Signature Cables and Twists Sock: Available for Purchase

Now available at Patternfish - the Signature Cables and Twists Sock.

You'll notice that the left and the right socks differ. This is starting to become a bit of a thing with me - odd socks. Because really - who says they need to be exactly the same?


They're worked top-down, in a 4-ply sock yarn (28 sts/4 inches). Suitable for intermediate sock knitters.

Contest! Copy of Joy of Sox!

I have an extra copy of The Joy of Sox. I want to give it away.

After my stunning performance at the Stitch and Pitch - would it be possible to look more bored? - I want to hear your stories about knitting in public.

Please leave a comment or email me (email address on the right hand side of this page... ) with your best knitting in public story. Best/most amusing/most embarrassing knitting in public story wins the book. 2 runners-up will get a selection of my sock patterns.

If you enter, you agree to let me publish the story here - so consider the embarrassment level. Entry deadline: midnight EDT September 4th. My good friend, marketing goddess and shameless knitter-in-public, MMJ (on Ravelry, on Twitter) will help me judge.

Knitting in Public: Stitch & Pitch 2009

Apparently, there was a baseball game on.

Me, I was knitting.

Hilarious photo courtesy of Stashaholic.

New Books!

It's cool enough to get free knitting books in the mail - but then when you discover that you're in them...

These two arrived this week. The Joy of Sox is a rather tongue in cheek twist to sock knitting...


My contribution is the Peek-a-boo Pedicure sock. An improvement on some popular pedicure socks in that they have a little thong, so they actually stay in place.


And then there's "It's in the Bag", a book on travel knitting. The idea behind this book is projects that are suitable for travel - both in terms of portability, but also results that are travel-friendly.


My European Tour set has everything you need for a trip around Europe - a jaunty scarf, because you need a scarf to fit in; a vest/tank top for the all-important layering; and a pair of ankle socks for keeping your feet warm on the plane.



It's in the Bag features my giant-green-plastic-cable-needle-in-the-cleavage-at-Heathrow anecdote. All I'm going to say is that it did explain the very funny look I got from the passport inspector.

Both books have some fun projects - have a look next time you're browsing in your favourite book source.

Update on Shrug Rant & Garter

One commenter tells me that she likes the garter front edge on the shrug.

Perhaps that's the bit I'm missing - that people like how it looks. Do you agree?

I like garter stitch, don't get me wrong. My complaint here is that it seemed out of place when the upper and lower edges were ribbed. If the garter edge is good, then it would have looked better, IMHO, if all the edgings were in garter. Keep it harmonious?

No?

Pet Peeve - Garter vs. Ribbing for Front Edges

I was going to blog about something else, but then I tripped across this... Mind if I rant and rave for a minute?

(I'm usually fairly polite and reasonable, so I hope you won't hold this one lapse against me.)

I keep seeing this pattern. The Knitting Pure and Simple Bulky Shrug.

This drives me mad for a couple of reasons...

I have something that looks very much like this in my pattern repertoire. (As do others, I'm not claiming it's such an innovative idea).

but more to the point... I think that it has a fairly serious design flaw.

Now, this is absolutely not intended to be a personal attack on the designer or the publisher or anyone (or indeed the other designers who have created something similar).

But come on -- a garter edge at the fronts, when the upper and lower edges are ribbing? Ick.

How hard is it to work the front edges in ribbing?


Like I did here?

It's not like you have to pick up stitches or anything to work the ribbed edge - you can still work it in one piece.

I think it makes a much more attractive finished result. If you click to enlarge the photo, you'll see that the front edges are smooth and subtle. The garter edges on the other version stand out too much, in my opinion.

What do you think? Am I wrong? Is there something really great about the garter bands that I'm missing?

Toronto's Creativ Needlework Festival: Oct 16-18

I'm thrilled to announce that I will be teaching at the upcoming Creativ Festival in Toronto this October.

I'm teaching introductory classes on Socks and Entrelac and look for some late-breaking news about a Lace class in a week or so. Details on the website, and in the brochure.

I will also be spending some time in the A Needle Pulling Thread booth, and chances are you'll see me at the Yarn Cafe, sponsored by my girls from The Purl.

I've been going to this event for years. The breadth of the event is remarkable, but it can also be a little frustrating for that - but this year they have worked hard to increase the quantity and quality of the knitting and crochet content. I'm looking forward to it very much.

