Ode to Joy

Beastie is home from his eye exam. Everything went smoothly, although he came out of the anesteshia rather mean & grumpy. His astigmatism has gotten much worse, but the good news is that the cupless optic disc in his left eye looks the same as it did a year ago & the right eye is showing no new issues. So, in celebration I give you some Beaker!

some WIPs & some tnna & some Beastie

(wow, that title almost sounds naughty! anyway.......)

I've been kniting & crocheting like a mad-woman lately. Never without 2 or 3 (or more) projects with me wherever I may be going. Some of them are TSS (top secret stuff, not therapeautic support staff [sorry kristy!]) but some of them are able to be shared, so I will happily do that now.

First up is my second Summer Sock Hop Sock

This was taken yesterday. Since then I've gotten almost to the toe decreases. And yes, in this photo the sock is on DPNs. But that really didn't work for me, so never fear, it is back on the loop and buzzing along fine again.

I hope to have this one done tomorrow. It will be perfect knitting while Beastie is having his eye exam (more on that later).


Next is my Geisha Wrap by Kristin Omdahl from the book Wrapped in Crochet. I'm doing it in the Moda Dea Silk N' Wool blend that I got from Coats & Clark as a thank you for organizing the Special Olympics Scarf project on Ravelry. I'm almost through my second skein of yarn and it is just skipping right along. Perfect mindless summer crochet.

I'm hoping to finish it in the car this weekend when we are on our way up to the Poconos for the weekend for a family reunion. Won't that be cute for firework snuggling?

I truly believe absence does make the heart grow fonder. I was gone for five days at TNNA. What a fantastic time we had, but wow, was I happy to get home to my men. And I'm pretty sure they missed me too, although with all the testosterone floating around they would be hard pressed to admit it to anyone.

I met so many wonderful, amazing people. I tried hard not to act like a fangirl a few times, but wow, was it hard when so many of your needlearts crushes are so near. I won't name any names in order to save myself embarassment, but suffice it to say that I get to check off some names on my "people I'd like to meet" list.

Our booth was great looking & great fun too. There were so many wonderful LYS owners stopping by to see the new yarns and so many great designers coming in too. Really, it was a fibergirl's dream come true. I'll blog about the new yarns later this week on the Paca-Blog and be sure to link here when I do so. You better get your bibs ready, because these babies are drool-worthy!

And speaking of babies...

Beastie sacked out after a long hard day at camp. Tomorrow morning he goes in for an eye exam under sedation. It appears as though his astigmatism has had a 90 degree shift in the past year, something that is highly unusual, so we have to have another 'surgical procedure' done to see what is going on inside those eyeballs of his. Cross your fingers for us; I'll update on his results as soon as I can.

Summer Sock Hop Sock on DPNs

I've gotten a few requests to modify the pattern for knitting on DPNs. Since I seldom use DPNs anymore, I will try, but bear with me if I'm not explaining it perfectly.


CAST-ON
Using your preferred method, cast on 140 stitches. Divide evenly onto 4 needles, 35 sts per needle, and join in the round.

CUFF
Rounds 1 - 4: Knit
Round 5: *K2tog, K3tog* (56 stitches remain)

Continue knitting in stockinette stitch for 1" or to desired cuff length. A cuff longer then 1" may require an additional ball of Panda Silk.

HEEL
Knit across Needle 1. Turn and purl across Needle 1 and Needle 4, consolidating all 28 sts onto one needle.
Row 1: (WS) Sl 1, P 27, turn

Row 2: *Sl 1, K 1*

Repeat these two rows 16 times, for a total of 32 rows.

then repeat row 1 once more.

HEEL TURN

Row 1: (RS) Sl 1, K 16, ssk, k1, turn

Row 2: Sl 1, p 7, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 3: Sl 1, knit to 1 st before gap created by turn on previous row, ssk to close gap (1 st from each side of gap), k1, turn

Row 4: Sl 1, purl to 1 st before gap created by turn on previous row, p2tog to close gap (1 st from each side of gap) p1, turn

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all stitches have been worked - 18 sts remain.

GUSSET

Set up Row: Knit across working needle (Needle 1), using same needle, pick up 16 gusset stitches, plus pick up one extra stitch between last gusset stitch and Needle 2 in order to eliminate any possible holes in your sock.

Needle 2: Knit all sts
Needle 3: Knit all sts

Reintroduce Needle 4, picking up 1 stitch between Needle 3 and your first gusset stitch and then pick up 16 gusset stitches. Still working on Needle 4, knit the first 9 stitches from needle 1.

