Dragonfly socks

I'm still catching up on FOs that I haven't yet blogged. This is the last of them for now, at least the last that I have taken pictures of but haven't blogged. I have two more pairs of socks and a hat that need photo sessions so that I can blog them.

And, for those of you with very long memories, I am this close to finishing my Sonnet sweater, which is about the same vintage as this blog -- that is, about two and half years old. Sad, ain't it? But the Sonnet is another story.

Today it is about the Dragonfly socks. The free pattern is here. It is designed to work well with hand-painted or variegated yarns or even self-striping yarns, and it does that very well. The designer cautions that it won't look good with the faux-Fair Isle type of self-striping yarns, and I have to agree with her on that. Then again, in general I've decided I'm not very fond of that type of yarn patterning.


Here is a close shot of one of them. The lace pattern is simple and elegant.







I love these! I will make them again, but I will either use smaller needles (I used 2.5 mm) or take a stitch out of the pattern repeat somehow, since I like my socks a little bit snugger. Also, the heel is a bit deeper than I need it.

Overall, though, a very nice and lovely pattern.

Spring Thaw Socks

I am shocked, shocked, I tell you, to find out that there is gambling going on here I neglected to post any pictures of my Spring Thaw Socks.

This was one of those patterns that I knew I had to knit as soon as I saw the pattern. And I wanted to make an awesome gift for my friend Barb, who gave up a week of her life to come over every day and nurse me through recuperation from my ACL reconstruction (last May - ahem).

The pattern is from the Summer '08 Knitter's magazine, and you can see their pictures of it here. It is supposed to resemble leaves floating down the little rivulets that form in the spring thaw, or some such. I just thought it was beautiful.

Here's mine in progress:



You can also see my much-loved and much-used bead row counter. I think I need to make some more of these, for myself and as gifts.

Somehow I gave these away without taking any pictures of the finished socks themselves (how can this be???), but here are two of the almost-done sock:





ETA: I had to go back to Ravelry to look up the yarn, which luckily I had posted there. It is Lana Grossa Meilenweit, which comes in 100g skeins.

I think this is a beautiful, beautiful pattern, and I love the construction with the ribbing on the sides of the foot. I have actually made two more pairs sort of based on the construction (but without the fancy leaves and with 2x2 ribbing instead of 1x1 TBL ribbing), and they are the best-fitting socks I have, bar none. I'll post them -- but first I have to take pictures of them. (I may have to launder them first -- I wear them all the time.)

And Barb seemed quite delighted when I was finally able to give her these last month. I finished them way before that, but somehow we were never able to catch up with each other until December. Yes, I know I could have mailed them, but I selfishly wanted the pleasure of seeing her receive them.

And we were finally able to return her ice-cube machine, which was quite handy during the recuperation.

Thank you, Barb! Love ya!

Actual knitting content right here!

I've been knitting a lot, but obviously I have fallen out of the habit of blogging my knitting. But earlier today I updated our knitting group's blog, and it felt good. Time to update some of my own knitting projects!

I made two helmet liners for the brother of a colleague. I don't support the war, but I still can support our service members.


Helmet Liner I


Helmet Liner II

Sorry, I didn’t save I found the ball bands. It is Regia or Opal or something similarPatons Kroy Socks – wool and nylon self-striping yarn, in colors that say “Desert Storm” to me and that Patons calls "Buckthorn Stripes", from Dharma Trading Company.

Each hat took one 50 gram ball of sock yarn. There’s some left over from Helmet Liner I, and none left over from Helmet Liner II.

Helmet Liner I seemed to me to be a little pointy and a little short, so I made a few mods so that Helmet Liner II is a little less pointy and one inch longer. The stripes worked out really well with this pattern, through sheer serendipity.

I heard back from my colleague's brother, who reports that, as I feared, Helmet Liner I is too short, but he says that Helmet Liner II is long enough and fits well under his helmet.

The pattern is Jamie's Helmet Liner, by Robin DeWeese. The pattern was inspired by a striped short-row hat in a heavier weight yarn. You can read what she has to say about her pattern on Ravelry.

I made some stitch markers for a neighbor and friend who has just completed her treatment for breast cancer. We're all keeping our fingers crossed for her.



And I made a set of row-counting stitch markers for a stitch marker swap on Ravelry. I'm not sure I ever blogged my own set of these, but you can see them here and there in various project pictures. I love these and use them all the time.



Hopefully, more actual knitting content soon. Happy New Year, everyone!