I have been knitting

Just not blogging.

I was remarking to Sarah that I really should write a blog post, and she commented that I did have lots of finished items to share.
That is true,
Bianca is done, - I ended up going with the dark brown buttons.
Inset socks - done
Dad's Diamonds -done
Serenity socks -done
Coalicheria socks - done
Greyhound dishcloths - six done for charity
Slinky ribs - almost done buttons, blocking and ends woven in
Celtic vest

This post will be devoted to the socks that I have finished and I will try to talk about the other projects later this week.
I will start with the Inset socks by Regia, I know I started these in March.
This was an interesting pattern to knit, even if the socks came out a little big. The hourglass heel and short row toe, had a different method than I had come across before there was two main differences. I will see if I can explain it.

Difference 1. At the start of a row, you slip one, then do a YO, then knit the next stitch. This is instead of doing the wrap and turn at the end of the row. As you normally do in these heels you work on fewer and fewer stitches until there is about one third left.

Difference 2. The other directions that I have seen then have you work outwards from this point, so most of the stitches get two wraps before picking them up. Regia has a different method that I have since adopted for short rows of this type. You work until the middle third of stitches remains then knit and pick up all the wraps, then work outwards doing wrapping the stitches again. This way the stitches only have one wrap and I think gives a nicer edge.
Proof - I used multiple methods on these socks.
Old method - wrapping the stitches twice


One wrap per stitch, you can see how I knit across all the stitches in the dk green colour

Using the one wrap per stitch plus the different wrap technique, gives a nice smooth look on this toe. I tried to do a schematic and it is looking more complicated then it is.




Second, Dad's Diamonds,
These socks were for my Dad's 60th birthday. I changed the pattern on the second so they are were mirrored images.

The yarn was Jawoll Silk (complete details on Rav) and I used the reinforcing thread, on the soles, and up the heel until it ran out.


The reinforcing thread does make for a denser fabric, since it is dyed similar to the main yarn it doesn't affect the stripes (if you know where to look you can see some muting of the colours). I enjoyed working with this yarn and will use it again.

I will leave this post here, and fill you in on the rest of the socks and projects in other posts. Cause by the time I finish all the socks, I am sure Slinky Ribs will be done.

Always be closing

I have two items that can almost be crossed off the WIP list - except that they need some sort of closure.
The Bianca jacket has not had anything done to it in the last month except some flirtations with buttons.

While I was knitting this project I was thinking some nice wood buttons. When the time came to pick out the buttons though - wood looked out of place. Pewter and mother of pearl buttons were out as well. I didn't want anything that was too flashy, to take away from the lace. I narrowed it down to two choices.



The button on the left is made from a shell and this is the wrong side of the button. I am worried that this button may be too fragile - more as a decoration than a button. The button on the left is more substantial, but I think will be too dark overall. I guess it can sit for a few more days.

The second item in the almost FO pile is the Tomten jacket

(Those last few ends have been woven in). I thought this jacket was going to be huge on NB. The sleeves are long, but that is about it. I think the stretchiness in the garter stitch will allow this sweater to be worn for awhile. (At least I hope). I switched the hood to a fold over collar, and picked up one row of stitches along the fronts to give it a more finished look.






A black zipper and this jacket is done.

Board Games

On Friday the Ontario Today show on CBC had an owner of a toy store discussing some games that would be good for the family during March Break. One caller mentioned BoardGameGeek.com as a resource for different games. I know I have a few readers that are gamers, so I have devised this meme from the BGG top 100 games. I won't tag people but drop me a comment if you do this meme on your blog or facebook page. The list is from here, which you can see photos and descriptions if you are unsure about a given game (many names are similar - I thought I had played civilization but it must have been different)
Bold the games that you have played. Italicize if you own the game

