pepperknit

I’ve been sitting on this awesome news for MORE THAN A YEAR, guys. A year! That’s like . . . seven dog years. Fifteen cat years. Approximately 4mm of a tree’s trunk diameter. Almost 526 THOUSAND minutes. Like I say, it’s a long time.

A long time to keep a secret.

I’m bad at keeping secrets, really. I like to share my life with people, and I like knowing what’s going on. But this? I kept it a secret. And now here it is!

Caro and Stitchy went and created a totally original, totally awesome knitting (and crochet) book. Inspired by photos from patterns of the past (most of which I probably wouldn’t have given a second glance, but these two saw a hint of something good), they went to many different illustrious designers and asked for modern interpretations. I’m pretty tickled that I was asked to contribute.

The Sock Hop Sweater and Socks set is my design:

And Caro and Stitchy combined it with 40+ other awesome patterns (many of which I can’t wait to make) and created such a killer book.

The patterns are listed separately: Go queue them! Go fave them! See them, plus all the other patterns, on Ravelry.

I hate having secret knitting in the works, because really, if you can’t blog it, is it worth it? I just spent a bit of time knitting something for a designer, and I hope I’ll be able to share it with you when it’s made public. Not taking a single shot of the completed project was really weird, but I packed it up and delivered it this past week.

There was also another secret project, and I can tell you guys about it now, but it’s not directly knitting so it will wait.

Happily, I was working on some secret knitting that I can now share.

The pattern is my own—and is not what I’d originally intended. The legs of the socks were supposed to be an intricate, elaborate, jaw-dropping design of interlocking cables. I’d charted dozens of variations, settled on my favorite, and knit it up. But the dang things wouldn’t fit over my heel—even though I’d added stitches in order to accommodate that! I do know how physics works!—and so I had to simplify, or else I never would have hit the sock swap deadline.

As they are, the cable is Hartshorn from Barbara Walker vol II, and I may yet write these up for public consumption. It was fiddly to get the dang things to work, so you may well need some guidance. My tentative name, already dubbed on Ravelry, is Spidey Sense. I’ll of course let you all know when I’ve worked out the buggers for various sizes—these are quite tailored to the recipient’s feet (luckily, the same size as mine).

The yarn is Neighborhood Fiber Company. The color here is not as vibrant or “green” as it was on the skein—when I washed them, blue dye started pouring out and didn’t really ever stop. In fact, it stained the drain on my bathroom sink bright blue and even left blue stains on the towel that I set them out to dry on. Perhaps if you’re using this brand of yarn, a vinegar rinse would be in order. Also, at the center of the skein (I knit the two semi-simultaneously from opposite ends of the ball) there were a lot of jagged spots in the yarn—areas with little bits hanging off that looked as if the yarn had been broken and felted back together or something. I don’t know what that was about. In some cases I skipped ahead in order to avoid the questionable parts, weaving in additional ends, and in others I just knit on, tucking the stray bits to the inside. I hope that wasn’t a foolish decision.

If I can set aside what I wanted them to be and take them for what they are, I have to admit, I totally love them! I hope Sukyong, who unfortunately couldn’t be at the sock swap party to receive them in person, does too. They went in the mail yesterday!

Anne-Marie, Sit ‘n’ Knit New York’s fearless leader, organized on helluva sock swap for the group. I lucked out big time when Anne-Marie assigned Annmarie to knit me my socks, because she took my color and yarn preferences straight to heart.

Solid orange Koigu, y’all. Be still my beating heart. I didn’t even express my distaste for variegateds in the survey, but she saw straight to my true nature. The pattern, 9 to 5, is by Nicole Hindes and the pair fit me perfectly. Thanks again so very much, Annmarie! I’m also happy that by happenstance I sat next to you and we got to chat.

