Francie

Tags

francie, lightfoot sock, slackford studios, sock

My beloved Francies are finished!  We’ve had a tough go of it, but we finally made it – and all in one piece (well, two pieces, but I’m really referring to the fact that I haven’t chopped these socks into little bits out of frustration).  Third times a charm I always say, and it is the truth in this case.  After knitting elf socks the first two tries (see previous post about delusion – I can convince myself that any work in progress is going to be fine, just fine no matter what evidence is presented to the contrary), I finally have created socks that fit my feet!  Meet my Lightfoot Francies . . .

The socks are Francie by Rebekkah Kerner, and the pattern is very clever and beautiful.  The foot shaping is really not as difficult as it looks (I omitted the leg patterning because it just wasn’t my thing), and the socks hug your feet just right.  Don’t be afraid of the unique construction – just be afraid of your row gauge.  Be very, very afraid of your row gauge.  Ok, it’s not that scary, but apparently I am a very loose knitter compared to Rebekkah Kerner, so I had to make a needle change – specifically from 1’s to 00’s.  As long as you’ve got correct row gauge, though, it should be easy, smooth sailing.

The yarn is Slackford Studios, LLC Lightfoot Sock, colorway Favorite Lipstick, dyed by Susan right here in Oklahoma!  This yarn is 100% superwash merino, and the yardage is great.  It is super soft and lofty, and it doesn’t have too much twist the way I think some sock yarns do.  Lightfoot knits up really well – I didn’t have any problems with splitting or over twisting.  It was also tough enough to withstand being ripped out approximately, oh, 50 million times and re-knit!  I’m definitely going back to L&B for more soon!

I’m in love with these socks and as soon as can psych myself up to knit on 00’s again I’ll be knitting some more!

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Delusion

Tags

flowers, francie, lightfoot, needle case, socks

de·lu·sion: a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary

Let me tell you about Francie Failure 2.0
Let’s remember back to about a week ago, when I was so hopeful that my gauge was close enough for my beloved Lightfoot Francies. Remember I said I’d tell you how the story ended? Well, who knew it would turn out to be a tragedy? (Actually, I think I might detect some foreshadowing here and here.) Unfortunately, this knitter did not see the writing on wall. Let’s diagram the knitting time line of my delusion: (if you find it difficult to believe that the long section is the foot of the sock and the short is the cuff, you are not alone)

It’s not all bad news, though! I finally caved and bought needles I never thought I would need – US 00, and I have the correct row gauge (or at least as close as I will ever, ever get). I WILL make these socks!  And let me say again how much I love this yarn!

Other pretty things – these are my roomie’s flowers, but I’m allowed to take pictures of them, right?

Lazy Saturday

Tags

francie, kaffe fassett, lightfoot sock, socks, toe up

So, it’s the weekend now, and I’ve got my secret wedding present supplies! I’m about 20% finished, and I love it so far. I even took it into L&B to show off (and buy much needed needles) and convinced someone there to knit it as a wedding gift [not for Emily – don’t worry about duplicates :-)]! Don’t be concerned – I swore everyone there to secrecy before I left. Since I can’t really tell you much else about that project, let me share what I completed since last time.

Plain-ole toe-up socks. My Kaffe Fassett’s Design Line Universal Toe Up Socks are finished (they knit up really fast because the yarn is so big – well, big for sock yarn). I really love the colors and they fit great. After looking at more pictures of this yarn on Ravelry, I may have to make a few more pairs of plain-ole toe-up socks in different colorways.

My second accomplishment was getting closer to row gauge for Francie than I have ever been!  I’m well into the foot decreases on the first sock, and I’ll let you know if this story has a happy ending . . .  In the meantime, please enjoy this picture of my Lightfoot Francies.  I think the yarn is so beautiful in this photo that I have found myself looking at it over and over again!

Holding Pattern

Tags

flowers, francie, kaffe fassett, regia, slackford studios, toe up

The secret wedding-present-to-be has been decided, and now I’m just waiting for the yarn to get here!  I’m so excited to get started, it’s perfect, and I can’t wait!  Check back around June 7th to find out what it is . . .

Until my supplies get here, and since I’ve just recently finished Shawl Collar Prototype II (stay tuned . . .), I’ve been occupying myself with socks and more socks!

First off, some plain old toe up socks.  I’m using Amy Swenson’s Universal Toe Up Sock Formula from Knitty.  I love the yarn – it’s Kaffe Fassett’s Design Line from Regia.  I love the long color repeats, and the colors are beautiful!  Here’s the gauge swatch that I started knitting on the way to Corpus Christi for the Baade wedding.  (Long story short – after a brief hibernation because I didn’t like the way the stripes looked, I frogged and started again yesterday) (Oh, and that’s Texas that you see out the windshield)

My other sock adventure has been trying to get the correct gauge for Francie, by Rebekkah Kerner.  Am I the only one that is having trouble getting 48 rows/4″?  This is one pattern where I think row gauge is much more important than stitch gauge.  I’ve already knitted this pattern once with the wrong row gauge, and had to stop the foot shaping way, way early.  I want to get this right, because I think the foot shaping is beautiful and interesting and it looks like these socks give you a hug while you are wearing them!  The yarn for this sock-to-be is Slackford Studios, LLC’s Lightfoot Sock.  I mentioned previously that I loved how the yarn looked all wound up and ready to knit, and (would you believe it) I like it even more knitted up (which isn’t always the case).  The color is Favorite Lipstick, and I adore the pinks in this yarn!  Here’s the first shot at gauge (unsuccessful).  Hopefully the next is closer!

A few other things that made today a good day . . .