Double Rainbow, oh my god!!!*

I finished these a while ago, just haven't been in the blogging mood recently. . .

Pattern: Rainbow Socks by Susanne Kitzmann
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight, color Rock Star
Needles: size US 1.5 and 1
Modifications: I knit 4 short row sections for the foot, then knit 3 rounds even. Switched to size 1 needles and knit 1 round, then followed toe instructions.



These socks were a lot of fun to knit and very quick. It's a great pattern for crazy loud variegated sock yarn.

The pattern's directions for doing short rows is different from the way I have usually done them, so I was a little confused at first. But it was cool to try something new.

*sorry, I couldn't resist

Rainbow Brite

Here's a closer view of finished Sock number one of my Rainbow socks. Who knew that short rows could be so much fun?

(I know, how rude of me to show my chipped toenail polish! PS - I haven't shaved my legs in a couple of weeks either, ha!)

The Battle of Cardigan

My Ginny cardigan is finally finished, after a bit of a struggle.

First I had to block the crap out of it to get the "ridge pattern" stitches at the waist and shoulders to lie flat:



Once again I will declare my love for my blocking board.

Then after I had all the pieces sewn together, I realized I should have added short rows at the bust. The cardigan looked okay when I left it unbuttoned, but looked funny and too short in the front when buttoned. I wanted to button it. What to do? Add those f-ing short rows in kind of like an afterthought heel, I decided. Yikes!!! It took me a couple of nerve-wracking tries but I managed to make it work. Maybe if I feel like it I'll write a post about what I did. However, I advise everyone to add short rows as you are knitting the front like a sensible person would do.

Despite my trials and tribulations, I love this sweater and can't wait to wear it next fall!



Pattern: Ginny by Kim Hargreaves from Thrown Together
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed in Paisley
Needles: size 4 and size 1.5 Knitpicks metal
Modifications: Knit size 34 above waist and sleeves and 36 waist and hips. Made sleeves about 1" shorter. Added short rows at the bust.

I have to agree with other people who have made this, the torso is kind of short. Fortunately, so I am. If you are not leprechaun or fairy-sized, I recommend lengthening the body.

Here's a detail of the lovely distressed horn buttons I found at MJ Trim:

Tweed Madness

I had a touch of the Tweed Madness about a month ago, which resulted in my purchasing some pink and red tweed yarn:


Some Rowan Felted Tweed and Rowan Scottish Tweed 4ply.

I'm using the Felted Tweed for a cardigan, it's Ginny by Kim Hargreaves.


This is the back. I have one front finished as well, and now I have stalled out on the second front part. . .My tweed madness needs to return if I want to get this all done in time to wear this season!

Not for kittens!!

I started my Garden Gate socks a while ago, but found that they are very difficult to knit when there are two kittens nearby, since two tempting balls of yarn are involved. My solution was to go on vacation to the opposite side of the country from the kittens, find a comfortable spot in a crazy old beach house with way too many doors, and then knit away.

Unfortunately I still have a lot to knit on these socks, so I'll have to figure out something else now that I'm home.

In progress

The brilliant Garden Gate from Knitty:



I'm using Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn in Petal Shower and Socks that Rock Lightweight in Rauen. Size 1 bamboo dpns.

Basking in the glow of an Outer Sunset sunset

The start of a Snicket sock.

I'm knitting this with Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn, which I think is, well, dreamy. The color is almost too sweet for me. . .