Wolf Pack Socks

I'm unveiling this months 'When Vampire Knit Socks' socks - Wolf Pack Socks


The colour of the yarn is most beautiful, it is a mix of browns and greys (with a bit of russet thrown in for Jacob) to represent the different colours of the wolves in the pack.



These socks are inspired by the wolf pack made up of members of the Quileute Tribe who are able to transform in to wolves. The ‘Five Brother’ cable runs down each side of the sock, each on its own representing the five ‘original’ members of the pack, Sam, Paul, Jared, Embry and Jacob and together, the ten wolves who stand against the newborn army at the end of Eclipse, when Quil, Leah, Seth, Collin and Brady have joined. Each strand represents a single wolf and the way they wrap around each other as they travel down the sock represents the strong links between their minds and lives. Down the front of the sock, a twisted cable pattern is inspired by the texture-rich coats of the wolves and a lace paw-print motif wanders down the back of the leg.





Sign ups for the next 3 months are open - here. There are some lovely colours and great patterns planned, come and join in!

Arlena

I am proud to introduce my new pattern - Arlena



This is an elegant lace scarf, it is light, airy and delicate. The pattern was inspired by the linear style seen in Art Deco architecture and is named after a character in an Agatha Christie Poirot novel - partly because of the Art Deco style and partly because I love to watch the dramatisations while I knit!



This is perfect for Spring! The yarn used is The Knitting Goddess Lace Weight Cashmere in Forest Green, you can knit this from one 25g skein and there are some really lovely colours available here - my particular favourites are Jade, Ocean Green and Rose Pink, but they are all gorgeous!

The pattern is available to buy here:

This is the Ravelry Link - Arlena



I really love how this scarf turned out, I have a new found love for lace weight yarn - there is something so beautiful about how delicate and light it is.

Here we are, at the beginning of all things.....

Well maybe not all things, but certainly my sock knitting.

Just before Christmas I ordered and recieved a copy of the long awaited Knit. Sock. Love. It is a beautiful book. There are some patterns in the book which I have already knitted and the most significant of these is Monkey - the first socks I ever knitted were a pair of Monkeys and before I had turned the first heel (which was a truly magical experience) I knew I was going to knit A LOT more socks (and I was right). The pair of socks above were the result, they were a success, they fit me and I still really enjoy wearing them.

When I was looking through the book, and at various points throughout the following days and weeks, I had an urge to knit another pair, as a nostalgic homage to the beginning of my sock knitting obsession. As a general rule, I don't knit the same pattern twice, too many patterns - not enough knitting time, but the thought of knitting another pair of Monkeys niggled at me and I decided to break my rule (there are no knitting police and all that). I chose yarn, then I changed my mind and chose again, then I thought my new choice was too close to the colour of the original pair so I chose again, wound my yarn (it is The Knitting Goddess 4ply merino nylon in the colour Looks Like December, a club yarn from last year) and took them to New York as a travel friendly project.

This is a lovely pattern, simple enough but interesting enough and I am looking forward to wearing my new pair as much as the old pair

Incidentally, this was not the pattern which made me want to start knitting socks, but that, as they say, is a story for another day.....

New York, New York

Last weekend I went to New York for a long weekend, it was fabulous!

It was also very, very, very, very COLD! There was about 2 feet of snow on the ground, (not on the roads or pavements, they were completely clear) Central Park was very pretty

I don't fly well and knitting really helps to pass the time so I was hopeful I would be able to take some with me. After extensive research I decided to take 4 inch wooden DPNs, I sailed through security and cast on a pair of Monkeys while I was waiting to board my plane. I soon discovered that I cannot knit with 4 inch needles. The end dug in to my palm no matter how I held them and after a while I gave up and watched films instead. When I visited Knitty City I bought some 7 inch DPNs and a Hiya Hiya wooden circular for magic loop (my prefered method of sock knitting), my plan was to try to take all 3 sets of needles on to the plane, if they said I couldn't have the circ, I would have the 7 inch DPNs, if they said I couldn't have those either I would still have the 4 inch needles to get the sock home on. As it turned out I was over-thinking it and again I got through security with no problems at all.



