#yarnissima

[talviknits]

In our tiny but tight-knit (ha ha) knitting group, we did a sock swap for Christmas. Everyone knew who everyone else was knitting for but the socks were secret.

I drew a friend who looooves yellow so the color was an easy pick. She also said she doesn't like lacy socks patterns so I opted for a more graphical, almost architectural design. I'd had my eye on this Yarnissima pattern for a long time so now was to time to cast it on.

The end result is quite stunning in the bright color but, boy was this a frustrating knit. The stitch pattern is quite easily memorizable but there are lots of revisions for the pattern. And the heel -- where you do p2tog through the back loop! -- was the most annoying thing I've ever done. No wonder the difficulty curve on Ravelry is skewed to the deeper end.

Still, the socks are gorgeous and the recipient loved them! I just wouldn't knit them again.

On Ravelry: Saviano

Pattern: Saviano by Yarnissima, Winter 2009 Knitty

Yarn: 273 yd (250 m) of Knitlob's Lair Väinämöinen in "Teksas"

Needle: 2.5 mm

Mods: Smaller needles than in the pattern, repeated rows 13-30 twice to get enough length in the foot

[craftingkit]

Also this.....from socks with a heart motif repeated all the way up. The pattern is Tesoro by Yarnissima found in The Knitter Issue 31. The yarn is Noro Kureyon sock.

Wanted to start these but only had one 2mm circular needle and like to knit 2 at a time using 2 needles, so had a practice of the heart while I waited. I've dropped a stitch in the attempt above and there are some odd gaps so might have another go before starting properly!

[talviknits]

Aaand another pair of socks finished. After the Bayerische, these seemed to fly off the needles. The pattern is wonderful and looks much more complicated than it really is to knit. And the fit is marvelous.

Pattern: The Firestarter (Ravelry) by Yarnissima

Yarn: Hot Socks Laola (75% superwash wool/25% polyamide) in colorway #655

Needles: 2.5 mm (foot) and 3.0 mm (leg) circulars

Mods: Turkish cast-on instead of the suggested provisional cast on and short-row toe; increased one extra stitch at each side for calf shaping; modified Russian bind-off instead of the suggested one

These are probably the best-fitting socks I've ever made. The foot is nice and snug, the heel is amazing, and the ribbing on the cuff is wonderfully stretchy.

And then something that's not socks: Mystic Light (ravelry) mystery shawl by Anna Dalvi in The Knittery 4ply Merino Cashmere Sock (60% merino/20% cashmere/20% nylon, colorway "Midnight")