Basic Wool Sock Pattern

If your looking for a very simple and very basic sock pattern.. I just added the pattern for these socks to my ravelry account.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wool-socks

Alright, I did it! Finally successfully dyed some yarn.. at least that is what this yarn is leading me to believe...
Here are some pics..

MmmmHmmm... looks so gross!!
So, reading through this really awesome new book I just bought.. I came across a method using soda ash.. well fancy that! I just so happened to have some in a tie dye kit hiding out under my sink.. Figured why not? So here it sits, soaking in the dye bath.. gotta love getting an extra crock pot a while ago too!

Here it is out to dry... very dark! Kinda scared me some too.. but OK, my fault, I added too much maybe? Let it sit too long? Either way, this is what I now have to work with.

On the left is that green/blue I talked about at an earlier date.. love it!
On the right is my latest greatest try at dyeing some wool.. and as ugly as I thought it was going to be... you can see below it is kind of turning out rather nice! Not sure how nicely it will knit up (colour wise), but I do love the variation is colour!

So the things I managed to get done in time for Christmas were big hits.. However, at the moment my computer is not letting me upload the pictures :(
I will try again later... I hope.

I was also able to get a pair of socks made out of the yarn I had been working on... They turned out really well, and oh so very toasty too! I was so excited and thrilled with them that they almost didn't make it to the new owner hahah.. Gladly though, I can say they did, and that particular friend of mine was just as happy to have them as I would have been keeping them :) I am really delighted though, that my friend will be enjoying them as much as I had hoped.
As soon as I figure out my computer troubles I will  also be adding a picture of those socks.

As for the rest of my yarn... still working on it. However, as I some how managed to convince my hands to spin a thinner yarn.. well, I wont be using those yarns together in the same project. Even though this is somewhat disappointing.. I will at least be able to put it to use in another project or even get lucky enough to list and sell it :)

1/26/2013
Going to give this another try..

Here are the stockings I made for a friends kids.. I messed up and didn't get a picture of her stocking before I gave it back..
These two were made to look as though they were made at the same time or by the same person who made her stocking. She has had it since she was just little.. Anyway, this is them.

These socks.. I am very proud to say were made of yarn that I spun myself.. Yay!!!

These were made for my sister-in-law.. They have cables (owl's) and beads which are there for the eyes.

Still have to send these to my Mom.. couldn't get a decent picture of the design if I didn't put them on.. so, here they are.

Father-in-law is a huge Dr.Who fan.. so of course, he got Police Box socks. He was like a kid in a Candy store when he un-wrapped these!

Christmas Stockings

I was just recently asked by a friend of mine, if I would make some stockings for her children.. Of course, I tell her I would love to :)

She wants them to look/match the one that she has had since she was really little... So, I told her to bring it on in and I would have use it for comparison and make two that look (hopefully) like they were made in the same style or as if made by the same person... Here is hoping :)

I have gotten most of the first done, and thankfully they do not have to be done by this Christmas, but I would love to be able to surprise her with them.. (though doubtful :( ).. I will still try though. And because her stocking was knit using intarsia.. this is something I have yet learnt, or even attempted until now!! I have to say it is turning out pretty nicely, but I'm just not as impressed with it as I am with fair-isle knitting...

I will though, be posting pics as I go, or at least when they are all finished and ready to go!

Here is my green and purple yarn...

Still need to get the blue/green and white spun...

And here is my first ball of white.. Looks pretty good so far. Should wind up with about five to six balls of white.. Yay!!
Here is hoping I will get enough for at least two pairs of socks..

I don't have a lot done so far.. but I've also been working on a scarf for my cousin.. it should turn out really nice :) I can't wait to see it when it is all done!

I wouldn't say that today was one of my most productive days when it comes to knitting... but I did manage to crochet two kitty toys, spun a little more of my yarn, mended a little of a pair of socks that sorely need some fixing up....

So I suppose today wasn't that bad... still do need to finish a thumb on a pair of mitts that will be a Christmas gift... if I manage to get back to them before the big day :(

The first mouse I made... found them on Ravelry and thought they were just too cool not to make :) My kitty seems to think the same thing too! Good thing.. I made two.

And here he is, enjoying his second mouse for the day...

 So this, being my first go, is my very messy and sad attempt to repair my sock... Our new addition to the family decided they were worth chewing on.. resulting in a lovely little hole needing repaired.. So I figured, rather than letting one of my favourite pairs of socks go to waste, that I would give mending a go...

This is what it looks like on the outside...

And oh look... they are wearing thin anyway, which is why I decided to just go over the first two to three inches. That should cover up where they will be getting the most wear and tear.. Kind of figured it would be the heel that would go first, but I guess I don't walk enough on my heel...

And here it is... Been working a little on this yarn throughout the past two days.. Figured that I would be good and get all my yarn spun before I start working on my socks... Which is proving to be quite the test in patience... I find myself wandering around aimlessly, lost and without purpose lol... A bit odd since I still have plenty of yarn to spin!

Navajo plying with my drop spindle

Oh wow am I good! Well OK, not so modest, but without doubt very good...
I decided, especially since I swear more than a road raging trucker during rush hour while trying desperately to ply using a spindle, that I ought to learn to ply using the Navajo method.

Alright, distractions... I figured why on earth not right?? Well after watching a few videos on line.. I decided I would give it a go. I had already been working on some lace yarn, but since I have done that so much lately, I unwound what I had and started off with a good dose of swearing and a handful of yarn...

My brain isn't putting this all down all too well right now.. so here are a few pics of what Ive done so far.

**I should note that I plied my yarn while spinning, I did not go back and ply it after the spinning was finished.**
You may need to fudge around a little to figure out the beginning loop, it's been a while since I've used my hand spindle (spinning wheel yay! too much fun) and can't remember well enough to explain just yet. I will try to figure that out some time, and maybe get gutsy enough to make a video tutorial.

You do need to start with a loop in order for this to work. Once you have that loop, don't lose it! You will need it in order to keep pulling up a new loop each time.

Once your loop is long and looks like it does in the picture to the left, spin your spindle in the opposite direction that you had originally spun your yarn.

Don't worry if you goof, I've done it plenty... Just un-spin and re-spin the proper direction.

And this is what it should look like! (pictures below show it better).

Now, while keeping track of your look, wind your plied yarn around your spindle (I do two double hitch knots in order to keep my loop and plied yarn snug, I don't want them to un wind or loosen on me here).

When everything is in order and you are ready to start again. You spin your spindle in the original direction, draft out some yarn and spin it a little more snuggly than you would normally (now is a good time for over spinners to relax and enjoy that they can get away with a little extra twist in their single).

Once you have a workable length (enough that you are comfortable with), gently pull your single through the loop, even it out and spin in the opposite direction.

And now, simply start it all over again, and soon enough, all your yarn will be spun and plied!

 

 

11/30/2010

 

Just sharing a few more pics of this yarn.. and one of my daughters. I finally decided to break down and try teaching her to spin.. Not only is she spinning, but I've got her learning the Navajo plying method.. not too bad for her first go (her yarn is the white :) ).