Sunday, January 22, 2017

YOP Week #30

I have 'finishes'.....yes...you read that right...plural!  FINISHES!  I'm off to a good start but still behind the 8 ball and I don't think I will get the Hermione's socks done in time for the Harry Potter January KAL but such is life...........but without further ado................the elf slippers are done............lol!
I think they're too big...I thought the pattern was not specific enough and the circular needles I bought at Walmart were bad and snagged the yarn every time I pushed it onto the needle and the yarn had several knots in it where they joined it.....not a good project for me anyway.  I also think the hole where you put your foot is a little small.  I'm not even sure I should gift them.....Brooklyn Knitfolk knitted several pair of these and they all looked 'normal' using the same pattern and she's been knitting less time than I have but I think she's knit more in that short amount of time.  Plus, I don't think she uses cheap needles or cheap yarn! LOL!  I am a slow knitter too so although it was said it was a 'quick' project.....it wasn't for me and I still need to sew on the 'slipper grippers'.  You can't win them all I guess but it certainly threw my knitting confidence out the window!
 I also finished the cowl for the Red Heart CAL for January so this I can enter...............it's for me so I used  'cheap stash' which seems about all I have lately............
 These are my Hermione's Every Day Socks a free pattern on Ravelry by Erica Leuder and I think I am pretty much the last person to get on this popular band wagon.........I am using Sirdar Heart and Sole 4 ply sock yarn 100g, 75% wool 25% nylon.  I'm liking the socks but it's not t.v. knitting as there's a pattern which is easily memorized and not a problem but I still can't watch t.v. or be distracted or I will mess it up.  It calls for 18 repeats of a 4 round pattern? Won't it be a knee sock by then?  When I took this picture I had done just short of 3 of the 4 round pattern repeats so about 12 rounds...am I misunderstanding it?   So is it 18 rounds or 18 repeats of the 4 round pattern?  Why wouldn't you make it evenly divisible by 4 then?   Am I thinking too much?  Is it the math person in me?
I need to pick a new crochet project now which will probably be my daughter's birthday present and do I dare try and make another pair of slippers?  I need another gift so we'll see.  Maybe I'd be safer with hats! LOL!  Actually, the socks are 'new',  the next slippers or hat are a 'gift' so I think I need to pick up a crochet 'WIP'.....I'll go hunting....I'm sure there's one here someplace!
For those of you who only read my blog on Sunday's, I will share the really cool acquisition that I got in the mail this week..............my Blue Sky Fibers 21-color slouch hat...YAY!!!!!
 I have waited awhile but it was well worth the wait.....I want to cast on but I shan't.....not now.......but the yarns are scrumptious and hopefully with great yarn, a great pattern and some good needles I will be able to  pull it off.  Plus, I now  have their entire range of colors in their new Woolstok worsted range which is 100% fine highland wool. (Blue Sky Fibers used to be called Blue Sky Alpaca)
   I've watching Stitching the High Notes podcast this week and she is delightful...I'm still catching up
with her podcasts.  She knits, sews and more.  I also found 2 inexpensive pattern books for crochet and knitting for the Kindle this week....there are more on Amazon but not necessarily this cheap............these were .99 each.........free if you have Kindle Unlimited....there are more Kindle books on sale in handwork and every category so check them out!

That's all for this week....I hope you had a great one!
Happy Trails!




