Time Out for Baby Socks

DROPS publishes, and generously provides for free, many wonderful patterns.    When I am having a rough day, it is a great place to go browse.   During my last tour, I found 16-27 Drops Socks in Fabel.  I loved the way it was designed and wanted to make it for the new baby that a friend of mine is expecting any day.   The trouble is I have LOTS of sock yarn.   I have sock yarn to the point that even Stephanie Purl McPhee would say it counts.    There is some DK.....around.   I decided to make the pattern work for sock yarn.

This is one of the few ways that I use math.   It comes in real handy for just this sort of thing.   I did a gauge swatch to doublecheck my calculations and knit the first sock.    After I knit the second sock, I decided to write down exactly what I did so that I don't have to think about it again....at least not for the 0-3 months size.

If you want to see my notes, go ahead and download them.  Link to pattern.

The Cowboy is Out!

Work proceeds nicely on the back of this sweater.  I am a little frustrated with this but it is coming along okay.   

I hope to finish the back this week...then on to the front!

The Cowboy Emerges....

The cowboy sweater is coming along.   It is frustrating...it is exacting...it is teaching me a lot.  Am I sick of doing intarsia yet?  No.  I am curious to see how people can do this so well.   After this sweater is done, I will have a break from this kind of a project as too many other things wait in queue.   I do want to do more.  Lucy Neatby (a goddess) is a master at this technique as are a few others.   Before I do my next project, I am going to watch my DVD's, do my Craftsy class, and see what I can do io make my instarsia better.   It is an excellent challenge.

Intarsia

Intarsia is one of those techniques that I really, really wish I was good at.  I have DVD's.  I am signed up for a Craftsy class.   Now, I am even practicing.    The Packer sweater is done.   That was a warm up for the cowboy sweater for Mallory.

I thought a lot about the color choice before I put in the order.  Fortunately, part of my original color choice has not been available so I had to switch.   My new choice, I think, is much better.    This is a real challenge for me.   So far I am enjoying the progress on this project.    I am cleaning up ends every inch or so.  This is not because I am innately tidy.  Would that I were!  It is because I do not tie the butterfly bobbins well and have a hot mess hanging off the back of the work that makes it much harder to do.  So far, this makes me want to be better at doing this.  I have a lot of room for improvement.

Mallory, I hope will like this.   She is a cowgirl and not likely to pass out of the phase.   Can't wait to get the whole cowboy done!