Hand Knitted Things Keep Me Warm and Toasty

Dear Reader:

It’s snowing outside! Though not unheard of, it is not a common sight in these parts, and it wasn’t in the forecast. After I wiped the sleep and gobsmack from my eyes, I checked a few weather forecasting sites and they said that the current weather was drizzle. Not in my hood! Soft, fluffy flakes are swirling down. But it will probably turn to rain, as it normally does, and turn everything into a giant sloppy slushy mess.

My 2013 knitting has started off well. Simple, quick projects. I knit up a pair of slipper socks for my DH. They fit his feet, which is an accomplishment in itself, and he wears them! It was such an easy and enjoyable knit that I decided to knit myself a pair. Helping to accomplish one of my 2013 knitting goals, they were knit from stash.

The first slipper sock I knit for him didn’t fit. It wouldn’t fit over his arch/heel. Not knowing exactly how to adjust for this, and thinking that simply working a longer heel flap wouldn’t do it, I added stitches to the mid-foot. Perhaps not technically the “right” way to do things, but the end result worked so I am happy.

They were both knit out of Patons Classic Wool Worsted, held double on size 5.5 mm needles. I used the elastic bind off on size 8.00 mm needles (I think this was the first time I used this bind off, and I like it). For his pair, I knit to just above the ankle, not working a ribbed cuff so they roll a little bit at the top. I like the look of it and they’re not socks so it shouldn’t be an issue. I worked the leg of mine a little longer and tried some ribbing for the cuff but didn’t like the way it looked. They were also just bound off in stockinette so they roll at the top. S’alright.

Warm and Cozy

I’ve been wearing mine quite a bit and it’s amazing how warm they keep your feet and what a difference having warm feet makes to your overall temperature. I have cold feet, perennially. Winter, spring, summer – whatever. They’re always cold. Most manufactured socks do little to keep my feet warm, and I’m often cold even with two pairs on. With these slipper socks, I’m so warm I don’t even feel like I need a sweater. Very satisfying to knit such useful things!

After the slipper socks, I began a scarf. Wanting to knit a scarf as a thank-you present for a co-worker who was so very kind to me recently, I thought the Peaks and Valleys Scarf appropriate. She’s a snow freak – loves skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing – and the name speaks to the terrain she finds herself when pursuing these activities. I again looked to my stash and picked out the Cody from my very first Bare Naked Knitspot club shipment. It was a very easy, mindless knit. I spent my knitting time watching knitting podcasts and the project worked up fast. It only took me a week, and I cast off on Sunday. I knit until the yarn ran out. There was only a tiny bit left after my last repeat and the final 4 knit rows. I love it when things work out like that.

When blocked the scarf will be about 72 inches long. For now, it sits on my shelf awaiting the day/weekend when I have enough time to devote washing and blocking it out. Where and how? I’m not quite sure. How to keep kitties away from it, makes me wonder. It’ll work out though, so I’ll post pictures when it’s ready.

This scarf won’t end up being the scarf I give to my kind co-worker, however. Instead, I’ve ordered some Noro Silk Garden and will knit the ever-popular Noro Striped Scarf (almost 12,000 projects in Ravelry!). I’m excited and nervous about it. I’m excited because if done right, this is an amazingly simple but gorgeous scarf. I’m nervous because I’m not entirely sure how the construction works, if I can do it, and if the colours I’ve chosen will work up well (or if I’ll work them up well). We’ll see.

Clockwise: Peaks and Valleys Scarf – Cascade 220 Sport – Nuthatch in the snowy tree – Cody yarn – Fern with snow – Leftovers from Peaks and Valleys

Well. That’s about it for now. Another 2013 knitting goal sort of accomplished – blog more. I’m trying! As always, thanks for reading my little blog. Let me know how the start to your 2013 knitting is going.

I’ll leave you with this nice little documentary video on Sweet Georgia Yarns, a local independent dyer who creates the most luxurious coloured yarns.

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