Warm hands and feet

Things have been in high production mode here at Chez One Potato. This weekend I finished the Boy's socks and the Anemoi Mittens.

First, the mittens. I think I've established that I'm quite pleased with these. I blocked the second one yesterday and my goodness Koigu grows when wet - I got very concerned because the sodden blocking mitten was about 1/2" longer than it's previously blocked mate. I got so nervous, in fact, that I reblocked the first mitten, only to discover it too grew (and then shrank). Thankfully, they match. Not much else to say, except that I took them for a test run outside and they are soft and cozy. These will be going off to a friend in the mail and I'll be sad to see them leave.

Project: Eunny Jang's Anemoi Mittens
Materials: Koigu KPM purchased at Purl. Knit on size size 2 (2.75mm) Crystal Palace Bamboo DPNs. This produced a blocked gauge of about 10st/1".
Modifications: I'm not sure if this is really a mod, but I used a tubular cast on found at this tutorial rather than a regular tubular cast on. I also didn't use smaller needles for the cuff because I thought it was going to be too narrow, and I think this was the right decision for my hands.

Next, the socks. When I got to the end of sock two I discovered my stitch count was off. I made the executive decision that no one cares, since socks live in shoes, and I carried on. It was just a little error (I think I forgot to move some stitches around before starting the toe) so it didn't make a difference, or at least not one I could see. As soon as they were finished the Boy put them on and did not take them off for two days. So, I think they are a success.


Pattern: Gentleman's Fancy Socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Mineshaft. The pattern led me to believe I would need 3 skeins but I used less than two.
Modifications: Substituted a short row heel. I know it's sacrilige to change a Nancy Bush sock pattern but I thought the heel flap would be uncomfortable and the Boy was already skeptical about the knitted socks.

Now that these are done I am swatching for a variety of new projects but I'll discuss later this week. However, I will show you this pile of goodness that arrived this weekend. That's the last you'll be seeing of it for a while, though, because it's for a top secret project. Stay tuned!

The Boy Needs Socks

Little knitting and much working has been done this week. In the bit of knitting time I've been working on my Anemoi Mittens, but I will spare you the stitch-by-stitch development on that front and hold off on further pictures until there is actually something to see.

However here is a picture of my current commuting project of choice, socks for my husband. He never requested socks, and I frankly don't really love knitting socks, but occassionally I get in the mood and these socks were born at one of those times. Interestingly, despite his previous lack of interest, now that the socks are on the needles I am regularly hassled about the status of said socks, why aren't I working on them (when he sees me crafting something else) and various other inquiries about when he will get his now much-needed and long-delayed socks.

The yarn is Lorna's Laces in Mineshaft and the pattern is [I think] called Gentleman's Fancy Socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. It is a very simple rib pattern but creates this fabulous egg-crate texture. Plus, the pattern includes clever calf shaping. I also really enjoy the yarn - I seem to be the only person on the planet who does not fall over sideways using a certain other beloved sock yarn, but I really like Lorna's Laces for my rare sock knitting escapades.

A note on pooling: I was reading Jessica's post on pooling the other day and it occured to me that I seem to be among the few knitters who enjoys pooling in their sock yarn. I'm not sure you can tell from this photo, but this pattern brings out fierce pooling in the Lorna's Laces, which I think looks like a vein running through granite. I find myself watching the colors swirl around the sock and waiting to see if they will line up again in the next row. This pooling sorts itself out in this yarn-pattern combo to become sort of stripey in the lower part of the sock (hopefully my foot model will agree to some shots this weekend).

I really should just finish these things...

This weekend looks like more working but hopefully I will have some time to finish that log cabin pillow and get into the charted section of the mittens.