Hello, 2008. I hope everyone's year is going knittingly (or crochetingly, depending on the craft of choice)!

Since we've got a new calendar on the wall, I decided to toy with some new things here at Saltwater Purls. To get things a bit more organized, and maybe get me posting more, I'm going to have a few "categories" for my posts, based on when they're posted.

Technique Tuesdays: Color charts, stitch patterns, tutorials and instructions.

WIP Wednesdays: I get you up to date with something I've been working on.

Fiber Fridays: All things yarn-- spinning, dying, and reviews of commercial yarns.

Free patterns, random updates, and other stuff will continue to be posted on other days.

Hope this year is awesome for you all :)

These socks are inspired by Grumperina's Jaywalker. The overall design comes out similar, but the construction is very different.

They're worked toe-up using short-row heels and toes, with a modified stitch pattern. They have ribbed instep shaping for a good fit and arch support.

They have finished measurements of 10.5" in length with a 9" circumference, and will stretch to fit up to 11" circ and 11.5" length. They'll fit a shoe size of 10-12 men's.

These particular socks are a gift, so no pictures of them on a foot until the recipient gets them. I'll try to have them up by the end of the week.

Skywalker Socks

Needles

Set of 5 US 2.5 DPNs

Yarn

Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, 2 skeins, or other fingering wt yarn

Zigzag Stitch Pattern 1

Rounds 1-4: K2, *Kfb, K8, DD, K8, Kfb* K2 across top of foot, K across sole

Round 5: K around

Zigzag Stitch Pattern 2

Rounds 1-2: *Kfb, K8, DD, K8, Kfb* around

Round 3: K around

Gauge

38 sts per 4 inches of Zigzag Stitch 1 (row gauge not important)

TOE

Using a provisional cast-on (I used the crochet cast on), CO 46 stitches.

Work a short-row toe:

R1: K until one stitch is left on needle, wrap and turn.

R2: P until one stitch left, w&t

R3: K until 2 sts left, w&t

Continue wrapping & turning until 20m unwrapped stitches remain.

R1: K to first wrapped stitch. Slip stitch to R needle, pick up wrap with L needle and slip to R needle. K stitch and wrap together. w&t.

R2: Slip 1, P to first wrapped stitch, P wrap together with stitch, w&t.

R3: Slip 1, K to double-wrapped stitch (created in last row), PU wraps and work together with stitch, w&t.

Continue working until you have double-wrapped the stitches on the ends of the needles.

Unravel the crochet cast-on and pick up the live stitches. You now have 96 sts total.

Distribute over 4 DPNs as follows:

Needle 1 and Needle 2: stitches from top of foot, 23 on each needle

Needle 3 and Needle 4: stitches for bottom of foot, 23 on each

BALL

K one round, working remaining double-wraps as you come to them.

You will now transition from the stockinette toe to the zigzagged foot.

R1-R2: K2, *Kfb, K8, DD, K8, Kfb* twice, K2, K across bottom

R3: K

R4-R6: K2, *Kfb, K8, DD, K8, Kfb* twice, K2, K across bottom

R7: K across Needles 1 and 2, for N3 and N4: K 21, K2tog, K2tog, K21

R8-R11: K2, *Kfb, K8, DD, K8, Kfb* twice, K2, K across bottom

R12: K across N1 and N2, for N3 and N4: K2, K2tog, K10, k2tog, K12, k2tog, K10,

K2tog, K2

For all remaining rows, work in Zigzag Sitch Pattern 1.

Work until sock measures 4”

INSTEP SHAPING

Continue in zigzag on N1 and N2.

N3 and N4: work in *K2, P2* rib for 3”, then go back to stockinette bottom.

Work in zigzag on foot top and stockinette sole until sock measures 9” (heel will add 1.5” to sock length).

HEEL

Slip the first two stitches of Needle 1 to Needle 4, and the last 2 stitches of Needle 2 to Needle 3.

You will now have 21 stitches each on N1 and N2, and 22 stitches each on N3 and N4

Work N1 and N2 in stitch pattern.

The heel will be worked over the sole stitches only.

Follow the same short-row instructions for the heel as you did for the toe (short-row down to 20 stitches, and back up to 44).

Re-join, and work rest of sock in round.

CUFF

Work in Zigzag Stitch Pattern 2 for about 1” or until cuff is desired length.

Work in *K2, P2* ribbing for 1”

Bind off using sewn bind-off or other stretch bind off. Weave in ends.

Update 04/14/2009:

There were errors in the ball of the sock:

What originally read "R1" in the pattern should have read "R1-R2".

R8-11 should have read "K2, *Kfb, K8, DD, K8, Kfb* K2"

The pattern was corrected as of 8 AM today, but if you printed or saved the pattern before this time, you should make a new copy.

Thank you to merely911 of Ravelry for pointing out my mistake!

