Wednesday, October 31, 2012

At Least They Were Done in October

I cheated on this month's socks in a big way.  I think these were started maybe a year** ago?  Could be...I deleted them from my Ravelry page for some reason so I don't have a clue as to the cast on date.  Anyway I found them buried in one of my knitting bags and decided to cheat on the October sock.  Not much else to really say about it other than I'm finished with one more unfinished project.

One thing the sock did confirm...I actually prefer using 2 circulars to knit my socks.  I may go as far as saying I would rather knit them toe up than cuff down.   I never thought I'd change my mind, but I think I'm faster knitting them toe up.  Maybe I should do a timed experiment when I have nothing else going on. 

Details
Pattern:  His & Her Socks by Ann Budd in Knitted Gifts;

Yarn:  Gems Sport Weight by Louet; Sport / 5 ply; 100% Merino; 225 yards / 100 gram.  I used 1 1/4 skeins and ended up with 74 grams left over.

Needles: US 2; 4 metal DPN's

Gauge:  about 17 stitches over 2 inches

Modifications:  No mods made to the original pattern.

I still have one more unfinished pair of socks in the bag.  It's one I started last December on a car trip.  I finished one sock, cast on for the second sock, then threw it in the knitting bag once home.  This may be the month* I catch up from not getting it done.  It's a simple pattern that I have written out and worked using a 'plain sock' recipe.  It is supposed to break up a variegated sock yarn.

I usually finish my socks one after another so it's pretty unusual for me to have second sock syndrome...especially 2 sets.  It will be corrected this month* and I'll be caught up with both unfinished projects and my Sock Club knitting.  It's a win win!


*I evidently couldn't maintain my mojo on the swirly sock so it will my November sock.  Promise...

**I found them on my Ravelry page...how about a cast on date of Feb 8th, 2010.  Wow

Monday, October 01, 2012

Something Completely Different

In August while we were in Bozeman, MT we had dinner with the daughter of our good friends CH & TH.  Ms. S had a request...she went on to explain that the house that she was renting with three other MSU (Montana State University) students had a chicken coop in the backyard.  OK that's terrific...'free eggs' and all, then she dropped the bombshell...chicken sweaters.

Yep,  the Bozeman winters are pretty darn cold and she wanted to make sure that the chickens would be warm so she asked if I would knit some sweaters.  She had Googled a few pictures too.  I figured what the heck.  When we got back East I found a few patterns on Ravelry.  I dove onto my stash of leftover blanket yarn and pulled out some MSU colors- blue and gold and some variegated yarn in reds and blues.

I decided that the pattern was perfect for knitting in the car while heading to a VT football game.  After about 2 hours it was done except for the error glaring back at me.  Yes it was for a chicken, but it should at least be knit properly.  It seems I 'forgot' the edge should have been knit in garter rather than stockinette so it curled back on itself horridly.  I frogged it and re-knit on our way back from football.

I ended up knitting 3 sweater.  On one I used Velcro as its closure, but the other two have buttons.  I like the buttons although I'm wondering if the chickens will like them too.  Three have been knit (although there are 6 chickens) and I'm waiting until I hear back as to fit...and hopefully a video of the girls putting them on the chickens.

Details:
Pattern: 
Rescued Battery Hen by Jacqui Bennett;


Yarn:  Plymouth Galway and Patons Classic Wool; about 100 yards or so for each sweater


Needle:  Lantern Moon Ebony US 7, straights;  I never get to use my straights anymore.

Gauge:  forgot to measure- oops


Modification:  Added a contrasting double crochet edge around the necks- even a chicken should look stylish!