The First of Three

As I was explaining to Abby of the Knit Knit Cafe, there is a project I want to crochet.  The magazine and pattern have been set aside for me at my LYS.  Then I came face to face with the sheer number of partially-completed knitting projects.  My inner Governess instructed me to complete three projects, using yarn I already have in my home, before I purchase the yarn and magazine.

And now, the first of the three projects is complete:

 Sock Project 1.  

This is the first completed pair of the Sock Project (more to come in another post), meant to teach myself more about sock construction techniques.  Once upon a time many years ago I bought a skein of Trekking XXL intent upon knitting a pair of socks.  I knit a sock.  It was, I thought, just a bit large for my foot.  Nine or so years later, I knit another sock, using the yarn from the original sock as I unraveled it.  And now there are two.  Two socks.  A pair.  For me.

For purposes of the Sock Project, some stats:  Completed September, 2012.  Trekking XXL.  Size 2.25mm dpns (I think).  Top-down.  Long-tail cast on, 68 st.  Rib for 8 rds, then inc 1 st to 69 st.  Cuff to 4 in.  Pattern: Rd 1: P1, *Twist 2, P1;  Rds 2-4: P1, *K2, P1.  Heel Flap w/ slipped stitches.  At Gusset, change pattern to:  Rd 1: P1, *Twist 2, P1;  Rd 2: P1, *K2, P1.  Foot to 7 in.  Toe decreases e/o rd to 32 st, then every rd to 16 st and graft toe.

That change of pattern at the gusset was the result of a brain blip during the first sock.  It makes the foot a bit more snug, which is something I like.  The short cuff is intentional.  These are meant as after-hike socks.  I often get a bit rashy above the ankles by the end of a long hike.  Something to do with the combination of socks, tight boot lacing, long distance and heat.  I imagined a short-cuff set of socks to change into would be ideal for having just enough coverage under a pantleg while giving my troubled skin a chance to breathe.  They're perfect after-hike socks.

And now I have this:

38 grams of this yarn left over from the project.  That's nearly 40% of the original skein, by weight.  I think that means a second set of socks, perhaps with shorter cuffs and a corresponding yarn for toes and heels.

A Lovely Thing

Here is a lovely thing:

It's the Maia shoulderette by Romi Hill.  I made it from a yarn given to me by a former podcast listener of my former podcast, Knitajourney.  The yarn is Pagewood Farm St. Elias sock yarn in the colorway Army Girl, 80/20 BFL/Nylon, 40z, 450 yds.  The skein was just enough to make most of a Maia, leaving off the final few rows of edging.

I knitted this lovely thing on the way to and then from the Pacific Northwest, on a grand road trip to visit friends (hello, friends!), shop for yarn and fiber, and attend Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, OR.  Also, I was in my role as support team to my husband Doug who was on a mission to ride his bicycle across the country.  Mission aborted.  And that resulted in a road trip back to Duluth with Doug sharing the driving, and That resulted in my finishing the Maia just as we were traveling the final 45 miles to our house.

And so, the day after returning home, between loads of laundry and unpacking I was able to take the finished lovely thing out to the garden for a snap.  I've been wearing Maia often, it's just enough to keep the chill from my neck and shoulders as I'm sitting on the front porch knitting or spinning at the end of a long summer day.

Thanks, Romi.