Phew! I did it.

Well, after many, many attempts I finally got the knotted wad in the yarn. :-)

I can continue now

I made a beginner mistake.  Of course, I am a beginner so I don't feel too bad. I just started using yarn straight out of the skein.  I didn't make a ball first.  The yarn got a HUGE knot in it about 3/4 of the way through.  It was bad because I had so much on the needles I didn't want to frog it.  So I had to undo the partial ball that I had already started.  It took at least 3 weekends of frustration to finally get it undone.

I must admit, I am very excited now to keep on working on the sock.  Of course, I have learned my lesson the hard way but i do feel proud of getting it fixed. There were many times I wanted to just grab some scissors, cut out the yarn, and restart.

Onward and upward.:-)

 

Flap and Turn

After finishing up the leg, I worked on the heel flap. I must admit I worked on it during a meeting at school. I don't see how my knitting is any different from everyone texting back and forth.
The sock has the standard Slip 1 knit 1 pattern for the flap.  This was on Friday morning. The pattern was for 20 rows. This gave me 10 large stitches on the side that I can pick up for the gussets.

Today, I began the heel turn. It was pretty simple but you have to pay careful attention.   Row One we knitted 12 stitches in (out of a total of 20) and then started the short rows.



After this, I then piced up through the back loops to create my gussets. I hope it works. I have 52 stitches just like the book says. So that is at least a good thing.  I don't know if I will finish by the closing ceremonies though.  I am going on trip and will be in the car for 2 hours so hopefully this will help.

This is my favorite view!!

Go Team!!

I am continuing to work on my socks for the 2012 Ravellenic Games. Currently I am getting ready for the heel flap.  I have finished the leg part.  I counted 25 rows from the cuff to where I have stopped.  I am not sure if this is the length I want.
Pros:

• It is the same length as the socks that I wear now
• I can get finished quicker
• I am getting a little bored with the stockinette stitch

Cons:

• They seem quite a bit shorter than those in the book
• I don't want to regret making them too short.
• I can use more stash if I make them longer

can you tell which is handmade?

I am excited about starting the second part of the sock.  I am trying to make notes on everything because I don't want to have the second sock look different.

I deliberately tried to make it look like the picture.

Training for the Ravelompics

Well, I have decided to try and participate in the Ravelompics 2012. 

The pattern I am going to do is the Basic Socks in the book Getting Started Knitting Socks.

Team Tribute is the group I am going to be knitting for.  Since I love the Hunger Games, I thought it would be great.

Because I am doing these socks as a present and using some old yarn, this projects can be counted under:

• Synchronized Stash Busting
• Holiday Hurdles
• Sock Put

According to the rules, I can't cast on for the project until the Opening Ceremonies of the Games.  However, I can knit a gauge to make sure the yarn and needles are the right size.

I am using the Bernat Cot'n Corn in Avocado and the current gauge is

4 knit and 41/2 purl stitches to the inch on size 7 needles.  There are approximately 6 knit and 7 purl rows to the inch as well.

UFO's and EZ

History lesson: According to EZ the reason that right-handed knitting is called American or English, is that the needles were so long that the right one’s end had to be tucked into a belt.  The pointed ends of both were held in the left hand. This left the right hand free to move the wool.

She also talks about having governesses who helped to teach her the “Continental” way of knitting.
I didn’t even know there was such a thing as “looking-glass” or “backward” knitting.

Favorite quote: ” Things are not perfect, and we wouldn’t appreciate it if they were.”  (Zimmerman, 1995)
I have decided to try and finish this pair of socks by the end of June.  These are one of the UFO's I need to finish.

I was trying to show the heel

Second sock syndrome

I am not sure what I will be focusing on for this blog. Socks or book?  Probably a little bit of both.

I stand corrected..

I looked in the Index of the book and found Jacquard Stockinette Stitch on p.32 on the book. This is what it said- "Follow the chart, twisting yarns together at each color change. After the last row, beg again with the 1st row."

Fortunately, since I am using all black, it isn't a problem.

Now onto the regular pattern.  After finishing the sole, I cast on 31 stitches and worked in stockinette stitch for 6 row.  Then is says "Cut the yarn. Put the 13 stitches at either end on the spare needles, and continue working only on the 5 stitches in the center to make the upper part of the bootie sock.  Yikes!!
Cut the yarn!! How to I work the stitches in the center if I have cut the yarn.  I will have to ask one of the people at the Yarning group in Jonesborough.