Pattern: Anna Socks by Nina Chakkour, Rowan 40
Yarn: 3 balls of Rowan 4 ply soft (didn’t use the entire third ball)
Colour: Espresso
Needles: 3,25 mm and 3,0 mm lantern moon dpns
Gauge: 28 sts and 36 rows over patt using 3,25 mm needles
Started: 9.4.06
Finished: 9.15.06

Notes:
The leg
I tried the sock on as I knit and went down a needle size an inch or two below my calf. (I knit the leg for 27 cm and then switched.) I knit the ankle and foot of the socks using smaller needles and am happy with the fit. I thought about doing some calf decreases using the HJS Studio Shaping Knee Socks tutorial – entered in all my measurements but decided not to add shaping.

The heel
The last line of Shape Heel says to break the yarn and leave stitches on a holder. I didn’t break the yarn because the next step is to knit across these stitches and then pick up along the row-edge heel stitches. I wasn’t satisfied with the way I picked up the stitches on the second sock and pulled them out. And then something happened that I was not expecting - the edge of the heel flap started to unravel. I think I experienced a moment of knitting insanity when those stitches escaped. I quickly picked them up and then continued knitting the gusset. (Maybe they came out because earlier, when I knit the heel flap, I slipped the last stitch on every row.)

I decided to wait to cast on a new project and finish these socks. (Odd because I almost always cast on a new project after finishing one sock. Guess it was enjoyable knitting. I also realized that although socks are not my favorite garment to knit, I do like knitting lace socks!) I knit these while listening to Brenda Dayne's Cast On adventures in natural dyeing. What's your favorite knitting podcast?

Posted by brooke at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)

Thanks for your knitting expertise regarding increases. I used M1 left increases and then started the lace pattern on the next row. After knitting a few rounds I found that Veronique was right – the increases are practically invisible in the ribbing. There were four increases in the same row and I made them all lean left. (I may do paired increases as suggested by Julia and Siow Chin for the second sock. Not so much for looks I guess, but for the feel of things being balanced.)

I’ve been working on my must-knit list for the fall:

Sweaters
Aran Cardigan, Knitting Nature
Asymmetrical Cardigan, Knitting Nature I was going to knit the hex coat but now I want to knit this pretty, textured cardi.
Juno, Rowan 40

Vests/Tunics/Tanks
Victoria, Kim Hargreaves My next project.
Sizzle, Wendy Bernard

Socks
Anna socks, Rowan 40 in progress
Canyon Hiking socks, Julia Trice for Knit Café knee highs with calf shaping

Home
Log Cabin blanket, Mason Dixon Knitting I just got this book and I can’t believe how much I love it. I’m sure you’ve seen the gorgeous blankets knit by Cara and Terhi. I may even knit a dish or face cloth after seeing some over at Spitting Yarn.

Baby, Lace and Accessories – tbd.

What’s at the top of your must-knit list?

Posted by brooke at 06:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Need your knitting help.
I’m increasing the amount of stitches I have on the needles on the last rib row for the anna socks using M1. Do you always knit into the back of the horizontal loop when it is in ribbing? For example, if I M1 between two purls or M1 between a knit and a purl-do I do anything different? Is there more than one way to make one?

Posted by brooke at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)