hedgerow regulations

What can I say? I love the idea of these socks, but in actuality, my Hedgerows are a bit of a failure.


Most of you know my earlier mistake. Let me detail it.
The pattern reads:
Rows 1 & 2: *K1, P1, K2, P2*, repeat from * to end of round.
Rows 3 & 4: *K2, P1, K1, P2*, repeat from * to end of round.
How I read the pattern:
Row 1: *K1, P1, K2, P2*, repeat from * to end of round.
Row 2: *K2, P1, K1, P2*, repeat from * to end of round.

To have the pattern continue through the heel requires careful re-distribution of stitches and an addition of stockinette edging. I carefully read the pattern at this time, and followed it to the "t"; it was then that I realized I missed rows 2 & 4. Although disappointed, I didn't let this break me and I decided to go forward with my "mistake hedgerows" as I had knit them prior to this point.


My heartbreak is today, with a finished pair on my feet. They're much too loose. The heel turn doesn't sit on my heel properly, and I don't know if it is a result of the loose fit or if I've missed the mark with the sizing. And beyond all of this, I had to block the socks to get the stitch definition that was buried there in those rows of knits and purls. I don't dislike blocking entirely, but these will have to be blocked with each and every wash, I'm afraid.

Besides my VERY FIRST pair of handknit socks, these have taken me the longest from cast on to kitchener. Six months, in fact. Pitiful, in my book. If it weren't for Project Spectrum, and that today is the last day of "FIRE", they might not even be off the needles.

The ironic thing is, I have some new green yarn that is begging to be knit up as *the perfect* Hedgerows.

goin' down slow

The first of the Hedgerow socks is done. This sock has caused me much grief; I read the pattern incorrectly (without realizing it until later) and was having a huge problem getting the heel to match the leg... I'm only about 10% finished with the second sock. It's certainly not Second Sock Syndrome from which I suffer, but I am slowly, slowly knitting this. Pattern available here; yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in "Pale Pink".

This is the first of the Snicket Socks I am working. The texture is AMAZING. Pattern, yarn, I now pronounce you a marriage made in heaven. The pattern is available here; the yarn is The Plucky Knitter BFL/Suri Alpaca in "Bobbing for Apples".

We've been outside a lot lately. Spring fever abounds. Although so has the "regular" fever. This was Gavin last week, swinging and swinging from the big ash tree in the front yard. This week, he's got a cold. The Easter Bunny brought him croup and a 103˚F fever...

(And yes, I knit the hat, but couple of years back. It's the Seaman's Cap in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. He's got several of these, but in different color schemes.
I did NOT knit the sweater.)

Oh, and in case you haven't heard: The Plucky Knitter is starting a sock club. I think I'm a sucker for clubs... If you are, too, you can sign up here.

i'm so excited, and i just can't hide it

i'm in, i'm in!!

***ETA: this is the Scout's Swag Sock Club. It's a little different than the past rounds of Scout's Indie Swag Club, but in this version, there won't be any indie swag, just sock yarn.

And yes, it's too late to join this year's club... but i wish you luck for next year. ;-)

wait for all the dark clouds

bursting in a perfect sky...


I'm in love with these. They may not get much action until next fall, or even winter, but I'm positive that they will be oft used. For the next couple of years, I'll be standing outside my children's school selling scrip and on those chilly mornings, my fingerless gloves and coordinating hat will keep me oh-so-cozy.

The free pattern is available here. I knit my own gauntlets a little longer, adding cable repeat prior to beginning the thumb gusset. For complete symmetry, the right gauntlet cables are reversed so that it mirrors the left. How to do this is given as "advice" in the pattern itself. These are a fairly easy knit, and if you are just getting into cable work, I would highly recommend the pattern. They're also extremely fast to knit up. Although I took five days to have a finished pair, each mitt only took an evening.

These are knit in one of my favorite yarns, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. The color is Chocolate, again one of my favorites. In my opinion, Debbie Bliss yarns can do no wrong, especially the cashmerinos in her line. I'm a tight knitter, so these are done on size 8dpn.

architecturally speaking...

... until I visit the Seattle Central Library, this will keep a space in my heart.

Koolhaas, knit in Malabrigo Merino Worsted, Marròn Oscuro colorway,
on size 7 & 9 needles.

Capturing the color of this yarn in photographs is nearly impossible for me. Whether indoors or out, I cannot get two shots that show the same hue and detail of the hat.

And since I can't escape the desire to share Spring with you, another gratuitous nature shot:

march madness

Spring is near!


Even though spring is bursting open all around me, apparently I've been hit with an urgent need to knit hats. These will probably go unworn until next winter -- I do live in California! -- but I continue to cast on hats. The newest:

Koolhaas in Malabrigo Merino Worsted, Marròn Oscuro colorway

Finished (yay!) last night, I also present to you:

Basic Sock (2x2 rib, heel flap) in Knit Picks Felici, Firefighter colorway

And from the kitchen, Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars. I have the entire Barefoot Contessa cookbook collection, and this recipe is in Barefoot Contessa At Home, but can also be found here.


They're a hit.