First, I just realized that I forgot to let you know that you can find me on Ravelry under the name SockPixie.
Second, it is time for me to wish all of you a Happy New Year. I hope that this year will be a good year, a peaceful year.
Fly Away...
As you all know, this week, SockPixie was lucky to find its inspiration in birds. It almost feels looking at my living room that flocks of bird migrated to my house this week. It was a lot of un to create these new colorways.
Here are a few of them.
Here is Painted Bunting, shimmering with bright colors.
And here is Rufious Hummingbird, with its needlepoint of colors.
Here are a few of them.
Here is Painted Bunting, shimmering with bright colors.
And here is Rufious Hummingbird, with its needlepoint of colors.
I hope you will enjoy this week's new colorways.
Bird of a Feather Socks (Free Pattern)
This week's inspiration was all about birds. So I had to design something reminiscent of birds. The pattern reminds me of colorful feathers, so I decided to call it Bird of a Feather. All the colorwork is actually done using slipped stitches, which makes the pattern easy to follow and memorize. I used 2 SockPixie colorways, and I recommend choosing a dark contrast yarn. Have fun with it!
Bird of a Feather Socks
Materials:
2 skeins SockPixie Merino Sock Yarn: 1 in Pynion Jay (referred to as B), and 1 in a colorful contrasting SockPixie yarn (referred to as C).
Gauge: 8 sts/inch in st st on US 1
Stitch Pattern:
R1: Knit with B.
R2: Knit with B
R3: With C, *SL1, K7* Repeat from *. Be sure not to pull to tight when changing needles.
R4: Same as R3
R5: Same as R3
R6: Same as R3
R7: Knit with B. Be sure not to pull to tight on the black yarn which you are just carrying up from the previous rows.
R8: Knit with B
R9: With C, K4, *SL1, K7* Repeat from *, ending with K3.
R10: Same as R9
R11: Same as R9
R12: Same as R9
R1 through R12 form the pattern. Repeat these rows for pattern.
CUFF and LEG:
Cast on 64 stitches. Divide stitches: Circular method 32 on each for circulars// 4 dpts 16, 16, 32 // 5 dpts //16 on each Join round. Knit in K2P2 rib for 1 1/2" Continue in stitch pattern over the desired length for the leg.
Finish a complete pattern repeat before starting the short row heel. Knit 1 round with B. Then follow the directions for the short row heel using B only.
SHORT ROW HEEL SHAPING:
You will be working on only half the stitches 32.
R1: Knit to the last 2 stitches, wyif slip next stitch, bring yarn to back, and slip wrapped stitch back to left needle. Turn.
R2: Purl to the last 2 stitches, wyinb slip next stitch, bring yarn back to the front, slip wrapped stitch back to left needle.
R3: knit to 1 stitch before the last wrapped stitch, wrap the stitch as above, turn.
R4: Purl to 1 stitch before las wrapped stitch, wrap stitch, turn. Repeat R3 and R4 until 14 stitches remain unwrapped at the center of your heel.
Continue shaping the heel as follows:
R1: Knit to the wrapped stitch, knit the wrap together with the stich, and wrap the next stitch by wyif slipping the next stitch, bringing the yarn to the back and returning the wrapped stitch back to the left needle, and turn.
R2: Purl to the wrapped stitch, purl stich an wrap together through the back loops, wrap next stitch by wyib slipping the next stich, bringing the yarn back to the front, and slipping the wrapped stitch back to the left needle.
R3: Knit to the wrapped stitch, slip wrapped stitch to right needle, with left needle pick up the 2 wraps, and place the on the right needle. Slip the 2 wraps and the stitch back to the left needle, and knit the 3 together. Wrap next stitch as above, and turn.
R4: Purl to the wrapped stitch, slip the wrapped stitch to the right needle. With left needle pick up the wraps and place them on the right needle. Transfer the wraps and the stitch one by one back to the left needle, and purl the 3 together through the back loop. Wrap the next stitch. Turn.
Repeat R3 and R4 until all stitches are consumed. The first and the last stitch on the needle will each have 1 wrap, which you will knit together on the first round of the rest of you sock. Knit the rest of the round with B picking up the remaining wraps. You are now ready to continue the sock in pattern.
FOOT:
Start knitting in the round again over the 64 stitches, keeping the pattern going. Continue Knitting in the round in pattern, until the foot is the appropriate length.
Be sure to finish with a completed pattern repeat.
TOE:
Circular Method:
Knit toe in st st.
R1: K1,SSK, knit to the last 3 stitches on needle, K2tog, K1. Repeat on next needle.
R2: Knit
Repeat R1 and R2 for 1 inch, then repeat R1 only until there are 8 stitches left on each eedle. Using the kitchener stitch, graft the toe closed.
4dpts:
Work stitches on needle 1. New beginining of round. Instep on needle 1, and sole on needles 2 and 3.
R1: Needle 1: K1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1/ Needle 2: K1, SSK, knit to end/ Needle 3: Knit to,last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1
R2: Knit
Repeat as for circular method until 8 stitces are left. Graft toe.
5dpts:
Work stitches on needle. New beginning of round.Instep on needle 1 and 2, sole on needle 3 and 4.
R1: Needle 1: K1, SSK , knit to end/ Needle 2: Knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1/ Needle 3: Same as needle 1 Needle 4: Same as needle 2 Repeat as for circular method until 8 stitches are left./
R2:Knit
Graft toe.
