June 21-23 I went to London and met up with Brandy, a friend I had worked with in California. She and her daughter were starting a two week tour of Europe for her daughter's graduation and I was lucky enough to be included in the couple of days they spent here. We did a lot of walking and saw and did so many things. Although I had been to the Tower of London and the Eye they wanted to go and since they were only here a few days I wanted them to get to do what they wanted. The view of the city is amazing from the Eye so that was no hardship and the first time I'd been to the Tower of London we hadn't gotten to see everything so it was great to go again. We also got in Piccadilly Circus which is always buzzing with people and reminds me of Times Square. Harrod's, a boat cruise and tea at Kensington Palace were a few other things we got up to. It was great to see Brandy and meet her daughter and I really enjoyed this London visit. Here are some pictures!
I took the next day to recover from the all the walking and after my nice short work week, my new motorcycle club headed to Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. It was a lovely day with a chance to get some great riding in with very nice people and take in some beautiful views. Can't ask for much more! Notice that everything is incredibly green.
Wednesday 9 July 2008
Wednesday 2 July 2008
Peacock Tail Socks
Here is my first design attempt inspired by my wonderful sock knitting group Sock Knitters Anonymous. One of the challenges for June 2008 is to design your own so I must venture where I have never intended to go before ;-) I based the socks on the Peacock Tails stitch from the Vogue Knitting library which can be found here (not included in this blog due to copyright!). I fell in love with it the first time I saw it and knew I had to do something with it and have had requests for the pattern so here it is.
Peacock Tail Socks by Kathy Stearns
Materials:
2 skeins of light fingering weight yarn
Size 1 dpn’s or circular needles
Size 4 needle for cast on round
Gauge:
9-10 sts = 1" in stocking stitch
Stitches:
4-st RC Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to back, k2, k2 from cn.
7-st RC Sl 4 sts to cn and hold to back, k3, k4 from cn.
MB [K1, p1, k1, p1, k1] in next st, pass 4th, 3rd, 2nd and first sts separately over last st made. (For these socks I did not do the final k1 so only passed 3 sts over due to bulk on the sock. The pattern row after this bobble calls for a purl however I knit tbl instead for just the bobble stitch.)
Baby Cable k2tog but leave on left needle, then insert right needle between the 2 sts just knitted together and knit the first st again, then slip both stitches from needle together.
Pattern:
Cast 90 sts on to size 4 needles. Knit one row.
Switch to smaller needles.
Ribbing:
Row 1: 7-st RC, P3, baby cable, P3. Repeat 5 more times.
Row 2-4: K7, P3, K2, P3. Repeat 5 more times.
Row 5: K7, P3, baby cable, P3. Repeat 5 more times.
Row 6-8: K7, P3, K2, P3. Repeat 5 more times (same as Rows 2-4)
Row 9-16: Repeat Rows 1-8 a second time.
Row 17: 7-st RC, P3, baby cable, P3. Repeat 5 more times (same as row 1).
Row 18: K7, P3, K2, P3. Repeat 5 more times.
Leg:
Starting at the top right (row 32) follow the peacock tails pattern from vogueknitting.com (38 stitches) keeping the 7-st RC cable pattern going on the right side of the pattern (first 7 stitches for a total of 45 Stitches). Work this pattern across once for the back (heel) stitches and once for the front (instep) stitches. The 7-st RC should carry on down from the ribbing/7-st RCs from the cuff. The 7-st RC in the first 7 stitches will fall on the same rows as the cables in the tails (rows 26, 18, 10 and 2). Work rows 32 to 1 twice (64 rows) then start the heel (approximately 6” from the top of the sock).
Eye of Partridge Heel Flap:
Set-up rows: Knit first 4 stitches from “heel” stitches onto the front needles. Knit across remaining 41 stitches then knit 3 stitches from the front stitches onto the back. You should now have 44 stitches for the heel and 46 stitches for the instep with the 7-st RC on each side being divided (3 heel, 4 instep). Turn work. Slip first stitch, purl remaining 43. Turn work.
