Wrestling Yarn Into Submission

I have a skein of yarn that is recalcitrant.  That means it's stubbornly resisting authority.  Or in other words, it's not playing nice with the pattern I pick.

It's still kind of cute here but not the
 beauty that enticed me to buy it.

I tried three times to beat this yarn into submission, three different patterns.  I tried a cabled pattern.  I tried pairing it with another yarn for a rag rug sock.  I tried a basic sock.  And all three times I frogged it.

I was beginning to regret my purchase.  This skein had enticed me for a few weeks, calling to me with its splotches of deep red and teal.  The call was so loud that I did not mind that it had orange and yellow splotches, too.

I just had to have it!  I ordered it and was filled with glee at the receiving my squishy mail.

The skein was beautiful.

Then I wound it into a cake (that's a yarn ball that is flat on the top and bottom so it does roll away).

Some of the beauty was lost.  The splotches were not grouped together and seemed to be a bit muddled.  But I knew that knitting it into  a sock could change the look.

I was ready to banish that skein to the depths of my stash box, or to sacrifice it to the fire.  At least it would produce some warmth that way.

Then I happened upon a sock that caught my eye.  I looked at the pattern and the designer said that the wonderful slip stitch pattern could save a variegated yarn.

I eyed my recalcitrant yarn.  I wonder if there was and saving it.  The only way to tell would be to cast on and knit.

Here's the result:

What do you think?
The pattern Weaver's Socks by Emily Walton
saved this yarn from banishment.

Update:  These socks are now featured on the main pattern page on Ravelry.  Click here to check it out!

Back to Socks!

It's been back to sock knitting recently.

I made sock "Crazy Socks" for the 6 year old nephew.

These are crazy alright!
If you wanted to knit them for yourself just
looked for the pattern "Mojo Sock Recipe" on Ravelry.

Then I had to knit socks for myself.  The yarn was a gift and it is so pretty!

Is that ball of yarn fabulous?
Thank you, Karla, for this ball from Nomadic Yarns
in the colorway:  When You Play the Game of Thrones.

To preserve the striping I had to do an afterthought heel.  That means I knitted the sock and went back to do the heel.  It made my head hurt!  First, I tried a normal afterthought heel but it was too tight.  I ripped that out and found something called the Crystal Heel which leaves the sock just snug.

Here's a close up of the Crystal Heel.

I think these are lovely striped socks. Don't you?

I love how the pattern makes the stripes all bendy.

Anybody have any ideas of what I should knit next?  Just make a comment below.  Thank you.  And remember, to keep your feet warm!

Shawls, shawls and more shawls!

It's been a long spring for me.   Between seasonal allergies and dog sitting, I found some time to knit.  This year's objects of experimentation are shawls.  Those last rows, especially on the big shawls seemed to take forever to knit.

So far, five shawls for the year.
These are not blocks so they are a bit curly on the edges.
All patterns can be found on Ravelry!

Unblocked is why it's curly!
Karla gave me the yarn.
Space Cadet's Mini-Skeins in case you are wondering.
Pattern Sansi Shawl can be found on Ravelry!

Be Simple Shawl done in
Cascade Heritage Paints Yarn.

Pointilles shawl de miclasouris done in
Knit Picks Stroll Glimmer.
The camera could not pick  up the sparkle!

                       

My Madeline Shawl done in heathery Classic Elite Yarns
Alpaca Sox.

Nurmintu done in
Knit Picks Palete
Special Reserve in the color Majesty.
The flower:  Heliotrope.
Go to your local nursery and get a plant.
It smells good!

I hope you are having a great summer!  Don't be afraid to let me know what you think about my shawls!  Thank you!

The Rug Ends

Happy Spring!!!

Let's hope it's here to stay.  We have had enough of winter around here.

I finished crocheting the rug I mentioned in my last post.

Finished size is approx. 48" across at the points.

Well, it might not be a rug.  I was hoping to put it in my bedroom but I have wood floors.  A cotton rug would just make the room into a skating rink.

So it might be a nice lap blanket.  Or a shawl.   

Fold down one point and then pull the adjacent points over your shoulders
and it's a shawl!

What are your suggestions for the use of this big hexagon?  Let me know.

A Rug Begins

Recently, I found a bag with two big (12 oz.) skeins of Bernat Handicraft Cotton that I had bought on clearance.  I had been toying with idea of crocheting a rug, possibly out of t-shirt yarn.  But all that seemed like a lot of work before I picked up the crochet hook.

So far, this is what I have done:

At the moment I am not happy with my camera.  It seems to take great photographs of the background and do something a bit blurry on my subject.  I am hoping that my proverbial ship comes in so I can buy a better camera and more yarn.

In the meantime, I will muddle through.

I tried to do a circular rug but got lost in my stitch count.  A hexagon is easier.

I hope spring is coming your way.  It's been a long winter for me.  How about you?

Making Lemonade

You know that moment when you realize that not all is going along as swimmingly as you hoped?  That moment when a project does sideways?  That moment you realized that you made a mistake and that you have several choices?

This is what happened to me.  I thought I was finishing the second of a pair of fingerless mittens.  I was really happy and pleased.  I bound off the main part of the mitt, and tried it on before finishing the thumb.

I am surprised you did not hear me moan in agony.  I realized that I had left out the final repeat of the woven pattern!

Oops!  The one on the left is missing a repeat.

Rather than making a rash decision, I put the mitt down and did something else.

I thought about it and knew I could either frog the mitt back, or decide I was making a longer pair and a shorter pair.

I decided to make the two pair as I thought the first one was a bit long for my liking.

So now I have to wind more yarn into a magic ball.  More Russian joins!

Have you had a crafting oops?  How did you deal with it?

Happy New Year!

Here's to 2015 being better than 2014.

I hate making resolutions.  Mostly, because they will be broken before the month is done.  All good intentions are forgotten and old patterns get repeated.

So the usual wish to be happier, healthier, wealthier, and smaller is made.  Just give me one out of the four and I'll call it a good year.

May 2015 treated you kindly.  May you heart be filled with love.  And don't forget to make something, too.

I will knit socks, of course.  I have been on a hat and fingerless mitt kick of late.  On tap is a toddler hat for spring. 

I am also doing a T.I.A.S. (Tat It And See)  Check it out on Jane Eborall's blog

So what are your crafting plans and hopes for the new year?  Make a comment and let me know.