Update: The Naked Sheep

There are two yarn stores in the world called The Naked Sheep. One of them is right here in Toronto, one is in Bennington, Vermont. There's been some confusion out there because of an email that went around about a closing sale.

The Naked Sheep in Toronto is definitely NOT closing. In fact, they've just posted their September and October class schedule. They've got some great new yarns coming in for the fall, and they are having a special sale on current inventory to celebrate Lisa's first anniversary as the shop owner.

Toronto's Naked Sheep is very much alive and well.

Sock Summit - Just About Recovered

(Photo courtesy of Glenna C.)

That's me, chatting with Jess of Ravelry. Sitting beside me - a little obscured - is the lovely Cathryn Bothe of Signature Needle Arts. I was their demo bunny at the show. The Signature team - Cathryn, Laura and Danielle - were a joy to work with, and they made me feel so very welcome. I was honoured to be helping them out.

I spent the weekend doing three things - talking to knitters in the Signature booth, drinking coffee, and buying goodies. I hardly got any actual knitting done (Cathryn was entirely correct on this score), but I had a marvelous time anyway.

The people I met. Ann Budd. Cat Bordhi. Jess of Ravelry. Jeni C of the cast off (you'll know more about this soon). Judy of Judy's magic cast on. Judy Sumner. Amy Dentjen. Lucy Neatby. All lovely lovely people.

For those of you who weren't there: It was awful. Really. Had a dreadful time. Nothing good to buy. The pizza in the convention centre was oddly floppy.

Actually, that's really the only bad thing I can say about the entire weekend. Floppy pizza.

As to what I bought... I think I was pretty restrained.

On the yarn front:

All sock yarn, naturally.

The aforementioned Cake or Death.

A skein of Blue-Face Leicester from British Yarns. In a colourway called United.

A skein of Yak from Bijou Basin.

And a Zauberball. This is an odd duck - another single with nylon, like the Noro. Unsure how it will wear, but I love the long lengths of colour.

For tools, I bought this lovely antique darning egg. As much as a showpiece as anything - I just like the idea that there is a tool specifically to help you darn socks. And beside it, the Wanda (scroll down on the page). Very clever. A combo crochet hook cable needle thingy. I've been told these are genius for picking up garter stitch. I think it's an elegant solution for when I don't want to carry my big toolkit.

And the best $5 of the show - a Stitch Saver from 5elementknitr. A little (both in length and diameter) crochet hook on a keyring that attaches neatly to your project bag. I used it within an hour of buying it to pick up a dropped stitch. It hasn't left my side since.

Sock Summit - Day Three

Wow. What a day.

Highlights:
It's all about the wacky sock names. You've already seen Cake or Death. Clown Barf, anyone? Colourways named after the Seven Deadly Sins, and poisons.

Even the coffee at the Convention Center is good. God bless the Pacific Northwest.

And Ann Budd likes my work. Squee!

Haven't actually shopped much - yes, I know, I know. Will try to get some more today. Because really, I need more sock yarn.

Sock Summit Day One: We're Going to Run Out of Cake At This Rate...

There are some seriously great sock yarns here at Sock Summit, with some seriously great names...

but this one has to take the... err... cake.


Cake or Death.

Rainy Days and Wooly Dogs. They rock. I already have a design in mind.

I also bought a vintage darning egg, since that seemed rather lovely and appropriate...


There is very good beer here in Portland, too.

Signature Cables and Twists Sock- Free at Sock Summit

As mentioned in Cathy's blog post, I'm unveiling a new design at Sock Summit... the Cables and Twists Sock.


The pattern will be free to purchasers at the Signature booth - even more reason to come by and say hello.

The right and left socks differ - the cable elements are reversed.

I'll be working on the left sock in the booth. Hope to see you there!

Enroute from Seattle to Portland for Sock Summit

Sock knitting and hot drinks on the train.


Not shown in picture: laptop for viewing of Doctor Who episodes - just as important as the hot drink.

Socks, Eh?

To celebrate Sock Summit, I've put together a list of some of my favourite sock designs and links to the various patterns.

Free Patterns
Knitty Socks 101 - a template for creating a sock to fit any foot, with any yarn.

