Madelinetosh

It has been a really beautiful Christmas around here with snow all around and that crisp clean air that is so comforting during the Holiday Season. I had a very nice surprise gift from my daughter in Seattle. It was a hank of Madelinetosh hand dyed Tosh Merino Light...of course for a pair of sock. What a beautiful yarn...very soft and fine (I love to knit socks on a #1 needle and this weight is perfect for that). Have never used this yarn and can't wait to start yet another pair of socks after I finish the three pairs I am into right now. Check out madelinetosh.com. You won't be sorry.

Yarn Yarns: Intarsia in the Round

Yarn Yarns: Intarsia in the Round

Needed a little guidance on intarsia in the round knitting and this was a big help. Take a peek at this site.

Drops Design

Came across Drops Design and was impressed by the web site and patterns available. The designers are very creative and when you find a pattern you like you are linked into the yarn site as well. Clearly worth taking a look at the variety of patterns.
I am going to go back to this site and really take a look at all the patterns. Great site for just inspiration and ideas. http://www.garnstudio.com/index_lang.php

Knitting as Fast As I Can...

Working on a custom order: staggered cable socks and using #2 dp Needles. I think this must be the 8th pair of these socks that I have knitted and really need to put it down on paper. Need to get these done by Christmas. Really a fairly fast pattern and results are always nice to see. Cables are staggered on rib rows and create a diagonal pattern overall. My problem is that knitting these takes away time from my thoughts on other patterns I want to do. So I am knitting as fast as I can so that I can really knit the patterns I want to create!

Jo-ann Fabrics...a life saver!

Today went to Joann Fabrics to find a couple of skeins of yarn for a ASAP pair of socks. I had gone to our local yarn shop and how I hate to go there. Most of the yarns are very expensive and whenever I am looking for just a basic Merino Wool or superwash yarn it is never there. So made the trip to Joann Fabrics. We used to have one close to where I live but it moved to 3 towns east of me and it is a journey to get there...but I knew they would have what I wanted. They had Sensations Bamboo & EWE which was perfect for the quick pair of socks I need to do for a custom order for the Holidays. It was faster than ordering on line and cheaper as well. Never have knitted with this yarn but the feel of it is soft and warm 55% Wool, 30% Nylon and Rayon from Bamboo 15%. Interesting combination and can't wait to start this pair. But Joann Fabrics was a real life saver for me today!

Why Knit Socks? So what is it worth?

Just read Knitting for Dollars
By Janine Nelson http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/FEATknitting4dollars.html

I for one love selling my socks and patterns but also know that it isn't exactly how I will become a millionaire. I agree that once you have assessed the time, materials and other that go into knitting a pair of socks you have to say that no one would ever purchase a pair for what it is really worth. So why do it?

The point is that it really isn't for the money although the money does keeps me supplied with yarns that I wouldn't necessarily have purchased...it is more for the journey of creating a pair of sock, usually unique and creative, and sharing it with someone with the same sense of style as mine. I have met electronically alot of buyers that share with me the joy of having something really hand knitted. It may have been that they were not knitters their selves and just admired the skill or they wanted to get back to the times when things hand made were more meaningful and simple. A piece of string, 2 needles and voila...a creation! Amazing.

The cost of my socks on Etsy.com range from $20 to a high of $50. That $50 is alot to pay for a pair of socks goes without saying but to the person who purchased the pair (which was custom knitted to what they wanted) the cost was worth it. It was a fun journey, a team effort of someone who was looking at a pattern and wanted to have it knitted. How we got together was probably just by chance on Etsy.com but I loved the journey and you couldn't compensate me for the joy it brought to someone.

I would love to bring my shop into a profitable business (I for one know how much our family needs it at this time) I covet the inner rewards of sharing and clearly want to continue the journey and see where it leads me.

Double Cable Twist w/seed Panel Sock

Have always like Irish Fisherman’s Cable Sweaters…actually just love combinations of cables and seed stitches. I knitted this pair of socks a while ago and took another look at it and decided to knit another pair, but this time I put the pattern down on paper. Love sharing this pattern. I knitted it in a beautiful aqua blue (better to see the pattern) but will now do another pair in white, as I think Fisherman’s Cable Sweaters should be in white! This pattern is for the intermediate knitter who loves cables.
This pattern comes with pattern graph, as well as written pattern for those knitters who don’t like graphs!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/double-cable-twist-w--seed-panel-socks

Cuffed Twisted Cable Fingerless Mitts

Yesterday I worked on the pattern for the Cuffed Fingerless Mitts that I have knitted alot. I have sold a few pairs and think I know the pattern by heart. I posted the pattern on Ravelry and sold 3 patterns and alot of queries. I just hope that what I wrote down was correct. I did knit up a pair using the pattern I wrote and it seemed to be clear. Hope I don't get any complaints...hate that.