For personal use only. Copyright Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer, 2007.
I always enjoy looking back at the year and reviewing my knitting projects. My proudest accomplishment is the Glove Knitting booklet. It was such a pain, in fact, that I've promised myself to never do another technique booklet. Or at least not until I forget how much of a pain the Glove Knitting booklet was! Since its publication in April it has sold 210 copies.
My favorite knitting project: the Sea Mineral Mittens. Every now and then all the colors in a project just come together perfectly and they really did for these mittens.
1. I resolve to knit and design more colorful socks. I already have a zillion gloves and mittens but I always need socks. I want to do a bunch in Cascade 220.
My favorite knitting project: the Sea Mineral Mittens. Every now and then all the colors in a project just come together perfectly and they really did for these mittens.
My 2008 Knitting Resolutions:
1. I resolve to knit and design more colorful socks. I already have a zillion gloves and mittens but I always need socks. I want to do a bunch in Cascade 220.
2. I resolve to design a colorwork ski band for DH. He wants something to wear under his Red Sox hat.
3. I resolve to finish the *&^% Great American Afghan at long last. Unfinished projects really weigh on me and this one absolutely needs to get done.
4. I resolve to again donate over $1000 to the Colorado House Rabbit Society from knitting pattern and booklet sales. The CO HRS adopts out hundreds of pet rabbits a year to good homes.
5. I resolve not to buy any more yarn other than my main color lines - Cascade 220, Palette, and Nature Spun. Unless of course someone comes up with a new inexpensive line of wool yarn in a zillion colors.
6. I resolve to continue to try to take better photos of my colorwork projects and to try to get more up-close technique photos.
7. I resolve to always appreciate all the blessings I have in my life including my abundant yarn stash, the free time to knit it up, and all the wonderful people who read my blog and continue to inspire me.
Happy New Year to everyone! I'll be back in 2008. There's a very good chance I'll be showing you a new furry friend and the new blog mascot in my next post.
Working, and Loving it!
I have been working a lot over the last few days. My husband is home, on vacation for a few days, and of course there is no homeschooling for a few days.
I have been creating the new colorways for Sunday's SockPixie shop update. This week's inspiration will be birds. The other day, it was snowing, and there sitting on a tree speckled with red berries, there was the most beautiful little bird. I grabbed our bird refences, and sat down in our school room. Originally, I was only looking for the little bird, but then, I stopped to look at every picture. There are so many birds, each as beautiful as the next. I decided that this week's creations would be an hommage to birds.
My other project this week has been a new sock pattern. I am so excited about it! Here is a little preview.
What a Nice Christmas Present!
For Christmas, I got a great gift. My pattern for the Sunshine Socks was featured in the Craftzine Blog! Thank you to Monique for suggesting my pattern to them, and thank you to Craftzine for posting it.
Happy Holidays
This post will be short. I just wanted to wish all of you a happy holiday season.
That's it!
That's it!
Inspiration is Like the Wind...
Inspiration is like the wind, at times it blows softly, but then sometimes it almost throws you off your feet. That's what happened to me this week. This time the wind of inspiration came from the land of the Rising Sun. My husband and I rented Memoirs of a Geisha. I had never seen the movie, and I was mesmerized. I watched the movie twice. The first time I could only see colors, the second time I listened to the story.
Each night, this week, I fell asleep dreaming of colors. Flowers, settings, and even characters saw a new expression in this week's colorways .
Sunday, for ourSockPixie shop update, you will see new merino colors like Cherry Blossoms.
You will also see a brand new collection of yarns made of Bamboo/wool, which I call Bambino. Bambino has such a lovely sheen to it, almost remiscent of the beautiful silk kimonos. I created a whole set of colors just for it. Ceramic captures the rich colors and shine of Japanese ceramic dishes.
I hope thet you will enjoy this week's collection.
Sunshine Socks (free)
These are the Sunshine Socks. Why Sunshine? I don't know. Maybe because they almost seem to glow, with their bright colors, and their cheerful mock cable and chevron pattern. They were knit using SockPixie's Merino Sock Yarn.
So, ready...Here we go!
Sunshine Socks
Materials: SockPixie 100% Machine Washable Merino, 425 yards
Needles: US 1 DPTS or Circulars.
Gauge:7sts/inch
Stitch Pattern:
R1:*P1, SL1, K2, PSSO, P1, K2TOG, K2, [K1, YO, K1] into same stitch, K2, SSK* Repeat from *
R2: *P1, K1, YO, K1, P1, K9* Repeat from * (You will have to transfer one stitch from one needle to the next to complete pattern.)
R3: *P1, K3, P1, K2TOG, K2, [K1, YO, K1]into same stitch, K2, SSK* Repeat from *
R4: *P1, SL1, K2, PSSO, P1, K9* Repeat from *
R5: *P1, K1, YO, K1, P1, K2TOG, K2, [K1, YO, K1] into same stitch, K2, SSK* repeat from *
R6: *P1, K3, P1, K9* Repeat from *
R1 to R6 form the pattern.
Cuff:
Cast on 70 stitches. Divide stitches 35 on each needle. Join round.
Knit 6 rows in garter stitch.
Continue following the stitch pattern for the desired length repeating rows 1 through 6.