The Basic Ribbed Sock - Women's sizes - a 3x1 ribbed sock designed specifically because I find k1 p1 ribbing oddly boring, and it doesn't look good in a self-patterning yarn; k3 p1 ribbing runs all down the leg and the foot
The Basic Ribbed Sock - Men's sizes

The Reverse Basic Ribbed Sock - because in some variegated yarns, the reverse side of k3 p1 ribbing looks better.


The Christmas Sock - they don't have to be for Christmas - they look just as good in a single colour, or in other colour combos. Mock Cable rib all along the leg and down the foot make them fit well, and look a bit more special than your everyday socks. And no cable needle required!















Patterns Available for Purchase
Exploded Ribbing Sock- Patternfish link; Ravelry link


Midnight Sky Sock -Patternfish link; Ravelry link


Spring Blossom Sock - Patternfish link; Ravelry link


Summer Sock Wardrobe - Patternfish link; Ravelry link



April Showers Sock - exclusive to The Naked Sheep - Ravelry link


New Designs - Not Yet Published
Gansey Sock I - stay tuned for news on this one



Gansey Sock II

Patterns Published Elsewhere
Northern Lights & Winter Forest Socks - Festive 2008 issue of A Needle Pulling Thread
Irish Spring Sock - Issue 13 of Yarn Forward; Ravelry link
No Sweat Socks in No Sheep For You - Ravelry link
Fancy Fair Isle Socks in Tops & Toes

Sock Summit - See you there!

I'm excited - and yes, perhaps a little nervous. I'm heading west this week, to Sock Summit in Portland.

Excited about all the great people I'm going to meet, all the amazing socks I'm going to see, and all the fabulous things to buy in the marketplace.

Nervous? Yes, nervous about how much money I'm going to spend. As I've mentioned, I've already got a fairly sizable sock yarn stash - about about 40-50 pairs' worth, depending on whether I use up partial balls.

And I know damn well I'm going to end up coming home with more. Am taking my magical expanding suitcase.

I will be in the Signature Needles booth (#301) in the marketplace. Come and say hello!

As I've already said, I love their needles, and am honoured to be part of their demo team at this event.

I'll have a couple of new sock designs with me to show off - and I may even have some patterns available. Stay tuned for news on that.

I Qualify for Two Categories

See the Purple Purl Newsletter? Specifically, the Scavenger Hunt part?

I am eligible for two categories - teacher, and faces from the calendar.

Come and find me!

Things I Won't Do

We attended a rather marvelous event last night - a Craft Beer Summer BBQ. Lots of great beers to sample and food to enjoy - and all for the bargain price of $35 a person.

We've been going to similar sorts of beer festivals for many years, and we have a well-evolved strategy. Wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes and take a small shoulder bag with only the essentials: money, ID, front door key, a water bottle and sunscreen.

Such beer festivals are just about the only event I don't take knitting to. I'd be afraid of losing a needle, screwing up the knitting, or indeed hurting someone with the needle.

However, at last night's event, I spotted a brave soul sitting at a table, knitting. And not just any knitting - she was doing colourwork from a chart. While drinking.

Me, I hesitate to even leave the house when doing colourwork.

She looked like she was doing very well when I spotted her - but then it was fairly early in the evening. I wonder how well she was doing a couple of hours later...

Anonymous knitter, I bow to your skill - or at least chutzpah.

Decrease 33 sts evenly across row...

This is the sort of instruction that strikes fear in the heart of many knitters.

Increase or decrease so many sts evenly across the row.

We ran into a terrific example last night in a Norah Gaughan pattern... On a row of 113 sts, decrease 33 stitches evenly across.

Now I do understand why these instructions are the way they are. In a multi-size pattern, it's a lot of fiddling for the designer to write up the detailed instructions on how to space out the decreases. And it takes up a lot of space in a printed pattern.

After all, this Norah Gaughan pattern has four or five sizes, each with a different number of stitches, and with a different number to decrease. It's much simpler - and takes up less room - if the specific details are left to the knitter. If the designer isn't specific about how to handle this, it typically means that the type of decrease (or indeed, increase) and the positioning doesn't matter much for the final result. If it really matters, the designer will (should!) specify.

One of the most notorious examples of this is the final yoke increase in the February Lady Sweater. (No insult intended to the designer - she's done a great job with it overall.) But this is a doozy. You're you're dealing with a massive number of stitches and a rather extraordinary number of increases.....

