Season's End

Stephanie wrote:

In an effort to enjoy the remaining days of summer I've been out and about quite a bit. While that means less computer time, it doesn't mean less knitting time.

I've started more than my fair share of new projects. This indistinct blob will one day be a beautiful lace scarf.

This is Colorful Splendor Lace Scarf from HeartStrings.

Shown here in Panda Sox Teal - 80% superwash merino, 20% bamboo. The color is actually more intense and more blue - a hard one to photograph. No, it's not on our website yet - we're working on it.

I've used this yarn before in knitting up the Fiddlehead Sock. It's soft and a bit squishy with nice drape. The bamboo reminds me of the tencel in the Twinkle Toes.

Project update . . . Oak Ribbed Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks - almost a pair.

The second sock is about ready for the heel flap. In case you're curious the yarn is Luster Sox Medium Denim.

There are a couple of interesting details with this pattern.

Back seam - down the leg and continuing through the heel flap. The seam is created with a purl stitch.

A round toe. The original pattern from which this one is written calls for casting off the toe stitches and seaming the toe. Instead of the cast off Nancy Bush has written the pattern with instructions to thread the tail through a tapestry needle and draw the tail through the remaining stitches - just as you would do for a hat or mittens.

I love kitchenering my toe stitches but decided to stick with the pattern and try this method. I'm curious to see if it wears differently than my usual toes.

The pace is picking up as we move into fall. I love it when we head into wool weather but feel a sense of urgency this year as I look at my calendar. I've rearranged and cut things out of my schedule to make it all fit. But no matter how I look at it, it's going to be crazy hectic.

To savor the last of the lazy days of summer I leave you with this.

The JFK Library as seen from across the bay at Castle Island. This picture was taken while Ted Kennedy's body was lying in repose at the Library. If you look closely at the boats, you can see a flag at half-staff.

I have a feeling I'll need the peace and tranquility of Castle Island to carry me through the coming weeks.

Dog Days

Stephanie wrote:

With the dog days upon us it didn't take much to convince to me escape to the beach for a few days. It was hard to think of hitting the road again so soon after returning from Sock Summit, but once there I was glad we had make the trek.

I had completed my last pair of socks on the plane from Portland and had to start a new pair. I wanted something simple but not as mindless as plain stockinette.

While my knitting queue is overflowing with sock patterns to knit, I didn't even look at it. Instead I turned to my sock knitting books. My collection of sock knitting books is quite large - more than most libraries have. After leafing through several of them I grabbed Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush.

Not only does this book contain a wide assortment of patterns, it also has a section on the history of sock knitting and the importance of Weldon's Practical Needlework. Weldon's was a leaflet published in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was devoted to many forms of needlework including knitting. Nancy took several sock patterns from Weldon's and reinterpreted them for today's knitter.

I debated which pattern to knit and finally settled on this.

The Oak Ribbed Sock - a simple ribbed pattern with just enough variety to keep me interested.

The yarn is Luster Sox Medium Denim. Luster Sox is 100% Bluefaced Leicester, a fiber that has been getting more attention (if you don't want to read the whole report, scroll down to the paragraph next to the orange skein). I always enjoy working with this yarn - nice twist, great stitch definition, interesting color variation.

This sock accompanied me during our days at the beach. The five minute walk to the beach was colorful.

Hydrangea.

Rocks. The three smallest rocks look like claws peeking out from beneath the largest rock.

Sand and water, of course.

And a splash of bright color.

I came back from the beach refreshed, full of ideas for new projects and eager for the first crisp days of fall.