Old, New, Onward

I thought maybe I'd have my Socktoberfest socks finished up and ready to show you by today, but alas - no. After finishing Christmas gifts (quite a bit of sashiko embroidery--more on that in another post), I turned my attention to some design projects and paintings. (Yes! New paintings are happening!) But one sock is done past the heel, and I grafted the toe on the other today, so progress is definitely being made:




Pattern: Josephine Socks, by Carol J. Sulcoski
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy, Chinatown Apple
Needles: 2.50mm and 2.25mm

Such a lovely pattern. It's written for two circs but I've adapted it for dpns without any difficulties.

Actually, there's been plenty of knitting going on, just no FOs. I'm about halfway through the second front on Astor, and look forward to zipping through the plain stockinette sleeves:


Pattern: Astor, by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed, held double
Needle: US8

Whenever I have a spare moment, I work on a square for my Seersucker afghan. I always have one with me, to knit while waiting in line, on the stationary bike, odd moments here and there. So far, I've completed 15 squares and have seamed 12. I'm already using it as a lap blanket on my couch and can tell it's going to be one cozy, warm bedcover ...


Pattern: Seersucker, by Margery Winter, from the book Comfort Knitting and Crochet: Afghans
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash Wool; color: Summer Sky Heather
Needle: US5

Despite not finishing the socks, and despite having plenty of projects going (some might say too many), I decided to cast on something new today. Crazy, I know! But to indulge in a cliche, it seemed like a nice way to ring out the old and ring in the new. A sleepy Snickers helped me model the beginnings of my new cowl:


Pattern: Buttermilk Sky Cowl by Bonnie Sennott
Yarn: Berroco Vintage, Color #5105, Oats
Needle: US 6 16-inch circular

When she's sleepy, she's really sleepy ... and when she's alert, she's really alert!



We are stocked up on new peacock feathers and other necessities for the New Year. And as always, I'll be making a vegetarian version of Hoppin' John (black eyed peas and rice), to bring good luck.

Wishing you abundant happiness in 2011!

Hunky Dory Sighting

Jenny just finished up a Hunky Dory scarf, and it came out so beautifully, I have to share it. Seeing something so stunning produced from one of my patterns is really gratifying:


Pattern: Hunky Dory, by Bonnie Sennott
Yarn: Berroco Vintage Chunky in Dried Plum
Needle: US9 circular

I love the plum color she used, maybe even a little better than the black cherry I used for the pattern sample. The plum suits the pattern perfectly and is gorgeous to boot.

Jenny used an alternative method of working the p5togs (which create the "berries"). For me, this maneuver was most easily worked using needles that have pointy tips (Knit Picks Options). But since she didn't have any that fit the bill, she instead used a size C/2.50mm crochet hook. That didn't seem to slow her down at all, as she began swatching on December 18 and finished the scarf today (December 29).

As scarves go, this is one quick knit. I can't wait to see more Hunky Dorys. (Or should that be Dories?)

Soundless as Dots on a Disk of Snow

Icy moments from my lunch hour walk at Mount Holyoke today ...













Happy Winter Solstice!

My Blue Shimmer Winter

Now that I've finished my Blue Shimmer wrist cuffs, the question is: will I ever take them off? I just might be wearing them all winter long.


Pattern: Blue Shimmer Cuffs, designed by Solveig Gustafsson and translated by Susanna Hansson (The Blue Shimmer was originally designed in 1947 by Bohus Stickning designer Anna-Lisa Mannheimer Lunn.)
Yarn: solSilke Bohus angora-merino
Needles: US00 and US0/1.75mm and 2.00mm



They're like little abstract paintings for your wrists. And yet so practical--just right for keeping that space between your gloves and your coat sleeve warm.

I made these from a kit I received in Susanna Hansson's class on Bohus Stickning at Stitches East. If you ever have the chance to take the class, by all means do. It was one of the best I've ever taken. (See this post to read all about Bohus Stickning and Susanna's class.)


Blocking the cuffs over drinking glasses


The floats on the wrong side


A detail shot


The ends

These mitts demonstrated once again the puzzling vagaries of gauge. Same yarn, same number of stitches, same needles, same knitter, and yet: the second mitt is slightly larger than the first. My gauge must have loosened up once I became comfortable with the yarn and pattern. Or is one of my wrists slimmer than the other?

In any case, I'm excited to be wearing them, but sad the project's over. Now I want to knit another Bohus design again soon--something bigger and grander than wrist cuffs. So I've cooked up a plan: my reward for reaching my Weight Watchers goal will be a Bohus sweater kit. With only 12 pounds to go, I'm on the home stretch. This should keep me focused, don't you think?

Which shall it be: Gold/Guld, Red Light/Rött Ljus, Turquoise Light/Turkos Ljus, or The Wild Apple/Vildäpplet? To see them, click on Bohus Stickning at Solveig Gustafsson's site.

It Won't Be Long, Yeah

A few ends to weave in ... and then blocking ... and then, my Blue Shimmer wrist cuffs will be ready to wear:



I fretted now and again while knitting them that there wouldn't be enough yarn. But there wasn't any reason to worry - there's plenty of each color left:



Just for fun, here's my favorite Internet amusement of the week:



Happy Friday!