In this entry I will attempt to distract you from my lack of a finished Georgina with pictures of a sock.
Yes… I am turning the heel on the second step sock, and soon it will be finished! This is fortunate, because it’s possible (though I’m not saying for sure) that I’ve been sucked into the black hole that is buying sock yarn on Etsy.
Thanks for all the help with my Knitpicks order – I have ordered the Pumpkin color to make Thermal, and I can’t wait for it to arrive! I also ordered Palette to try Eunny Jang’s Endpaper Mitts. I’ve decided that it is time for me to break down and figure out fair isle knitting. Mine will be dark gray and aqua… sort of similar to the middle sock yarn above, but with darker gray.
I ordered from WEBs too… it’s just crazy yarn buying week around here! I ordered the new Valley Yarns Williamstown to make the Garnstudio swing cardi that is so trendy at the moment! Someone pointed out to me awhile ago that there is a version of this sweater written for worsted weight yarn, so I’m going to do that one (I have gone way, way off of bulky yarn this week…) I’m also trying Sheffield, their new Angora blend, to make Sweaterbabe’s Lush cardigan. I was going with the idea that I’m not allergic to angora, since I’ve owned many angora sweaters in my day… I only hope that assumption holds up – I am very paranoid after the alpaca debacle. I got yarn as well for the icelandic turtleneck from Crochetme (4-ply soft in navy) and for a phildar sweater I’m planning (baby cashmerino in light gray.)
All this talk of sweaters brings me to Georgina, which currently sits in time out. I sewed the sweater together, and the fit is ok. The sleeves are ginormous, but I wasn’t expecting them to be fitted. The body fits (as I said) ok. I cannot figure out how to attach the collar and not have it look awful. Plus… I’m really not happy with how the yarn looks. Even after blocking it remains very uneven. I sewed on a few buttons, but I was unhappy with how it looked on me. So… I’m giving it a little time. I may, after a bit of time, decide to go on and finish it, or I may place it in the drawer of unhappy knits, which is where most of the “What was I thinking with a fitted bulky sweater” knits go.
And in the meantime… I will finish my sock, and then I think it’s time to start something with some of the felted tweed I have stashed. I actually cast on for the tangled yoke cardi, but made a mistake an inch in and frogged… I’m not sure I like knitting cardigans in one piece like that. Those rows go on forever! But perhaps I will try again. I love the finished tangled yokes I’m seeing. Otherwise I can start Salina, which has been queued forever!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
After I finish Wicked, Thermal in Pumpkin is on my list. I look forward to seeing yours! I am not a fan of bulky yarn either. Worsted is the bulkiest I will ever go. I love your sock!
Ooh, that turquoise and grey sock yarn is pretty. You’re gonna love colorwork!
I’ve been meaning to ask, are you sure you’re allergic to ALL alpaca? The other day my coworker was talking about this horrible allergic reaction she had to some alpaca yarn, and she’s not normally allergic. We figured it might have just been something about the way the yarn was processed.
oh! that yarn is gorgeous!
Oh my… what IS that silver and teal and white yarn?? It’s so gorgeous!!
I’ve bought so much sock yarn in the last few months…and I haven’t finished my first pair of socks! I’ve got the Endpaper mitts in my queue…not sure what I’ll get to knit them yet, though.
Yum! Pumpkin thermal. 😉
A friend gifted me with some Williamstown from her recent pilgrimage to WEBS, and they’re not joking when they say it’s soft. 🙂
Woolgirl.com is a great source for sock yarn — she’s got some seriously beautiful stuff there from indie dyers.
i just ordered some sample skeins of williamstown, too! mine for the CPH which i haven’t knit yet…i think i’ll be ordering it in colorway #06, which is a pretty tweedy burgundy red. it’s nice and soft and affordable, isn’t it?
say, did you ever get the Ravelry mail i sent you? i was asking for your advice about adding a buttonloop to my cropped cardigan (a la Juliet), but i can’t figure out how to attach it neatly. any help? thx!
oh, your sock yarn looks scrumptious. it’s so easy to just throw a skein or two in your shopping cart, isn’t it?
Regarding the unevenness you are experiencing with the yarn you chose for Georgina, have you seen the comments on Knitting Daily’s website. One lady’s suggestion about using two different sized needles is a gem, especially if your purl tension is different to your knit tension. It just might sort out the problem of the uneven lines you are getting with Georgina. She suggests that if your purl stitch is looser than your knit stitch, then using a smaller needle for the purl rows can rectify the unevenness. I know this is not going to be much help to you as you have finished the knitting for Georgina but it could be helpful in the future (or dare I say it – if you decide to frog!) As she also suggests, it can sometimes achieve that impossible tension you are seeking, when one needle size produces a tension too small and the next size needle produces a tension too big. Clever or what?
The yarn on the right is simply gorgeous. Truely beautiful fall colors.
How funny–I was just about to send a note about using two different needle sizes to help with the gauge differences in your Georgina, and I see Sue already beat me to the punch! Hope it helps.
PS. Your blog is awesome, and you are a knitting machine!
That sock yarn looks awesome. Can’t wait to see your thermal!
Enjoy your endpaper mitts, they are a really fun knit, and fairisle is a doddle once you get the yarn in each hand thing going. I taught myself using knittinghelp.com.
Timeout often helps. I find that I am usually dissatisfied with a project right after I finish it. I’m not sure why. Maybe I am too aware of the inevitable imperfections. Generally, after a period of time has passed, I pull it out and realize it’s really pretty good, and wouldn’t it look great with those jeans/that skirt/this top? At worst, I decide it just needs a different collar or another blocking or a better seam for that shoulder. Give it a little time.