You should end with a complete pattern repeat before starting the heel, but do not knit the last stitch, transfer it to the other needle.
Heel flap:
Knit the heel flap on the side of the sock with the chevron at the center. (The front will have a cable at the center.)You should have 36 stitches for the heel, and will be working back and forth on these 36 stitches.
Follow these 2 rows for the heel:
R1(WS):SL1, P to end
R2: SL1, *K1, SL1 * Repeat from*
Repeat these 2 rows 19 times(total 38 rows)
Heel Turn:
R1: SL1, K until 13 stitches are left, SSK, K1, turn
R2: P until 13 stitches are left, P2TOG, P1, turn
Continue as follows:
R1: Knit till 1 stitch before the gap, SSK, K1, turn
R2: Purl till 1 stitch before the gap, P2TOG, P1, turn
Continue until all stitches are consumed and the heel is turned.
Knit 1 row.
Pick up stitches along the side of the heel flap. Pick up one stitch at the intersection of the heel flap and the instep, P2tog, knit in pattern on top of the foot until you finish the first chevron. Put this needle to rest, and switch to needle 2. Continue the rest of the instep in pattern. From now on the instep will be knit in pattern always ending in P1. Pick up one stitch at the intersection of the instep and the heel flap. Pick up stitches along the heel flap, knit half the heel stitches.
Gusset :
You do not need to place a marker for the gusset. The purl stitches that separate the instep pattern from the sole of the sock will be your markers. To shape the gusset follow these 2 rounds:
R1: Knit until 3 stitches on the Purl stitch, K2TOG, K1, pattern on instep, P1, K1, SSK, knit to end.
R2: Knit, keeping the pattern going on the instep.
Repeat these 2 rows until 66 stitshes are left. Because the sole is knit in stockinette, the sizing needs to be adjusted by reducing the total number of stitches. (As your stitches are not distributed evenly on the needles, make sure that you have the same number of stockinette stitches on each needle.)
Foot:
Continue knitting, with the sole in stockinette, and the instep in pattern until the foot is the desired length.
Toe:
Redistribute the stitches on the needles evenly, 33 on each.
The toe will be knit in stockinette stitch.
R1: *K14, K2TOG, K1, SSK, K14* repeat on Needle 2
R2: Knit
Repeat R1 and R2 for 1 inch, knitting 1 less stitch before and after the decrease stitches. Then Repeat R1 still knitting 1 less stitch before abd after the decreases, until 7 stitches are left on each needle.
Rearrange the stitches so that they are not in profile any more.
Close the toe using the kitchener stitch.
Copyright 2007, Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer. This pattern is for personal use only.
Yet Another Storm
We have had 3 snow storms in 7 days! I have gotten plenty of indoor time, in between shoveling sessions. But look at the beauty Mother Nature creates for us when some melted snow finds a new expression when meeting Mysterious Night.
All this indoor time means that the new sock pattern is finished, at last, and that there will be lots of wonderful new colorways this Sunday! This is a little preview of a new colorway called Water Lily. But more later on what inspired me this week...
I still need to take pictures of the socks on my favorite foot model. I expect to post the pattern tomorrow, and as always the new colorways will be posted on the SockPixie site on Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
Christmas Spirit
Tonight was a really special night. My youngest daughter and I decorated our Christmas Tree. That tree is very special. It is an old artificial tree, which we bought 13 years ago, in San Francisco. It was our first Christmas ever in the US. This tree is part of our life. It has seen the birth of three of our children. It has been with us through our joys, and struggles.
Once more, we will share Christmas with it, and for the occasion, we have decorated it with its most beautiful jewels.
I am so very grateful to the hundreds of you who have left me emails, comments on the blog, and on Ravelry. Peaches obviously was the celebrity she always thought she was! Having pet rabbits really helps you learn to live fully and enjoy the moment because they don't often live as long as dogs and cats and because they mask illness and can leave you suddenly. Even though her life was too short we both agree that Peaches was lucky to live here with us because we let her be herself and didn't mind that she wasn't as affectionate as other rabbits.
When we first got Peaches I called her the wallflower because she was always on the perimeter of the room and never part of the household action. But she slowly warmed up to us and loved being the center of attention. I was hoping she'd be here for Christmas though. A week ago I was wrapping some presents on the floor and she snuck up behind me and started ripping up some gifts I'd wrapped so I was planning on Christmas Eve to put all the gifts on the floor and let her open some presents.
Right after my wonderful DH got done burying our beautiful brown-eyed Peaches in a big snowstorm, he told me he knows we need to get another rabbit soon because I love them so much. We reacted briefly to the sadness of it all but we are both now looking forward to adopting a new bunny after the holidays. There are always plenty of wonderful rabbits out there who desperately need good homes which I try to remember at times like this.
I have found an unexpected source of healing - power yoga. I've always thought that the yoga idea that you store emotions in your body was malarkey but I'm seeing things differently now. On the new Veria channel I've been working along to Yoga for Life with Kurt Johnsen of American Power Yoga. I normally live in my head so the idea that something really physical can improve me this much mentally is a new one. Learning to deal with life's difficulties without letting it affect my health negatively is really crucial and the instructor talks about that a lot in the classes.
And to try to lighten the mood around here I thought I'd show the photo from the time we mistakenly let Peaches have the newspaper first and the one time Peaches jumped up on the futon with Jack.