Double Knitting

Today I am taking a look at double knitting and thinking of knitting a scarf or something simple to understand the capabilities of the the technique. Wondering if you can do cable patterns both sides using different colors of yarns. So looking for a simple scarf pattern or actually will probably make one up and try to figure out this interesting knitting technique. Anyone have any books on the subject? They would be welcomed.

Patterns posted on Ravelry!

After a long day of hit and misses I finally got a couple of my knitting patterns on Ravelry. Truly an interesting adventure. I am selling them for $5 and actually got some knitters that bought them. This might be the start of something I can work on. Stay tuned.

Short Sports Socks

So finally did the pattern for the Short Sports Sock for anyone interested in knitting them. Fun to do and a great gift. Hopefully this pattern is written so that anyone who tries it will be able to do it in short time. Here is the thing...all you have to do is contact me for the pattern with your email...I will send you the pdf of the pattern. Haven't quite figured out how to link up the pattern.

Cable Lace Mitts Sold

Actually sold this pair today but had been one of the listings that was on the shop for a long time. I did reduce the price but was surprised it took this long to sell. I really love that lacy pattern...

Custom Order Houndstooth!

Just got an order to knit a pair of socks for a woman in Illinois. Really interesting pattern and so excited to start there. In Black and white they will striking! See the pattern at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/talbot-sock-pattern

Autumn In The Air and Staggered Cables

Beautiful golden days on the East Coast of US...love the brisk cool air and the colors all around are intense. Raking leaves and the sound of crackling of leaves somehow makes me very at ease and peaceful. Love it! Golfed yesterday and was one of the best days to be out on the course. Just makes me want to go out and play another round...but then working on the staggered cable sock and has gotten me to think that this one might be worth putting down on paper! Love this pattern and doing it in an ice aqua color. Every 5th row alternates with a cable on each rib. Interesting and lends to a spiral effect. I'll post when I am finished.

Cable Patterns

Today went to the bookstore to browse the knitting books. Looking for a small book that just has cable patterns. Small enough to just carry around with me so I can try out new cable patterns. Wish someone would tell me if they have seen anything like this.

Etsy Treasury

Today my Lacy Winoma Socks were featured inhttp://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cb15918b3b06d91efe4c3ae/cozy-and-orange

Really nice to be included in an artisan's treasury collections...helps to get my shop a little publicity. And it has been a good month...sold 4 pairs of socks and am knitting a custom order this week! How fast can I knit????

Busy Fingers...

Always a nice thing to get another order...but I have to remember to repost this particular sock. It is a best seller for me and amazing that you can create something and it becomes a pretty good seller! Love it!

Criss Cross again????

So here we go again...haven't been good on posting this summer...so much golf and gardening but I am still knitting away and just couldn't resist this color aqua. Beautiful and just right for the criss cross. These would look so great just peeking out from the bottom of you jeans. A really nice spot of color. Take a peek at http://www.etsy.com/listing/56403129/criss-cross-socks-aqua

So I think that this mitt is becoming the seller. Just got to get the right color. This one was knitted as requested in pink. Actually a really pretty color from Cascade Yarns. As much as I like Knit Pics...the array of colors are not there...but Cascade does have a really nice selection. Anyway haven't posted much in the past couple of months as have been busy working with a friend doing window treatments and cushions. Do love to sew occasionally...and of course golf has taken up some of my time as well!

Cotton Sports socks

I decided to try to get a pair of sports socks created and this is the result. Took 5 samples but I think this one works. Did a little rib on the foot for a little support and edged the cuff with a couple of rows of color for fun. Added a pom pom and that was it. Not too bad although I still need to do another to make sure the pattern works out. Will post on Ravelry later this month.

Cascade versus Knit Picks

So the question I had was the comparing of Cascade Sock Yarn versus Knit Pick Stroll Yarns. It took a little while for me to get to knitting a pair of socks using the Cascade Heritage Yarn. I had heard alot about it and there were many colors that were available, So I knitted a pair of socks using Cascade and had these thoughts about the yarn versus Knit Picks Stroll Sock yarns.

