First Toe Up Sock!

I did it! I finished my first pair of toe-up socks, simple crew socks following the instructions in Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts’ Simple Socks Plain and Fancy. I used Opal sock yarn in a self-striping pattern. As a learning experience, I say it was a complete success. I learned how to do short rows using the yarn-over method. I much prefer short row toes to the ssk/k2tog toes I’ve done in the past. It’s much easier to make them gradual to fit my square feet! I’m looking forward to trying some lace patterned toe-up socks I’ve had on hold for some time now. This was too much fun! Gibson-Roberts explains the principles extremely well. The whole hour-glass shaping element is clever and makes for interesting heels as well.
As for the Provincial Waistcoat, I’ve been trying to get a good picture of the buttons for more than a week, and finally realized that my best chance to get the detailed carving on the buttons was to scan the sweater. This also worked. [grin] Would have saved myself considerable trouble if I’d thought of it sooner! However, the current file is too large for blogger to load. [sigh] Great detail, and the price for it. I still need to wash and block this piece, and then it will be done, not to be worn until fall.

The Daphne top and the Bobble Blue top have both been on hold, so it’s time to choose one to go on with. Maybe both, at that! [laughing]. The Daphne top will include a great deal of mindless knitting, so perhaps that might be a good relief to all the complex cable and rib elements of the Bobble Blue. I don't know how likely is that I'll finish both in time to wear this summer, but perhaps one will be ready in time. I think I'd prefer the Bobble Blue top -- actually done in an orchid wool-cotton from Brown Sheep -- since I've the skirt to match it ready and waiting. From what I can tell, they will make a lovely outfit, and it's a color that doesn't fill my closet at the moment.

On the other hand, I’m also interested in catching up with the latest KAL I’ve joined. It’s the Monthly Dishcloth KAL, and I’m having fun figuring out what the pattern will make, since we only get so many lines of knitting a day. It will be a fun way to supplement my own kitchen, as well as add to the stack for the church bazaar. I’m also able to copy and paste the instructions into a work document, and listen to them on my Bookport MP3 player / document reader. This might make these projects an even more interesting option for travel knitting while I’m riding the buses.