When we first got Peaches I called her the wallflower because she was always on the perimeter of the room and never part of the household action. But she slowly warmed up to us and loved being the center of attention. I was hoping she'd be here for Christmas though. A week ago I was wrapping some presents on the floor and she snuck up behind me and started ripping up some gifts I'd wrapped so I was planning on Christmas Eve to put all the gifts on the floor and let her open some presents.
Right after my wonderful DH got done burying our beautiful brown-eyed Peaches in a big snowstorm, he told me he knows we need to get another rabbit soon because I love them so much. We reacted briefly to the sadness of it all but we are both now looking forward to adopting a new bunny after the holidays. There are always plenty of wonderful rabbits out there who desperately need good homes which I try to remember at times like this.
I have found an unexpected source of healing - power yoga. I've always thought that the yoga idea that you store emotions in your body was malarkey but I'm seeing things differently now. On the new Veria channel I've been working along to Yoga for Life with Kurt Johnsen of American Power Yoga. I normally live in my head so the idea that something really physical can improve me this much mentally is a new one. Learning to deal with life's difficulties without letting it affect my health negatively is really crucial and the instructor talks about that a lot in the classes.
And to try to lighten the mood around here I thought I'd show the photo from the time we mistakenly let Peaches have the newspaper first and the one time Peaches jumped up on the futon with Jack.
The New Colorways are up!
Yeah! The new colorways are up, as well the new cashmere sock yarns. I am really excited about this week's creations as I felt such inspiration. The snowy weather contibuted quite a bit. Look at this yarn! No wonder I called it White Christmas.
And then there were of course, the desire for sunny summer fruits like a Nectarine, with vibrant juicy colors. 
There was also the sheer luxury of cashmere. Its beauty so natural, that even the purest semi-solid like Running in the Fields got my mind dancing.This was a great week, and I can't wait to see what inspirations the coming one brings...
Christmas Classic
All this snow has put me in the mood for Christmas! I could not resist putting the Christmas spirit in colors. So here is a sneak peek at a new colorway called Christmas Classic. When knit on 64 to 68 stitches, stripes will appear like magic! The yarn will be available Sunday at 6p.m. on the SockPixie website, along with quite a few new colorways. So let's Jingle Bell!
Peaches my sweet bunny girl died tonight. I can't even believe it. I woke up and it was the first time ever she didn't immediately greet me, waiting for her morning treat of 1/2 tablet of banana acidophilus. She wasn't eating much so I spent the day hand feeding her. My vet was on vacation and so was every other rabbit vet within a 20 mile radius. When DH returned home from work we took her into Albuquerque to an emergency vet where she got fluids and pain meds. When we got back home she was like a limp dishrag and couldn't even walk. Then it got worse but I won't go into it. Suffice it to say she did not go gentle into that good night, Jack the cat was totally freaked out, and DH has said we can never get another rabbit to break our hearts like this again. I swear to God she was perfectly fine yesterday.
She had just turned 5 years old and she only lived with us 3 3/4 years. She adored this house - it was the first house she'd ever lived in and she had pet beds, blankets, and boxes in most every room. I'm pretty sure she had more bunny toys than any other bunny in the world. We adopted her from the Colorado House Rabbit Society which is why I donate money to them from patterns even though I live in NM. The HRS rescuer called her Breezy but DH changed it to Peaches. She was so scared when she moved here that it took her several months to leave the bedroom (the door was always open) and a year before she'd brave the three stairs to come down to the living room.
She really was one of our great joys in life and always made us laugh. Just a few days ago we were giggling because she had wedged her fat self into this tiny box DH used to hold kindling. She loved the woodstove and would spend hours "inspecting" the firewood. Sometimes you'd just see her big ears over the stacks of wood. She had the most beautiful bunny eyelashes and loved to rip apart cardboard boxes loudly in the middle of the night. It is hard to even imagine this house without her.
Now I need to go cry for a few days.
She had just turned 5 years old and she only lived with us 3 3/4 years. She adored this house - it was the first house she'd ever lived in and she had pet beds, blankets, and boxes in most every room. I'm pretty sure she had more bunny toys than any other bunny in the world. We adopted her from the Colorado House Rabbit Society which is why I donate money to them from patterns even though I live in NM. The HRS rescuer called her Breezy but DH changed it to Peaches. She was so scared when she moved here that it took her several months to leave the bedroom (the door was always open) and a year before she'd brave the three stairs to come down to the living room.
She really was one of our great joys in life and always made us laugh. Just a few days ago we were giggling because she had wedged her fat self into this tiny box DH used to hold kindling. She loved the woodstove and would spend hours "inspecting" the firewood. Sometimes you'd just see her big ears over the stacks of wood. She had the most beautiful bunny eyelashes and loved to rip apart cardboard boxes loudly in the middle of the night. It is hard to even imagine this house without her.
Now I need to go cry for a few days.
Snowy Night, Magical Night
Just thought I'd share the magic. Doesn't it look like thousands of little fluttering fairies sprinkling pixie dust! Enjoy...
It's Snowing, the Children are Playing, and I am Knitting
I know I said it last year, and I will say it again this year, I LOVE WINTER!!! Just the other day, I was dreaming of spending half the year in the northern hemisphere, and the other half in the southern hemisphere. And why? But to follow winter and possibly avoid summer alltogether,naturally!