Knitty City was pretty close to my ideal yarn shop. It was friendly and the staff were welcoming and chatty, there was LOTS of gorgeous yarn, an area for sitting and knitting, lots of samples and swatches, I could have spent hours (and large amounts of money) there but I was accompanied by my very lovely, but very uninterested in knitting, partner so my visit was short but sweet. I bought some sock yarn and the needles I talked about above and I was given a lovely reusable shopping bag to carry my purchases home in.



These are my purchases, left to right, 2 x Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere, Madeline Tosh Sock, 2 x Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock.



It was a weekend packed full of sightseeing and shopping, we saw the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Times Square and lots more, we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge (and back)

On Sunday we popped in to Purl Soho, which was also a very lovely yarn shop also carrying some beautiful fabrics, it was busy and I was worn out so I didn't stay long and I didn't buy anything but next time i go to New York I will return there, well rested and ready to shop!

Volturi Palace Socks

These are the fourth socks in the When Vampires Knit Socks club





This sock is inspired by the room in which Bella meets the Volturi after travelling to Italy to save Edward. It is not described in detail in the book, but the set which was designed and built for the film draws on Tuscan Renaissance architecture with cream and green marble, columns and clean lines. The light, airy space is a contrast to the dark and dangerous Aro. These socks have green toes which have curves leading in to the cream marble columns and carvings. The cuff has a pattern inspired by the one of the tiled patterns on the floor of the chamber.



I really enjoyed knitting these, I love Italy and one of my favourite places is Florence, these socks also remind me of some of the interiors there.



This weekend is Christmas for my family because some of us were away for the actual day, there will be turkey, crackers, stockings and presents. I have knitted for everybody - I feel like if I'm going to knit for one, I should knit for all, I'm lucky they all appreciate hand-knits and I know they will know how much love (and work!) went in to each gift. At this point I am one sock and one arm-warmer short but if worst comes to worst they will have at least something to open while I spend the day furiously knitting!

When the gifts have been opened I'll take photos and I will show you them next week!

Bella's Truck Socks

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, I did - my loved ones seem to be learning that if my gifts are yarn I will be happy, it has taken them 2 years to get this far but we are definitely moving in the right direction! I recieved 10 balls of Noro Kureyon in a lovely blue, green and purple colourway and some chunky yarn which is destined to be a hat and mittens.

These are the latest socks from the When Vampires Knit Socks club - Bella's Truck Socks




These socks are inspired by the truck Charlie gives to Bella on her return to Forks. The truck is old and does not go fast, but it is reliable (unless Edward is trying to prevent Bella from going somewhere) and it becomes almost like a friend throughout the first three books, constant and comforting, until it is replaced by Edward at the beginning of the fourth. The truck was once red but over the decades it has faded, in some places more than others. The socks have tyre tracks running from the cuff, down the leg and across the foot. Around the rest of the leg is a diamond pattern inspired by the snow chains Charlie fits to the truck.

The club is open for sign ups here, sign ups will close next week so if you would like to join (and I hope you will!) don't hang around - we've got some exciting yarns and patterns planned, it's going to be great fun

Cold weather = More Hats!

The weather has been unusually cold for this time of year, we had heavy snow in November and although where I live in the midlands was not badly affected the temperature did drop to -10 on a few nights. Earlier in the year, when it snowed in January, I was spectacularly unprepared - I had no hand knitted hats, gloves or mittens, throughout the year I have attempted to put this shameful state of affairs right.

I was ready for the cold weather this time



These are Bella's Mittens, they are very warm and perfect for the snow.

I made two hats in November, bring the Winter 2010 total up to three.

First there was the Woolly Wormhead Mystery KAL, I chose pattern B (although I will also knit pattern A because it is very pretty too).



The mystery was revealed and the pattern name is Limpetiole, I used The Thylacine Hartz DK, this yarn is lovely - the colour is so delicate and it was a joy to knit.


The second hat is a Ripley by Ysolda. I had a sudden urge to knit this hat and I started and finished in one evening.



I used The Knitting Goddess Lambswool and Silk Aran, which is gorgeous and very wooly, I adjusted the hat slightly in that mine is in between the slouchy and non-slouchy version. I love this hat - it very rarely leaves my head!

I have plans for several more hats just as soon as I get my endless Christmas knitting out of the way!

PS The When Vampires Knit Socks club is open for sign ups - go here to join in, you know you want to!!