Silky Goodness with a Side of Sock and Shawl

I have been spinning some Tussah silk from Castle Fibers that I got at my LYS.  I have found that I really like spinning it.  I will admit that it intimidated me a little but it was not as difficult as I thought.  I have two ounces and I can't wait to see how many yards I will get from it.  This is about a half an ounce.

I started this sock this week and I am just not sure if I like it or not.  I think I will knit a little further and decide then.  

I have been working on the Seas Shawl.  I won't be able to finish it before the end of the month to get it in the drawing for the 10 Shawls in 2010.  So far it looks pretty good.

Coriolis.....

or why I think Cat Bordhi is a genius?  Those were the choices for the title of this post.  Once again, I have knit a pair of socks using the New Pathways for Sock Knitters.  I knit these socks toe up using the Coriolis master pattern.  I also discovered that I enjoy toe up socks when you have the "toe" that you really like.  I used the Pontoon toe and it was very easy for me to accomplish.  I also was able to do a "heel flap" heel.
Some of the pluses for doing toe ups for me was not having to sew the toe together at the end (which I really don't mind but I don't always like the points on the ends of my toes), no picking up the gusset stitches (I pretty much always mess this up and have to do it over at least once),  and that it was easier to try it on as I was working on them.  I think I will be knitting more toe up socks and trying other pathways in the book.  I would like to try knitting a pair for someone else using their numbers.

Summer Melons Coriolis Socks
Started May 11, 2010
Finished May 17, 2010
Needles KnitPicks Options DPN's size 3's
Yarn 220 yards of 3 ply handspun from a Gale's Art Corridale Sibling in the Summer Melons colorway.

Little Buddy Saves Socky Saturday

There has been very little sock knitting around here this year.  It hasn't been for lack of trying just a lot of "when knitting attacks".  I have finally finished my first pair of socks of the year.  I finished these last Sunday during my very quiet Mother's Day (since DH had to work).  


Pattern: Charade
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Handpainted Sock Yarn
Needles: Harmony DPN's size 0
Started: April 4, 2010
Finished: May 9, 2010

Here is my current sock project.  I started these on May 11, 2010.  I finished the bind off on the first sock this morning and I am almost up to the increases for the gusset on the second one.  It is amazing how fast socks work up on 46 stitches.  I might actually finish a pair in less than a week.

When I was outside taking the picture for my current sock project my needle fell under the porch.  I didn't really like the idea of having to wiggle under there to get the needle out.

Luckily, I have a Little Buddy who was more than happy to wiggle under there to get it for me.  Thank Little Buddy, Mommy really appreciates it.

Aaaahhhh Handspun

I have been listening to old episodes of Stitch It from when Meghan went to SOAR in 2008.  She was kind enough to pass on the knowledge that she learned in class to her listeners.




I learned how important predrafting was by listening to the episodes.  By predrafting I was able to spin the singles much more consistently.

I think this is one of the most "balanced" yarns I have spun to date.  There are very few spots of thick and thin in this hank.  I have 220 yards of a sport to heavy fingering weight here.  I think I might have enough for a pair of socks since I can get a pair of socks out of one hank of sport weight usually.

I needed a new shawl project for 10 Shawls in 2010, so I cast on the Seas Shawl out of my Sea Dream handspun.    Hoping to finish before the end of the month.

A Red Phase???

I started the Sock Knitters Anonymous May June Mystery Sock yesterday.  This pattern was designed by Cookie A.  I really like her designs even though I have only knit Monkeys so far.  I am using some Happy Feet yarn from my stash.  I have the first sock cuff done.  I am not sure if I will wait and cast on the second sock after the clues are all out or go ahead and knit the second sock up to the end of the first clue.

I have a tendency (if I really like the teacher) to knit something for them before the end of the year.  So far I have knit for all of them up to this point.  I had a hard time thinking of something to knit for Punkin's teacher.  She has very narrow feet and I thought socks might not fit very well unless I could try them on her.  She isn't really a "scarf" or "shawl" kind of person either.  My neighbor who lives across the street from the school thought mitten might be good.  These are the Pop Top Mitts that I knit for her.  They will go live with her tomorrow.