Kaylee Socks Complete

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Pattern:

Kaylee by Monkey Toes

Unfortunately, no longer available online but hopeful her husband will upload it to Ravelry sometime soon.

Made for:

Me - Size 9

Yarn:

Done Roving Frolicking Feet Superwash Wool Yarn in Fancy Footwork colorway

1 skeins = 480.0 yards (438.9m)

Purchased at Seaport Yarn in NYC

Needles:

US 1 1/2 / 2.5 mm Knitpicks Options & Harmony

2 socks on 2 circs

Started for the May Sock Knitters Anonymous KAL.

I do find it weird that the pattern has no gauge. But luckily, they are toe-up. I was able to tweak them as I went which helped.

I had to add 6 sts to each side to get them to fit. They would have been too small if I just follow the pattern. For the additional side stitches I did p2 k2 p2 on rows 1, 2, 4 & 5 of the repeat. And I did p1 k1 p2 k1 p1 on rows 3 & 6. I found that worked pretty well.

The repeat isn't as complex as I feared. Though I had trouble understanding row 5 of the pattern. Shansays on ravelry explained it in a way that made more sense.

Basically, for the middle stitches of row 5 it goes:

* Cast on 4 using backward loop cast on

* Pick up the 4 dropped stitches from the 4 previous row, knit them as a stitch

* YO

* Again pick up the 4 dropped stitches from the 4 previous row, knit them as a stitch

* Cast on 4 more stitches using backward loop cast on

I should have taken some pictures as it would make it easier to understand what is happening.

The toe is Judy's Magic Cast On. I really don't know if I will ever do another toe up toe! I love it.

The heel is a short row toe up heel. I am not really thrilled with it. There are holes along the edges. I won't be doing that again.

Not sure why I kept stalling with these. I finished them by the end of June so they will be eligible for the May KAL. But they were kinda slow going. I think I just haven't felt as driven to do socks. And the pattern was not mindless enough to be easy tv or car knitting.

I think the yarn is too busy for the pattern. It doesn't show it well. But I will still wear them as I like it.

Kaylee Socks

Pattern:

Kaylee by Monkey Toes

Unfortunately, no longer available online but hopeful her husband will upload it to Ravelry sometime soon.

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

Made for:

Me - Size 9

Yarn:

Done Roving Frolicking Feet Superwash Wool Yarn in Fancy Footwork colorway

1 skeins = 480.0 yards (438.9m)

Purchased at Seaport Yarn in NYC

Needles:

US 1 1/2 / 2.5 mm Knitpicks Options & Harmony

2 socks on 2 circs

Started for the May Sock Knitters Anonymous KAL.

The pattern has no gauge. Luckily, they are toe-up. So I was able to tweak them as I went along. I needed to add 12 stitches to get them to fit my foot. I am not sure how I will adjust the pattern for the additional stitches when I get to the leg, but I am sure something will come to me.

The pattern is really more like a stitch pattern than a full pattern. It just gives the pattern repeat & says do whatever toe & heel you want.

The repeat isn't as complex as I feared. Though I had trouble understanding row 5 of the pattern. Shansays on ravelry explained it in a way that made more sense.

Basically, for the middle stitches of row 5 it goes:

* Cast on 4 using backward loop cast on

* Pick up the 4 dropped stitches from the 4 previous row, knit them as a stitch

* YO

* Again pick up the 4 dropped stitches from the 4 previous row, knit them as a stitch

* Cast on 4 more stitches using backward loop cast on

I should take some pictures as it would make it easier to understand what is happening.

I struggled with this because this means that you are gaining a lot of stitches in this row. However, each of the previous rows is decreasing the number of stitches. So row 5 gets it back to being as wide as it needs to be.

I really like the pattern. Now that I understand row 5, I am finding it is pretty quick to knit.

The toe was done using Judy's Magic Cast On. I confess since learning this method, I really do not use other methods unless the pattern specifically states something different. It is wonderful and makes a terrific toe.

I really had hoped to cast on another Monkey Toes pattern for the Sock Knitters Anonymous May KAL. I really want to do a Brigit socks. But I am guessing that will wait.

No Maryland Sheep & Wool for Me

I had been planning to go to Maryland Sheep & Wool. A lot of Paul's family is in the area, so I could have even met up with my sister-in-law who is a knitter.

Problem is I have had a sore throat for a couple days now. It started as a tickle in the throat late on Tuesday. Yesterday it got more sore. Today it feel so-so. Still tender, but not as bad. I am still hoping that it is just sinus season nasal drip. But the two people in the office with desks closest to mine have been hacking up their lungs pretty much since I got back from AZ. *shakes head*

So as consolation, I went yarn shopping last night. I stopped at the Point first as it is close to work. They had just gotten in some Brooklyn Handspun yarns which look really nice. The thing is I am beginning to suspect my color palette is just not the same as the person who buys for the Point. They were all very bright colors or pastels.

The PATH trains weren't running locally due to some track problems. So I had to go down to World Trade to catch the PATH. And that told me it was a sign to stop off at Seaport Yarn. I stopped off there for the first time about a week & a half ago to get some yarn for a beer & fiber swap I participated in (sent my package out to the reciepant who was really happy, haven't gotten my package yet). I had just gotten back from AZ where I got a lot of vacation yarn. So I didn't want to spend anything on myself right then.

However, I recalled really liking some of the yarns they had in stock. Checked their website and as luck would have it, Wednesdays are their late night. So I headed over there.

I am really happy with the yarn I got. It is Done Roving Done Roving Frolicking Feet Yarn in Fancy Footwork colorway.

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It is 100% superwash wool and looks like it will be good for socks. I love the different colors in this yarn. Some burgundy, purple, yet also some blues & greens. It is really beautiful.

The woman at Seaport Yarn was very sweet. She invited me to participate in their Stitch & Bitch (though I can't recall what she said, something like knitting circle). But I didn't have any knitting with me. I only take it into work when I know I will be able to knit. I read on the train most of the time as there is rarely enough space to knit.

I should get some work done. Whee...