Long time, no post, yet again. I have things to show for my time off though! For one, I finished my stockings, and love them, even if they're not the most practical thing to have knit. Here's the rundown:
Pattern: Over the Knee Stockings from Melanie Falick's Handknit Holidays. Pattern by Cindy Taylor.
Yarn: Haneke Exotics 65% merino, 35% linen blend, 4 skeins of beige. I've gotten some questions about where to find this yarn. I looked online, and didn't find any sources for it, so I called direct to the mill in Idaho, where they were more than happy to ship exactly what I wanted, and the yarn came in only a couple of days. Contact info is in the back of the book, but I'll put it here too... Haneke Wool Fashions, phone # 800-523-9665. It was a nice feeling yarn, and is quite warm on the legs to wear. I'm not sure how the linen will hold up, but it was a fun new fiber to work with.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed knitting these up, and they went much faster than I thought they might, although I was working on several other projects at the same time. There is an errata available on the HH-along blog here for the ankle cable chart that I didn't see until well after I had finished mine. It's something that seemed curious to me when I was knitting them up but I followed the pattern just as it was written, and am very please with how they came out.
They do have a tendency to want to sag after a little wearing, likely at least in part due to the linen in the yarn. I had initially tried weaving elastic thread through the ribbing at the top, but it ended up so tight that I could barely get them on over my knees. So for the time being at least, here's how I solved the issue of keeping them up. I made a garter out of a piece of 1/4" elastic band. I stretched it slightly around my lower thigh to measure for length and then cut and stitched the two ends together with regular needle and thread. Now I put on the garters over the stockings and make sure the rolled cuff cover them. That keeps them up fairly well, although in truth, I do find myself giving a little tug from time to time.
The tree skirt has not fared as well... I'm still working (slowly) on the second piece. There just hasn't been the same time at home for knitting that I 've had in the past. If I had a few hours, maybe this weekend, I think I'm near enough done with that piece that I could finish it, but I don't know that it will all be done and ready for Christmas this year. Next year maybe... I have finished a pair of socks for a friend, and they're blocking today, and I decided kind of last minute to make scarves, one for my technician, and two for people at work, so those are taking precedence over any knitting I'm doing for myself right now. I found this great site I'd never been to before with all kinds of free lacy scarf and shawl patterns on it, as well as other things I haven't had time to explore yet. I'm working on the Spangle Sequins Scarf for my tech using some pink Rowan Kid Classic, and will soon get started on the Opera Scarf for one of my coworkers. Still looking for the right yarn/pattern combination for the other coworker. I got the Rowan yarn from a very LYS that's just about 2 blocks up the street from me a couple nights ago, and found a new yarn, to me at least... I picked up some Danette Taylor hand dyed superwash merino for some socks. I've seen her things around in blog land from time to time, and was aware that she sold on eBay, but apparently she lives here in Charlotte, and now has a nice collection available at Charlotte Yarn. I've already cast on and started a ribbing with the Mint Mocha (scroll down to the middle of the page) that I got, but will just be playing around with it until I decide what kind of sock it really wants to be. Fun, fun, fun!
The over the knee socks look wonderful! What gauge are they knit at? They would take me forver and a day to make! I bet they are really warm and cozy, and they are sexy to boot! Nice knitting!
Posted by: Karen | December 10, 2005 at 03:06 PM
the stockings look fabulous! you really got through them quickly. i love your garter solution. i think regardless of how you keep them up, they will need a little adjusting now and then.
oh, and thanks for the shawl pattern site link. when i have a little more time i'll have to look through them in detail.
Posted by: jody | December 11, 2005 at 09:30 AM
Fantastic blog! I got the HH book for christmas from my neice ... I had gone yarn shopping with her and the stockings were what drew me to the book! Thanks for the info. However the link to the errata doesn't seem to be working. thanks for the great idea for the garter.
Posted by: Judy | December 26, 2005 at 10:37 PM
thank you for sharing about the christmas socks. my daughter wants a pair - in black of course -the haneke yarn only comes in natural - it's $6/skein by the by -(i called to confirm) - so i'm thinking of using Peruvian Collection Baby Cashmere - it's the same gauge - will probalby purchase from Elan - maybe it won't be so droopy. when you put your needles down and find a spare moment - please post the circumference measurements at the thigh and approximate calf. my girl is full-figured and i'll have to increase the size to accommodate her curvaceousness. oh - and the errata - how do i get to it - the link's not working.
so many thank you's.
Posted by: dolly llama aka yvonne williams | January 04, 2006 at 03:10 PM
I notice that you have knitted the over-the-knee socks by Cindy Taylor. I am a little confused by the decreasing: it says to dec. EACH side of the lace cable pattern yet later on there are instructions to dec "work to the last 4 sts of round" I would more than appreciate it if you could give me some hints here on how to do it. Thanks. Uleta
Posted by: uleta | March 16, 2007 at 09:13 PM