Happy Birthday, Sockalong!

Today I'm having a day off - 3rd of May is a national holiday in Poland.
Since last year it's also a holiday for all sock knitters...

Sockalong Anniversary!

For more info on this marvellous initiative check out Winwick Mum's blog.
Last night I managed to complete my 7th pair of socks.  I think they're worthy of celebrating this day!
Pattern: Skew by Lana Holden.

Photo by my hubby, who demanded that I mention him.

I'm absolutely delighted with this yarn! To be honest, I wasn't trying to make them match, because I couldn't get my head around color repeats. Also, different toes are useful for telling right sock from the left one :)

I think I should do a small compilation now, entitled "my year in socks":

#1: Green, 100% wool, 200% satisfaction

 #2: Grey monster-socks for my hubby

 
#3&5: Baby socks!

#4: First toe-ups - for mom's TV evenings :)

#6: Picture says it all! \m/

#7: I know, I know... just one more look at those heels:

We were supposed to go on a nice trip today, but it's rainy, so we decided to stay inside. I can't even pretend I'm worried about this...

Have a nice afternoon!
... I surely will!

Gosia.

PS.: Thank you, Christine for making this possible! :)

Skeeeew-haaa!

A I mentioned last week I became a proud owner of 4 Superwash Ciao by Mondial. It was all by ACCIDENT, and the only one to blame is my favourite yarn shop, for sending me emails about discounts.

I had this project on mind since a long time. Pattern is called Skew by Lana Holden. Construction of the sock is just plain awesome! At one point I was sure I made a mistake as it would not look like a sock at all! But then...

There is however a small problem with fit. As long as the fabric is stretched - fits just right. The moment I let it go - it gets baggy around my ankles. I think that's partially because of my bony legs, and the fact that pattern is not really adjustable.

That won't stop me from casting on a second sock, of course!

As for my other WIP's - I'm in the middle of the 4th (and final) skein of my Never Again Blanket. After so many repeats it became a mindless knit :)

Now I'm out to enjoy this lovely spring day!

Have a nice afternoon!

Gosia.

2015

Happy New Year!

I couldn't bring myself to go out today and take any pictures, because winter has finally arrived. After warm, sunny Christmas we now have windy, dark and cold days.

I guess it's time to look back at my last year's work. Here we go:

In 2015:
I added 31 new Ravelry projects.
4 of them are still WIP.
I also started countless side projects, which never even reached my Ravelry notebook.

Judging by this chart, amigurumi is still my favorite craft category! :)

My husband decided that the Best Project of 2015 Award goes to..

No surprise here - BB-8!

If I were to choose my personal favourite I would probably go with Harby the Reaper:

... or BB-8 :)

The one that made me feel really proud was Box-o-Gnomes:

And finally.. one I would like to forget about is my Creamy Cardi, In fact, today I decided to restart this one using smaller needles and totally different pattern. I think this counts as a New Year's resolution, doesn't it?

Speaking of resolutions, there are few others I made:

• Keep my blog alive for another year (actually it all started as my resolution last year!)
• Finish Ten Stitch Corner Blanket before it's owner is born... May is coming so soon!
• Get my stash in order!

They all seem more or less doable, maybe except the last one. But 75% success rate should keep me satisfied for another year.

So... have a nice year! :)

Gosia.

Sock Thief!

Yesterday I finished my 6th pair of socks. And since my husband got me addicted to Tenacious D's music... I present to you a tribute to the best socks in the world:

Pattern is (again) Vanilla Socks by Carle' Dehning. Letters were embroidered with sock yarn I used for Sasquatch Socks.

While I was busy taking pictures I suddenly heard a quiet chuckle behind my back, I turned just in time to see my no-good dog, stealing my socks. Which was done with my husband's enthusiastic approval.
I'm just glad those weren't the hand made ones!

When I finally managed to get my stolen property back, Korek decided he should apologize for his crime. And this is my dog's idea of an apology:

"I'm sorry!"

"I wish she hadn't notice me..."

For my next project I will make a shawl!

...in sock yarn :)

BTW. Here are tiny socks I couldn't show you last week:

And EVEN MORE butterflies!

Have a lovely evening! 

Gosia

Sock madness continues!

Oh dear...Who am I trying to fool? I am addicted to knitting socks.
And now, when I found a more "mindless" pattern, which I can follow with just minimal attention...

I'm lost.