Both are machine washable superwash yarns, blends of 75% Merino and 25% Nylon. I loved that Cascade was one skein of 437 yds which was enough for a pair of socks (I like just having one continuous strand of yarn) and loved the colors available. Where as Knit Picks Stroll was 231 yds per skein so you had to purchase 2 skeins (462 yds) and the color selection of Knit Picks is not really as extensive as Cascades. Prices were wide apart as the Cacade was $11.95 for one skein (without shipping) and Knit picks was $3.49 a skein or $6.98 for 2 skeins (without shipping).

As far as the feel of the finished socks I was surprised to see that I thought the Knit Picks was pleasantly softer and smoother to the touch and had a nice bounce to the finish sock. The Cascade sock seem not as soft. That was a surprise but they both are easy to knit with. Again I really liked the array of colors that Cascade offers but if you catch Knit Pick as the seasons change they seem to offer different colors...just not as many. For the price...I guess I'll continue to use Knit Picks for Etsy socks but if I had a few extra bucks will go back to Lorna Laces (my absolute favorite when I can afford it).

Update...

So what is going on...well so immerse in NCAA Women's Basketball these days...UCONN is rolling along and next game is on Sunday agains Iowa State. Should be a better game than the last ones. At least a bit more competitive. UCONN is just squashing the opponents...Also did finish a pair of mitts sent to a woman in Louisiana and finishing a pair of Cable Ribs in Pink. Going back again to the basic and love the Cable Rib. But need to add a spark to the Etsy Site. My goal this year was to sell 12 items. I think I can do that but still trying to figure out pricing and what is comfortable for me to sell. Thoroughly enjoy Etsy as it is really a great way to fund your hobbies.

Clog Socks again...

Well decided to do pair of white heart clog socks with pink hearts. Actually am almost done and will post picture by end of week. Did get another order for a pair of Cuffed Fingerless Mitts in Brown. So ordered the yarn and will start on that order by tomorrow I think.

Also got a couple of inquiries about the Cross Pattern Sock pattern. (The pair shown here I call Neopolitan, Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla...get it?) Interesting that that pattern has been requested a few times now and wish I could figure out how to put it on Ravelry so I don't have to send the pdfs out myself. I'll have to figure that out sometime. In the meantime...it is a beautiful day here in CT and no snow in the forcast. Ah Spring!

Next to do...

So today I have been thinking what sock to do next. I think that I might just do another pair of the lacey white socks but not sure. I do love the pattern and would like to get another pair of white socks in the shop. I also have to do a pair for my daughter who wanted a pair of basket weaves. That is a pretty sock too. My mind just keeps swimming...there are so many ideas I have but always end up with just the basic socks that I enjoy most. Cables and that almost Argyle was nice. Well, I guess for now it is off to do a pair of white lacey. I'll have to time myself on these...actually not sure how long it takes to knit a pair as I usually knit only in the evenings....

Happy to say that the Lacy White Socks sold today. They were on the Etsy site for a long time but Dan photographed them using my new foot form and they sold in a weeks time. I guess maybe it was a good investment to purchase the foot form. Hurray!

Twisted Double Cable

Wanted to mimic a fisherman's sweater. So did a twisted double cable with seed stitches. Lorna Laces Solid sock yarn was used. Seems to be much more finer than other sock yarns I have used. More like lace or fingering. At any rate used #1 needles that always are nice to use as a change from the #2. You can knit with more detail with the #1 although it takes more stitches and the pace may be a little time consuming, the results are always satisfying. Fun to do and think I'll try to do something more involved. Love Cables.

Sampler Sox

For quite a while now I had wanted to do a more creative sock. Inspired by Kaffe Fassett and Kristin Nicholas style of knitting (which is more painting with yarns) I attempted a sock that I call Sampler. Basic theme was boxes or cubes.
Yarn used was Knit Picks Superwash (Merino and Nylon blend), and hoping that these might sell on etsy. Really a fun sock and was a great way to use up some of my extra left over yarns...my stash!

Heart Clog socks

Just amazing to me is that to start the New Year I have received an order for the Heart Clog Socks. It is amazing as I had increased the price of these. It is truly a best seller and hoping that this is a indicator of what is to come for 2010. Stay tuned...

Happy New Year

And a Happy New Year. I hope that this year I will be able to work on my Etsy shop and knit a sock a week...although that may be a little bit optimistic for me I think that is my resolution this year. Trying to be a little more creative in knitting socks and posting them on Etsy. Other than that I pray for world peace and joy. Happy New Year!