Marigolds finished!

I am so happy with these socks - great pattern, wonderful yarn that compliments it beautifully and a really great fit. I've really improved my short-row heels and toes too - the first one, which I didn't think was too bad at the time, now looks shoddy in comparison to the second.

You can't really see the stitch pattern too much in that photo, so here's a close up of me with my feet up the wall!

I'm at a bit of a loose end as to what to start next. I made a tiny bobble hat for the Innocent Drinks/Rowan/Age Concern campain, but with the best will in the world, I'll need to knit other more substantial things as well.

I've got some gorgeous sock yarns lined up for my next project, both from the Natural Dye Studio on ebay.co.uk

I'd quite like to use this lilac-y one for some Pomatomus socks, but I'm not sure that I'l have enough. I think I've 340 yards in total, but the pattern asks for more - any suggestions? I don't have the confidence to try and transform it into a toe-up sock, not yet anyway. I also have 2 skiens of 'Orange Glow' Blue Faced Leicester Yarn - the same yarn as I used for the Marigolds - it reminds me of a packet of Refreshers - can you still get those?

I'm waiting for a copy of Favourite Socks by Ann Budd from Amazon - perhaps I will hold out and see if there's something great in there. I love my new Marigold socks anyway - I'll need them if it carries on being so rainy.

One sock done!

Yay! I completed the first marigold sock the other day and immediately cast on the second. I don't know where I've found the time this week - parents' evening last night, dance practice (for staff v/s students 'Strictly Come Dancing' - we need a LOT of practice!), taking my Nan to the hospital today (good news) and completing a set of reports for my Year 7 class. Too much. I guess that's why there's no picture to go with this post. Perhaps by the end of the weekend I'll have a complete pair to show off...

Recently finished 2 - Monkey socks

These were my first pair of lace socks - and I'm really really pleased with them. Everyone seems to be knitting Monkey at the moment, and I can see why.

I'd memorised the pattern by the end of the second repeat and they grow really quickly. I used some grey Trekking yarn from my LYS that was 25% bamboo. You don't notice the bamboo most of the time, but the yarn is beautifully soft yet feels hardwearing, so I guess that is something to do with it. The colour isn't great, but I think I'll get loads of wear out of them in the winter. Here's a picture of the socks in progress - you can see the lace pattern a bit better.

I think they'd benefit from being blocked but I've no idea how to block socks - the same as everything else or somehow 3D, if you know what I mean. If anyone out there knows, please let me know!

Recently finished 1 - leaf t-shirt

I said that I'd finished lots of things lately - so I thought I should perhaps take you on a quick tour, starting with my favourite garment.

A couple of weeks ago I finished the lovely leaf t-shirt from knittingschooldropout.

I used Rooster Almerino aran in custard - a gorgeous yarn that I will definitely use again.

I am delighted with it - I'd only knitted a couple of garments before (sticking to bags and scarves etc on the whole) and if I'm honest, I didn't really wear them at all, but I've worn this about four or five times already.

If I made it again I'd make it a bit smaller - the instructions are for a "snugg fitting garment" so I over-compensated a bit and made it a bit too big. It's a great simple pattern though.