Ply and Burl

The Embossed Leaves Socks are finished! I made these in Knit Picks Essential in Grass on size 1 needles.

A few notes:

• The pattern called for #2 needles, but I felt that the socks were looking too big and dropped to #1 needles. BAD IDEA. These socks are tiny. When in doubt, go with the larger needles.

• As I mentioned before, the toe is very elegant, with its implied swirling decreases. The cinched stiches at the end are invisible, and they don’t rub against your toes.

• This is a fairly simple pattern — if you pay attention at first, it becomes pretty easy to memorize.

• The yarn turned out to work really well, with a nice bloom, but it tended to be a little splity.

In other news, Yarn-a-go-go got a Uke! Lucky gal. Here’s the object of my musical lustings (aside from a big hug and private concert from Elvis Perkins):

A Banjo Uke! Sweet instrument of my heart. Got one you want to sell?

When you take a funky picture with too much contrast and lots of dark spots, don’t despair. Just go all dark and Goya on it and no one will ever know it wasn’t intentional.

But enough about photography… the first Embossed Leaves sock is done! I’m knitting it with Knit Picks’ Essential. I like this yarn, most of the time. As you knit, it blooms a soft halo which adds nicely to the texture. However, I found that the plies tend to separate, and woe to she who loses one of the teeny tiny stitches: prepare to spend forever trying to recover all the strands.

Sock number 2 is already in the works!

A note: The toe on this sock is really beautiful. I often find sock patterns where the toe tapers gradually and then suddenly ends, making it look all squared off and geometric — not something very desirable in a nice, soft sock. The taper in the toe of this pattern is not only pretty to look at, but comes out very nicely rounded. Best of all is the finishing: no kitchener stitch to be found! Just thread the yarn through the last eight stiches, tighten and you’re done!

What perfect timing. Right in midstream with the Embossed Leaves Socks and what do I find but the very informal Green Sock Knitalong hosted by Lolly and Maritza. The logo is fantastic, so I really had no choice but to jump in.

Interested? Just save the button to your own server, add it to your blog, cast on in green and you’re off!

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to get a good shot of these socks. The detail of the leaves pattern is hard to capture. So I’m just showing the tiniest smidge. I promise, once I can model them the photo will be grand!

So much progress!

I’ve nearly finished my Sunrise Circle Jacket. All the panels are knitted, all the ends are woven in. Now all I have left is to block and assemble, a prospect I’m terrified of. Even Knitty’s article on seaming has a caveat from the author about how much she dislikes assembling, and how little she actually knows about it. How comforting! All this work, and I could destroy it with a few stray pokes of the needle.

On the upside, I bought some beautiful buttons for it while visiting Dad in Boulder. Behold:

In other news, I finally finished the only item I’ve ever knit for my dad — a pair of house socks to keep his toes warm in the winter. Apparently he has cold toes, a problem I never knew about, considering he’s always cruising around barefoot. I made him the Log Cabin Socks from Handknit Holidays (a most fabulous book, if for nothing but the photography) with some gorgeous Cleckheaton Merino Supreme yarn from Knitting Etc.. It’s the softest, yummiest stuff around. Here’s a pic from the book (my own forthcoming):

It has been months and months that these two have been the only projects on my needles. Which is why, now that I’ve (nearly) finished them both, I am chomping at the bit to get rolling with the other projects that have been a patiently standing by.

First up is a pair of Embossed Leaves Socks from IK Winter 2005 made with Knit Picks Essential in Grass (lovely color!) — this will be my first time working with their yarn and I’m excited to see how it goes.

Next (most likely simultaenously, despite my being a largely monogomous knitter) is the Tilted Jacket from IK Winter 2004. I can’t wait to make this. I’ve been waiting years!

Stay tuned for notes on the progress!