Marching with a spring in my step

Just in the nick of time, I've finished my March pair of socks for the 2009 Sock Challenge. I used Spring Forward, and a semi-solid yarn from the Natural Dye Studio - Dazzle, in the colourway Violet. I think that the yarn shows off the pattern really well. I adapted the pattern by having one extra stitch at the start of each pattern repeat, so that the 'springy' bit was very slightly wider.

I also finished my Waving not Drowning socks for Mr Josiekitten's cousin. I love the pattern, and hope she will too. She put in a request for some more summery socks after the pair I gave her last Christmas.

I think that I've chosen the pattern for my April socks. I need to tinker about a bit with needle sizes and stitch numbers. Once I'm sure, I'll let you know! In the meantime, I've started another pair of stripy socks for Michele's Dad, and I'm also busy knitting baby things! More about them another time. (The baby things aren't for me, I hasten to add!!)

Is this a sock I see before me?

I was on a course today, and took my Spring Forward sock along to pass the time during breaks. A lady came up to me, and this is how the conversation went:

Lady: Can I ask, what is it you're knitting?

Me: A sock.

Lady: (incredulously) Like, a sock for .................... (hesitating) a person?

Me: As opposed to a sock for..................................?

Lady: A sock for a doll?

Me: It's a sock for me!

Lady: That's so amazing!

I did chuckle to myself, as to how she could possibly mistake a size 9 sock for a doll's sock!! She then proceeded to sit next to me while I knitted. The conversation carried on.

Lady: I don't have time to knit.

Me: Well, (thinking to myself that she has time to watch someone knit) I just fit it into odd moments.

Lady: I can't believe you can talk at the same time as knit.

I just smiled. What more could I say?!

March sock update

I've been storming on with my socks this week, and have managed to finish the first of each pair of socks currently OTN. Both the Waving not Drowning and Spring Forward patterns are fairly simple and easy to memorise. My adaptations to the latter worked a treat, and the sock fits perfectly! Phew! I've cast on their partners and am hoping to get them well underway this week. I haven't got much semi-solid yarn in my stash, as I normally get lured by all the bright colour combinations, but I love how the pattern really shows through so well with the purple yarn. Hmmmm .............. an excuse to stash-enhance perhaps?!

It has been another glorious day here in Norfolk, and Henry Cat (possibly the best grey velvety pussycat in the world ever) was sunbathing.

He is gorgeous, and he knows it! I spotted a bee buzzing around this morning, and also saw my first ladybird of the year. The flowering currant is just about to burst out into bloom too.

I'm looking forward to longer days, and being able to sit outside and knit again in the warmth of the sun. Bliss!

Springing Forward

Spring really has sprung in North Norfolk. I took this photograph this morning while Mr Josiekitten was digging the vegetable plot and planting out the garlic and leeks.

I've started my March sock for my 2009 Sock Challenge. On the Phoenix Knitting Forums, we're having a KAL , making Spring Forward. So I've swapped the yarn I was planning to knit up this month with September's, and have cast on! I read on Ravelry that the socks come out a little on the tight side stretching over the ankle to put them on, so I've increased the needle size to 2.5mm and have also added an extra stitch at the start of each pattern repeat. This makes the plain part that 'springs' up the sock one stitch wider, so shouldn't really notice at all. I'm hoping that they will be roomy enough to put on comfortably, but not too loose! I'm using a yarn from The Natural Dye Studio - Dazzle, in the colourway Violet. It was a birthday present from Snoopydog. I love the subtle colour changes, and think that it will show off the pattern really well.

I'm also making a pair of Waving not Drowning socks for Mr Josiekitten's cousin, Monika. She loved the pair I gave her last Christmas, and has asked for a summery pair, so these are knitted in Regia Cotton Color - a mixture of wool, cotton and nylon. It's a very simple pattern to remember, so these have become my 3rd pair of lunchtime socks. They are growing pretty fast. It's nice knitting smaller socks for a change!

I promised to show you the beads that I bought - well feast your eyes on these! I got them from Beadworks, and my only difficulty was making up my mind which to choose. So, I got all three!

The beads are even more gorgeous in real life, and I can't wait to start experimenting with them!

Latest Sock News

I finished my February Sock Challenge pair last weekend, but have only just got round to posting some photos, as I needed Mr Josiekitten to oblige. I used Colinette Jitterbug in the shade Summer Berries, and the Yarn over Cable pattern from Charlene Schurch's 'Sensational Knitted Socks'. This is a great book, and one that I shall be delving into quite regularly I think. I decided to knit toe-up socks, as reports on Ravelry hinted that the yardage was on the short side. And how true that was, if you have big feet like me! I only just managed to complete the 2nd sock, with about 5cm of yarn to spare. I did 2 less rows of ribbing on the 2nd sock too. Even though I wound the skein into two balls before starting, I guess my digital kitchen scales aren't quite sensitive enough for such small amounts of yarn. However, I'm pretty pleased with them. I've learnt a new technique, having never knitted from the toe up or done short rows before. They seemed to grow more quickly than my usual sock too! If I made the pattern again, I would probably knit the foot slightly shorter, as they are a smidgeon too long. I wasn't quite sure when to start the heel shaping. But they are definitely wearable!

I currently have two other pairs of socks on the needles - I'll post some photos and tell you more about them next time!