Midway with Mindful Steps

I cast on these socks in March, did a few rows of ribbing for the cuffs and then left them alone until last Thusday's knit night at The Fiber Universe.  Having just finished my entrelac scarf a few days before, I did not have anything else on the needles.  I have lots of thing I want to start, but I was in a hurry go get going so, I grabbed the socks.  I am glad I did because I am really enjoying them.

The pattern is Mindful Steps available on Knit Picks.  I am using Cascade Yarns Heritage sock yarn.  I love the blue-green color.  I have been buying a lot of things with this color in it lately.  The photo really does not do the color justice.  I really need to sharpen my yarn photography skills.  Maybe I can get my husband to make me a light box.  I can hope.

I am making these socks two-at-a-time.  This is only my second time with this technique and first time on socks (well they are only my second pair of socks).  If you ever plan on making matching round objects, I highly recommend you try this method.  I love it.

I am really enjoying the construction of these socks. There is this fun, little two-stitch cable that really adds interest.  I only have another inch to knit before I start turning the heel.

I have three more projects I want to get started soon.

Sojourn Falls Scarf

 (image Ravelry)

Yoked Cardigan

(images Ravelry)

I am going to make one for me and one for D.

and last but not least

Huggable Hedgehog

 (image Ravelry)

 I have the yarn, pattern and needles to make them.

Which do you think I should make first?

Mindful Steps

Cast on new socks several days ago. The pattern is Mindful Steps from Knit Picks and the yarn is Cascade Heritage Sock Yarn. 

My daughter felt compelled to pose with them.  Sometimes she hates having her picture taken and sometimes she loves it. This is probably one of her best pictures.  She tends to smile too hard and it makes her look like she is in pain, but this is the perfect smile.

I have jury duty this week so I have been away from the internets. I am back at work today, but have to leave work early tomorrow for my jury- the coroner's jury.  So I am only working 2.5 days this week as a librarian and the rest of the time I am doing my civic duty.  I took my socks along to work on while waiting around to do my civic duty, but I barely worked on them at all.  I mostly read.

These socks are not meant to be my main project, but a side project that I can always come to when needed.  It might take me a long time to complete these or not.  It is nice to be knitting without a deadline. 

First Pair

Ever since I learned to knit in the Spring of 2009, my husband has been asking me for to make him socks.  In nearly three years of knitting, I have make lots of things and proudly shown my husband each item.  Most times he would reply with something like, "Those are not socks."  It became a running gag really.

I finished my first ever sock on New Year's day 2012.  It was huge, perfect for my hubby.  I thought I would not make a second one (you know completing a pair, two feet? Gah.) and just move on to other projects, but it kept nagging at me and well, I already had the yarn.  So, this weekend I made it a finished pair.

They don't fit quite right and they are different lengths and tensions.  But as I understand it, that is how most knitter's first socks turn out.  They are everything first socks should be.

I am very happy with them (and so his my husband so no more jokes!!!***) and I do plan on making more socks.  Maybe two at at time?  Or two at a time toe up?  I already have the yarn, needles and pattern.  I just need the time to cast on and get sucked in.

Have you ever made socks? Any pattern or yarn recommendations? Or do you have an annoying joke with your partner?

***he says he wants more socks, ones he can wear out of the house, so maybe that will be the new joke.

Some finished items

I may have knit a bit over my holiday break.

This


became this

I made this cowl for my husband's cousin's wife on the car rides to Iowa and Wisconsin for family gatherings.  I love it and hated to see it go, but I have to start knitting more for others because I already have several scarves and really only one neck.

I made yet another "One Row Scarf".  The pattern in really addictive and easy (great for Doctor Who watching).  I will make more.


This one is without a home.  Maybe I'll do a give-a-way.

I made some dishcloths which I did not photograph.

I started baby knitting.  My hubby has two cousins having babies in March so, I need to start making things.



This is a Baby Kimono by Mason-Dixon Knitting.  I also made a bib to match and will probably make several more. I am making the second kimono now (more on this later). 

I finished my first sock.


It is huge (that is my husband's men's size 14 foot) but that is to be expected since I was knitting on larger needles than the pattern called for and I usually need to go down a size or two.  I still have another one to go to make a pair.  I have to find the other skein I bought.  I started this sock over Labor Day weekend (again in a car ride traveling to Wisconsin) and it was abandoned with I came to the heel and did not understand the directions.  Over break I decided to give it a go once more and I totally understood the directions.  My knitting has really improved over the past few months--I feel bold and ready to try new things.  This is mostly because I found a way to not use DPNs (which I loathed using) and now use magic loop knitting.  This opens up a whole new world to me and my knitting.  2012 will definitely be a year of new and exciting projects.

Sock Knitter

Since I began knitting  a few years ago, I have wanted to knit socks.  Not sure why.  What is the appeal of spending hours and hours on something that you can easily buy in bulk, which would be faster and much cheaper. Did you know that a hand knitted sock pair is made up of  thousands of stitches and sock yarn can cost beaucoup bucks. Still, there is the allure of sock knitting.  It is a compact project so it is easily portable.  There are beautiful sock yarn in tons of alluring colors.  Also, it is a challenge.

To learn to knit I sock, I first had to learn a new method of knitting. I love knitting things in the round.  Usually they are hats.  I had not done anything with a small diameter because I hate knitting with double-pointed needles.  I am just not a fan.  So, I had to learn how to magic loop knit.  It is actually not that hard.  I picked it up right away thanks to this video tutorial from Knittinghelp.com

Knitting help has taught me a lot since I do not have any knitty friends that are more advanced knitters than I am.

With magic look I started my sock and I am pretty far along.  I have just finished my heel flap and about to begin my gussets. 

Here is what my sock looks like now

I started knitting this over Labor Day weekend so it is slow going.  I just have not put a lot of time or effort into it.  Not sure when I will get time or effort, but I'll keep looking.