, SSK, knit around to the first marker. Around this point you will want to change back to using the circular needle. Knit one round without decreasing (or two, if you like a slower rate of decrease for a higher instep), and repeat decrease round. Repeat decrease and plain knit rounds until 64 sts remain on the needle, 32 on the instep and 32 on the foot. Knit plain, without decreasing, and keeping the instep stitches in the lace pattern and the foot stitches in stockinette, until the foot is about 7.25" long (2 to 2 1/2 inches less than desired length). .

Wedge toe:

Round 1: Knit to last 3 sts before first marker, k2 tog, k1, slip marker, K1, SSK, knit to last 3 sts before second marker, K2 TOG, K1, slip marker, K1, SSK.

Round 2: Knit around in stockinette stitch.

Change to double pointed needles again when you have too few stitches to go around the circular needle easily. Repeat these two rounds until 16 sts remain. Divide the 16 sts between 2 needles at the markers and Kitchener stitch (graft) them together (or do a 3-needle bind off like I do).

Now knit the second sock!

Copyright 2007 Margie Dougherty

All rights reserved. You may print this pattern and share it with others, providing this notice remains attached.

Sockapalooza

It's been a busy few weeks here. School started, which is always the busiest time of year for me, since I work at a district office. I received my package from my Sockapalooza 4 pal, Alice Yu, all the way from Onslow Gardens, London. When the package arrived I thought it was a Fairisle vest like Onslow wears so badly in Keeping up Appearances. What incredible socks Alice made! The yarn is my absolute favorite, Shelridge Farms handpaint from Canada, and the lace pattern is beautiful and Alice's own creation. How did she know my favorite early childhood book was Winnie the Pooh? The lace pattern, which somehow reminds me of oriel windows (don't ask me why), is called "Hundred Acre Wood". The socks fit me perfectly, too. Thanks so much, Alice!!!

Alice also sent along some incredible hand dyed Blue Faced Leicester wool from The Natural Dye Studio, a yarn I've never seen before. I am sharing the generosity with my own sockapalooza pal, whose package was sent off today.

Picture of her socks

I also finished up a UFO sweater project that had been languishing in the project box, lacking only half a sleeve and the button bands. I used vintage yarn purchased on ebay quite a while ago, a mercerized white cotton and a blue & white fingering weight yarn combined. I used the feather and fan pattern on the hem and cuffs, and crocheted a shell edging as well. I don't have a picture of the whole sweater, but here are some detail shots.

Six Degrees of Draco Malfoy

I'm supposed to post my assignment for the Hogwarts sock swap here for grading. I have to connect the Dursley family to Draco Malfoy in six steps, or degrees of separation, ala Kevin Bacon.

Petunia Dursley is the sister of Lily Potter, who is the mother of Harry Potter, who is in Gryffindor House with Neville Longbottom, whose parents Frank & Alice Longbottom are tortured into madness by Bellatrix Le Strange, whose sister Narcissa is Draco Malfoy's mother.

Hogwarts Swap Socks Arrive in HMB

I received an incredible package in the mail yesterday. It came all the way from Cambridge, England, courtesy of my Hogwarts sock swap pal Lyndsey-Jane. She sent me custom hand knit VOG ON lace anklet socks made from hand dyed Ravenclaw striped yarn, the leftover yarn in case I want to make the socks longer or to use in another project, a matching fringed bookmark, a chocolate truffle candy bar, and beaded stitch markers (which were just the right size for my big needle felting projects, where I've been using yarn markers) in the Ravenclaw colors.

L-J also sent me a skein of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in the "Only in the UK" colorway Cherry Blossom, instead of the sock needles she was supposed to send. (I am NOT complaining.) Because she was a month late sending my package, she also tucked in a skein of Wollmeise Sockenwolle yarn in a gorgeous purple and blue color way. Being patient pays off big time! Lyndsey-Jane went far beyond the scope of the swap, and I am very happy.

I now have the pleasant task of deciding what pattern to use with the sock yarns. The Woolmeise might be turned into a lace shawl, because it has great yardage and is a wonderful deep periwinkle blue color. Cameras can't seem to capture the real tones of blue colors. I also have to get busy making the socks for my new Hogwarts sock swap partner, who is a Gryffindor this time.

I'm also pleased to report that I finished a UFO that had been sitting in my project box far too long. I only had about 10 more rows to knit on this scarf, too. It's mohair and a variegated nylon ribbon held together, knit in garter stitch on big needles with a dropped stitch very so often. I've made three scarves using this pattern, the other two used a variegated fuzzy nylon yarn and a wider ribbon.

Thanks again, Lyndsey-Jane! The socks are wonderful! There won't be a picture of the chocolate bar (although I saved the wrapper.)

Still No Sock Knitting

I started knitting the Via Diagonale bag by Wendy Wonnacott from Knitty's Spring 2005 issue last week and I'm at the binding off point. I could not stop knitting on this project! Everything else got put on hold. I'm using two stash yarns: a Chinese red Pingouin mercerized cotton from Elann left over from a sweater I made my Dad 5 years ago and some cabled cotton, also from Elann, that I helped a friend dye a nice soft teal blue and she gave me the leftovers after finishing her sweater. I saw the bag in someone's project pages when I was browsing for ways to use a certain yarn on Ravelry and was reminded of how much I liked it originally.

I love using slip stitch/mosaic patterns and this one was no exception. Once I got the rhythm going I didn't even need to look at the directions. It helped that I'd made some socks using the same pattern a few years back. The double stranding helps give the bag structure even in cotton yarn, although I will have to line it and put something in the bottom to help the bag keep its shape. Since I had more yardage than the pattern called for, and I like bigger bags, I'm making it taller. I plan to insert plastic aquarium tubing into the handles, or maybe use purchased handles. The colors are a bit brighter in real life, as you can see from the frogged red bag's picture, and there are very subtle variations in the hand dyed blue yarn.

Using Ravelry's interactive features, I was able to click on the yarn info page for the pattern and see what weight yarn the designer used, something that's not always obvious with patterns. Then I could just go to my stash page and figure out if I had enough yardage to make the bag. This is only one of the reasons why I love Ravelry! If you haven't put your name on the waiting list I'd encourage you to do so. It took six weeks for me to get an invite but it was worth the wait. Once they are out of the Beta stage the site will be free and open to all.

I plan to make the bag again in Kureyon and a solid colored wool, using larger needles, and felt it. Slip stitch designs really work well in felted bags. I've also been working on my mitered garter stitch vest and a modular sweater using a big bag of miscellaneous purple and blue green yarns. Pictures pending

In order to make the Via Diagonale bag I had to frog this bag project, which had been on hold since I didn't think I had enough yarn to finish. I'm much happier with this new project. I have a golf ball sized amount left of the red yarn and one skein left from the teal, enough to bind off and make the handles.