16 comments:

  1. I can't afford to use that fancy, expensive yarn that most of the podcasting ladies use either my friend. I do like Knit Picks for sock yarn because about $10 makes a pair of socks which I don't think it's too bad. For the Hermione socks I didn't bother to count for 18 repeats, I just measured the cuff till it was as long as I wanted it, about 7 to 8 inches. I think your slippers look great. Did you try them on? Take care and enjoy your crafting.
    Blessings, Beth

    ReplyDelete
  2. I did the 18 pattern repeats and then did a Fish Kiss Lips heel. They hit me mid calf. Do as many pattern repeatsas you like. I triedminein after 12 and decided to do more. This is probably the best pattern I have done in quite a while. As for your slippers..............you arenstating all the reasons I stopped making slippers. Not worth the time or effort. I too use cheaper yarns. I watch several online stores for sales and buy when it's cheap. Since I can't use wool, it is a challenge for me too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I did the 18 pattern repeats and then did a Fish Kiss Lips heel. They hit me mid calf. Do as many pattern repeatsas you like. I triedminein after 12 and decided to do more. This is probably the best pattern I have done in quite a while. As for your slippers..............you arenstating all the reasons I stopped making slippers. Not worth the time or effort. I too use cheaper yarns. I watch several online stores for sales and buy when it's cheap. Since I can't use wool, it is a challenge for me too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good needles are a must as they're essential tools. I love my Clover Takumi DPN's and my new set of Chiagoo Lace Interchangeables. I like the texture of your Hermione's and the new socks. Some time ago I bought The Sock Ruler which was created by a woman in the Bay Area and who has a patent pending. It's handy for measuring progress on socks and hats and I feel sometimes the measuring tape isn't fully accurate. I do wish sometimes that she labeled the ruler down 1/16" as it's broken up into fourths, but it's a good tool to have.

    ReplyDelete
  5. With respect to leg length I just carry on repeating while it feels right. There are some considerations:

    • if the pattern is not very stretchy then don't make the leg too long as legs usually get wider as you move up the calf and an inflexible pattern can quickly become too tight

    • if the pattern is yarn hungry or if I don't have a lot of yardage available then I might keep the leg on the short side

    • otherwise I find socks look most nicely proportioned if the leg is as long or longer than the foot.

    I'd think that the pattern writer intends for you to work 18 repeats of the four round pattern - 72 round total. That's a pretty average leg length I'd think. Your photo looks like a lot more than 12 rounds to me.

    Pretty sock though!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's 18 repeats of 4 rounds soooo 72 rounds total. However, my first pair, I did 10 repeats and my second pair (the ones on my needles), I did 12 repeats. The full 18 repeats seems excessive but my guess is that it will hit mid-calf. My worry would be running out of yarn but that's because I have US size 9 clodhoppers. I always worry about running out of yarn and I always wind up having yarn leftover. Oh well.

    ReplyDelete
  7. While your slippers may not fit right, I think they look beautifully knitted. And your Blue Sky Fibers skeins look wonderful! AND I noticed you added a subscribe by e-mail gadget to your sidebar. Thanks a bunch. Going now to subscribe and will look forward to getting your posts in my e-mail inbox - and will be glad to be notified to come in and see your non-yop posts, too. I really like your style, Sam. Your posts are fun to read.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can't wait to see the start of your Blueberry Waffles. Alternating the skeins becomes carried up the sides but when I switch to knitting in the round, I will alternate every round as I don't have to worry about jogs since they're the "same color."

    ReplyDelete
  9. I found a knitting book on a bookshelf I just purged. I still have knitting socks on my "try it" list.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the elf slippers - they will definitely stay on! Your book acquisitions are excellent - I Must Resist! It seems everyone is knitting those Hermione socks - I think they will have to go on my to-do list.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think the slippers look fine, but I don't have to try to put my feet into them - put it down to experience! The socks are looking great. I have yet to knit these, but I shall next month for the Harry potter KAL. I don't know about the number of repeats but I usually make my legs as long as the foot.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think the slippers look fine, but I don't have to try to put my feet into them - put it down to experience! The socks are looking great. I have yet to knit these, but I shall next month for the Harry potter KAL. I don't know about the number of repeats but I usually make my legs as long as the foot.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have made some basic easy Granny Slippers. I don't think I could manage heels and admire anyone who can. The two books look interesting.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for stopping by and for commenting. Comments are "grist for the mill" and I appreciate each and every one of them!