FO: Wickerware Socks

Cross posted at Sally Comes Unraveled and Year Long Gift-A-Long.

These socks have been a long time coming.

I've had to rip back several times. I screwed up the stitch pattern more than once, messed up one of heels and somehow did the Kitchener Stitch backwards. And those are just the mistakes I remember. The pattern isn't hard as far as sock patterns go, but these socks lost their "mojo" at times.

To recap, this is the Wickerware Socks pattern. The pattern calls for two sizes of needles, a smaller size for the ribbing and a larger size for the rest of the sock. I used US Size 0 and US Size 00 dpns from my Susan Bates Sock Needle Set

The yarn is Austermann Step in colorway 04. This yarn is infused with jojoba and aloe vera to make it extra soft. The jojoba and aloe vera are supposed to last for 40 washings. The recipient is diabetic, and I thought the aloe vera would be good for his feet. These socks are "man socks" so they took almost all of the ball, although I probably have enough left for a pair of baby socks.

This is a Christmas gift for a male relative. It feels good to get these done.

I've come undone...

During my break at work I undid the Kitchener Stitch that I botched up last night. I even doubled checked to make sure the stitches were seated correctly.

Amy pointed out that I had two chances to get each stitch back on the needle, which made me feel better about the whole thing. Hopefully I'll have an FO post tonight.

One of these things is not like the other...

One of these things is not like the other... What do you think, Cookie Monster?



I really thought I'd have an FO post of my Wickerware Socks tonight, but something went horribly wrong.


Somehow, I managed to do the Kitchener Stitch backwards.

The last couple of stitches always seem to be wonky when I Kitchener Stitch. So I decided to consult the TECHknitting blog for advice. I didn't find out about the last stitches, but I did find this tutorial on how to do the Kitchener Stitch without a tapestry needle. I tried it, and something went wrong.


I guess I shouldn't have tried to fix what wasn't broken. (I ended up switching to a tapestry needle halfway through anyway. It was faster with a tapestry needle, although I think this technique is good to know for when I don't have a tapestry needle.) Other than those last couple of stitches, my Kitchener Stitch is fine. The first sock was fine.

My next challenge is figuring out how to un-Kitchener Stitch. For tonight, this project goes in timeout.

Ravelympics Closing Ceremony

I feel like an idiot. I realized too late that I didn't have until this evening to finish my Ravelympic projects. The Olympics ended this morning in Beijing while I was still asleep. Everything was timed on Beijing time. Otherwise I'd have at least one or two more FOs.


I'm down to the last toe on my Wickerware Socks. Believe it or not, I did a lot of knitting while watching "The Dark Knight" last night. My friends and I went on a whim, so I didn't bring good theater knitting. But I borrowed a mini flashlight from Lyndsey to periodically double check where I was. I stopped when I got to the toe, because I needed to do more counting. I think I did about 40 rounds.

I also gave this hat as a birthday gift, along with some other goodies wrapped in fabric. (The recipient is a seamstress.) I knew the right occasion would come along, and lime green suits her. The fit was a little big, but the slouchy look worked pretty well. I wish I'd remembered my camera.


I've passed the halfway point on the Spiraling Stripes Hat (aka Soy Wool Spiral.) I suspect that I will have to add more "wedges" to make it fit my ginormous head.

Despite my stupid mistake, I'm proud to have finished four projects, taken home seven medals for Team Austin. (Team Austin had 21 members and won 20 medals.)


I am about to go delete all the Ravelympic projects that were never started, with the exception of Odessa. I bought beads to match the yarn yesterday, and I plan to get started on it in the next day or so.

Ravelympics Progress

How about some Yarn Harlot-style sock action:


Tuesday night was the Ravelympics party at Candace's house, where we ate, knit and where we discussed Olympic uniforms, the psyche's of Olympic swimmers and the ages of Olympic gymnasts.


I was in the middle of turning my heel on my Wickerware Socks when we disbanded. I ended up having to undo the short rows because I was off a few stitches. I managed to redo them during my break at work today.


Last night I got some good work done on Center Square. I'm past the colorwork at this point.

I'm a little worried because it's so small. Somehow I'm down to five stitches per inch instead the (approximately) 4 stitches per inch called for in the pattern. I guess I needed larger needles. If I can't block it out, I'll give it to a kid on my Christmas list.

WIP Wednesday and Why I'm the Root of All Evil

I think it's time for an update, don't you?

Today after work I went to the knitting meetup at the Steeping Room. While I was there, I finished my first Wickerware Sock and cast on the second one. I never finish a sock unless I can start the second one right away. Its a surefire way to prevent Second Sock Syndrome.

