#zephyr socks

[talviknits]

The Zephyr Socks turned out, unintentionally, knee-highs! The pattern is stretchy and very economical as far as yarn consumption is concerned. I was able to crank out knee-high socks of just two 50 g balls. The yarn doesn't even have exceptional yardage. In fact, it has less than the wool blends I used for the previous socks.

Pattern: Zephyr Socks (ravelry) by Domesticat

Yarn: 2 x 50 g Regia Cotton Jacquard Color (41% new wool / 34% cotton / 25% polyamide), colorway #5436 (blues and grays)

Needles: 2.5mm 80cm aluminum circular needle

Mods: Toe-up, Revisited Widdershins heel. Increased one pattern repeat (9 sts) on the back needle above heel to a total of 63 sts. This made the cuff slightly loose in the ankle (but also very easy to put on) but it evened out as I worked further on the cuff. The stitch pattern is very stretchy so I didn't need to do any calf shaping. Ribbing according to pattern.

Other: Summer of Socks 2007 pair #4, Sockdown: Ravelry August 2007 challenge (Sockbug or lace) pair #1

I worked diligently on the Zephyrs over the weekend because I wanted to cast on another pair of lacy socks for the Sockdown: Ravelry August challenge. (Poor MacPalmikkoneule must be feeling neglected.) This is Minitomus, Pomatomus anklets made of sport weight yarn. I have a small leftover skein (from Rainy Day Socks) of this variegated aqua that I think will make great Poms. It's not enough for a full-size pair but worked toe-up might just make a pair of anklets. I've never done Pomatomus before but that doesn't stop me from modding it on the first go. :D

[talviknits]

New month, new knitalong and new projects!

August 1st was the kick-off date for Sockdown: Ravelry. I cast on for Zephyr Socks in Regia Cotton Jacquard Color. I'm really liking the stitch pattern: it's fast, easy and the resulting effect is really interesting. No wonder the same stitch pattern has been used in several other sock patterns.

I'm also liking the yarn. I've never used sock yarn that has cotton it it before, but I'm finding it very smooth and sturdy to work with. I was a bit worried that the socks wouldn't fit since you only cast on 54 sts for the Zephyrs. But the yarn is slightly thicker than the ones I've used before so no problem there. That and the lace pattern is stretchy. The only complaint I have is that the combination of the yarn and lace pattern makes to socks look a bit busy. It'd be better in solids or subtly variegated colors.

I also cast on for another project I've been ogling and drooling over for months now: a gorgeous Monarch of the Glen inspired MacPalmikkoneule cabled cardigan (ravelry). I want to wear this when the weather gets cool in the fall so I figure I'd better start working on it already. The pattern is written for flat knitting but I'm working the fronts and back in one piece. And that of course means that one row is miles long. So far, I've barely made it past the ribbing so nothing much to show yet.