moving on…

please follow this blog at our new name…paperdragonfly.wordpress.com
The archives have been moved and that is where you will be able to follow our foray into the sock world!! Please make note of this change and click there!! Thanks!!

Started anew to help understand

Yes, I may not have finished the first socks— yet. I ran into difficulty and had to regress then understand the detail! So, here’s what’s up… I have decided that, on my quest to understand socks, their many construction methods and why it’s done that way, I’m going to create socks that take one of each of the methods–toes, heels and maybe some interesting cuffs. Then I’ll report on if the are liked, by who and why. I’ll also create a compiled list that has all that info on it. Maybe the booklet that will go along with these blog posts -( eventually)- could be the prize for the one that suscribes and reads the most of the posts- haha I can see how long you were on each page so no fair trying to Cheat!!!!!

frustrated…let’s see what we can find.

I have gotten so frustrated with this heel. I am unhappy with the heel I found and decided to work a different heel– a short row heel. But I have found little in the way of complete instructions. The info i have found has pretty much been patterns, generic patterns and “plug your numbers in and spit out a pattern”. I want more. Maybe I want to offer more. “There is nothing new under the sun”, all the information I- or you – need is out there. So, I am going to try to compile the information in one place regarding different types of heels and toes – crediting the sources.
Here is where my first search took me…
www.woolworks.org/sockheels.html I headed right for the short row heel, “his heel can look the most like commercially-made socks. It is knitted while knitting the sock”- as I think this is my chosen style. I will be trying out this heel tonight and/or tomorrow and will of course post on how that is progressing!

(as a side note, check out www.socknitters.com/FAQ/FAQ_where.htm

and scroll down to the question regarding foot measurements for different size socks. even if the person you are knitting for is right beside you and you can try them on row by row, it’s always helpful to have this info because it’s nice to be able to compare with set sizes.

I have found a really magnificent table to pair up stitch count with heel types – this is at first glance, I am going to take some time and really look this this over and work it myself and give a further prognosis!!
www.socknitters.com/Tips/heels_by_the_number.htm

www.squidoo.com/knitwerk
If you scroll down a bit on this site, you will find it’s devoted to (ta-daaaa) short row heels and tutorials on them. I will definitely be researching this one in depth.

That’s all the sites for now. I am compiling info now to help me compile not just what this is or how to do it, but I am hoping to offer what this heel/toe is, how it’s worked, and how to work it on different stitch counts as well as the pros/cons of each.

As always, stay tuned and watch what is happening…

Tink, tink ( Aka, rip it)

Well, I had gotten halfway through the gusset decreases when I “stepped back” and realized the sock didn’t look right. Correct!!! It was too big. I ended up ripping it back to before the heel flap and changing the heel I had chosen to now working a short row heel and carrying the k4p4 rib that the last row of cabling had produced down the instep.
I have no photos and I haven’t gotten far beyond the ripping and planning stage. I actually needed a break for a night and now I switched to my sweater front. Keep posted….

Still sock knitting!

Here’s more proof… Now we have cabling!

Excuse me for taking a couple days off from the updates, but I’ve been sick-AGAIN. But the good news is I didn’t take time off from knitting!! You’ll notice I’ve added cabling. These cables remind me of portions of the rails that my husband (also the recipient of the socks) drives his trains over, called sidings.

I’ve also decided that I will submit this pattern to the spring issue of The Fibertarian. If you haven’t checked it out, you should. It’s at www.fiberrepublic.com and it’s a free online knitting magazine from Japan. She offers lovely patterns , (free downloads!) and nice articles. One of my scarf patterns made it in the last issue.

Support a great magazine and download our patterns!! Oh, and stay tuned- maybe the next post will show a finished sock. Then on to sock #2!

And 24 hours later…

Here’s more proof, I am still knitting socks- socks that I cast on last night- and look how far I’ve come!!!

For specifics, I’m using US size 1 double pointed needles and a gauge of 8 sts per inch, roughly. (meaning I guessed. But it’s working!)
I began with 5 rounds of k1p1 rib, then switched to k3p1 rib. My hub loves it already.
And back to the knitting….

I WANT to make SOCKS!!!

Well, it’s been a horrible new year for me so far- in and out and in to the hospital again, bouts of panic attacks, and more. So, I finally want to knit (haven’t been WANTING to do much of anything since end of Dec. ) but my concentration hasn’t been so great either. So I decided on a simple pair of socks for my dearest love. They are extremely easy- just follow the formula as you go. It’s portable and easy to put down and pick up. I have never been a sock knitter; not that I haven’t desired to create socks to clothe our family’s feet. I just haven’t seemed able to finish a pair. Now, now that I just need something easy, “brainless”, and rhythymic- now I need to make these. I need to make them as much as a present for my love, but also to convince myself that I CAN do it- I can create something, I can knit again, and I can do it well. So, here’s the proof I have cast on– lovely fleece artist merino in browns and turquoise. Stay tuned….. You might see a finished pair of socks someday.

Announcing PPL

first, here’s the link…PPL

And now a bit about it. This is a “new” service. My husband signed us up for this and I didn’t really understand what it really was or how it could help me. But it’s called PrePaid Legal and it’s legal insurance, like health insurance. It’s there when you need it. And today I needed it. I had an issue with a client and I needed to know what my rights/responsibilities were. I placed a call to an attorney and within an hour, I had a lawyer on the phone, talking to me and answering my question. I was honestly blown away!! I never thought I would honestly use this unless it was dealing with my ex over my daughter.
And it saved me $60+. Really, check it out, there’s no pressure or obligation, but it is so helpful.

On to other things…
These are some of the cards I am creating now with my letterpress machine- and are on sale at InknPress.Etsy.com

I am having fun doing all this and there are more knitting and paper crafts coming your way!

Published!!!

Great news, one of my patterns has been published in the premier issue of an online knitting magazine– The Fibertarian. While it is published in Japan, it is available in English. I am so excited! I really have been working hard on getting my designs out and working with some indie dyers. You can see the magazine at www.fibertarian.com. My pattern is “Pucker Up” , a cute, drape-y scarf. Skill level is easy, worked with dk weight yarn. Please check it ( oh, and the other designs) out and enjoy them. Probably my other favorite, while they are all great designs, is “Shiver” a comfy, cuddly sweater by Cassandra- the creator of the mag. Let me know what you think of the patterns, and the mag as a whole. There are other articles as well. As knitters, I am sure we all love seeing the craft we love grow!

As a side note, I am in the process of opening up a new etsy store at InknPress.etsy.com
This store will feature letterpress cards- note, business, calling… And will offer custom services. I have always loved the look of letterpress but have been unable to get into it until now. I’ve dabbled a bit, and my new machine will be delivered Wednesday or Thursday. I am so excited. These will be real, high quality products, created with all of my creativity and new ideas that are swimming in my head!!!
Just as soon as I get “pressing”, you will see photos!!!

I forgot to add…

GeoTagged, [N42.22814, E75.91141]

I wanted to show you all the (VERY rough) sketch of the sweater for the magazine. It doesn’t look all that complicated, but I jot down quick sketches and notes to help me remember the ideas. I am actually working with two different gauges, having it fairly close fitting and using an element from the scarf on the arms. Different. This is the design being knit with Blarney Yarn’s “Pink Clouds” and ” Geode”. Pics of progress to follow!