Pattern's name is "Vanilla Socks" and it uses afterthought heel and is knitted toe-up. It's avaialbe on Ravelry: here.
It's absolutely brilliant! Genius! Amazing!

I knitted those (cotton-acrylic mix) for my Mom. She needed comfy socks for her TV evenings. 

My modification to the pattern was the ribbing on top. *k1, p1, k1* done over top 30 sts.

I decided to continue it also for the cuff. It resulted in very VERY loose cuff. In this case it's an advantage rather than a design flaw!

Picking stitches for heels was a bit stressful! I decided to document the process on pictures to have anything left in case of failure.

I will totally make another pair!

(Ok, I already did, but can't share it with you... yet)

I also need to get back to my AT-AT vest, and since temperature dropped to humble 28,6°C I can work with wool mix again! And Star Wars are just 147 days away!

Before I go... here are some butterflies I met in my garden today:

Have a nice afternoon!

Gosia.

Tiny Socks & Big Challenges

Using my gathered "sock-making momentum" I made a pair of totally cute baby socks! :3

They were completed in no time! Like 1/2 sock per hour. That's ultra-fast compared to male size socks! And also very economical.

Unfortunately I had to give up knitting for a wile. At least until my finals are over. I have just two exams left... the hardest ones. Luckily I no longer have to stay in Katowice. So I relax in my garden. Learning, taking some pictures...

And secretly crocheting a shawl (shhhh!)

I said I would give up KNITTING, didn't I? :)

Have a nice afternoon!

Gosia.

S is for Sasquatch Socks!

And finally! My hubby's huge socks are FINISHED! Size is 45 (10,5 UK, 11 US).

I started by casting on 72 sts. Did 28 rows of heel flap. Went down to 70 sts for the foot. 60 rows done before toe shaping .

Yesterday we watched Avatar (yup, for the first time) and since it was not exactly mind challenging - I managed to bring both socks to the toe shaping. 

I got up early today, so it wasn't long until I was ready to do some grafting:

Here's what they look like on my feet, I feel tiny!

And here's something special! My Big Foot agreed to wear them for a small session.

He says they feel a bit too loose around ankles. Well, it's a little too late to fix that :)

Now I have to hide my stash somewhere and get back to studying :)

Have a nice day! 

Gosia.

Summer begins in 3... 2... 1...

Aaah! June started with summer heat and lovely sunny days! It's a shame to spend it all poring over books... so I awarded myself with some garden time :)

And I wasn't the only one who got shamelessly lazy today!

Our nightingale finally found his beloved one and stopped his all night long recitals. And since nature abhors a vacuum... Now we are condemned to listen to desperate squeaking of young and endlessly hungry long-eared owls. Still that's way better than urban noise in big city! 

This morning I caught a chickadee checking out the bird house on an apple tree.

As the season changed, new flowers are blooming in our garden. Red peonies and cornflowers are just two of my long list of favourites!

I felt kind of stupid knitting warm, woolly socks while sitting in warm sunshine. But as they say.. forewarned is forearmed! Winter will come sooner or later :)

I'm just few rows from finishing! Well.. more like 80 rows, but still.

Now I have to get back to work and read at least few pages before I can justify taking another break.

Have a nice afternoon!

Gosia.

Rainy days are over!

Last week May started to resemble cold, rainy and sad November. Temperature dropped to 10°C and I haven't seen sunshine since Monday. Unfortunately people from our housing association were in denial and didn't turn heating on. I spent most of my week drinking hot tea and trying not to let any of my limbs outside a blanket.

Spring, however is still in the bloom. Today weather got better. Two lovely magpies decided to build their next right next to my kitchen window. They are working so hard! And they're doing good, just have a look:

Yes, it's that bunch of sticks between branches. Perfectly good nest!

My old notebook could not be revived by any means. Luckily I was ready for this and could afford a new one. I love it! Especially split screen function. I no longer have to jump between bookmarks in search of a word I'm missing.

I still have 4 exams to go, but now JUST one exam per week, so I might have more time for knitting.
I got to gusset shaping on one of my hubby's sock and the other has it's heel turned.

I love the yarn! It's even, and pure pleasure to work with. Of course my camera gets lost with the shade, so I converted those to B&W.

Turned heel

And heel flap's rich texture.

Now I will have some of my well-earned rest. And finally I will be spending more time at home than in Katowice! 

Have a lovely afternoon!
Gosia.