FO and Some Fun

The Ode to Cristi toe up socks are finished. Pause while I eat some more words. I had some interesting discoveries with these.
You can do a heel flap heel in a toe up sock. The directions for this came from Wendy Johnson's Seaweed Sock pattern. It is easy to do (well written instructions) but the flap is a bit short. I will think about that some.
The sock on the left was the first to be started and I was using the pattern in Wendy's Seaweed, but I couldn't really see it in this yarn. Sometimes it works best just to go with plain stockinette. Doing so did not hurt the impact of this design and it sure made them more portable. I wear so many clogs that a plain foot is often preferable.
I finished these in Canada. You need to know that because of the cuff design. I didn't want to knit a stockinette cuff--too boring, so I decided to knit a design I have used before on an unreleased sock pattern. Surely I could remember it. Yeah, well.

I fiddled and messed up and kept knitting and then looked down and liked what I saw. It isn't what I intended, but is something I like. I am still playing with this 10 st design, because it can be even better. I'll let you know when I've finished swatching and then you can try it.

Major discovery: If I knit toe up, I can save the best for last. The cuff is always the most interesting part for me. Now, if I can just find my perfect heel.

Yarn: Schachenmayr Nomotta Regia Bamboo Color, 2 skeins
Needle: Size 0, 32" Magic Loop technique

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Another new design rattling around in my head is this.This is a building in Toronto and the picture was taken through the bus window. Look at the pinkish building. It's a sweater--even has a V-neck. The windows can all be the same contrasting color, or multi colored, or ascending tints of the same color. I used to take lots of vacation pictures of architectural features that could be quilted; now it's buildings to knit.

Seaworthy Capelet--I love it!

Even thought I designed it, I'm still going to scream how much I love this. Remi gave me the new Fibra Natura yarn Sea Song and asked what I would make from it. Many missteps later, this is it.

Love the drape of this yarn. It's made of 80% cotton and 20% Seacell (Kelp fiber).

DD#2, Meghan, posed for this. I promised I'd cut her face off. Naw. It's too pretty, even without makeup.

Total project took 4 balls at $8.00 a ball. It's a bargain.

The pattern will be available shortly.

What about this?

This is a tank designed by Ann Budd and free on the Interweave Knits site. I looked at all the projects on Ravelry. Lots of disatified folks; most found they knit it too large. They also used a soft spun cotton like Blue Sky Organic Cotton and it knits big and has no memory. I'm thinking something like Cascade Fixation with that bit of elastic to give it memory. Maybe a cabled cotton yarn.

Kate B. has a sewing pattern with this pointed front and it is very flattering. The trick is to keep the point shorter than the sweater above. Several people wound up with the point in a very risque position. The bias knitting also can round the belly and make you look pregnant. So why am I even considering this?

I think you could shape the waist area by knitting that section in a needle about two sizes smaller. I don't want an extreme shape, just to control the shape and skim the body. I also think a DK weight would look better on me. I do like the striped yarns with it. It would be possible to knit it to fit the sewing pattern and use a drapey stitch pattern instead of the bias knit.

Like I said, I'm just thinking about it. Any advice?

UFO report
Central Park Hoodie is at present a vest with no hood. I have bought a zipper and will decide about sleeves after I try it on with the zipper. I'm sure the hood is a non-starter.

Nova yarn lace socks are at a stand still.

I'm playing with Noro Sock Yarn and I think I'm making hand warmers. Only a few more rows before I have to commit to those over socks.

I have some seacell yarn from the shop and have designed a summer lacy capelet. It's about half finished and will go to Remi at Charlotte Yarn for a shop sample. The pattern is my property, and I will offer a class on it. It's a fun thing to wear and I've deliberately chosen some fun lace and stitch patterns which I will enjoy teaching.

A Finished Object!
I've finished the baby faux cable socks for DH. I'll post picks here and on Ravelry later. They aren't on this computer and the home network Davey and Dani created for me isn't working. We'll fix it later. They are working with an adventurous computer user who has large, significant holes in her knowledge.

Fair Isle Sock swatching

Last year at the Colorado Knitting Camp, Candace Eisner-Strick taught a lovely three day workshop on fair isle techniques. It was wonderful. Candace is a tremendous teacher with the ability to allow students to go separate routes from what she planned for class. Why do I love that in a teacher? Well, if you know me, . . .

The owner/manager of Brown Sheep Yarns was one of the students and Peggy is a phemon. She even brought yarn to share--All colors of the NatureSpun sport weight and all colors of Cotton Fine, the baby brother of Cotton Fleece which I love. The Westerners and Mid-westerners just lapped up all the wool we had and knitted away. Over in the corner sat the lone Southerner just a knittin' that cotton, and praising it's characteristics. At the end of the workshop, Peggy gave me all of the Cotton Fleece she had brought---over 50 skeins, each in a different color. I'm still speechless.

The campers will be taking a bus trip from Ft. Collins to the Brown Sheep Factory this year, and I wanted to show my appreciation to Peggy. I am attempting to design some fair isle sock patterns to give her. These pics are my swatch attempt. I'm testing the different patterns in a short sock so that I can do some washing and wearing tests as well.

Just thought you'd like a look at one designer's slow process of design. Gee, I wish I could do some of this on paper or computer, but it just doesn't work for me.

In the mean time, check out Cotton Fine in you LYS. It knits lace beautifully and I'm far from the first to use it for socks.