SAM3 - February - done!
Not much knitting got done this past month, but I did manage to turn this --
-- into these:
The yarn is Lorna's Laces in the signature Quadra Island colourway from the Fun Knits Yarn Shop. It's a great mix of blue, sage, purple and charcoal, and the yarn feels wonderful, just as you'd expect from Lorna's.
It's a standard 72-stitch sock, with 2x2 ribbing at the cuff, 6x2 for the leg, and I carried a few of the ribs down the instep, just because I wanted to. I like how the 6x2 ribbbing helps to break up the slight stripey-ness that happened on the foot.
Fun Knits also carries the Smoke line of Opal, which I hadn't seen before. It has some great "guy" colours -- I might have succumbed to a skein or seven.
Even though I haven't been doing much actual knitting, I have been doing a bit of reading about knitting. I haven't yet seen the new IK sock book , but Canada did finally get Balls.
I've been waiting for this one for a while, and I was quite happy to finally find it. There's some very nifty stuff in there, including some socks! Some of it is a bit too fashion-forward for my staid little self, but the vest and the Aran immediately caught my eye as being very nice. There's also quite a bit of good technical stuff in it as well, so it's a welcome addition to my library.
I also picked up this:
I was fully prepared to *not* like this book based simply on the title, but it actuallly has some nice stuff in it. No, I'm not getting a dog, so I can't use half of the patterns, but most of the sweaters are quite wearable. I was particularly impressed with the range of sizes -- some of the patterns go from a 32 inch chest all way up to 60 inches. For those of us who aren't built like linebackers, this is Good News.
In the Other News Department, the International Scarf Exchange 4 is now taking sign-ups -- woo-hoo!!
I am now going to turn on the television and try to ignore the fact that many of you will be revelling at Stitches West.
59 people had something to say:
Why is it that you must make my mouth water with every posting? I'll need to start drinking more water if you keep showing off such beautiful socks! Which I think you will, so keep up the beauty!
a skein or seven! baby you did good! and i am loving the colors all around. I have some LL, but have not knit with it yet. your socks inspire it; soonish.....
Socks! And such nice ones too! It's funny to read how many stitches someone else uses for their "standard" socks - your feet must be larger than mine, I use 60 or 64!
Thanks for the ISE heads up!
Those socks are gorgeous. I was ogling that colorway online, but alas they were sold out. I might have to get it!!! And I don't want to rub it in, but I am at Stitches and though it is a yarn orgy...there hasn't been too much here that I've haven't seen before.
I love those Lorna socks!!! The colorway is great. I'm so jealous, whenever I try to make socks they look so blah compared to the ones I see online!
Fabulous socks. I agree that the rib pattern you chose was the perfect combination with that yummy LL colorway. Yay! Also, I'm glad to hear there are some good designs in the two menswear books... mr. has been feeling a bit left out in the knitting department.
I'm on a temporary yarn diet, but that LL is almost enough to get me to break it. Almost.
I love the socks! I love the Opal yarn! A skein or seven! *snort!*
I have both of those books, too. As a male knitter, it seemed obligatory.
Those socks you made are great. I'm working on my first pair of adult socks now. I'm fearful that the gage is too loose. We'll see, I guess!
Very nice socks! I'm searching for a sweater pattern for the hubby as he's finally requesting one. He's a rather conservative guy, so the Vecchio book is not a good choice, eh? Ah well, the search continues.
Oh, and I'll be hitting Stitches, but I'm sure it won't be any fun. *ahem* :-)
Those socks, that pattern and colour mix, makes me think of a highrise, lit at night. It was a very interesting effect. Nice job.
Gillian
a skein or seven... what's the difference? love the color on the bottom right. totally my colors. Have fun with ISE4... so sad I won't be participating. Let's not speak of the lucky b*st**ds at Stitches.
Love the new socks! I must say it looks like your will power is like mine. I really like all the new Opal. We got the backordered Austermann Step color I've been waiting for today. I didn't buy it -- yet. I decided I'd better wait til Tuesday (payday) or else I wouldn't get my weekend knitting list accomplished at all!
The socks look great! I agree that the rib breaks up the stripey-ness.
I've bought books lately, but no yarn. I'm saving my money for the Toronto Knitter's Frolic. I want to pet the yarn before I take it home. :-) It may not be Stitches, but at least we Ontarians have something to look forward to.
It's interesting how the eyes can play tricks. The first photo lead me to believe that the 2 purl stitches were actually raised...so i dind't think you had simply used a 6x2 rib. Neat how that happens. From a distance it looks so much moe complicated.
I had to laugh at, "a skein or seven". Heehee!! A really nice group of colors.
Ok. You've convinced me that i need some sock blockers! Oy!
Beautiful work, as always. ;)
~Suz~
The socks look great, but what really caught my eye is the Opal.
I'm SOOOO jealous .....7 skeins???? Great colors too!
The Quadra socks are gorgeous!! If they weren't sold out... I would probably have bought some on the spot. Cool new yarn and books too. :)
Beautiful socks! Love all that Opal! I've been on a little Opal buying spree myself. :)
i found you!!!! Yea!. I made the fourcorners dishcloth and it was less than stellar,BUT now I am working on the garterlac and loving it, dispite having to frog it several times already.
The socks look great! So do the "guy socks" yarns. I am always on the lookout for those for my DH. He is working on Lorna's Camouflage at the moment.
Stitches West won't have nearly as much fun as we will as we deal (in WI) with 10-20 inches of new snow tonight. I KNEW that I should have booked those tickets West.
You always get such great results with your socks -- and another successful pair here! I agree that the ribs do a nice job of providing a counterpoint to the slight stripiness.
