Celtic Plait Aran - Kevin
Topic: New Projects (started)
OK catching up the blog with this project, it keeps getting put on the side burner for other projects and I got a bee in my bonnet to get working on it again.
 
Started: 12/26/2005 Materials: Superwash wool in a light sage (picture doesn't show nicely) With Superwash it will loosen up so I started the cuff ribbing at 50 sts on US Size 3 double points. Worked through ribbing and switshed to US size 5 dp until I could fit it on circulars. I washed it to get a good gauge and have decided we're on the right track.
 
Update: 02/07/2006 - Have gotten the increases up to the 86 sts and am increasing sleeve to the 16 inches here's the progress to date.
 

 

 
The pattern can be found at Countrywool and the Finished Product I hope!
 

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Grammy's Boot Socks Done
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Friends (on TV)
Topic: Complete Projects
I started these socks after talking to a gal in my Knit Night group who was telling us about her grandfather who was diabetic and arthritic. The second she said that and knowing the hassles my grandmother has getting her socks on I decided to follow her plan for her Grandfather's socks and make a pair of socks for my grandmother just like them.
 
I started with the standard ribbing at the top at about 84 stitches. When I got to the body of the sock I decreased to 80 and started alternating in the brown every 4th stitch on every other row. I was inspired to the color change because I had just learned Continental knitting and wanted to get using it before I forgot how . . . plus just because she's older doesn't mean she doesn't want pretty socks right? :o)
 
Here's a close up of the pattern at the toe.
 
I decided to make the loops at the top in the contrast color while I was working on the leg so as I got to the heel I decreased again to 76 stitches and completed a Short Row heel in the contrast color.

 
After completing the toe and grafting at 18 stitches I started weaving in the ends and then did single crochet around the top to the loops. To make the cord for the loop I picked up 3 stitched on the crochet hook and knit 3 stitches on double point needles 3.5 inches long, then slipped them onto the crochet hook to crochet them back into the top of the ribbing.
 

 

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EDIT 02/09/2006: Spoke to Grammy today and she LOVES her socks, they fit her perfect and were easy to get on with the loops. She still can't figure out how I got the "dots" of color in there, how I got the different heel and toe color there or how in the world I made loops!!!
 
I just smiled and told her to enjoy them and maybe she'll have another pair to marvel over soon. Just have to love it when all your hard work is appreciated!!!!
 

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Slippers!
Topic: Complete Projects
I have made many many pair of these slippers, this is the first pair I have a picture of.
 
This is the pair I made for my older brother's girl friend Rebecca for Christmas before felting.
 

 
I've also made the following but have no pictures yet.
- husband
- step-father
- Uncle Ray
- younger brother's fiance

 

 

 
More pictures will be edited in when I get them.
 

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The knitting itch starts - Gryffindor Scarf
Mood:  cheeky
Now Playing: www.channel1031.com
Topic: Complete Projects
I was inspired to pick knitting back up when a close co-worker told us she was leaving. She's been a great friend and support for me while I was dealing with many medical issues and I wanted to do something nice for her. She's also an avid Harry Potter Fan. With that in mind I set out to make the original Gryffindor house scarf for her, little did I know what can of worms I was opening up!
 
The first hurdle to cover was finding a pattern for the original scarves not the ones that came out in Azkaban (yup movieland changed them on us) I finally found one here that I gave me what I wanted and was well written.
 
The second hurdle was finding the yarn colors in stores near me so I could get started right away . .. After all I knew this was going to be a looooong scarf knit on small needles so there was going to be time involved.
 
The third hurdle however I never managed to overcome and that was finding a 12" or 16" size 6 circular needle locally. So determined I was going to complete this task I set out with size 6 dp needles and worked in the round that way. (I found Countrywool was only 5 miles away from me after I was done and got the 12" size 6 for any future scarves)
 
I did get the prject complete and the intended owner loved it. After blocking it was just over 7' long and I think 8" wide

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