F.O. – Sweetpea Socks

Finally,

a pair!

Sweetpea Socks

Pattern: From Knitty.com by Melissa Morgan-Oakes

Needles: 2.5 mm dpn’s

Yarn: My own hand dyed, hand spun from Blue Faced Leicester top

Modifications: I knitted these toe up to make the best use of the handspun and restricted the pattern to the leg portion, making the foot stocking stitch.

All in all, once I had decided to knit these toe up (after ripping back the first one) they were enjoyable to knit. The lacy pattern was straight forward and fairly easy to memorise, although to be honest, I always have a copy of a pattern and a post it note with me as I quite often forget patterns in between knits. The Blue Faced Leicester takes dye well and is a dream to spin and knit with, it’s also pretty warm, which is a bonus for those of us with permanently cold feet at this time of year.

I have started to spin up some of the Shetland top ready to start my Rainey Sisters Hoodie, but, I have been a bit waylaid by some other things.

Firstly, on Friday I bought a copy of Knitting magazine. Inside are two patterns from Debbie Stoller’s new book Son of Stitch and Bitch. One is an argyle scarf and the other a mans hoodie (back left on the front cover) called the Hacky Sack Hoodie. It is knitted top down, (bonus!) from Brown Sheep Lambs Pride and Noro Kureyon. The Noro is used as a colour changing stripe across the centre of the body and sleeves.

He saw it and immediately wanted it for Christmas!

Sooo, looks like the other things maybe on hold for a little while. Shame, as I only have one and a half sleeves of the Luvtroja Mans sweater to go. Last week I had spun up what I was hoping to be the last of the plum Corriedale, but now I’m not so sure that I won’t need more. I added up how much I have spun for this project and have just gone over the 1,500 m mark, that’s over 3,000 m of singles! I would like to finish it!

Secondly, I have been spinning some Icelandic carded batts in silver.

Sorry about the poor quality, this was taken with a flash as it’s so dark here the last few days.

I started them as a bit of a side project thinking that it would make nice socks and became hooked. Icelandic sheep have a double fleece with thick outer guard hairs and a fine, soft, under fleece. Most of the coarse hair has been removed from this and what is left is like a finer hair with lots of fluff! It’s making interesting spinning, although I’ll have to wait and see if it is going to be any good for socks as I spun it assisted long draw and it seems to be very soft.

This is it plied but still on the bobbin, I’m hoping to find time today to take it off and wash it.

Last but not least, I received my invitation to Ravelry! I had not applied at first as to be honest I wasn’t sure I had any more spare time. But, well, in the end how could I resist! I haven’t had much chance to look around yet, or find anyone, though I have put on a few of this years projects. If you see me do please stop by and say hello, I’m on there as Mindie.