nonaSwatches

31 may, 2007

I was rummaging through my stash this evening looking for something mindless to swatch with my new US 5 Addi Turbo Lace needles -- love these needles -- and came upon this combination.

Yarn:	Unknown mohair and unknown variegated novelty -- looks like Crystal Palace's Waikiki
Needles:	US 5
Stitch:	Simple stripe -- 4 rows mohair, 1 row novelty.  This first row of mohair is knit through the back loop twisting the novelty yarn's stitches.

30 may, 2007

This stitch pattern -- Picot Stripe -- is create by making 7 new stitches in 1 stitch and then slowly decreasing them away.  The Picot do-das are almost 3 dimensional with a hole in the center.

Yarn:	Jamieson's DK
Needles:	US 7
Stitch:	Picot Stripe; multiple of 10 stitches
Source:	Barbara Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, page 117

29 may, 2007

I'm still not completely satisfied with the paired increases I'm using for the heel and toe of my Sideways Socks.  I decided to swatch a few alternatives to see if I could find something better.  In my next sock, I'm going to try the raised bar increase -- tan swatch, bottom section -- which distorts the fabric slightly but does not leave any holes.

27 may, 2007

Strangely enough, I felt the urge today to crochet a circle.  It really is fun and rhythmic.

Yarn:	Claudia's Handpaints
Hook:	3.5 mm
Source:	Erika Knight's Simple Crochet, page 32 -- first 11 rounds.

26 may, 2007

I've had this skein of Socks That Rock yarn in my stash for years just waiting for the perfect project.  The day has arrived, as I've selected this yarn for my Sideways Socks.  The color-way is called "Red Rock Canyon" and that is exactly what the colors remind me of.  Since gauge is critical for the proper fit of Sideways Socks, I tried to be accurate in this gauge swatch.

Yarn:	Blue Moon Fiber Art's Socks That Rock in Red Rock Canyon
Needles:	Bottom Half: US 1; Top Half: US 0
Gauge:	US 1: 30 stitches and 40 rows in 4 inches. US 0: 32 stitches and 44 rows in 4 inches.

25 may, 2007

With Sideways Socks on the brain, I've been on the look out for horizontal stitch patterns that would worked vertically in said socks.  This one is a winner.  It has nice vertical lines -- when viewed from the side -- and wonderful stretch.

Yarn:	Koigu
Needles:	US 4
Stitch:	Ridged Ribbon Eyelet; over an odd number of stitches Row 1: Knit Row 2: Purl Row 3: Knit Row 4: Knit Row 5: * k2tog, yo*, repeat to last stitch, k1 Row 6: Knit
Source:	Barbara Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, page 175

24 may, 2007

The last piece in the sideways sock puzzle -- the leg shaping.  This view is the back of the leg where I've used garter stitch to pull in around the back ankle and some short row shaping to widen the sock ever so slightly around the calf.  I'm out of practice yarn -- it's time to put all the pieces together and knit a full sideways sock. 

Yarn:	Opal Sock Yarn; 75% wool, 25% acrylic; Hundertwasser #650
Needles:	US 2

23 may, 2007

This is another take on a vertical toe.  This one uses identical shaping to the heel -- I like that -- but requires a small horizontal seam across the bottom of the foot -- not a great idea.  Luckily I found a way to graft the edges together, joining the pieces without a seam or any bulk -- the little swatch top, right.  Time to try this toe on another prototype ankle sock.

Yarn:	Opal Sock Yarn; 75% wool, 25% acrylic; Hundertwasser #650
Needles:	US 2

22 may, 2007

My first prototype for a vertical toe with no seams.  I still need to improve the join -- which I work as I go -- but it's a reasonable first stab.  And guess what?  Because of my grafting epiphany I was able to graft the toe completely from memory -- Yippe!

Yarn:	Opal Sock Yarn; 75% wool, 25% acrylic; Hundertwasser #650
Needles:	US 2

21 may, 2007

Job related, my friends, job related.  A few swatches to test the exercises for the Chart Reading class I'm teaching tonight -- oops, gotta go!

Yarn:	RY's Cashsoft DK
Needles:	US 7
Techniques:	Chart Reading, a little lace, a little cabling, a little knit / purl texture.