I didn’t finish that many projects in 2008 so I told myself that I’ll try to complete at least one a month in 2009. A great way to fit in more knitting or crocheting time is to do so on my daily commute. The cardigan I’m currently working on is a little too bulky to lug around so I started a sock last night. This is the Nine-to-Five socks.

Ever since starting my cardigan sleeves on two circulars, I’ve been warming to the idea of knitting my socks on them too. However, I don’t have any 2mm circs (what I normally use for socks) at the moment and I don’t really want to buy crappy ones just to knit this pair of socks. It’s a big production to order from Knit Picks since I’ve to do so via a third party shipper so I’ll just have to wait a while more before getting those circs. In the meantime, I’ll stick to DPNs.

Another sorta resolution I’ve made this year is to try to whittle down my stash before buying more. I don’t have a ginormous stash but it’s still quite a sizable one. Hell, just Rowan All Seasons Cotton alone I already have 80 balls. I really do love the stuff though and I only buy the colours that’ve been discontinued. I just can’t bring myself to pay full price for them especially since I like to use them so much. If only we have Cotton Ease here at really low prices.

So what knitting or crocheting related resolutions have you made this year?

My Project on Ravelry

• Nine-to-Five Socks

This project has been hibernating for more than half a year since I first started it in October last year. I stopped mainly because I had 2 skeins of the yarn in the same dye lot which should give me a pair of normal length socks and I didn’t want to knit 2 pairs of ankle socks instead. So I frogged and bought another skein instead. Is this making sense?

Pattern: Breeze

Size: Ladies Small (US Shoe Size 5/6) (see notes below)

Yarn: 1 x Knit Picks Risata in Burgundy

Needles: 2.00mm

I have skinny ankles so I had to go down in needle size to get the socks to fit snugly round my ankles. However, this meant my gauge changed totally so instead of knitting the size S, I ended up knitting size M to fit. Also, I have no idea why the pattern says to break yarn before starting on the heel flap. I didn’t do it, of course. Other than that, I didn’t change anything. Incidentally, it’s only when I’m writing this post that I noticed the Ravelry page for this pattern stated there’s errata which can be found here. Oh well.

I thought I’ll really like the yarn because it has cotton but it’s still a little prickly for me which is probably due to the wool.

I finished knitting the socks with less than 4 yards of the yarn left so I think those with bigger feet may require more than 1 skein if you intend to use Risata. I may also be talking out of my arse.

When I first knit the sock back in October, I had giant holes on both sides of the sock after picking up stitches for the gusset. I’ve finally eliminated the problem this time round by picking up the bar between the heel flap and the ribbing. Yes! I looove the look of the heel flap (please excuse my unmoisturised reptilian legs).

This is a fun and addictive pattern. I mean, you keep telling yourself “hmm, I’ll stop after the next round” just to see the lace pattern forming and before you know it, you’ve finished the sock.

And yes, I’m aware I knit too much red stuff.

When do you consider a project as fully completed? Immediately after the knitting’s done? Or when ends are woven in? How about when it’s blocked? For me, it’s all of the above plus when it’s been photographed. That’s when I consider the project as fully completed and I can change the project status on Ravelry from “In Progress” to “Completed”. So even though I’ve finished knitting and blocked my Monkey socks a week ago, I only consider it completed today after photographing it.

Pattern: Monkey

Size: US Women 5

Yarn: Less than 2 x Knit Picks Memories in Redwood Forest

Needles: 2.00mm

Knitting Jaywalker has taught me that no matter how many knitters complain how tight the socks are, I shouldn’t pay too much attention because I’ve tiny feet and skinny ankles. Even though I used 2.00mm needles on that project, I still ended up with slouchy socks. Having learned my lesson, I tightened my tension a little for Monkey and they came out almost perfect. Why the “almost”? Well, I still have problems with my tension and my second sock ended up slightly smaller than the first. At least it isn’t glaringly obvious like the Jaywalker. Speaking of which, I probably should reknit my Jaywalker.

The pattern was simply enough and I didn’t have any problems with it. I love the way the yarn knits up in this pattern. Looking at the bottom of the sock, I realised I would have hated it if the entire sock was knitted in stockinette because I’m not really crazy about the way the yarn pools. However, the lace portion breaks up the yarn variegation so there wasn’t any pooling. Oh! I really, really love the colours too! Autumn’s my favourite season and I simply love autumn colours.

Although the yarn’s 100% merino wool, it still feels a teeny weeny bit itchy to me and isn’t as soft as Felici. Besides, in this humidity and warm weather, I could barely stand to wear the socks for more than 5 minutes while taking the pictures. It was so bloody hot!