The children are outside playing in the snow, and I can knit, occasionally staring at my perfect world, listening the music of my children's laughter in the softened city.
I am working on a new sock pattern. I am in the last testing phases, and hope to have it ready for Sunday's SockPixie website update. What an exciting time, new yarns, a new pattern, and all that snow!
A World of Colors
When I was 13 years old, I became near-sighted. My parents, taking this very seriously immediately fitted me with glasses. Needless to say that I hated them! I did not hate them because of the way they made me look, but rather I felt that they had robbed me of my world. My world is not made of geometric lines, but rather resembles a Monet painting, composed of myriads of dancing colors.
Every morning, I would kiss my mother goodbye with my glasses on, and as soon as she closed the door, I would bury them in their case at the bottom of my school bag.
To this day, I live my life without glasses. My mother knows! And have no fear, I do not drive!
When I go for walks I see colors, colors everywhere. When I come home, my mind is full of their merry-go-round. I am so grateful I have yarn and dyes to paint my world! This skein will be called crocus. Crocus are always such a surprise when they pop up through the absolute white, striking green, golden yellow, and blue purple.
Algonquin Socks
Here are the Algonquin socks from Folk Style. I made them thicker using worsted weight yarn which is my preference for padding around the house. The color is too dark but it is raining/snowing here so I can't go outside.
In other news... I think Peaches has a new friend.
As Promised the Kippah Pattern (Free)
Here is the promised Kippah pattern. Actually it is really 2 patterns in one. If you skip the lace portion and instead cast on the same number of stitches, knit 8 rows in garter stitch and follow the same directions for the decreases, you will end up with a beautiful man's Kippah!
Kippah Pattern
Materials: SockPixie's Sock Yarn In color Tea Rose
Needles: 16" US 1, and DPTS US 1
Gauge: 7 sts per inch
Loosely cast on 120 stitches. Join round, being careful not to twist. Follow the following lace pattern.
Lace Edging:
R1: K1, *YO, K3, (SL1, K2tog, PSSO) (this will now be referred to as dd for double decrease), K3, YO, K1* Repeat from *.
R2: Knit
R3: K2, *YO, K2, dd, K2, YO, K3* Repeat from * ending last repeat in K1.
R4: Knit
R5: K3, *YO, K1, dd, K1, YO, K5* Repeat from* ending last repea K2.
R6: Knit
R7: K4, *YO, dd, YO, K7* Repeat from * ending last repeat K3.
R8: Knit
Knit 2 rounds in garter stitch (Knit 1 round, purl 1 round).
Knit the next 2 rounds in stockinette stitch.
Decrease Rounds:
R1: *K8, K2tog* Repeat from *
Knit 2 rounds even
R2: *k7, k2tog* Repeat from *
Knit 2 rounds even
R3: *K6, K2tog* Repeat from *
Knit 2 rounds even
R4: *K5, K2tog* Repeat from *
Knit 2 rounds even
R5: *K4, K2tog* Repeat from *
Knit 1 round even
R6: *K3, K2tog* Repeat from *
Knit 1 round even
R7: *K2, K2tog* Repeat from *
R8: *K1, K2tog* Repeat from *
R9: *K2tog* Repeat from *
Continue with K2tog until 5 or 6 stitches remain. Gather the remaining stitches. Weave in ends.
Author and knitwear designer Kathleen Taylor (grammak on Ravelry) posts a free stranded colorwork pattern on her blog every Friday. Today she posted some cute spiderman mittens for a young boy and I still have my eye on the Picot Hem Snowflake Hat.
The Teaching Company is offering two free lectures by my favorite professor, Dr. Patrick Allitt. Go HERE to listen to or download his lectures on Christmas in Victorian Britain or Christmas in 19th Century America.
I just realized I didn't take a single picture of Peaches in November! No wonder she is so grumpy. Instead here is a photo of Jack - he's not really fat but he has a wide body and short legs.
I love long-hair cats and I called the humane society in Colorado and told them I would help them out if they ever got in a Persian or Himalayan who really needed some grooming. They finally called and said they had a Persian and we went to look and there was Jack as sad as I've ever seen an animal. It was to be his last day at the shelter so perhaps he somehow knew. Of course we had to take him (after explaining to the humane society he wasn't even vaguely a Persian.) Now it is almost 12 years later and Jack's interests include chasing crickets, sleeping on pillows, and "helping" when we play Scrabble. Whenever he hears the sound of the Scrabble tiles in the bag he comes running out to participate.
The Teaching Company is offering two free lectures by my favorite professor, Dr. Patrick Allitt. Go HERE to listen to or download his lectures on Christmas in Victorian Britain or Christmas in 19th Century America.
I just realized I didn't take a single picture of Peaches in November! No wonder she is so grumpy. Instead here is a photo of Jack - he's not really fat but he has a wide body and short legs.
I love long-hair cats and I called the humane society in Colorado and told them I would help them out if they ever got in a Persian or Himalayan who really needed some grooming. They finally called and said they had a Persian and we went to look and there was Jack as sad as I've ever seen an animal. It was to be his last day at the shelter so perhaps he somehow knew. Of course we had to take him (after explaining to the humane society he wasn't even vaguely a Persian.) Now it is almost 12 years later and Jack's interests include chasing crickets, sleeping on pillows, and "helping" when we play Scrabble. Whenever he hears the sound of the Scrabble tiles in the bag he comes running out to participate.