Other socks given showed really amazing work—Chante could “only” get through 1 intensely argyled knee sock, so the girl knit a whole other pair for Carolyn. Jane hand-spun and hand-painted the yarn she used for Virginia’s socks. I was duly impressed with all the socks—and I think my love for knitting has been totally reinvigorated.

We all gathered ’round for a group feet shot. Because I don’t have a wider angle lens (sigh . . .) there was no possible way to get all the feet in at once for me (unless I’d been up on some kind of crane, which I did not have on hand, and even then my foot wouldn’t have been in, unless it was the focus and everyone else was in bokeh . . . but I digress). You can see the whole group in the shot Anne-Marie took here. But what I was able to capture—and which definitely makes up for the lack of a circle of feet—is how closely we were jammed up against each other, and also how much fun we had!

I’ll tell you about the socks I knit soon—I just put mine in the mail today, because my pal couldn’t be at the party.

No trip to Philly is complete without a visit with my peeps, and when that visit expands from what you think will be a short but nice afternoon of knitting into pretty much the entire day knitting, laughing, and drinking, well, it’s been a good weekend.

Megan (on the far right) is of course the originator of the “whelmed” face, and after 9 hours together, it seems it had rubbed off on everyone–Specs on the left, Jennie in the middle. You can’t really tell, but Jennie’s fabulous boyfriend D is standing behind her. Not pictured here is Megan’s own M, who joined us at the bar for dinner, but who is standing near me with their camera.

Jennie and D graciously let us overtake their adorable and cozy house, where we sat at their giant table—and some knitting actually happened. Last week was crazy busy for me, with a friend staying with me and plenty of work, so at about 1 am on Saturday morning I wound a ball of sock yarn and threw what I hoped would be appropriate needles, a measuring tape, and a photocopy of a stitch pattern (go me and my own personal copier!) in my bag. I’m doing a sock swap as part of Sit ‘n’ Knit New York, and as you know, if you don’t start the pair as soon as you can, you’re doomed.

This fabulous yarn, because I know you’re about to ask, is Neighborhood Fiber Company yarn, which I bought at Stitches East (Olga, I believe you found me right around then!). I can’t say much more about what I’m knitting, so as not to give away too much in case the person I am knitting for reads here, but I’m making up the pattern myself, and I’m quite enjoying it so far.

Once the hunger potential reached a specific level, we all went to the bar on the corner and debated politics, gender identity, knitting, blogging, and, really, the state of the world until midnight. The time just flew by! Can’t wait for my next trip down.

From the idea to knit a single sock and swap it with someone else to the pattern and the knitting by Kristy, this pair of socks is bursting with brilliance.

Pattern: Chalet Socks from Nancy Bush’s Folk Socks
Yarn: Tess Designer Yarns sock yarn
Skeins: 2
Needles: US 1.5
Received Sock #1: Monday, November 4
Started Sock #2: Tuesday, November 5
Finished Sock #2: Saturday, November 10

Kristy picked a pattern that I probably would have never chosen myself, despite everyone else making it, but that I ultimately have fallen completely in love with. It was a perfectly fine pattern, but never caught my eye. But the traveling twisted knits on the bed of purls? Brilliant. (I’m definitely going to play with designing my own socks based on this technique.) It took me a while to get the hang of the pattern–those charts are unlike anything I’d ever seen before, and I wasn’t “getting it” for the first few rows. When it clicked, though, I was suddenly going like gangbusters. I didn’t swap stitches the way the pattern specified; I considered them like normal cables and worked them using the method for cabling without a cable needle that I first saw on Grumperina’s blog.

Let’s talk a bit about this yarn. I’ve always been someone who lusts after Tess yarns, and spends an inordinate amount of time in that booth at all the fiber festivals I attend. I’ve bought yarn there, but never the sock yarn. I’m a total convert! It’s firm and dense and gives excellent stitch definition (great with this pattern) and is also soft and comfy. And the color Kristy chose!! Pale icy blue ranks very high on my list of favorite colors, and I found picking this sock up every day a true delight.