Also, a night or two ago I finished spinning the Merino pencil roving that I got at The Knitting Nest. I decided that I like it as a single, so I tied it up so I could set the twist.

I debated about whether or not to put a weight on my other handspun yarns. Considering how kinky this one was when I took it off the Niddy Noddy, I think it will definitely need a mug when it comes out of the sink.

Once again, I used hot water and with a little Eucalan. It seemed to work fine with the other Merino. And so far, there's no bleeding.

Patton Oswalt says I'm the Root of All Evil

Earlier I saw Patton Oswalt argue that bloggers are The Root of All Evil. Apparently, the world will end with a Twitter. I would say that proves that Twittering is the root of all evil. Bloggers like me are keeping hope alive by writing in complete sentences. Sometimes.

(There are clips at the Root of All Evil Website.)

Bits and Pieces: WIP, Gauge and Knitty

I've had to unravel big chunks of these socks twice because I got off by a couple of stitches. But after completing the heel flap tonight, I feel like I'm finally making progress on my Wickerware Socks.

I went to movie night at Gauge tonight, and worked on the heel flap while we watched Edward Scissorhands. I got to show it to another knitter who hadn't seen what a heel flap before.

(BTW - Gauge is having their Holiday in July party on Saturday. The yarn swap is at 3 p.m., I believe.)

Also, the Knitty surprise is up. This time, all three are tops. Vickie Howell's Tank Girl has a couple of quirky dropped stitch "runs" for interest. Hey, Teach! has the most potential for me, personally. It's a breezy short sleeve cardigan. And, I don't know if I'd actually ever knit Sea Triangles, but I love the design ideas behind it, and the fact that someone did an entire garment out of Habu.

WIP Wednesday and Falling off the Wagon

So I fell off the wagon. Just a little. I went over my yarn budget, but there won't be any bounced checks, overdrafts or charges to my credit card.

There is a sale going on at Bluebonnet Yarn Shoppe from now through Saturday. All the yarn is 25% off.

I have good reasons for all of them. The SWTC A-MAIZing yarn in the bottom left is for swatching. (Number 77 on my list.) The Berroco Ultra Alpaca and Noro Silk Garden are for Christmas gifts. (The Fake Isle Hat and one of the Three Tams.) And the skein of Cascade Venezia in the upper left corner matches my eyes. (You can take a closer look at them here.)

Here's a better look at the Noro and the Ultra Alpaca. I think this color of Ultra Alpaca works well with both shades of Silk Garden. Picking out a single shade of Noro is hard enough. Picking a single shade and a coordinating solid is even harder.

After I got home I looked at the FOs for Three Tams on Ravelry. How do you wear a tam anyway? I saw some pictures that made it look like a regular cap. One person blocked theirs on a pie pan. What am I going for, really?

WIP Wednesday

It's Wednesday and lots of other bloggers do WIP Wednesday. Why shouldn't I?

Let's start with spinning. I borrowed my Mom's ginormous Navajo Spindle, but plying the merino singles I spun isn't getting easier. The spinning on my leg technique was hard and my own attempt to spin it like a top didn't work very well either. (And all this yarn won't fit on my drop spindle.)

Meanwhile, I'm actually making negative progress on my Wickerware Socks. I've made a lot of progress since the last time you saw them, but look where I was during my break at work today.

I screwed up the stitch pattern bad enough to bother me, and frogging everything above the red needles was the easiest way to fix it.

Finally, here's my precious Malabrigo Silky Merino, all wound up making it obvious that one skein is much lighter than the other. I'm debating my next move. I can either alternate skeins, hold two strands together and use bigger needles or just hope for the best.

I think some swatching is in order first.

Closed for Blogcation

I packed my suitcase.

I packed my knitting bag with two projects for the trip, one emergency back up scarf, a copy of TSA's rules for flying with knitting projects, a padded envelope and postage just in case they give me trouble and all my notions.

I cast on a pair of Wickerware Socks.

I also finally cast on Kiri. Although the final vote was for the alpaca/acrylic stuff on size 4 (at least it was as I write this), I couldn't resist the lace weight. Look how nice it looks all wound up:

Of course, this is serious lace weight. But I think I'm up for it. And I've packed material for life lines.

I'm not actually leaving until early Friday morning. However, I'll be rushing around tomorrow night and going to parents to drop off Bunny Foo-Foo. I'm planning to spend the night so I can get a ride to the airport. So this will be my last post until I return, with pictures of me and Jules and the local yarn shops in LA. I may be back late Monday night, but chances are you won't hear form me until Tuesday or Wednesday next week.