Row 1: (Sl 1, K1) across needle
Row 2: Turn work. Sl1, p across heel stitches. Turn work.
Row 3: Sl 1, K2, (Sl 1, K1) until last stitch, K1.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat these four rows 10 times (40 rows), ending with a purl row and right side facing you.
Turn Heel:
Row 1: Sl 1, K24, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn work
Row 2: Sl 1, P 7, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, K 8, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, P 9, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 5: Sl 1, K 10, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 6: Sl 1, P 11, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 7: Sl 1, K 12, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 8: Sl 1, P 13, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 9: Sl 1, K 14, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 10: Sl 1, P 15, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 11: Sl 1, K 16, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 12: Sl 1, P 17, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 13: Sl 1, K 18, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 14: Sl 1, P 19, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 15: Sl 1, K 20, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 16: Sl 1, P 21, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 17: Sl 1, K 22, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 18: Sl 1, P 23, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Knit 13 stitches across heel and place marker for new start of row. Knit remaining 13 stitches and begin gussets.
Gussets:
Pick up 24 sts along the side of the heel flap. Work row 32 of pattern across instep needle(s). Pick up 24 sts along other side of heel flap. Start decrease.
Row 1: Decrease Round: Knit to 3 sts before instep stitches, K2tog, K1. Work pattern on instep sts (K4 cable stitches, 38 chart stitches, K4 cable stitches). K1, K2tog tbl, knit remaining sts to end of row.
Row 2 and 4: Work one round with no decrease, maintaining pattern on instep and knitting all heel stitches.
Row 3: Decrease Round: Knit to 3 sts before instep stitches, K2tog, K1. Work pattern on instep sts (4-st RC, 38 chart stitches, 4-st RC), K1, K2tog tbl, knit remaining sts to end of row.
Repeat these four rounds until 92 stitches remain (46 heel and 46 instep).
Foot:
Knit all heel/sole stitches and work chart twice down instep continuing to 4-st RC on the first and last four stitches every fourth row. Four full repeats of the chart on the front of the sock.
Toe:
Decrease Round: Work until last 3 sts of heel/sole, K2tog, K1.
K1, K2tog tbl, K until last 3 instep stitches, K2tog, K1.
K1, K2tog tbl, K to end of round.
Knit one row.
Repeat these two rows until 24 stitches remain (12 instep and 12 heel).
Graft toe.
Peacock Tail Socks by Kathy Stearns
Materials:
2 skeins of light fingering weight yarn
Size 1 dpn’s or circular needles
Size 4 needle for cast on round
Gauge:
9-10 sts = 1" in stocking stitch
Stitches:
4-st RC Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to back, k2, k2 from cn.
7-st RC Sl 4 sts to cn and hold to back, k3, k4 from cn.
MB [K1, p1, k1, p1, k1] in next st, pass 4th, 3rd, 2nd and first sts separately over last st made. (For these socks I did not do the final k1 so only passed 3 sts over due to bulk on the sock. The pattern row after this bobble calls for a purl however I knit tbl instead for just the bobble stitch.)
Baby Cable k2tog but leave on left needle, then insert right needle between the 2 sts just knitted together and knit the first st again, then slip both stitches from needle together.
Pattern:
Cast 90 sts on to size 4 needles. Knit one row.
Switch to smaller needles.
Ribbing:
Row 1: 7-st RC, P3, baby cable, P3. Repeat 5 more times.
Row 2-4: K7, P3, K2, P3. Repeat 5 more times.
Row 5: K7, P3, baby cable, P3. Repeat 5 more times.
Row 6-8: K7, P3, K2, P3. Repeat 5 more times (same as Rows 2-4)
Row 9-16: Repeat Rows 1-8 a second time.
Row 17: 7-st RC, P3, baby cable, P3. Repeat 5 more times (same as row 1).
