Monday, November 28, 2011

Holiday Knitting

I'm trying to create a mostly Handmade Holiday here, and have quite a few things in various stages of completion.  Of course, I have no pictures right now, and it is grey and rainy outside, so I don't think pictures will be coming this morning.  But for my own list-loving heart (and the hope that on January 1st, I will look at this list and have everything on it finished) here is a summary of what I hope to accomplish this month:
  • Snowflake Hat
  • Snowman Hat
  • Cars Hat (2)
  • Rosebud Hat
  • Fish Hat (3?)
  • Mad Bomber Hat
  • Socks for Layne
  • Stockings (2)
  • Fetching Mitts in purple
  • Gold Scarf for Mom
Now, all of these save two have been started and several only need some finishing so I don't think I am completely crazy.  Just a little crazy.  But I only have one more paper to write for class and then I will be finished with that.  I will have lots of devoted knitting time in about a week.  This looks doable.  Maybe.

And I will finish with a gratuitous Fluffy Dog Picture:

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Finished!

One more project off the needles!  I give you my first pair of Toe Up Socks:

 These are the Diagonal Lace Socks by Wendy Johnson from the book Socks from the Toe Up.  It is also available--for free!-- on Ravelry.

What I learned:
*  Judy's Magic Cast On.  Love this, and it truly does seem to be magic.  Although since this is my first pair of toe-up socks, I have really no other cast on to compare it to.
*  Jenny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.  This is awesome, and so simple. 
*  There are different ways to M1, depending on if you want a right-leaning or left-leaning increase.  Now, the pattern does not state this.  It just says to M1.  So I did, but halfway through the first toe, it looked kind of messy.  I did some Googling and figured it out, which is good because you need to increase for the heels.  I don't know why this didn't occur to me, as I know that decreases are paired, but it didn't. 
*  I kind of don't like M1s.  They are fiddly, and I am not used to the motion so I feel like I'm not really smooth at them.  I'm sure I'll get used to them, but right now they are a new skill and it usually takes me a little while to warm up to a new skill.

I also mirrored the lace pattern on the second sock, so the diagonals face opposite directions as opposed to both socks leaning one way.  Overall, I like the socks and am happy with the way they turned out.  I'm not sure if I will keep these for myself or gift them at the holidays.  It really depends on how much more knitting I get done!