Work 41 (38, 47, 41, 41, 38, 39) YOs spaced evenly between the 197 (207, 219, 239, 267, 291, 311) center stitches.

A helpful and smart knitter out there has created an online tool to help you calculate the spacing of the increases. And in the class that I teach about this pattern, I provide specific instructions for each of the sizes.

There's also a decrease calculator on the same site.

To complicate things, increasing and decreasing are handled differently, and there are a couple of different ways of calculating the increase pattern depending on which increase you use.

I like M1 - either the EZ backwards loop method or the lifted bar method or - since you're creating a stitch out of nothing and it makes the math easier. (Check out this page for a terrific summary and demo of all the key increases. EZ backwards loop is M1A and M1T, and lifted bar is M1R and M1L. You can choose one and stick with it for most purposes - the differences are pretty small between the A/T and the R/L versions.)

I also use this example in my Pattern Reading class. Coincidentally, there's a session coming up next week, at Lettuce Knit... Click here for more info.

Phew! The Gansey Sock is Done

First gansey sock is complete.

And now I can breathe.

I've been holding my breath for the last couple of days because I wasn't sure I'd have enough yarn.


That little tiny ball is all that's leftover from a 50gm ball of yarn. I was hoping hoping hoping I'd be able to get the sock out of one ball, since I'd only ordered two from Yorkshire.

To make matters worse, just before I started decreasing for the toe, I realized that I'd missed one of the gusset decrease rounds (yes, I still do things like that - my excuse is that I was designing as I went, and I did the math wrong ;-) ), and I had two more stitches than I had wanted in the sole. I was frantically doing the calculations on how many additional rounds I'd be able to get out of the foot if I pulled back and worked those extra decreases....

I took a deep breath, forged ahead, and just managed to squeeze a complete sock out of a single ball. Phew. You'll notice that the leftover yarn is kinked. I did have to undo the swatch.


Let's just hope that the second ball matches the first for yardage...

Gansey Sock Design #2

I've written about my love for ganseys and my ideas for gansey socks before.

Earlier this summer, I ordered myself some real gansey (a.k.a. guernsey yarn) from Wingham Wool in Yorkshire.

It's actually fairly scary stuff. Knitters would work heavily patterned, men's size sweaters in this yarn. This yarn, which works up to 28 sts on 10 cm/4 ins using 2.5mm needles. Yes, that's right - it's about the same size as a sock yarn.

That's a serious commitment.

Real gansey yarn is tightly spun 5-ply, 100% wool. And it usually comes in a very limited range of colours - a darker colour (grey or navy) for everyday wear, and white for "best". (I love the thought that your "best" clothes were just a different coloured sweater. Now that I no longer work in an office regularly, that's my kind of dressing up.)

It's designed specifically to be warm and long-wearing. Which also makes it entirely applicable to socks. Although it is 100% wool, the extra plies and the tight spin will help it wear longer. It is hand-wash only, which may strike some as insane for socks, but the way I look at it, these are my "best" socks and I won't wear them that often.

And with this, the following sock has resulted...


Unlike my previous gansey sock design, I've used horizontal patterning, divided by classic purl ridges. And, naturally, I have a fake seam stitch to divide the front and the back - a seam which continues down the foot.

Each of the stitch patterns comes from a traditional source. I've been using the following books as reference for ideas:

Beth Brown Reinsel's Knitting Ganseys
Sabine Domnick's Cables, Diamonds and Herringbones
Gladys Thompson's Patterns for Jerseys, Guernseys and Arans

The first of these three is an absolute masterpiece - not only does it have patterns for various sweaters for adults and kids, it also guides you through the process of creating your own miniature gansey using traditional construction techniques - and then helps you design your own. Domnick's book has some good history, a few garments, but lots and lots of stitch patterns. And the Thompson book is much older, and is really just ("just" is not meant as an insult here, it's encyclopedic) a collection of stitch patterns, categorized by region and origin.

Anyway, yes, first of the gansey socks is just about done, and I'll be writing up the pattern in the near future.

(N. just wandered into the room. "What are you doing"" "Just blogging." "What about?" "Socks." "I would never have guessed." Readers - am I boring you? I promise, I do knit things other than socks - I've got a lace design idea coming up next!)