Happy Hanukkah
It is the holiday season again, and as you all know this is my favorite time of the year. Tonight we are going to my parents' house to celebrate. Here is my gift to my mother.
The pattern will be available this weekend...
After a Long Absence...
I have not posted a single thing since September! I am sure you will believe me if I say I have been busy. I mostly tried to keep up with orders, and helped our oldest daughter reach her dreams. She always was a fabulous artist. I know I may be somewhat partial, but her paintings and sculptures take my breath away. Like me, she sees a world of colors and emotions. My husband and I decided to support her fully in her dream to become a painter and sculptor. We went through the college application process easily, but we sure kept busy! She has just been accepted to a wonderful art shool as a Junior with a Fine Arts major.
Overnight, life seems to have returned to normal. Homeschooling, dyeing yarn, and my favorite, creating new colors and patterns. I had to put a lot of my creative activities on hold during these busy months, but I am so happy to be back.
Sometimes, time pressures help you realize what it is that you really love, and miss. I missed creating. I missed creating new colorways so much, that I have decided to change things a little for Sockpixie's store. Every Sunday, at 6p.m. Eastern time, I will update the website with new colors. You will know how many are in stock and ready to go. So each Sunday night, it will be almost a surprise!
The first update will be this Sunday December 9.
The other part I missed tremendously was designing patterns. I will continue to post free patterns online, on the Sockpixie blog, and will also start publishing patterns for purchase.
That's it for the updates!
Overnight, life seems to have returned to normal. Homeschooling, dyeing yarn, and my favorite, creating new colors and patterns. I had to put a lot of my creative activities on hold during these busy months, but I am so happy to be back.
Sometimes, time pressures help you realize what it is that you really love, and miss. I missed creating. I missed creating new colorways so much, that I have decided to change things a little for Sockpixie's store. Every Sunday, at 6p.m. Eastern time, I will update the website with new colors. You will know how many are in stock and ready to go. So each Sunday night, it will be almost a surprise!
The first update will be this Sunday December 9.
The other part I missed tremendously was designing patterns. I will continue to post free patterns online, on the Sockpixie blog, and will also start publishing patterns for purchase.
That's it for the updates!
Santa Fe
The braided fingerless glove pattern (shown in my last blog post) is now available at my Lulu store HERE. I decided to stick with just one size, women's large, because I've already moved on. I'm hard at work on the Algonquin socks from Folk Style and I think I'm going to make the flower hat as well.
For your eye candy today here are some recent photos from the City Different (Santa Fe). There were still flowers blooming in November.
Some pretty adobe buildings
A very old church
The Lensic theater
St. Francis church
I never get sick of looking at New Mexico architecture.
For your eye candy today here are some recent photos from the City Different (Santa Fe). There were still flowers blooming in November.
Some pretty adobe buildings
A very old church
The Lensic theater
St. Francis church
I never get sick of looking at New Mexico architecture.
Black Forest Braided Fingerless Gloves
The pattern on the cuff of these gloves is adapted from Co Spinhoven's Celtic Charted Designs by Dover books. You can buy this book new for under $5 and it is a great addition to any colorwork library. I'd estimate over 90% of the charts in the book would have really long floats in stranded color knitting but it is full of inspiring designs.
I recently saw a wonderful photo gallery of crocheted colorwork on Ravelry. Up until then I didn't even know you could do colorwork like that with crochet. HERE is a link showing some of the tapestry crochet from Finland - aren't those sweaters the women are wearing just gorgeous? Photos like that might be enough to get me to learn to crochet.
I enjoyed reading this blog post on staying motivated. It is really about creativity and how people can channel it. I think about this a lot while watching Project Runway - some contestants do best when they have many restrictions, some come up with their best designs without any limitations, some folks are inspired by other's designs and some have some inner source of creativity and innovation. The creative process really is fascinating.
We had a great weekend. First and foremost, the weather finally cooled off and we had a nice snowfall. We also went to a really fun cooking class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking - ours was on chiles and I learned a lot. Best of all, I had an opportunity to really pick the chef's brain while others were trying their hand at making tortillas and roasting chiles.
I'm working on some fingerless gloves in Palette. I've finished the first pair in the colors below (grass and marine heather) and am now doing a smaller size in different colors. I should have the pattern up by this weekend after DH takes some photos.
We had a great weekend. First and foremost, the weather finally cooled off and we had a nice snowfall. We also went to a really fun cooking class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking - ours was on chiles and I learned a lot. Best of all, I had an opportunity to really pick the chef's brain while others were trying their hand at making tortillas and roasting chiles.
I'm working on some fingerless gloves in Palette. I've finished the first pair in the colors below (grass and marine heather) and am now doing a smaller size in different colors. I should have the pattern up by this weekend after DH takes some photos.
Dealing with Floats
I've answered so many questions regarding weaving floats lately that I thought I'd do a blog post on the subject. Floats are the unused strand of yarn on the back of your work when you knit with two colors. Keeping the tension of your floats even is important for good tension. If you're knitting a design in black and white and you knit 5 straight stitches in black, then you will have a resulting float 5 stitches long of white yarn on the back of your work. If you have good color knitting tension the floats on the back of your work will be uniform and will easily show the reverse of the design you're knitting.