I don’t know how to thank you enough, Kristy! Actually, stay tuned, folks, because Kristy sent me a copy of Folk Socks (in addition to the tea, chocolates, and small bag featuring yoga-themed fabric), but I already own it. So we’re going to devise some kind of contest in which you win the extra copy.

I’m so sad that I finished so quickly. It was less than a week ago that I was marveling at Kristy’s skilled knitting. In such a short time I magically have a finished pair–and that’s the brilliance of the Single Sock Swap. (Happily, the two socks are nearly identical. Only difference? She did a better job picking up the stitches around the gusset.)

I have a single sock to show for Socktober! I’m deeming this project done.

Embossed Leaves Sock
Pattern: Interweave Knits, Winter 2005
Needles: Addi Turbo 2.25mm
Yarn: Claudia Handpainted
Skeins: 1
Modifications: I made it bigger, to accommodate a larger size foot–not mine, but the ultimate recipient of these socks, who will knit the matching one. Lucky girl is going to have to interpret my notes to make it larger! I promise to write it out clearly. I added 8 stitches total (2 per repeat) and made a line of knits within the 5 purls that separate the leaves. I kind of love the wandering path it takes, and I think if I were to knit these for myself someday, I’d keep that feature even in the 3-purl zone.

It required a little bit of fiddly work at the heel and the toe, but I think it works! When I first knit them, I was concerned that the added circumference would mean I had to make them shorter, so I made the leg shorter, but when I got to the toe I realized there was too much yarn leftover. So I took it out to above the heel, made the leg the pattern-specified length, and reknit the whole foot yesterday and today. Now the leftover yarn is respectable. I mean, if this pattern were toe-up, as I believe all socks should be, there wouldn’t be nearly this much remaining, but it’s not bad at all. Not bad at all.

Tonight’s very special episode of Pepperknit is brought to you by the House of Regret.

1. Do not, if you can help it, wind up a ball of yarn held double, knit up half the ball, then change your mind, frog the whole damn thing, and decide you now want a single-strand ball of yarn.

I didn’t take any pictures of the carnage that was the frogging, reassembling balls, then unwinding into two balls. But it was a nightmare. It didn’t help that I got the urge to frog the Cabled Bandeau at 11:30 a few nights ago, right before going to bed, and I did it while sitting in bed. Which meant that fifteen minutes later, when I realized this was a time-consuming endeavor best saved for another time, I couldn’t leave it. No! I had to resolve the mess of squiggly yarn that was smack-dab in the middle of my bed. I managed to corral it into four balls that I could place on the floor for a Time Out.

I finally had the energy to tackle the rest of it tonight. What once was the start of the Cabled Bandeau (above) now looks like this:

And I’m not sure what it’s going to be. But I’ve determined my gauge–and even washed the swatch! (it’s wet in this photo)–so I can pick from here.

2. Never, ever work the sewn bindoff and then realize something’s not right about the piece. Because picking out the sewn bindoff is an ordeal and a half.

This was that cursed sock from the spring, the one that killed my mojo for more than a month. I recently knit its mate, a fraternal twin, and decided this one needed more than just a new, looser cuff. Tomorrow I’ll get started on the identical twin to the single sock from Labor Day.

Finally! I’ve knit something, and I’m here to shout it from the rooftops. Look here, everyone!

This sock was begun on Thursday, and I finished it around 6 today (Monday). Anne-Marie and I decided fairly last minute to get together and knit over beer and burgers on Thursday, which meant I had to find some knitting in a jiffy. I dashed home from work, ran to my sock knitting basket, found a wound-up skein, dug around for needles–any appropriate socky size would do–and ran out the door. Oh, I managed to grab some waste yarn and a crochet hook too, so I could do my favorite provisional cast-on and short-row toe. Over dinner, I finished the toe and did a wee smidge of the foot.