At this point your stitches should be aligned as follows:
Needle 1: 26 sts
Needle 2: 14 sts
Needle 3: 14 sts
Needle 4: 26 sts

Begin gusset decreases:

Round 1: Needle 1 - knit to the last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 2 & 3 - knit across the top of your foot. Needle 4 - k1, ssk, knit to end of needle.

Round 2: Knit all sts.

Continue repeating these two rounds until you get back to a total of 56 sts with 28 sts on each needle.

FOOT

Knit all stitches until sock is 2" shorter then desired length of foot.

TOE

Round 1: (even round) Knit

Round 2: (decrease round) Needle 1 - knit to 3 sts before the end of needle, k2tog, k1. Needle 2 - k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts of Needle 3, k2tog, k1. Needle 4, K1, ssk, knit to end of needle (4 sts decreased).

Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until 16 sts remain (4 on each needle). Transfer sts from Needle 2 onto Needle 1 and from Needle 4 onto Needle 3. Graft sts together using the Kitchener stitch.

I hope I did all the conversion correctly! If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. Enjoy!!!

Free Summer Sock Pattern!

Nothing better then cute, flirty summer socks to chase away the humid knitting blues. This is my current favorite pattern, many thanks to my dear lovie, Tasha, for being the inspiration.

SUMMER SOCK HOP SOCK

Yarn: Panda Silk (52% Bamboo, 43% Superwash Merino Wool, 5% Combed Silk), 1 ball, 204 yards
Needles: Size 2 circulars, 32" or longer
Stitch Marker
Gauge: 36 sts per 4" in stockinette stitch

Note: This pattern is written for Magic-Loop. If you are not comfortable with 'looping' you can find videos at Knitting Help: http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques

CAST-ON
Using your preferred method, cast on 140 stitches. Divide evenly onto 2 needles and join in the round.

CUFF
Rounds 1 - 4: Knit
Round 5: *K2tog, K3tog* (56 stitches remain)

Continue knitting in stockinette stitch for 1" or to desired cuff length. A cuff longer then 1" may require an additional ball of Panda Silk.

HEEL
Using only one needle you will be working 28 stitches. Turn sock so that wrong side is facing.
Row 1: (WS) Sl 1, P 27, turn

Row 2: *Sl 1, K 1*

Repeat these two rows 16 times, for a total of 32 rows.

then repeat row 1 once more.

HEEL TURN

Row 1: (RS) Sl 1, K 16, ssk, k1, turn

Row 2: Sl 1, p 7, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 3: Sl 1, knit to 1 st before gap created by turn on previous row, ssk to close gap (1 st from each side of gap), k1, turn

Row 4: Sl 1, purl to 1 st before gap created by turn on previous row, p2tog to close gap (1 st from each side of gap) p1, turn

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all stitches have been worked - 18 sts remain.

GUSSET

Set up Row: Knit across working needle, using same needle, pick up 16 gusset stitches, plus pick up one extra stitch between last gusset stitch and work on back needle in order to eliminate any possible holes in your sock.

Switch your loop around and k28, this is the top of your foot. PM and then pick up one stitch between the needle and the first gusset stitch and then pick up the 16 gusset stitches.

You will have more stitches on one needle then the other, but that's okay. Needle 1 will have 35 sts (18 sts from the heel, 16 from the gusset plus the 1 you picked up from between the needles); Needle 2 will have 45 sts (28 sts across the top of you foot, then your marker, then your 1 extra st from between the needles followed by your 16 gusset sts).

Round 1: Knit all sts.

Round 2: On your first needle, knit to the last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Switch your loop around. Work across the top of your foot, slip your marker, k1, ssk, knit to end of needle.

Continue repeating these two rounds until you get back to a total of 56 sts. Your first needle should have 23 sts and your second needle should have 33 sts (28 across the top of the foot sts, your marker and then 5 sts). At this point you are done your decreses. Slip the 5 gusset sts that remain on your second needle back onto the first needle to make a total of 28 sts on each needle.

FOOT

Knit all stitches until sock is 2" shorter then desired length of foot.

TOE

Round 1: (even round) Knit

Round 2: (decrease round) Needle 1[top of foot] K1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before the end of needle, k2tog, k1. Needle 2 [bottom of foot] K1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before the end of needle, k2tog, k1 (4 sts decreased).

Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until 16 sts remain (8 on each needle). Graft sts together using the Kitchner stitch.