Row 18: K7, P3, K2, P3. Repeat 5 more times.
Leg:
Starting at the top right (row 32) follow the peacock tails pattern from vogueknitting.com (38 stitches) keeping the 7-st RC cable pattern going on the right side of the pattern (first 7 stitches for a total of 45 Stitches). Work this pattern across once for the back (heel) stitches and once for the front (instep) stitches. The 7-st RC should carry on down from the ribbing/7-st RCs from the cuff. The 7-st RC in the first 7 stitches will fall on the same rows as the cables in the tails (rows 26, 18, 10 and 2). Work rows 32 to 1 twice (64 rows) then start the heel (approximately 6” from the top of the sock).
Eye of Partridge Heel Flap:
Set-up rows: Knit first 4 stitches from “heel” stitches onto the front needles. Knit across remaining 41 stitches then knit 3 stitches from the front stitches onto the back. You should now have 44 stitches for the heel and 46 stitches for the instep with the 7-st RC on each side being divided (3 heel, 4 instep). Turn work. Slip first stitch, purl remaining 43. Turn work.
Row 1: (Sl 1, K1) across needle
Row 2: Turn work. Sl1, p across heel stitches. Turn work.
Row 3: Sl 1, K2, (Sl 1, K1) until last stitch, K1.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat these four rows 10 times (40 rows), ending with a purl row and right side facing you.
Turn Heel:
Row 1: Sl 1, K24, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn work
Row 2: Sl 1, P 7, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, K 8, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, P 9, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 5: Sl 1, K 10, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 6: Sl 1, P 11, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 7: Sl 1, K 12, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 8: Sl 1, P 13, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 9: Sl 1, K 14, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 10: Sl 1, P 15, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 11: Sl 1, K 16, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 12: Sl 1, P 17, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 13: Sl 1, K 18, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 14: Sl 1, P 19, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 15: Sl 1, K 20, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 16: Sl 1, P 21, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Row 17: Sl 1, K 22, k2tog tbl, K 1, Turn.
Row 18: Sl 1, P 23, P 2 tog, P 1, Turn.
Knit 13 stitches across heel and place marker for new start of row. Knit remaining 13 stitches and begin gussets.
Gussets:
Pick up 24 sts along the side of the heel flap. Work row 32 of pattern across instep needle(s). Pick up 24 sts along other side of heel flap. Start decrease.
Row 1: Decrease Round: Knit to 3 sts before instep stitches, K2tog, K1. Work pattern on instep sts (K4 cable stitches, 38 chart stitches, K4 cable stitches). K1, K2tog tbl, knit remaining sts to end of row.
Row 2 and 4: Work one round with no decrease, maintaining pattern on instep and knitting all heel stitches.
Row 3: Decrease Round: Knit to 3 sts before instep stitches, K2tog, K1. Work pattern on instep sts (4-st RC, 38 chart stitches, 4-st RC), K1, K2tog tbl, knit remaining sts to end of row.
Repeat these four rounds until 92 stitches remain (46 heel and 46 instep).
Foot:
Knit all heel/sole stitches and work chart twice down instep continuing to 4-st RC on the first and last four stitches every fourth row. Four full repeats of the chart on the front of the sock.
Toe:
Decrease Round: Work until last 3 sts of heel/sole, K2tog, K1.
K1, K2tog tbl, K until last 3 instep stitches, K2tog, K1.
K1, K2tog tbl, K to end of round.
Knit one row.
Repeat these two rows until 24 stitches remain (12 instep and 12 heel).
Graft toe.