I've been scrambling to finish my holiday knitting, and BAD THINGS have been happening.

Even with the support of the Ravelry group Procraftination, I'm still managing to avoid getting things done.

I've cut back my gift projects to two (Skywalker socks for Y and a Fun Fur scarf for my sister), rather than worry about two more pairs of socks for my parents. The Skywalkers are almost done, with only an inch of ribbing to go on the second sock, and I haven't started the scarf yet, since it will hopefully only take a few hours.

A few more things going on...

Nutmeg made a pair of my Ribbed Cable socks as a Christmas gift, in a beautiful dark blue merino. Photos by Nutmeg and used with permission. Click here to see her project on Ravelry.




For Sale or Trade



I'd like to destash this yarn, it's been sitting around for ages and I can't think of anything I'd like to do with it.

Yarn brand/name: Needful Yarns Kabir
Weight: Bulky
How much? 1 skein, 70 yds.
Fiber content: 50% wool/50% acrylic
Colors: Shades of green, khaiki

Made in Italy, an interesting thick-and-thin yarn to play with.

Retail value: $7-$9, I'm asking $8 including shipping within the continental US. Ask about prices for international shipping.

I'd also like to trade it for something of similar value. I've been meaning to try the KnitPicks Essentials sock yarns, and I always need hooks and needles. Make an offer!

See that? It's a broken DPN, and the reason I haven't made any progress on my basketweave socks in weeks. I thought I'd have to buy a new set of needles, but someone on the Ravelry forums told me Brittany will generally replace broken needles for free! I sent an email a couple of days ago. I haven't gotten a response yet, but hopefully I will soon so I can get on with the knitting!


In the meantime, I've been working on a new pair of socks. It's a total re-write of Grumperina's Jaywalker pattern, applying a similar stitch pattern to a different sock. I'm calling them Skywalkers. There's a lot more info about them on their Ravelry project page (Socks for Great Justice), but I'm holding off on posting the actual pattern until I have both finished.

Here's a technical preview:
They're big! They should fit a men's size 10-12, or a women's 12-14.
They're toe-up! It's easy to make sure if you have enough yarn left over for the second sock.
They're more zig-zaggy! I modified the stitch pattern so the zigzags are more pronounced.
They have shaping! Ribbing on the instep keeps them fitting well, especially if you have a high arch.
They're crew-height! Great for people who don't wear dress socks.
They have short-row toes and heels! Nice-looking, sturdy, and easy to do.


Two weeks ago, I went to the Orlando Needlework Convention at the Orange County Convention Center. It was held along with a scrapbooking show and a beading show, three in one. All of them were pretty impressive, though I was a little disappointed that there were so few vendors selling yarn.

I did pick up some spinning goodies from one of the quilting booths (Boutique 4 Quilters Inc)...

Top to bottom: 30 silk cocoons (0.5 oz), 1 oz Colonial Top roving in Koala, 1 oz Colonial Top roving in Slate

I spun up a little of the Koala, it's so soft, pretty, and easy to work with. Nice long staple length too, without being too long. It's only one spindle-full so far, about 23 yards. Mostly DK to worsted-weight, with a few thinner spots. I'm thinking of plying it together with the Slate.


Silk-processing has been an adventure so far. I managed to degum the cocoons with some help from Worm Spit, and ended up with this fine mess of a thing:

I don't have any carders yet, but I did pick it apart a bit to untangle the fibers and see what the fiber comes out like. Nice! I think I'll like spinning this, once I get it out of "poofy tangled cloud" stage.

Of course, all of this spinning has a purpose! It's going into a portfolio project I'm working on. More on that to come later, or get a sneak preview photo in Ravelry.

I normally don't post twice in one day, but I thought this was deserving of its own entry.

Purseho on Ravelry knitted an awesome rendition of my Elephant Tea Cozy. You can see the project page here, or go to her flickr page to see pictures if you don't have Ravelry yet (which, by the way, you should go put your name on the list for- it's worth the wait!).

Hers is knit in pink and white Wool-Ease, has crocheted eyes instead of buttons, and an adorable little pom-pom on top.

I would normally post pictures, but don't want to steal them without Purseho's permission, so you'll have to go to her flickr to see them.

I finally got around to writing up a full pattern for my Ribbed Cable Socks (before I had only posted the stitch pattern).

You can see it here, please ask if you have any questions, and let me know if I made a mistake!
http://saltwaterpurls.blogspot.com/2007/06/socks-are-finished.html

I realized I haven't shared any photos of my Tetris Afghan-in-progress lately, so here are two.








It's not really that wobbly, just laid out crooked. And look at all those damn ends I'm going to have to weave in.





I also finished my second full spindle of yarn, 21 yards, so that makes 33 total! I still have roving left to spin, I don't know how much yarn I'll end up with.