Sock woes

So as I mentioned in my first post, I was going to make some gorgeous socks I found on Rav. Well, I started to. I got a 3 of the way through the cabling going down the leg before I frogged it all and tried to start over on something else. Not only was there the issue of the ribbing I mentioned, the cabling charts were explained poorly, and also backwards from the pattern showing in the example sock pictures. I did reach out to the designer to see if I could get clarification/point out the ribbing issue, but as of this moment I haven't heard back. So I decided to scrap it. I started another cabled sock pattern that would have been nice, but the number of cast on stitches was 64 instead of the 68 used in the first pattern I started.

So what? Without all those cables you don't need the extra stitches! I know. But at 68 stitches the pooling of the colors was so so SO pretty and actually looked like apple blossoms, and at 64 it was just stripey. So once again I got halfway through the leg and decided to scrap this project too. I pulled out a cabling chart from a commission I did last year, take the design elements of the first sock pattern I liked, and make my own pattern. Hopefully I can get 2 or three testers, as I haven't ever written patterns to publish before, and put it up on Ravelry to share.

But of course, just as I started making moves on these socks, my last yarn purchase of 2015 came in. One ball of Bre-Aly Threads lightweight fingering 3-ply in Weather Related. Now, this is not technically yarn like I thought it was when I ordered it. It's three strands of thread held together. I ordered it because I came across A Giggle with a Jiggle by Mindy Ross, and one of the test knitters made it in this yarn. It just looked so perfect that I had to have that exact shawl. I've started the pattern and I have to say I am more impressed seeing it come together in person than the pictures implied I would be. The drape of this "yarn" is just so gorgeous and yummy. The pattern is so far extremely well written and easy to follow, even if this particular yarn is a little stressful to work with and learning to do a beaded knit item was not the easiest thing I have ever done. It's a very good learner pattern for beading though, and since I plan to make a Celestarium this year I'm glad I picked it up.

I've also been working on the Asymmetric Tunic, and have finished the first section and am just shy of halfway through the second. My first attempt on this sweater was with an Aran weight wool in natural colors, but I frogged it because it was too stiff and itchy. I'm very happy with how it's coming out in the acrylic, and I chose to color block it as well. A cool blue mint color for the top and bottom sections, with charcoal grey in the center and as a hem detail on the bottom and left sleeve. I'm going to have to alter the pattern slightly for the color blocking to work out the way I want it, but I should be able to make it work.

Now I'm off to work on my shawl, I will try to have some pictures for the next post!