Waving Lace Socks, Fab Sale Yarns, a Few UFOs, and a Free Shawl Pattern

First, some Yarn Porn
(Fleece Artist Blue-faced Leicester DK, bought from Stitches & Scones in Indianapolis)

Hi, friends and visitors! I hope you're enjoying the first days of fall. Here in DC we're not cooling off too much yet, but that's OK. Winter will be here soon enough.

I've got sooo much to tell you today, and have been working on photos and such for a few hours. I even included a free (though VERY simple and knitting-universally known) shawl pattern at the end. If you try it, I hope you enjoy it. Let me know. OK, on to business...

WAVING LACE SOCKS

Here's a photo of my Waving Lace socks, featuring my favorite shoes. They're Keens' "Calistoga" (brown), and "Barcelona" (black). Très comfortable!

I'll definitely make another pair some day, but probably with a different colorway. (This batch pooled more than I expected.) I really did love this pattern. Easy to memorize, easy to knit, easy on the eyes, and easy on the feet. All good, since they're for me :-)

FAB SALE YARNS

Fab yarn at cheap prices. Who could pass it up? Not this knitter!

Four skeins of Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk Georgette in Peony. Four skeins for $28... Not bad.

I knit a swatch while sitting outside of Starbucks at Dupont Circle yesterday. God, the weather has been gorgeous here! On US#3 Brittany birch needles, it knit into a crisp fabric with a promise of softness.

That promise was fulfilled when I washed (in Eucalan) and blocked the swatch last night. The fabric has a rich hand, lovely drape, and a luxurious halo (almost angora-like). The teensy hint of itchiness I felt in the swatch disappeared, leaving a buttery smooth surface I can't wait to feel against my skin.

This yarn is destined to become a pair of long, lacy gloves, like the ones in Veronik Avery's gorgeous new book.

And another good buy: Cascade Fixation...Four balls for $8.88. Nice!

Last Monday Chris and I went up to Stitch DC at Chevy Chase Circle. Lo and behold, they were having a sale! Well, what else could I do but pick up some $4.44 Fixation? With two of the balls, I plan to make a pair of Flame Wave socks from Favorite Socks. If they feel good on my feet, not rough against my soles, then I'll make a pair for my oh-so-tender-footed mom. Which leads me to...

A FEW UNFINISHED OBJECTS (UFOs)

Before leaving for Sacramento last month, I picked up a ball of self-patterning yarn. After all, one always needs a mindless stocking stitch sock project in one's purse, right? The changing patterns help keep me from feeling bored and, somehow, seem to make the knitting go faster (obviously, this is all in my mind).

This is a really SOFT cotton yarn, so I decided to make these socks for my mom, since Sacramento gets so hot. And because she has ultra-sensitive little piggies, I'm making a reverse stocking stitch sole--they'll be smooth against her skin :-)

Moment of truth:
While traveling, I used Brittany birch DPNs. But when I got home I switched back to my trusty Knit Picks circ so I could do the Magic Loop. I'm just so spoiled by this method of sock knitting...I want to enjoy DPNs more than ML, but to be honest, I just don't.

Here, for posterity are a few more UFOs...

Chevron Scarf
This is really a WIP, not a UFO, because I'm actively working on it.

Wow. It's really long. But it's not a bad knit. Just one of those projects you have to keep plugging away at, sometimes enjoying it more than others. The FO will be worth it, though. I love the way it feels when I scrunch it in my hands.

Tube Shawl from AlterKnits
Oh, Tube Shawl, you are kicking my arse.

Honestly, can you imagine knitting six feet of stocking stitch on US#8 circular needles with Kidsilk Haze? Agony! But I. Will. Finish. This. Project. (Can you tell my teeth are clenching?)

It's a lovely shawl, and I'll enjoy it for years. But I started it in 2005, when I was still a pretty inexperienced knitter. Now I know better. I also know you can't frog Kidsilk Haze (ask me how I know). So, onward and longward we shall go.

Grandma Six's Hand Spun Shawl
I started this shawl about a year ago, for Chris' grandma. She's the greatest, and we love her to pieces. I spun half the Finn top on Karida's Louet S10, and the other half on my Kromski Sonata (adore it!).

I'm using US#10 Addi Turbo circular needles, and knitting from the point upward. It's an easy pattern...

Grandma Six's Shawl
Yarn: Any kind. I spun up a worsted-weight singles for the shawl pictured above.
Gauge: Not important.
Needle: One or two sizes more than you'd usually use for the weight of yarn you chose. Experiment until you get a fabric you like, with plenty of drape.

Cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: K1, YO, K1, yo, K1.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K1, YO, K to next to last st, YO, K1.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until desired length and width.
Bind off LOOSELY.
Block as (or if!) desired.

Note: I don't claim that I invented this pattern. It's so simple and easy that it just kind of exists in the Collective Knitters' Consciousness. But I did think it might be a good idea to write it down, in case you're interested. Enjoy!

(And if you've received your Ravelry invitation, come see me: I'm "KnitSix." If you haven't, don't worry...you will get it soon, and I think you'll find it's worth the wait.)

Waving Lace Socks, Fab Sale Yarns, a Few UFOs, and a Free Shawl Pattern