Wednesday, September 19, 2007

I'm Off


I'm off and starting my Branched Fern socks. I wanted to introduce my self. I've been knitting for a number of years and love to knit socks. It seems I always have a pair on the needles. I joined my first knit-a-long when I started knitting the Forest Path Stole. Hopefully this will be a quicker finish line, smile. I travel often and find socks the perfect airport/plane knitting. I have been wanting to knit a pair of socks with a solid color for a while. Branched Fern Socks seem like the perfect pattern for it.

The yarn I've chosen is Lang JaWoll color, not sure what the color # or name is. It is a superwash and comes with heel/toe reinforcement thread right in the center of the skien. (You reach in and pull it out before starting to knit.) It is a dark green with a golden heather thru out the fiber. I found it at my LYS, and it takes 2 skeins for a pair of socks. I do plan to use the reinforcement thread in this pair of socks (color matches better than shown). I've only knit one other pair of socks toe up. This is an unusual cast on for me. I look forward to trying it. I like the idea of toe up socks as I tend to like my cuff longer than most patterns call for. Toe up allows me to knit the cuff longer until I use up all/most of the yarn. I've tried two circular needles, but find I enjoy my double points the most and will be using 2.5mm on this pair.

I look forward to your tips and hints and seeing all of your finished socks. Happy Knitting!!

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

And I'm Done!

Woo hoo! My very first pair of Branched Ferns is off the needles. Here they are in all their glory:

Branched Fern Socks

Knitting details are on my blog — Rochelle, thank you for such a gorgeous sock pattern. I can't wait to gift them to my mum.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Branched Fern Socks


This is my first sock KAL, and I'm really excited to be here. I've made one complete pair of socks so far - one is too big, and one's too small. They're really pretty but very impractical.

Thankfully, my second pair is almost done, adjusted to fit my feet, and fit perfectly! So although I haven't read charts yet, I think I can do this KAL.

I've picked out my yarn for the Branched Fern socks...I'm using Regia Silk in color 70. Everything else I have is blues, pinks, etc. Although this yarn was planned for another pair of socks, they're just crying out to be used for this pair of socks!

The label on the yarn says 2-3US needle size, and the smallest size I have is a size 1. Do you think that will work? Or should I get a smaller needle?

I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone else's socks turn out too!

Debbie

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Rules

I guess the best way to put it is, there are no rules except putting anyone down or being nasty will not be tolerated. You can start your socks anytime you wish and there is no set date for completion. I want this to be something you enjoy working on and not add any pressure. I don't think variegated yarn will work with this pattern but a colourway that is has the same colour tones will work. For example, I just started the Campanula for the Cure socks and I am using Tofutisie in colour Light Foot, no. 730 shown on the left. The colour is basically pink, as you can see, but it's not a solid pink. Something like that would work for the Branched Fern but something that has a lot of different colours the pattern would get lost. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be done. It's whatever you prefer. The socks were designed for solid sock yarn. It was what the contest was all about.

Have fun everyone and if any help is needed just shout. I'll join you all in a few weeks after I finish the stuff I am working on.

Sooooo, when do we start?

Are there any dates or guidelines to this sock-party?

While waiting to start these lovelies, I am eagerly analyzing the Branched Fern potential of my extensive collection of sock-yarn... there are so many options to choose and several variables to consider. Do I dare go with a variegated yarn, or should I play it safe and stick with a solid/semi-solid? And what colour makes me feel all branched-ferny? Oh, the dilemna is too great to bear!

Thank you

Thank you for creating this KAL blog and letting me join. I am excited to get started. I am going to use some purple yarn from my stash.

Donna

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Did I jump the gun on the knit-along? I couldn't help myself and cast on for these yesterday — I love the pattern (great job, Rochelle!).
Branched Fern Socks over my Toes
So far, I've managed to crank out four pattern repeats, and I'm determined to get to the gusset increase rounds by the end of the day (the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance is on tonight, which provides me with two hours of uninterrupted knitting time).
I'm using fingering weight yarn dyed by Maggie in Singed Tomato, and while it's a little busy-looking with the lace pattern, I love it.

My Finished Sock Pictures

Some people have asked me if they could see the finished sock. Here are the socks I did for the Cherry Tree Hill contest last year. I intend to knit along with everyone for this KAL because I have not knit these socks in a while and they are crying to be knit once again. I just have to decide what yarn it wants to be knit with and get some other sock knitting completed and I will join in.




Friday, August 10, 2007

Welcome

I thought I would start a blog for my socks since the group has no activity. I'll still keep the group for a little while but I thought this would be a way for people to share their socks easier with everyone else. If you would like an invite just email me at yosemite55 AT gmail DOT com.