In traditional Fair Isle knitting, there are no floats longer than 5 stitches but in other forms of stranded color knitting there can be some really long floats. Really long floats (longer than an inch) can cause your fingers or toes to be caught when you put on the item and they can mess with your knitting tension. They are especially problematic in a project for a young child. If a charted colorwork design includes many incredibly long floats (longer than 15 stitches) it may be better worked as intarsia than stranded color knitting.
One solution for long floats is to weave the floats or catch them as you're knitting. To do this you secure the unused yarn with the yarn you're knitting while you are knitting . Your two yarns shouldn't tangle if you're weaving your floats correctly.
HERE is a link showing how this is done if you're a two-handed knitter. There are two separate methods for weaving floats depending on which yarn you are weaving. Weaving floats can also adversely affect your knitting tension so make sure you do it loosely. The photo below shows how you lift the dark color yarn to weave it while you continue knitting with the light color yarn.
Knitpicks has a helpful PDF HERE that has a page devoted to explaining how to weave floats - they call it wrapping the yarn while you knit.
The Philosopher's Wool method of color knitting involves weaving floats frequently, perhaps every 3rd or 4th stitch. If you look at their video HERE , you'll see what they call stitches 3 and 4 are actually the two methods of weaving the floats in two-handed color knitting. You can get a completely different type of fabric with frequent float weaving - more like a woven fabric and it is a great method for knitting socks that are bulletproof. Weaving floats more frequently is also a great idea for colorwork glove fingers.
One problem with weaving floats is that the unused color can sometimes show through on the front of the work. Do NOT weave a float in the exact same vertical row as you did the previous row (this will definitely make the unused color show through the front) and consider not weaving your floats if you're using high contrast yarns (such as black and white).
Another solution for really long floats is to not weave them but instead go back and LOOSELY tack them down after you're done knitting. If this is done too tightly, it will compromise the elasticity of the knitting. HERE is a previous blog post on how I tacked down some extra long floats on one project. If you decide not to weave a long float, make sure you spread out the stitches a bit on the right needle before you knit with the second color to ensure the float tension won't be too tight.
Personally I rarely weave floats. I'm generally happy with my color knitting tension and I rarely knit for toddlers (who'd find long floats more problematic). Plus weaving floats slows me down too much.
Today I organized all my colors of Palette to see if I am out of any colors. I am trying to keep the labels for each color inside the ball because I really have trouble matching the actual colors of the new heathers with the color photos on the web site and in their catalog. Anyway, it turns out that I'm only out of one color and that one is back-ordered. At the top of the photo are various abandoned projects with Palette - I keep them around in case I ever run out of a color and need just a little bit to finish. I have no clue why I have so many browns - I can't even remember the last time I used brown in a project.
Salsa Hat & Knitted Chile Peppers
Here is the Salsa Hat. One problem with these knitted chile peppers is that apparently you can never knit enough. I put six on top of the hat but I think I'd like more even better.
Also, I added 10 more chiles to the ristra so there are 30 chiles per foot of I-cord. I think it would look even better with more. If I knit this again, I may try using different shades of red for each chile pepper. I put two solid green chiles in the ristra as well.
Also, I added 10 more chiles to the ristra so there are 30 chiles per foot of I-cord. I think it would look even better with more. If I knit this again, I may try using different shades of red for each chile pepper. I put two solid green chiles in the ristra as well.
I've been trying since last night to get Blogger to let me upload photos but it is just not happening. (I also can't access the comments this morning.) I'll post a hat photo as soon as I can. The hat and chile pepper ristra pattern is available through Lulu HERE.
Next on the agenda is a tam from Anna Zilboorg's book. I think this will be the last of my Christmas knitting as I'm losing steam and I'd like to get back to the Great American Aran Afghan. I gave up on a pair of men's Cigar Gloves I started for a Christmas gift - I was using an old yarn called Gaelic Aran and it was too scratchy for me.
Next on the agenda is a tam from Anna Zilboorg's book. I think this will be the last of my Christmas knitting as I'm losing steam and I'd like to get back to the Great American Aran Afghan. I gave up on a pair of men's Cigar Gloves I started for a Christmas gift - I was using an old yarn called Gaelic Aran and it was too scratchy for me.
I've purchased ristras of chile peppers before but they never seem to last too long and I think they attract bugs. The obvious solution is to knit one.
Actually these are for a hat pattern I'm working on but I plan to include instructions for the ristra. I need to make a few more of these because this one really looks adorable in my kitchen. I included a few green chiles among the red ones.
I'll show you the hat pattern tomorrow if I can get decent photos.
Petite Fleur Baby Beret FREE PATTERN
This is a repost of one of my patterns with a few edits. Enjoy!
It is true. I do not knit just socks! And to prove it today, here is a baby beret. Now to prove that I do not just knit baby things, I'll just have to design another sock!
Anyhow, for the moment, let's focus on the baby beret nicknamed "Petite Fleur."
Petite fleur is such an easy project, just a few increases and decreases, a change of yarn, and most of all a fun detail with the double ribbed brim.
The project is a fast one as it is knit with a worsted weight yarn, in this particular case two contrasting colors of Reynolds' Revue, with a touch of a novelty yarn by Skacel, called Floret. Petite Fleur fits an infant 0-3 months.