Simple stockinette means easy bus knitting, and I progressed a few more inches on the way to work on Friday. But I’ve got this cross-stitch project, and my obsession for that continues to grow–so in my down time during my parents’ visit this past weekend I worked on that (it’s gotten a lot farther than in that photo).

Until we decided to watch Amelie (cute!) last night. Darn those subtitles–cross-stitch is out of the question. But a stockinette sock is perfect! I decided, quite randomly, to do the Widdershins heel, so I had to look at the computer only a few times. I was way up the ankle by the end of the movie. This afternoon, after my parents left, I headed over to Central Park to enjoy the weather as I finished it up.

I have since uncovered the “matching” sock that this one should go with–it’s the one that killed my mojo last March and of which there is zero documentation. All I know about that one is that the cuff is unwearably tight. A quick glance at the first one and . . . the two don’t match at all. I didn’t take a picture of the original, but it was clearly knit on a different size needle. Don’t know what size. It also appears that I did some shaping, which didn’t surprise me, but today I did shaping of a completely different sort without any regard to the first one. Oh, and I knew full well that the original sock was a short-row heel, but I was going to just have socks with character.

With all these differences, though, I think the original one will be redone, complete with a matching heel. I’m not sure how I feel about the Widdershins–it fits great, but it caused unsightly pooling over the instep, which short-row heels don’t generate. So . . . lukewarm on that heel when using variegateds. Otherwise okay.

Of course, now that I’m between projects again, the cross-stitch is calling my name . . .

3 skeins of yarn: 2 brown, 1 blue. A sock pattern that is close to, but not quite, 2:1, is a good idea, but you should realize that toes and heels actually constitute a decent amount of yarn. Which means you will run out of the “1″ before you’re through with the “2.” These socks would have been done a bit sooner, but I had to take out the first one to redo. But I’m thrilled with the ultimate result, so it was all worth it.

Do you see what I did? My little tweak that fixed not only the yarn consumption but created a small optical illusion so that the stripes appear to be essentially the same height? (It’s not exact, I know, but it’s pretty good in my opinion.) My 2:1 “pattern” was to knit 6 rows of brown to 2 rows of blue, until I got to the calf muscle, at which I not only increased stitches but started working 8 rows of brown to 2 rows of blue. I had 31 inches of blue left in the end. Thirty-one!

Stripey Socks
Yarn: Koigu KPM (or however many Ps should be in there)
Needles: US 1 Knitpicks
Method: Short-row toe, short-row heel, toe-up, magic loop
Calf shaping: On the 6th brown band from the heel I increased 6 stitches (2 stitches a row for 3 alternating rows). On the 14th brown band from the heel I increased another 6 stitches, same deal, only I knit that band for 7 rows. All following brown bands were 8 rows high.
Carrying colors: I didn’t bother with any kind of “jogless” trickiness with the color–who cares? I don’t mind that there’s an apparent spot where the rows ended. I just carried the blue up along the inside, putting a tiny bit of slack in so that it wouldn’t pull.
Started: I have no idea. I think I probably officially started them, um, back in April? I went though some nonknitting time in there.
Finished: Wednesday, July 25 (Mom’s bday!)
Nitpicky notes: I really wanted the heel to coincide with a blue stripe, and I’m pretty lucky that the foot length worked out for me to do that! I don’t know how I would have engineered it otherwise.

Not much else to say. Luf!

Look, I didn’t completely forget. I bought this yarn with Pam back in April, and I think not too long after that I cast on for these. I truly do not remember, and for some reason I didn’t blog about it or make any notes whatsoever. I’m going to have to count the stitches around the toe to figure out what the heck I did when I go to make the second sock!

I had planned to knit until the brown ran out–I have two skeins of brown and one of blue, so I worked up a pattern that was essentially 2:1 brown to blue. I want very badly to use up all the yarn, but the socks are nearly TOO tall at this point! They’re almost embarrassing to pull out of my bag on the bus. It’s time to do a cuff and call the first one done.