Wednesday 12 January 2011

Let's twist again

The cardigan of doom still hasn't dried so I'm really hoping it hurries up with that. Mr NM is away overnight on Thursday which is looking like prime, quiet, making up time. I do know how to mattress stitch and have used it on baby garments I've knit but even then I feel nervous and like I'll much up my cardigan. I need to do it slowly and fingers crossed it will go well and the cabled band will fit around the neck properly and I will be able to graft it together and it will all look great. I hope so!

One of my personal goals for January has been to get the two pairs of socks I've been knitting on since October and November off the needles and finished. I am not allowing myself to cast on any new sock projects (or currently any new projects at all) until they're done. One pair was finished on Sunday (they're awaiting photographing) and the other pair continues to be a WIP:

The pattern is Twisted Mockery by Lisa Stichweh and it was the November Mystery Sock for the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry. Clearly I didn't actually finish it in November! The yarn is from Ripples Crafts and was part of the sock club last year, I think it was April but it could have been May. It's a darker purple than the picture shows.

knitting 194

knitting 196

I love the way the diagonal bands of twisted stitches come right round to the back of the foot ending in a point

knitting 197

I'm actually further on than this now as I was knitting on them yesterday evening, I am 4 rows from finishing the first chart on the second sock and they did feel to be flying but we did watch two films last night and I knit throughout which helped! I am not the fastest knitter so I really need time to sit down and do nothing but for a few hours if I'm going to make good progress. I am trying to make a decision for the heel. The pattern specifies a slipped stitch heel which I know is the more hardwearing option but a stockinette heel would continue the stockinette which has been added in to the back of the foot and I think that would look lovely. I just can't decide. I do have a pair of socks with a stockinette heel flap and they haven't worn through nor do they look in any worse condition than my socks with slipped stitch heels. Decisions decisions.

I walked past this sculpture near my work when I was on my lunchbreak yesterday, I don't usually have my camera when I was past but as I was doing my WIP photos I did and all I could think when looking at it was that it should be holding a skein of yarn ready to be wound! Perhaps I knit too much…

knitting 199

14 comments:

  1. That yarn is lovely. You aren't the only one who thinks the hands should be holding yarn. Mind you a rugby player would say it looks like they are waiting to catch a ball. I guess it's meant to say different things to different folks. That's the beauty of art.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's a neat pattern and the yarn is pretty too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think you need to yarn-bomb that sculpture.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pretty socks! And good for you for sticking to them and finishing them up. That's such a nice feeling, and one that I don't get to experience often enough -- I'm a slow knitter, too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. There's no such thing as knitting too much! At least that's what I have assured my family.

    Those socks are simply gorgeous -- beautiful yarn, beautiful pattern, beautifully knitted. Can you tell I like them?

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the colour of your yarn - so, so pretty! The pattern looks interesting too. I'd be so tempted to put a skein of yarn around those hands!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love those purple socks. That pattern looks like an interesting knit.

    I'm thinking those hands would need a really large skein of yarn.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The purple yarn, and the sock pattern are gorgeous! Good luck with the rest of them. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful socks! I love the design and color. I think that either heels would look pretty. I always favor slipped stitch heels for it's cushioning. Good luck with finishing the cardigan. Sewing seams is the least fun part, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love that uninterrupted time for finishing projects. Can't wait to see you cardigan. Those socks are just gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a great sock pattern, and I love that purple for socks.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The socks are beautiful, color and pattern! And yes, that statue looks like it needs an untwisted hank around his fingers as someone else winds it into a ball. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi,

    Just replying to your comment on my blog. If you were looking for Kidsilk haze in the sale there's some for $9 on Jannette's Rare Yarns here:
    http://www.jannettesrareyarns.co.uk/rowan-kidsilk-haze-4-shades-9-a-ball-278-c.asp
    I think that is abut £5 a ball. With free postage.

    (((((enabling)))

    ReplyDelete
  14. I completely agree ... that statue needs a skein of yarn! I was lucky enough to visit Stratford-upon-Avon this past Autumn, and I put my shawl WIP over Lady MacBeth's clasped hands (city park, not museum) and took a photo. Statues just cry out for yarn projects!

    ReplyDelete