Longest Project Ever

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28666655.post-81087432201895254732007-11-02T20:50:00.001-04:002007-11-02T22:11:52.501-04:00Longest Project EverFinally!!! I'm finished with these <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Vintage-Socks-Classic-Patterns/dp/1931499659/ref=sr_1_1/104-3050432-5199142?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194051420&sr=1-1">Gentleman's Lozenge Socks</a>!!!!! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Ak9B1bwsYbo/RyvGru9rfZI/AAAAAAAAAZE/sQQ7UGfcY44/s1600-h/lozenge0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Ak9B1bwsYbo/RyvGru9rfZI/AAAAAAAAAZE/sQQ7UGfcY44/s400/lozenge0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128411055334849938" border="0" /></a>These sat around in various stages of unfinished-ness for over a year and a half. (I'm so embarrassed to admit that...) The fact that my parents visited last week gave me the much needed momentum to finally finish these for my father. They fit, they looked great and he loved them! Just to repeat some specs: needles: size 0 (never again! took forever and cramped my hands!) addi 47". Knit 2-at-once, top down. yarn: 3 skeins of Lorna's Laces Sock in "Cedar". I started the 3rd skein halfway through the toes, so there is a lot of yarn leftover. Men's size 11.5 and everything. The frugal yarn scrooge in me is crying. I went on a mini-tour with an orchestra. 2 days of conforming my posterior to the shape of a bus seat. I finished this <a href="http://www.magknits.com/feb06/patterns/odessa.htm">Odessa</a> the first day (apologies for cell phone pic here): <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Ak9B1bwsYbo/RyvGr-9rfaI/AAAAAAAAAZM/d2p6t9MOGkk/s1600-h/1019071359a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Ak9B1bwsYbo/RyvGr-9rfaI/AAAAAAAAAZM/d2p6t9MOGkk/s400/1019071359a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128411059629817250" border="0" /></a>Turned out a bit smaller than my other Odessas, but this was for a young girl who happens to detest anything remotely "scratchy", so Rowan Calmer yarn was a good choice for her. The next day, I started to knit the "slouchy" version of Ysolda Teague's <a href="http://ysolda.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3">Gretel</a>. I guess I was going through a Rowan phase; I used some Kid Classic for this hat. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Ak9B1bwsYbo/RyvGsO9rfbI/AAAAAAAAAZU/PJGZpoClLHA/s1600-h/Gretel0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Ak9B1bwsYbo/RyvGsO9rfbI/AAAAAAAAAZU/PJGZpoClLHA/s400/Gretel0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128411063924784562" border="0" /></a>I learned a great technique from this pattern: <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress/pictorial-guides/double-rib-tubular-cast-on/">stocking stitch tubular cast-on</a>. I had done tubular cast-ons before, but they required knitting and slipping alternating stitches for 4 rows. This was was so much easier, and it looks the same! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Ak9B1bwsYbo/RyvGs-9rfcI/AAAAAAAAAZc/0y52hMMB0rc/s1600-h/Gretel0001_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Ak9B1bwsYbo/RyvGs-9rfcI/AAAAAAAAAZc/0y52hMMB0rc/s400/Gretel0001_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128411076809686466" border="0" /></a>A little story about this hat: I happened to have this project with me at the reception of the orchestra's Carnegie Hall concert, and I ran into the famous knitwear designer and cable specialist, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Untangled-Exploration-Cable-Knitting/dp/1400097452/ref=sr_1_2/104-3050432-5199142?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194053723&sr=1-2">Melissa Leapman</a>! (never leave home without your knitting!) I was having some trouble with a wonky cable stitch and she was generous enough to help me out. I must've looked ridiculous standing there in my black formal concert gown, balancing a glass of champagne while struggling to pull out a half-knit hat from the dark recesses of my purse. I'm sure people thought I was crazy, but it was worth it!Violiknithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04004942641018435912noreply@blogger.com