And now for something completely different

Spring Forward is gone. I made it past the guesset and had to come to terms with the fact that it was a pain and a half to fit over my heel. Oh well. I decided to try something different with the yarn. A new technique! I found Silver’s Sock Class on knitting toe-up socks on two circular needles and away I went. I decided to add a little 2×2 ribbing for interest. Nothing too exciting, but I like socks on two circs way more than magic loop. Much less fiddly. Still not sure it’s enough to abandon my beloved dpns, but it’s fun using a new method.

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First Down

Zombie Socks

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Pattern: Zombie Socks (links to Ravelry project page)

Yarn: Wollmeise Sockenwolle in Poison Nr. 5 dunkel

Needles: US 0/2.0mm

Start Date: June 21, 2008

End Date: July 4, 200

Comments: This pair is my first completed pair for Summer of Socks 2008. I was knitting down to the wire to make the first two week cut off, but I got mine posted with an hour to spare.

The Zombie Socks pattern was fantastic. I did modify it by adding one extra repeat and I did not do a purl edged heel flap. The pattern involves dropping stitches which is always fun to do intentionally and the Wollmeise is just a dream to knit. The yarn has a stiffness while you knit it that just makes it so pleasant, even when knitting nearly black yarn in the evening. I’m glad I have a couple more skeins in ye olde yarn stash.

I would absolutely knit this pattern again and I have plans to before the Summer of Socks 2008 is over. But first I want to finish up my plain vanilla socks (that caused me so much trouble when I put the heel stitches in the wrong place) and for some reason I have the urge to knit burp cloths (Cori’s becoming an excellent spitter upper as she is starting to teethe). Oh, and I cast on another pair of socks, Spring Forward using Socks that Rock in Little Bunny Foo Foo.

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A surprise and a zombie

Saturday I went out to get the mail and was surprised to see a package from my friend Jen. I opened it up immediately and was thrilled to find a skein of Socks that Rock in the much coveted colorway, Dragon Dance! In addition, there was a lovely note from Jen, two ballband dishclothes (perfect for baby goo!), and a Hello Kitty thermometer. Wow! Thank you so much, Jen!

There has been knitting going on too. In spite of the 100 degree days we had this weekend I spent some time working with my wooly Zombie sock. I am happy to report I finished the first one and I still remember how to kitchener stitch (it had been a while…). 🙂 I absolutely love this sock! The yarn and pattern are just perfect. Now I know what all the fuss is about when it comes to Wollmeise. It isn’t just the fantastic colors, the yarn itself is a dream to knit with. Kind of like a more substantial Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock.

I am hoping to finish the pair of Zombies in time to make the first two week cut-off for the Summer of Socks 2008 drawing. Wish me luck!

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Summer of Socks 2008

Summer of Socks 2008 officially began this past Saturday. For those of you who don’t know, Summer of Socks (SOS) is a summer long knit-along for socks to celebrate summer while preparing for winter. The festivities include prizes for different sock events like most socks knitted or random drawings for completed socks in two week periods. I will not even be trying for most socks knitted, but I am going to try to complete at least one pair every two weeks to go in for those prize drawings. I spent Friday winding the yarn I plan on knitting for SOS (Pictured above. From the left, clockwise: Socks that Rock (STR) Torridon, Yarn Chef Minestrone In the Pond, STR Foo Foo, Lorna’s Laces Simply Socks, STR Little Bunny Foo Foo, sKnitches Rugby, Wollmeise Poison Nr. 5 dunkel).

I cast on for two different pairs on Saturday. My first pair is my concentration pair. These are the socks that take a little bit more focus. I chose the Zombie pattern and my Wollmeise Poison Nr. 5 dunkel. I hadn’t knit with Wollmeise before, but now I know what all the fuss is about. Wow! What a nice spin and stitch definition! I knew I had to pick a dark yarn for these socks (who ever heard of a light happy Zombie?) and I am so glad the yarn and pattern are working so well together. The only drawback to this pairing is that I cannot work on these at night. I do not have a lamp close by in the living room and my eyes just can’t cope with the little black stitches in low light.

The second pair of socks I cast on for on Saturday are a plain vanilla sock using another first time yarn, sKnitches Syncopation in the Rugby color. Another winner! This yarn has a nice texture and the colors are so much fun. I love doing simple toe-up socks with self-striping yarn. It’s perfect knitting for while watching TV or chatting at knitting group.

I started these socks using my new Knit Picks Harmony double point needles, but after a little while I had to switch out to the Knit Picks nickel plated double points. I really do not like the points on the Harmony needles. Bummer. I bought the whole set of sock needles as I had heard good things, but I don’t know if I’ll ever use them. I think they will end up on my destash page on Ravelry. Oh well.

Anyone else joining in the Summer of Socks?

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