Socks update!

The bit I was dreading most about making socks was the heel. And not so much the actual doing of it, but understanding the pattern.

However, last night, with a certain amount of trepidation I turned both heels. 

I would have left the 2nd sock until the first was finished but for the fact that my 10cm pins werent long enough to actually fit the heel flap stitches onto, so ordered a longer set and put the first sock to 'rest' on an interchangable cable with stoppers.

Extremely pleased that there are still no 'ladders'. So left to do now is the foot of the sock and then to learn kitchener stitch to finish the toes. I'm hoping it wont be too difficult.

 Now need to work out how to split the stitches in the right way over the needles as the pattern only uses 3 and I'm using 4

 2nd sock, yet to have the stitches picked up.

Socks and cowls

I finished my cowl, and it's so bright and warm and just what I needed while the weather remains bitterly cold. Clearly worn out with more than a vest t-shirt!!

Willow cowl

I decided to make a pair of socks as I've never been able to knit on dpns without creating 'ladders' and so far, so good. However the short sock needles I got for my birthday are too short for the amount of stitches I need on a single needle to turn the heel, so will buy some longer ones as well. That said I am a big fan of the short 10cm knitpro needles.

Also with this project I learned with the help of my new book 'Cast on, Bind off' how to do an Estonian cast on which gives a very stretchy edge suitable for socks, hats and sleeves. It's similar to a long tail cast on (using slingshot menthod), but every 2nd stitch you change the direction the yarn winds round the thumb. Not as difficult as it sounds and after a few attempts I seemed to have it completely sussed.

Estonian cast-on

The pattern in the book I'm using calls for Sirdar Country style yarn and I had the exact same colourway of the yarn in my stash. How often does that happen?!!

In non knitted things I have just started with a series of ideas for paintings/collages and this is one of a piece (still needs some additional work) that is currently on the drawing board right now

It's going to be part of something larger and as more work progresses I will show you more...