1. Agricola (2007)
2. Puerto Rico (2002)
3. Power Grid (2004)
4. Twilight Struggle (2005)
5. Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization (2006)
6. Dominion (2008)
7. Tigris & Euphrates (1997)
8. El Grande (1995)
9. Caylus (2005)
10. Race for the Galaxy (2007)
11. Age of Steam (2002)
12. The Princes of Florence (2000)
13. Commands & Colors: Ancients (2006)
14. War of the Ring (2004)
15. Brass (2007)
16. Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage (1996)
17. Paths of Glory (1999)
18. Le Havre (2008)
19. Shogun (2006)
20. Die Macher (1986)
21. Pandemic (2008)
22. Battlestar Galactica (2008)
23. Goa (2004)
24. Ra (1999)
25. 1960: The Making of the President (2007)
26. Railroad Tycoon (2005)
27. Imperial (2006)
28. Combat Commander: Europe (2006)
29. Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear! - Russia 1941-1942 (2008)
30. Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery (2007)
31. Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition (2005)
32. BattleLore (2006)
33. Go (-2000)
34. Stone Age (2008)
35. YINSH (2003)
36. Tichu (1991)
37. The Settlers of Catan (1995)
38. Wallenstein (2002)
39. Crokinole (1876)
40. Galaxy Trucker (2007)
41. Hammer of the Scots (2002)
42. Memoir '44 (2004)
43. Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) (1985)
44. Ticket to Ride: Europe (2005)
45. Samurai (1998)
46. Taj Mahal (2000)
47. Struggle of Empires (2004)
48. Blood Bowl: Living RuleBook (2004)
49. Ticket to Ride (2004)
50. Up Front (1983)
51. Arkham Horror (2005)
52. Dune (1979)
53. Modern Art (1992)
54. Acquire (1962)
55. Carcassonne (2000)
56. Here I Stand (2006)
57. Notre Dame (2007)
58. Amun-Re (2003)
59. Descent: Journeys in the Dark (2005)
60. Lord of the Rings - The Confrontation: Deluxe Edition (2006)
61. Battle Line (2000)
62. San Juan (2004)
63. Ticket to Ride: Märklin Edition (2006)
64. Ingenious (2004)
65. A Game of Thrones (2003)
66. In the Year of the Dragon (2007)
67. Civilization (1980)
68. Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries (2007)
69. Roads and Boats (1999)
70. The Pillars of the Earth (2006)
71. Tikal (1999)
72. Space Hulk (1989)
73. Cosmic Encounter (2008)
74. Tide of Iron (2007)
75. Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) Starter Kit #1 (2004)
76. Hive (2001)
77. Antiquity (2004)
78. Friedrich (2004)
79. DVONN (2001)
80. Mr. Jack (2006)
81. The Traders of Genoa (2001)
82. Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation (2002)
83. 1830: The Game of Railroads and Robber Barons (1986)
84. Napoleon's Triumph (2007)
85. StarCraft: The Board Game (2007)
86. Union Pacific (1999)
87. Space Alert (2008)
88. Thebes (2007)
89. Indonesia (2005)
90. Citadels (2000)
91. Europe Engulfed (2003)
92. Reef Encounter (2004)
93. Maharaja: Palace Building in India (2004)
94. Through the Desert (1998)
95. Saint Petersburg (2004)
96. La Città (2000)
97. Blood Bowl - Third Edition (1994)
98. Yspahan (2006)
99. RoboRally (1994)
100. Carcassonne: The City (2004)

I obviously need to play more games. How about you?

Made in Canada...

During one of my recent online meanderings I found this Canada Art Shop Directory. I think it may be a good place to pick up some future gifts.

Silk, Silk and more silk

I was thinking about my knitting projects yesterday and it turns out that I am in a silk mood. I never thought that when I started knitting that I would have four projects utilizing silk being worked on at once (well almost at once) .

1. Bianca jacket - Just to give a quick update on this project. I thought I didn't have enough yarn (again!), but with some calculations I found out the swatch (14 g) had just enough yarn to finish the project. It is now waiting for buttons to be completed.
   
2. Slip stitch ribbed socks - these were recently complete. Nothing more to say.
3. Tomten jacket- This is a classic design by EZ, and I am using the same Merino et Soie that the slip stitch ribbed socks used as well as Shelridge Farms DK weight. I am loving both these yarns, and combining it with garter stitch is giving a very smooshy fabric. I don't think Ninja baby will fit until fall though
   


4. Celtic vest - This is a kit from Fleece Artist. The yarn is their Scotian Silk (35% silk, 65% wool. I just started this project and now that I am past the cast on it should go quickly.
   

All 3 silk yarns are very different, but all feel nice on the hands. There is still a ball of Lang Jawoll Silk sock yarn in the stash...

Festival!

I just heard about the Woodstock Fleece Festival happening for the first time this October. It looks like it has great potential, and so close to home too.

Another pair of socks

When Shall We Knit had their annual sale a couple of weeks ago, I picked up several balls of Naturally Merino et Soie, a New Zealand DK yarn. I had a couple of projects in mind for this purchase. The first being a pair of socks for Ali.

From A house made of wool

This is the slip stich ribbed pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. I knitted these socks using the 2 socks 2 circs method. I enjoyed this method, since I didn't need to remember what I did on the second sock - it is right there, the lengths are the same etc. However, I found I spent a lot of time untangling the yarn and needles. Also one of the circs that I was using had a crappy join (early knitting day purchase). I am thinking of trying my next pair of socks using the two socks 1 circ magic loop style and see if that helps this issue

From A house made of wool

Pattern: Slip Stitch Rib
Yarn: Naturally Merino et Soie (70 % merino, 30% silk) - 2 skeins + a little bit
Needles: 3 mm


Bianca update:

From A house made of wool

I am still working on the yoke of the Bianca jacket, at about the spot that I was at before I ripped it back. The above yarn (31 g) is the extra that I saved. I am hoping that it is enough - I sure hope so.
Will it be done for this weekend - the knitting might be. The blocking, seaming is debateable, the adding of buttons most likely not since I haven't picked them out yet.