Happy New Year to all!

I finished up 2009 by knitting up a pair of socks done in Briggs & Little Durasport, a blend of 80% wool & 20% nylon. The colour is a most beautiful shade of a dark green & an ivory colour for contrasting toes, heels, & some stripes.

I started these socks with the intention of doing them the Queen Kahuna way (Crazy Toes & Heels fame) then changed to a pattern from 'Folk Socks' by Nancy Bush then to inspiration from 'Simple Socks' by Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts.

This means I did them toe up with the cast on by Mary Ann Beattie (aka Queen Kahuna), did the increases (incorrectly) then as I was knitting up the foot I was side tracked by 'Simple Socks' (which I was reading while I was knitting) before I did the heel.

'Simple Socks' is a book I got in 2009, I think, and since it was still early in my sock knitting learning curve when I got it, I put it away to concentrate on 'Crazy Toes & Heels' by Mary Ann Beattie.

Anyway, the idea of trying a short row heel interested me & I thought I would give it a try on these. So I did & the first one wasn't so great, so I tried again on the second sock (because I do 2 at a time) & it really pleased me. So then I went back to the first sock, took out the heel & did it over. This time it was good. I like this method - even if just for a change, but I wanted to learn something new.

I don't like doing things the same way all of the time - I need variety in everything. I started with Knit Picks circulars in 2.25mm & when I got to the heel I did one on circs & the other with dpn's.

As I was knitting, I was also reading the socknitter's list where someone introduced me to the 'Fibronacci sequence'. This is a method of planning pleasing stripes. Since I had planned on putting a stripe of ivory near the top of the cuff, I decided to include Fibonacci sequence stripes.

I'm going to wear them today!!!

Warren's Quoddy Blue V Neck Cardie

Here it is finished. I got a 22'' zipper & sewed it in by hand today. It looks really very nice on Warren & I am sure he will appreciate it next winter when I try & keep the price of heating this place under control with the thermostat set at 68. It is 100% wool & I expect it to live up to its warm reputation.

My Hubby's Blue Sweater

I recently had some time out for redecorating a bedroom which really took quite a bit of time away from gardening & knitting, but the room is done & looks wonderful & fresh.

At this point in the life of my husband's sweater, I am about to attach the third ball of yarn. Each one is 113 grams. I am now working my way down the body. 

One of the things I seem to be doing wrong is picking up an extra stitch between 2 stitches & then discovering it later when I spot a hole in the work.

This is a 'Cabin Fever' method with long sleeves & a V neck. I am not using buttons, but sewing in a zipper.

Last Installment on Blue Sweater

Okay the sleeves are done. The zipper has been sewn in by hand & I have done a line of special treatment on the back of the neckline that should prevent it from being stretched out.

I just have to remember this is strictly a hand wash & air dry sweater.

I wanted something very warm for our cold, drafty wintertime house. This should do the trick. Although I could use an ivory coloured one.

Sweater Progress

Here is the progress on my cardigan. It is about 8 1/2" from the top of the neck ribbing & I am into my second skein of wool. My swatch did not work out to my hopes & since I did not want to go down another size in the needles so I decided to use the smallest size in the pattern. (My stitch count on the swatch did not have enough stitches in the 4" measurement.) Hopefully the size difference should compensate. 

I am not doing buttonholes, but instead a zipper. I am using a 4mm circular needle from my Denise set.