Projects Completed

I completely finished the first sock, although the kitchener stitch didn't work as well as I had hoped. During playoff weekend, I kicked ass on the second sock and I'm already working the heel flap! Yester-afternoon I took the time to finish crocheting Jordan's scarf (first scarf I've crocheted!) and I WILL post photos of that, because I took them! The best part of that was when I laid it out on the table to take pics of, Jor walked in and said, "That looks COOL!!!" which made me really really happy. So I gave it to him and although it's a little thin, it used up all the army yarn and looks good. Plus it's nice and long so it's not overbearing or going to smother him.

Also, after trying about 3 different patterns for Daisy's scarf, none of which worked, I'm making my own. I tried putting a diamond on end, using purl stitches and it looks okay-- not great, but okay. I decided to knit the rest in garter to get that textured feel. The yarn looks really nice with the ridges it creates.

So for now, I'm working on the second sock and Daisy's scarf. I'm going to start looking up patterns to knit up some of my stash so as to (a) save $$$ and (b) use 'em up before I go to New Zealand so I have less to pack and an excuse to buy more yarn. I also want to find some crochet patterns so I can learn to crochet things that don't involve single crochet through the back loop. But I can do that til the day is done, baby!!!

So Close!!!

Well I'm almost done with my first sock... about half an inch more and I'll be down to the toes and the dreaded Kitchener stitch. Ah!!! Once I finish the first sock, I will be faced with a dilemma-- to start the second one immediately or to first work on a scarf for Papa Steve's lady friend, the Daze. I found a beautiful pattern which I will put up here later and yesterday I bought some pretty "homespun" red yarn. Hopefully the fuzzy softness will not mess up the holes in the design pattern thingy... I should probably go ahead with the second sock so that it gets done... Meh... We'll see. Coffee time!

Ripping Out my Stitches (and my hair)

So after mostly finishing the heel flap, I measured it and it was about 3 inches instead of 2 and a half. I ripped our a couple of rows and got it to about 2 and a half. Then I turned the heel!!! And it looked AWESOME!!! Then, as I was picking up the stitches for the heel gusset, I realized that by decreasing the rows I had completely messed with the pattern. I was already confused enough about picking up stitches, so I decided to back, rip out the picking up of stitches AND the heel turning. So now I have to re-knit the rows I ripped out in the first place, redo the heel turning, and then somehow manage to figure out how to pick up the stitches for the heel gusset. Despite the set back, it's going well. I just hate ripping out stitches, but oh well!!!

Done with the Easy Part... Hurray?

Well, I've finished the ribbing and the sock leg and it looks adorable so far. Now I'm on to the difficult parts. I've already hit a snag, as I've never dealt with slipping knitwise or purlwise and the whole thing has me absolutely confused. From what I've picked up at various websites, I just stick the needle in "as if to purl" but then I DON'T purl-- I just put the stitch on the other needle... something about this seems off. Maybe it's just the way I hold my needles or something, but it seems that if I slip a stitch it will look the same, whether I stick the needle in the front or the back. I guess I'll just have to experiment and guess. I think it has something to do with the yarn being in the front or the back. Meh... Hopefully I'll figure it out tonight...

Ribbing and Leg

Well I have the cuff at the top done and I'm starting in on the leg. I am amazed that I got the whole knitting in the round with dpns down!!! It really isn't that hard at all. I'm glad I waited awhile though and got down the basic knitting skills first... Now I'm just worried about the hard parts of the sock... heh...