Sunday 19 June 2016

Socks, Socks, Socks!

I think I'm suffering from sport overload!  I'm enjoying the football and US Open golf, but I've reached that stage where I need to get on with other things.  Thankfully the number of football matches per day reduces after today and the golf should be finished this evening.

On the plus side, I have managed to work my way through quite a bit of yarn.  The yarn stash is reducing nicely.  Firstly, the aran cardigan is finished.  (Full details on Ravelry, HERE)



This yarn was leftover from a hat that Grace made.  The pattern is Maddalena by Louisa Harding, a pattern I've made before and worn  a lot.  So if it works, then I'm happy to go with it again.

The only problem I have is that it's purple.  I'm strangely drawn to purple yarn - I now have three purple cardigans, unfortunately I have no dresses or skirts that go with them.  I need to buy myself some purple fabric and make a coordinating dress.  So let's put it on the wish list.

I've also knitted two pairs of socks.  The first pair incorporates the Cobblestone pattern by Mina Philipp from her latest collection.  (Details on Ravelry, HERE)




I was using the Sockmaticians recipe for toe up socks with a traditional heel turn and flap and I can say that I love it.  I much prefer toe up socks (no kitchener for the toes!) and up until now I hadn't settled on a heel I liked for this method.  This pattern now provides me with a heel I like and I'll be using it for most of my socks from now on.

The second pair of socks I've made also use the Sockmaticians recipe, but this time I used DK weight yarn rather than my usual 4 ply.  (Details on Ravelry, HERE)




I used a chart from a Finnish pattern called Eukalyptus which creates a lovely lacy pattern.

This yarn has been frogged multiple times so it's a real stash buster - I'm therefore joining in with Linda's Crafty Corner's Stash Busting Party for this one.

I'm now on my third pair of socks - my aim is to make at least five pairs of socks to use up stashed yarn during the European Championships.  I'm well on my way to achieving this goal and could possibly make more but I suspect that by the time I've knitted five pairs of socks I'll be ready to move on to other things.

And finally, I've finished the last three squares for my Block - a - Month  blanket.  The two large squares were not the ones selected for this month.  I didn't like the ones selected so I substituted these because I just wanted to get them out of the way.


I now have the equivalent of 16 large squares, which is enough for my blanket.  The next job, the one I really love, is deciding the placement of the squares then sewing them together.  I'll leave crocheting the border until next month.  I haven't decided what I'm doing for this yet, but I'm thinking of making quite a deep border.

So that's me all accounted for.  I'm hoping to get some fresh air over the next week, inbetween sock knitting!

Enjoy the week ahead whatever you have planned.

18 comments:

  1. all super cute! You know purple is the new black, it matches anything!! Not to say you shouldn't make a purple skirt or dress....just saying!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I do love purple, so it'll be a good excuse to go fabric shopping!

      Delete
  2. You've accomplished a lot in a relatively short space of time. Stash busting is always good too! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jo. Stash Busting is a bit like list making, it feels good to tick it off and have done with it.

      Delete
  3. My husband is a fan of the football so he is obviously watching it, but I have to say I am well and truly over it and therefore spend more time in the craft room to get away so I have been quite industrious. Love the cardigan, such a beautiful colour. I am in awe of the sock knitting, you have such a talent.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Lorraine, enjoy your time in the craft room, I'm sure you'll get lots done too.

      Delete
  4. Dear me Janet you are quick, how do you manage to get so many things finished in such a short time! you will soon bust your stash at this rate them you will have the pleasure of building it all up again. The cardigan is lovely and the socks too especially the pink ones, enjoy your week. :) xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Linda, I can't wait to get the stash busted so that I can build it all up again. I'm so looking forward to Yarndale later in the year.

      Delete
  5. My goodness you have been busy. Can you ever have to many purple cardigans? I think not, especially if they are as beautiful as this last one.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Meredith. I'm sure I'll be buying more purple yarn in the future, I just can't resist it.

      Delete
  6. You always make me feel a bit ashamed, as I have knitted one (ankle) sock in the time that you have got so much done. The socks look great, I like them both. I have been watching a bit of football, although my team in the work sweep has already gone out (Ukraine), so I am now supporting Iceland, as well as England.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My motivation is that if I use up my sock yarn stash, I can justify buying more.

      Delete
  7. I love the purple cardie. Also you have so much patience with socks. I tend to just knit, even rib is too much for me these days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, I work on the basis that variety is the spice of life!

      Delete
  8. Fabulous knitting!!! The socks are especially wonderful! One day I might be able to do that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Amy, keep at it, you'll get there soon.

      Delete
  9. I'm not much of a sport girl, but it do help a lot when I'm knitting. I love your purple sweater. You can always wear something black or white with purple too :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Mari, yes black and white would work well with the cardigan.

      Delete

Thank you for visiting Yellow Pink and Sparkly. I'd love to hear from you, so please feel free to leave a comment.