and across the finish line

Specs:
Pattern: Railroad stitch man's sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: Sisu Maskinvaskbar 80% wool 20% nylon in navy and gray
Needles: Brittany dpns in US size 1 1/2 (2.5 mm)
Started: June 13, 2006
Finished: August 13, 2006

What I did differently - not much besides color. The pattern calls for a striped heel and striped toe. I was going to make it all one color, but didn't have enough yarn. That's why there are gray toes. (although, looking back I bought 4 skeins of the navy blue - why did I think I didn't have enough?) I also didn't bother with the purl stitch line that travels down the back of the heel.

I like these socks; they're very substantial (that's partly the nice springy yarn). The textured pattern also allows for quite a bit of stretch.

By concentrating on just one project I did manage to finish well within my deadline (what a concept - working on one project at a time). I think I'm going to do the same thing with my poor neglected sweatshirt jacket and my Fearless Fair Isle.

No more new projects 'til both of these are done! (she shouts!!!) I'm going to work on them one at a time, 'til each is complete! (she shouts again!!!)

well, except I need to knit some baby hats for the hospital. and my husband wants me to knit some railroad stitch socks for his dad. and I really want to pick up the Tina shawl and work on it (did you see Natalie's completed lacey lattice stole? it's absolutely beautiful!). and I'm thinking about knitting a fisherman's gansey with the authentic 5-ply wool and size one needles (maybe the Humber Keel or the Whitby).

Ummm, am I doomed to fail? Only time will tell.....

Designing Fair Isle -

My new design mostly exists in my head and in black & white charts (ok, purple and white charts) right now. As an aid to designing I've ordered shade cards for both Jamieson's and Jamieson & Smith's yarn. Can hardly wait for them to arrive.

It's funny. When I first started dreaming up this design I saw it as done in primarily blues and greens. When I close my eyes now it almost always appears in shades of red.

When your designs start developing personalities of their own, it's definitely time to start locking them down in color swatches. Or contemplating that padded cell (would they allow me my knitting needles in there?). So as soon as the shade cards get here I'm going to splurge and get a bunch of yarn in various shades of blue, green and red so I can experiment with actual yarn.