Greyscale Penguin Socks

 I love knitting socks.
I've made a couple of pairs for myself and I wanted to spread the love of handknit socks.
So I convinced Mr. Mechanicalpenguin that he would really like a pair of handknit socks.
He greeted it with his typical enthusiasm (which is to say, mild).
But he says he enjoys them, and he's worn them a couple of times.
I like how the ribbing worked out, but the top of the cuff is a bit loose. This is a problem with all my socks so far. I need to try knitting more cuff at the top to see if that fixes the problem.

Bamboo Blush de Baudelaire

In a word: gorgeous.
 I love everything about these socks. The way the pattern turned out, the fit, the sheen, the feel of the yarn. So freaking soft and shiny and glorious.

I wasn't sure this was going to work at all. The bamboo yarn I used, Cleckheaton's Bamboo, is super soft and drapey, so maybe not the best choice for socks?
But the pattern came out crisp and clean, and the soft, silky yarn was a joy to work with.

The pattern is a Cookie A pattern, Baudelaire, which was first published in Knitty in 2006. It's the most complicated lace I've attempted yet, and it took me a while to get into it.
I'm very pleased with how it flowed once I got it.
There is a moment in every lace knitting where it just clicks. The stitches make sense and the inherent rhythm of the pattern makes everything flow along.
It took me three repeats along the foot to get it, but once I did, it was a joy.
It took me only a little over a week to knit these, and I'm very proud of that.
So far, they fit nice and snug, but I notice they tend to sag a little after a few hours. I haven't tried them in shoes yet.
We'll see.

I Dream of Melbourne Beaches (or at least mom does)

My first pair of socks for someone other than me.
Mom's been hinting that she would sure like a pair of cozy socks to admire while she puts up her feet and watches TV.
hint well received.
After all, it's my mom who introduced me to knitting.
She was a knitting fiend until she developed permanent RSI in her elbow from knitting too much!
She's made me many fabulous sweaters when I was a kid (how I wish I still had them now!), and when I found the yarn for these socks, I knew it would be perfect.
You see, my mom knit me a sweater in turquoise. I called it blue, she called it green. It was hilarious, and I loved that sweater a lot.
it was exactly the color of the blue (green?) in these socks!

I wanted a pattern reminiscent of the ocean and waves to go with the colors. I found the Sailor's Delight by Meliisa Morgan-Oakes of Two-at-a-time Socks fame. The pattern doesn’t show up well, but it’s making the overall sock appear wavelike.

Sent off across the world on Sep 6th.
Arrived November 24th. Slow post is slow. I was really worried that the socks hadn't made it. Fortunately, they have!

I'll never send knitting by slow post again. Way too stressful!

The Zombie Apocalypse

So you think that the zombie apocalypse is an event in the distant future? Nothing to worry about?
Or maybe *gasp* you're one of those people who don't think the zombies are coming and there's no reason to be prepared?
Well, not everyone shares your laissez-chomp attitude.

http://emergency.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies_blog.asp

Just saying.

Keep those sticks pointy and that yarn coming. You never know when you've got to get ready.

Monkey Robot Overlord

Love! Lovelovelovelovelove. Why did no one tell me what a difference yarn makes?
Ok, ok, so *everyone* has been saying that. But still!
This yarn is awesome!
Not only does it have the best name ever (seriously, how can you go past Robot Overlord? I know!)
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock is a fabulous yarn. Smooth and tightly spun, with great colors.
So much nicer than anything I've worked with in my (admittedly short) knitting life.
This is also my first ever Cookie A pattern. Cookie A, in case you don't know, is somewhat of a sock designing legend, and the Monkey socks, first published in Knitty magazine, are an iconic sock pattern.
Of course I had to try it!
I made them two at a time on one Addi Turbo Lace needle, 32”. Love the needle.
I would have made the leg longer than the repeats called for in the pattern for a longer leg, but I wasn't sure how much yarn I would need, or how long I would like the finished cuff. live and learn.



While knitting up, I didn’t notice this, but once on the feet, the yarn creates thin red stripes across the pattern. It's very striking. While knitting, I just kept thinking "brown, beige, brown, OOH, red!"
I started the toe decreases a little early because of the way the pattern fell. The sock still fits, but snugly. I like it. Especially given that the first sock I made was rather on the loose side.
Overall verdict?
It’s a busy sock, but quite comfy.
The pattern breaks up the multi-coloured yarn beautifully. It adds some real interest. They look like a pile of autumn leaves! In the best possible way.


I love these socks. Everything about them worked out great, from the gorgeous yarn, to the color to the pattern to the fit.


Yay sock love!

Long Scarf is Long

 There is a time in every knitter's life when they become confident in their mad skillz and want to show them off to the world.
Usually a while before they have any actual skills.
I'm no different, so I was thrilled when Mr. Mechanicalpenguin (aka the man in my life) asked me to knit him a scarf.
Not just any old scarf, but a scarf of awesome nerdery.
A Longcat Scarf.
if you don't know what a longcat is, I recommend you get out from under that internet rock you've been living under and prepare to waste a day (or week) on icanhascheezburger.com. Go on. I'll wait.
How was it?
That's right. The place where hilarious kitten photos and bad grammar birth internet memes is also the source of longcat, the perfect scarf adornment.
This scarf not only proclaims one's nerdery to the wider world, it also came with a new (to me) technique: double knitting.
Double knitting basically produces a double-sided, reversible fabric by alternating knits and purls with two yarns at the same time.
Once you get into the rhythm, it's surprisingly addictive, if rather slow going.

I knit most of the scarf in the car to and from the snow on our annual trip to Mount Hotham, our home mountain, for a weekend of skiing and snowboarding.
The scarf is made from cheap acrylic yarn, so it's not overly warm, but Mr. Meachanicalpenguin proclaimed it perfect, and proceeded to wear it to work the day after it was finished.
Success!

Snowboard Babe Purple B'day Hat

 A spin-off of the Baristafarian hat, this purple fuzz concoction is squishy, warm, floppy, and the perfect birthday present for my snowboarding girlfriend. She loved it, and oohed and aaahed appreciatively.
Good knitting gift receiver. Will get more.

This was a fun, fast knit on the bus, and the results couldn't have been better.
I should have taken more photos though. It has a massive pompom that I somehow forgot to photograph!