Have been working on these for a couple of weeks now. Had to stop though because the 5” needles are hurting my hands…had to order some 7” dpns and am waiting for them to arrive to resume…anyway, here is my 1st pair for November:

Start date: November 1, 2009
Completion date: TBA
Pattern used: Candelabra by Chrissy Gardiner
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Solid
Needles: #1 US

Other details here: Nautical Knitter’s Projects

Lots of Cables!

Specs:

Pattern: Having Hope

Yarn: Trekking Pro Natura (Dark Grey Color)

Needles: #1US

Started: October 1, 2009

Completed: October 31, 2009

Notes: This was my first complete project with cables throughout.  It was a challenge and I learned lots of new things along the way.  One thing I did learn was how to do a Vikkel Braid which I really like!

Time to move on to November’s Socks.  Will post about those when I cast on.

Fair Winds, D

Ebby and me, watching TV

Ebby helped me, in her normal way,  finish the first of this month’s socks tonight. I love the sock and the way the cables turned out, but it was harder than I had expected…Cables are in my future, but as with anything else, practice is sometimes painful…

Detail of the cable pattern on Having Hope Sock #1

It fits!!

The second sock will be finished at the beach this week.  One week between semesters and we are goin’ to the beach!  Yay!

I am putting these in a post on Ravelry as well, in case anyone there might be interested.  I have three pair of clear shoes that I purchase a while back.  One pair was to be for me, and two others were to be for gifts, when needed.  Problem is, everyone I know has feet my size…big!  All three pair are brand new, never worn and would look great with hand knit socks.  I wear an 8.5 shoe normally, so I bought a size 9 for myself.  Being a tennis shoe type of person, they just didn’t work for me, so I never wore them.  The other two pair are size 7 and 8.  Anyone interested in trading a pair for some yarn or anything else knitting related?

Let me know through the comments page…Thanks

Seaweed Socks for SKA Sockdown

Seaweed Socks Close Up of Reversed Pattern by Me

Vitals:

Pattern: Seaweed Socks by Wendy Johnson

Technique: Toe Up on dpns

Needles: US #1

Yarn: Fingering Weight (from Susinok)

Cast On: September 1, 2009

Bind Off: September 27, 2009

Notes:

These socks were generally fun to do.  The pattern was easy to memorize and went fast.  I decided to reverse the waves on the second sock so they would lean the opposite way.  The notes on how I did this can be found here.  Short row heels with the w&t are not my thing, so I substituted a short row technique I found here to turn the heel.  It worked great!

These are a dream to knit so far.  I took the liberty of reversing the pattern on the second sock so that the waves would lean the opposite direction.  Here is the link to the pattern and below are my specs on how to do the opposite sock.  I am making the large size and if you have the pattern you should be able to understand my modifications.  Enjoy!

Even rows, knit the knits and purl the purls.
1 – p1,k3,k2tog,k3,yo
3 – p1,k2,k2tog,k3,yo,k1
5 – p1,k1,k2tog,k3,yo,k2
7 – p1,k2tog,k3,yo,k3
9 – p1,k8

First up, I learned to do fair isle this week.  I have only tried this on my own once (winging it) and it turned out nice, but this time I am working from someone else’s pattern and am actually going to produce a pair of socks to boot.  The pattern is Elika, by Heatherly Walker.  The yarn I am using is knitpicks essential and kroy socks.  The pattern is bare bones and basically assumes you already know a lot about knitting socks.  It also includes instructions for a short row heel, which I have learned that I DO NOT LIKE!  The fair isle, on the other hand, is great!!  I can see more fair isle in my future!

Next up is a pair of gloves/mittens.  I have never made gloves or mittens before, so I figured I would make both at once and learn both at the same time.  The pattern is easy enough, but contains errors.  Actually, I expected better instructions in a pattern from Knitty.com, but free is free.  The concept of the fingerless glove covered by a mitten cap is great!  If you want to make a pair of these I suggest these notes as they helped me out tremendously!  So, now I give you the left hand of a pair of Broad Street Mittens by Janis Cortese.

Left Hand Glove

Left Hand Mitten

About a week or two ago the secret knit a long that I put together for the Atlanta Knitting Guild ended.  I designed an original lace pattern for them to knit so they could enjoy the experience of a knit a long and have a pattern (free) to call their own.  The KAL was done exactly like the Secret of the Stole KAL’s, but exclusively for the guild members only.  Here is the resulting pattern.  This pattern will be for sale as soon as we get the photos done this weekend.  If you would like to be notified when the pattern is available please join the Nautical Knitter Designs Yahoo Group.

Blocked and ready for the photo shoot this weekend.

As if knitting wasn’t enough, I also did a bit of sewing this past weekend.  This top is from a Butterick pattern (#4684) and apparently I am a smaller size in Butterick than in Simplicity.  Who knew?  So, this top came out a size or two too big for me.  I do like the pattern though and the next one should fit just right.  This one is being gifted, if it fits and she likes it …

The mail held some wonderful goodies this week as well.  I received 3 new books on my newest interest, socks.  Remember the socks that I just finished that were too short?  Well, I traded them for some awesome hand dyed sock yarn which also came.  Unfortunately, the US Postal Service has not delivered the socks to her yet and I fear that all that hard work may be lost.  If so, I will have to do something to compensate for this lovely yarn she dyed for me.  Snail mail stinks!

Can you tell what is on my list?

Well, if you made it this far in the post you deserve a treat, so for those who have been patiently waiting I can officially say that I have begun test knitting the Secret of the Stole IV!  YAY!  It is probably the coolest pattern I have done to date and I can’t wait to share it with you all.  The yahoo group is not open yet, but you can join the Nautical Knitter Designs group to be notified when it is.  Until then, here is a teaser:

Could it be? Why yes, it is, SOTS IV in progress!

There you have it, my last week or so in a blog post.  I hope your week was just as productive.  Until next time, Fair Winds

What better way to start a new blog than with a finished object?  These socks were started at the beginning of the 2008-2009 college basketball season.  They were a great “grab and go” project for taking to the games and the cable pattern was quite simple to memorize. This was the first time I had ever done a cable pattern and the pattern was written well enough for a beginner to understand.

I am a notoriously slow and methodical knitter, so finished objects for me are something to be celebrated!  Therefore, I present to you my completed Updraft Socks.

Pattern: Updraft Socks – Air Collection

Modifications: Eliminated the cable pattern on the foot

Yarn: Knitpicks Essential – Ash

Needles: US 0