Really like your socks! As for the men's knitting books, you are right, there are some nice patterns. Guess you'll have to blaze your own trail...maybe come up with some basic designs like your lovely socks for men's knits. I think all of us would like to see something like that.
Ang
Wow, I love the color of your socks. They look awesome!!! Maybe you can make one of your cat's a dog sweater??? That would make a mighty pretty kitty!!!
I love the new socks, and the Quadra Island colourway is great! That's some very nice yarn you brought home. :0)
What wonderful socks and the yarn porn is quite delicious. If you aren't getting the dog, I would recommend not getting the hat either on that book:)
I like your rib pattern alot. I may have to try that on my next pair.
I LIKE the foot stripes! It is so much fun to watch those beautiful skeins of Lorna's Laces turn into socks!
Gorgeous socks!
Great socks. Loving those Opal yarns too, what a great find.
I'm sad to be missing stiches west too :(
Those socks look absolutely fabulous. Maybe I won't give up on variegated yarn after all.
One skein or seven, you couldn't let it be lonely now, could you? That would be heartless.
I picked up Men Who Knit and The Dogs Who Love Them fully prepared to mock it, but they've got some pretty good patterns in it.
Going through my old knitting magazines, back in the late 90's they had quite a few nice sweaters for men. Men are under served in mags now. Muppets are having a heyday.
Wonderful socks! Thank you for mentioning the store where you found the Opal - it's nice to have another source and right here in Canada is great too :).
definitely mahhvelous socks - :-)
what a great colorway.
So will your kitties be wearing sweaters now? as you and I languish in the non-Stitches-west crowd?
those socks look great!
Holy Sock yarn, batman! That's a lot of beautiful yarn (and great colors). And the new socks are wonderful -- you're right, the ribbing does a lot to interestingly disrupt the natural stripe of the yarn. They look terrific!
Love the Lorna's socks, will have to check out that colorway (I've got my eye on a couple different ones...) - I love what the ribbing did...too cool!
And I guess you'll be knitting socks for a LONG time, huh?
(((hugs)))
Love the sockage - those colors are wonderful! Same goes for your new acquisitions :o)
...um, glad to hear that Canada now has...balls. ;o)
the socks came out great -just in time! :) I love simple ribbing - gives a sock just that little bit that it needs. Looks like you have lots of reading to do - from what I hear there are some great patterns in those...
Hi!
Thank you for keeping eye on my blog :)
I'm glad I found your's now
Greetings from Estonia!
I like that sock pattern! It's interesting, not hard, shows the sock colors well.... love it. Also, nice Opal colors =) I can't say about the books, having not been able to get to a bookstore because of the snow, but I laughed when I saw all of the blogs you watch. HeeHee =) That must keep you busy!
Great socks! The ribbing showcases the variegation of the yarn really well. Bravo!
Beautiful colorway. Very guy-friendly without being boring. I like the 6x2 on the LL - that really does make the sock.
Hi Dave, I just received my PRIZE today! What can I say, I am just completely ecstatic!! (I might even start knitting socks during my non-commuting time, the yarn is so lovely!)
Will your cats wear any of the outfits in the 'Men Who knit' book?
And your latest socks are, as always, a masterpiece.
Wow, those socks are beautiful! I don't think I've seen that colorway before--or at least I can't visualize in skein form!
Wow, these socks turned out absolutely awesome - what a great colourway too! And the pattern is a very interesting one indeed, it works so well with the colours of the yarn - or vice versa? Anyways: Beautiful!
Great looking socks!
I may have to try that leg pattern on the never-ending trekking socks that are STUCK on my needles and have been since last AUGUST!!
You knit the BEST socks! That is a beautiful combination of color & pattern.
Nice book acquisition. I looked at them briefly myself at Stitches West and I'll be interested in seeing what patterns you choose.
As always, your knitting is fab!
WOW! Those socks are perfect! Love the color combination.
How come your stripey LLs socks always look perfect and mine always look like perfect disasters?
And is that a little Zebra I see amongst the Opal?
I saw "Knitting with Balls" the other day and was quite impressed too. I particularly liked the aran.
What great socks you made. I hope they are for yourself. And, you purchased great sock yarn to entertain you and your feet for a long time!!
ooh... that's a really great way to add a little bit of patterning to the handpainted stuff that's not too busy but really capitalizes on the slight stripeyness. Love them! What did you think of the sweater in Knitting with Balls with the ethnic reminiscent motif on the front? I totally want to make that for my DH, but wonder if it's not quite engineery enough for him...
A darling friend of mine was the test knitter for the Aran in Michael's book so I can say with utter certaintity, it will look absolutely smashing on you!
Nice socks!
You know, I have to admit that I don't usually like multicolored LL socks because of pooling issues but yours are beautiful. I love how they look. I've recently discovered some of the Regia self-striping and they have very manly colors. Unfortunately, the selection is way better if you order from Germany. US stores often carry the crappiest Regia self-striping/patterning ever.
fine, fine socks!
I've enjoyed your blog for awhile and your socks inspired me to finally give a word of praise.
You almost make me want to knit some socks myself.
I'm a new fan of the Laces and those socks are GORGEOUS! But those Opal skeins are yummy as well. Basically if its a sock yarn, I'm sold!
Great job!!
WOW! The Opal yarns would make my boys happy as well! LOL! Good to know that there are more male knitters - my ten year old son is knitting too and likes it.
I love these SAM3 socks. I am copying them as well as I can. Since I am not so well versed in heels, could you tell me what the 'name' of that heel you made is? I can find out 'how' from there. I am not sure if it is an afterthought heel or something else.
I'm in that book!!!! Kenny in Houston, TX.
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