I really like the look of the little bumps on the reverse side of the heel flap. When I was knitting the second sock, I screwed up the bottom part of the cuff and only noticed it as I was getting ready to pick up stitches for the gusset. Thank goodness I’ve since gained a little confidence in my knitting to be able to pull out my needles and just rip out the heel instead of trying to unknit the whole flap. It would have taken forever to unknit!

This is how much yarn I had left after knitting the first sock. The cake behind is a full skein. I probably have enough left over to knit a pair of footies or anklets. Also, although I super love the way yarn cakes look, I absolutely hate to wind yarn and yes, I do have a ball winder. I know many knitters love to do this, but to me it just eats into my knitting time! Plus, I really hate the way the yarn feels when it’s running through my fingers while tensioning it. To me, it’s akin to fingernails on blackboard. Blech. It’s too bad I vastly prefer centre-pull yarn cakes so I’ll have to endure the ball winding.

Right. Enough prattle for today.

I’m almost done with Juliet. It’s soaking in a basin sans buttons as we speak. After knitting something so big (to me), I need to knit something small and a little more complicated. Clearly, the answer is socks and socks it is!

I cast on for Monkey last night and am loving the way Knit Picks’ Memories in Redwood Forest is knitting up. I LOVE LOVE LOVE autumny colours so I’m completely in looove with this colourway. A pity it’s been discontinued.

My experience with Jaywalker taught me that even with 2mm needles, I need to tighten my tension a bit if I don’t want to end up with slouchy socks again. Guess this is what happens when you have stick legs, skinny ankles and tiny feet.

The thing about twisted rib is that even after I was done with it, I kept wanting to knit all my other knit stitches through the back loops. Yikes.

I was determined to have at least one knit FO in 2007 and… I did! I finished my Jaywalker last week! Yay me!

Pattern: Jaywalker
Yarn: 2 x Knit Picks‘ Felici in Hummingbird (I think I might have enough left over for a pair of footies!)
Needles: 2.00mm (Knit Picks Nickel Plated DPN Set)

Before starting on this pattern, I’ve read how lots of knitters had sizing issues and many couldn’t even pull the sock over the heel. I needn’t have worried because my socks came out loose! The one thing I need to remember is that I have skinny legs so if I get gauge, chances are the cuffs will be loose. I guess this pair is going to end up as holiday bed socks.

The yarn is really soft and squishy! I’m a little sensitive to wool but Felici feels great on my toes.

My tension was crappy for both socks so I ended up with one sock slightly longer than the other. I should really pick up the 2-socks-on-circs method so at least both socks will be even. The crappy tension also mean the socks don’t lay flat (when not worn) and pucker all over the place. Eugh.

Also, I still have holes when I pick up stitches for the gusset. The weird thing is I only have a hole on one side of the sock. Well, at least they aren’t humongous like the ones in Breeze. Those looked like they were going to eat me!

Still, it’s my FIRST KNIT FO ever! A pair of socks! w00t!

Edit: Magknits has flounced off in a huff after the drama closed shop. If you’re looking for the pattern, Grumperina (the pattern designer) has offered the pattern as a free pdf download on Ravelry here.

I started on Knitty‘s Breeze some time ago with Knit Picks‘ Risata. The pattern is simple enough (minus a few mistakes on my end due to exciting Law & Order: SVU episodes) and I’m almost done with one sock (left with grafting the toes). However, when I tried on the sock, it’s a little too snug for me. So now I’m wondering if Risata will stretch or shrink during wash. That’ll determine if I should frog the sock and make it bigger. I don’t want to make it bigger and then have it stretch out to epic proportions after the wash. I know, I know, do a swatch right?

I still suck at picking up stitches for the gusset. Check out the hole! Blech! If I don’t re-knit this thing, I’ll have to patch up the holes. Yes, holes. There’s one on each side.

Also, I love, LOVE the colour of the yarn.

One of my favourite things to receive in the mail is post cards. A lovely lady from Minnesota has sent me one for the Random Acts of Kindness going on at Crochetville. Thank you, FGM. :)

I started on my first pair of socks using Silver’s Sock Class tutorial and have since completed my first sock! The tutorial was extremely well written and easy to follow so I had no problems at all. I did have a couple mistakes here and there but nothing too obvious. I used 3.25mm DPNs but I think I should have used smaller needles. The ribbed cuff was too loose for me (I’ve skinny ankles). Since I still have plenty of yarn left (I prefer ankle socks and I’ve tiny feet), I’ll probably knit a completely new pair with smaller needles. I think I’ll really prefer shorter DPNs too instead of the 20cm ones I was using (they kept poking me).