Sneak
15 May 2009 · No Comments
One wee quick peek at the sock for Schaefer – just the barest glimpse. I predict these will be seriously nifty.
Embonpoint
22 May 2009 · 1 Comment
Embonpoint: \äⁿ-bōⁿ-ˈpwaⁿ\ adjective
-sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure
Allow me to present my newest creation, Embonpoint!
The name is perfect on several counts. First, this is the most luciously fat sock yarn I’ve ever seen. It is thick enough that the socks work up quickly, but still thin enough to fit inside of most shoes. It has a nice tight twist, making the strands marvelously plump and firm. The name works for the pattern too. There is a lovely round little faux cable. It’s great fun to make, doesn’t take a cable needle, and makes adorable little circles. Finally, the cuff of the sock is made on straight needles and then joined up for working in the round in such a way that it absolutely will not bother you if you’re having a puffy ankle sort of day.
Also, it’s just a damn nifty word. If you want to hear the official dictionary droid pronounce it for you, just go here. It’s great fun to say.
Goodies!
14 May 2009 · No Comments
All of the unladylike fuming and vigorous swearing at wordpress were apparently worth it. This website has begun to result in the arrival of real live actual yarn in my mailbox. Yarn – for me!
One arrival is a lovely skein of Nichole by Schaefer. It’s a hypnotic mix of blues and purples, variegated enough to be interesting, solid enough to stand up to all sorts of interesting patterns. My only complaint about it is that it’s a one-of-a-kind colorway and so I won’t be able to get more. This will turn into the sock I knit for Schaefer, and you will be seeing lots more of it in the days to come.
The other is equally lovely and just as exciting, but I am, alas, sworn to pictoral secrecy. I can say that it’s an array of test yarns for a yarn club and that I’m very excited about working with it. I don’t think I’ll be giving too much away if I say the color is fantastic. I’ll be saying more about it as soon as I receive official dispensation!
Collaboration
11 May 2009 · 1 Comment
After three whole days of biting my tongue and keeping quiet, I now have official permission to shamelessly blab…I will be designing a pair of socks for Schaefer Yarn Company using their new yarn, Nichole! This is the yarn I used in my most recent socks (Nugatory), and I just loved working with it.
I knit a bit loosely and hate working with small needles. I will (grudgingly) consent to use size 1s, but anything smaller is out of the question. This combination means that thicker yarn is my very good friend. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find a nice thick yarn that also has all the characteristics that make a good sock yarn (namely a decent percentage of nylon, a nice tight twist, and lovely colors). Casbah Sock by Handmaiden passes the test, but you get about 50 yards more yarn in Nichole than in Casbah for about the same price. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Mediumweight is also lovely and thick, but it doesn’t have the desired nylon and is also quite a bit shorter than Nichole. As a proud bearer of large feet, yardage is important.
The yarn for the new socks should be here soon, and I know I’ll be powerless to resist casting on once it gets here. Many (likely too many) pictures are sure to follow. This will be fun.