Friday 13 June 2008
Wales 20080525-26
I can't believe it's been so long since I posted here. I've been using Ravelry to track my knitting projects and joined a variety of groups so my knitting information here is now obsolete. Things have been going well, still working at Orbit Housing working on a software development implementation, have been riding with several motorcycle clubs and friends, belong to several knitting groups and a monthly book club at Borders. Some recent sight seeing includes Foxton Locks (amazing to see the boats go through--also rode the motorcycle so this was a great day out), Alport Heights (with Caty), Rutland Reservoir on several motorcycle rides, and several days in Wales including Port Meirion (where The Prisoner was filmed), Conwy, Bangor and Snowdonia. The pictures on this blog are from this trip. Next weekend I'm spending several days in London with Brandy (who I used to work with in California) and her daughter. I'm sure we'll have plenty of pics for a future post! And this weekend is World Wide Knitting In Public Day so I'll be off to a local garden center's tea shop to knit with the Southern Derbyshire Knitters. Knitting, cake and good weather--it doesn't get much better. Unless I ride the bike to get there :-)
Wednesday 2 January 2008
Christmas in Torquay, England
This area is beautiful. My resort was right on Meadfoot Beach in Torquay. Unfortunately a lot of the venues I wanted to visit were closed for the season but I was able to walk on the grounds in most cases. The biggest disappointment was that the boat tour of the Jurassic Coast was not running either so I'll definitely have to re-visit this area between March and October. Still had a very relaxing visit and had a good balance of knitting, reading, watching Christmas movies and sightseeing. And of course the traditional Christmas eve jigsaw puzzle.
Friday 21 December 2007
What Kind of Cat Are You? Here's My Result.
What breed of cat are you?
You are a Maine Coon! You are larger than life, a gentle giant. You are independent, but very affectionate with your friends and family.
Take this quiz
I think that is pretty accurate for me. Take the quiz and see how yours comes out.
Sunday 16 December 2007
Not So Much Of A Knitting Weekend
Usually my weekend is filled with knitting and although I snuck some in (can't really go a day without it) this wardrobe was my main focus. I started as soon as I got home from work Friday, worked on it most of Saturday and finished up today. It is hard to believe it arrived this week as two flat boxes of boards and bags of hardware. It was a "deal" on the internet but did not mention assembly required so that was a bit of a surprise but my previous furniture building has been very enjoyable so I dived in. I am really happy with the results and the added shelving along with "closet" space are extremely welcome. English houses tend to have no bedroom closets, only a small hall closet if you are lucky unlike American houses with walkin closets, pantries, etc. Storage is one of the few things I really miss here. Now I have a reasonable amount of storage space and I must say it is rather beautiful as well.Saturday 10 November 2007
Bayerische Socks Complete
This pattern was chosen by the For The Love Of Socks KAL for Oct/Nov. The designer did herself proud with this one! They are exceptionally warm and the pattern is simply amazing. I color coded my chart which made the pattern a bit easier to follow but once I got going it was not hard and never boring. It took a skein of Regia Color each, plus a tad! I ran out in the middle of both toes (I knit them two at a time on one circular) and instead of making a special trip to the yarn shop, I waited for our gathering on Tuesday night. That left me with a weekend that I could have finished up those UFOs but noooooooooo.
At work we are having a bit of trouble with the heating and my right hand 
gets very cold so I searched my new best friend Ravelry and found these fingerless gloves. I had the yarn in my stash and have been dieing to see how it would knit up. I love the colors and it is very soft. The snowflake pattern doesn't show well but is fun to do. I'm part way through the second glove and then plan to get back to a sweater that just needs sewing together and one that needs ribbon and lace but it all sewn together. So many great projects and so little time. I'm off to knit in front of the fireplace with a good movie. Heaven!
gets very cold so I searched my new best friend Ravelry and found these fingerless gloves. I had the yarn in my stash and have been dieing to see how it would knit up. I love the colors and it is very soft. The snowflake pattern doesn't show well but is fun to do. I'm part way through the second glove and then plan to get back to a sweater that just needs sewing together and one that needs ribbon and lace but it all sewn together. So many great projects and so little time. I'm off to knit in front of the fireplace with a good movie. Heaven!
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