Materials: 1 ball each Reynolds Revue in orange (color 1454), Revue in sage m(1474) , Skacel Floret (color 10402)
Needles: US 5 16" circular, US 5 dpts, US 6 16" circular
Gauge: 6 1/2 sts /inch on US 5
Brim:
Cast on 68 stitches with sage. Join round. Knit in K2P2 rib for 1 inch. Insert a contrasting yarn through the stitches on the needle with a darning needle. You will pick these stitches up again at the end.
Continue in sage.
Increase Section:
R1: Knit
R2: *K3, K1f&b* Repeat from *to *
R3: Knit
R4: *K4, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R5: Knit
R6: *K5, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R7: Knit
R8: *K6, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R9: Knit
R10: *K7, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R11: Knit
R12: *K8, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R13: Knit
You should have 170 stitches.
Flower trim:
Switch to floret yarn, and with it, purl 2 rows. Purling the rows helps the florets show up on the front of your work.
Decreases:
Go back to sage, and knit 3 rows.
R1: *K8, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R2-3:Knit
R4: *K7, K2tog* Repeat
R5-6: Knit
R7: *K6, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R8-9: Knit
R10: *K5, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R11-12: Knit
R13: *K4, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R14-15: Knit
R16: *K3, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R17-18: Knit
R19: *K2, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R20: Knit
R21: *K1, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R22: Knit
R23: *K2tog* Repeat from * to *
Continue k2tog until there are 5 stitches left.
Break yarn and weve in ends.
With orange yarn, go back to the waste yarn, and pick up every stitch along waste yarn. Join round and knit in K2 P2 rib for 3/4". BO loosely.
It is true. I do not knit just socks! And to prove it today, here is a baby beret. Now to prove that I do not just knit baby things, I'll just have to design another sock!
Anyhow, for the moment, let's focus on the baby beret nicknamed "Petite Fleur."
Petite fleur is such an easy project, just a few increases and decreases, a change of yarn, and most of all a fun detail with the double ribbed brim.
The project is a fast one as it is knit with a worsted weight yarn, in this particular case two contrasting colors of Reynolds' Revue, with a touch of a novelty yarn by Skacel, called Floret. Petite Fleur fits an infant 0-3 months.
Materials: 1 ball each Reynolds Revue in orange (color 1454), Revue in sage m(1474) , Skacel Floret (color 10402)Needles: US 5 16" circular, US 5 dpts, US 6 16" circular
Gauge: 6 1/2 sts /inch on US 5
Brim:
Cast on 68 stitches with sage. Join round. Knit in K2P2 rib for 1 inch. Insert a contrasting yarn through the stitches on the needle with a darning needle. You will pick these stitches up again at the end.
Continue in sage.
Increase Section:
R1: Knit
R2: *K3, K1f&b* Repeat from *to *
R3: Knit
R4: *K4, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R5: Knit
R6: *K5, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R7: Knit
R8: *K6, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R9: Knit
R10: *K7, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R11: Knit
R12: *K8, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R13: Knit
You should have 170 stitches.
Flower trim:
Switch to floret yarn, and with it, purl 2 rows. Purling the rows helps the florets show up on the front of your work.
Decreases:
Go back to sage, and knit 3 rows.
R1: *K8, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R2-3:Knit
R4: *K7, K2tog* Repeat
R5-6: Knit
R7: *K6, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R8-9: Knit
R10: *K5, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R11-12: Knit
R13: *K4, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R14-15: Knit
R16: *K3, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R17-18: Knit
R19: *K2, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R20: Knit
R21: *K1, K2tog* Repeat from * to *
R22: Knit
R23: *K2tog* Repeat from * to *
Continue k2tog until there are 5 stitches left.
Break yarn and weve in ends.
With orange yarn, go back to the waste yarn, and pick up every stitch along waste yarn. Join round and knit in K2 P2 rib for 3/4". BO loosely.
Here is my boulevard of broken dreams photo. It includes my two attempts at a Christmas carol mitten, both of which I hated. The colors in the one in the center were driving me nuts plus I hated the cuff and there was no good way to add the thumb while including text. The one on the left was going to be too busy when I finally finished. I also think I've learned I don't really like red and green together. The item on the right is the woodlands fantasy tam by Mary Rowe from Hats: A Knitter's Dozen. I am still going to forge ahead on that one but I have to omit that lightest green yarn first. It really doesn't look like it will fit, does it? I tried it on though after taking it off the needles and it fits.
To console myself I've been spending too much money on cookbooks. My favorite of the bunch is the brand spanking new Veganomicon. I received it exactly one week ago today and so far have made the Banana Wheat-Germ Muffins, Skillet Cornbread, Brooklyn Deli Macaroni Salad, Guacamole, Baja-Style Tempeh Tacos, Pumpkin Baked Ziti, Mac Daddy, Black Bean Burgers, Snobby Joes, and the Black Bean Vegetable Soup. I'm a cooking fool!
To console myself I've been spending too much money on cookbooks. My favorite of the bunch is the brand spanking new Veganomicon. I received it exactly one week ago today and so far have made the Banana Wheat-Germ Muffins, Skillet Cornbread, Brooklyn Deli Macaroni Salad, Guacamole, Baja-Style Tempeh Tacos, Pumpkin Baked Ziti, Mac Daddy, Black Bean Burgers, Snobby Joes, and the Black Bean Vegetable Soup. I'm a cooking fool!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)