Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Is 2006 done yet??

I am SO ready for new beginnings, you know?

I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to all my blog friends for the amazing outpouring of support, kindness and love for me and my family. It means more than mere words can convey and has helped me so much!

I still don't think it's all really hit me just yet and I miss him terribly but I'm glad you all enjoyed the answer grape story. My Dad was so very special and I'm glad you all could know him even just a little.

Now for some knitting because as EZ said - knit on, with confidence and hope, thru all crisis -- and I did!

First up, some festive Regia socks



Specs:

Peaks n Valleys socks from Knit Socks! by Betsey McCarthy

2 50 gm skeins Regia mini ringel #5217

US #1 (2.25 mm) Aero Teflon DPNs

Mods: I used one less pattern repeat for the leg as the recipient is pretty tiny and slender (they fit perfectly!) and I changed the heel to my standard mini-gusset yo short row heel.

I enjoyed this pattern (thanks
Carole!) - its only a 2 round, 9 stitch pattern repeat so it's easy to remember yet just interesting enough to keep your interest. It makes a nice stretchy, comfy sock and I love how the pattern turns the stripes into scallops. The Regia is nice to knit with, it's a basic staple for most socknitters but altho the dye lots were identical the socks are fraternal because the striping sequence was different in each skein! One skein had a three row stripe in with the twos so it threw off the "identicalness" of the socks. I thought about "cutting and pasting" to make them match but they are kinda funky looking anyway so I thought their disparities were endearing! Their new owner agrees!

And now for something completely different, I give you....a sock!!

would ya look at these beauties?



Specs:

Scale Skin socks from the Six_Sock_KAL Group

2 skeins Claudia's Handpaint in the Sea Dreams colorway

US #1 (2.25 mm) Aero Teflon DPNs

32 8/0 silver-lined turquoise seed beads per sock, #13 crochet hook

I confess I have a completely unnatural love for these socks! This was my first experience with Claudia's and ooooo the love!! The base yarn for Claudia's is Louet Gems Pearl and that is already a favorite of mine but add the glorious color that Claudia imparts and the result is just about the perfect sock yarn! So soft, such delicious, saturated color!! Add to that this incredibly simple yet attractive pattern and ding ding ding, we have a winner!!

Mods: Once again I changed the heel to my standard yo short row, mini gusset.
I love the delicate picot edge and I thought it screamed for a bit of embellishment so I added one row (every other stitch) of seed beads using the crochet method. Here's a close up of the beads and the stitch pattern and also to really see the glorious color.... (it was hard! it's been gray and rainy for days!)


I have to say that I think this may be my favorite pair of socks EVER, they are that pretty and striking in person! I hope the new owner loves them as much as me! And if you need an easy, really atttractive pair of socks, I can't recommend this pattern or this yarn enough!

That brings me to a total of 22 pairs of socks knitted in 2006! Not too shabby!

Ruben is completed and will be taking a final bath tomorrow with pics in my next post. Would you believe I have NOTHING on the needles at the moment??? I'm doing some sweater finishing as a gift for a friend so I want to finish that before I start anything new but I plan to have one more Red Scarf on the needles by Jan. 1. I'm also gonna be announcing a new KAL that I'll be co-hosting next week, with a start date of Feb. 1. Wonderful plans are being made for 2007, stay tuned!

I leave you with this pic of the P-Man....he reminds me of a Weeble :)


Happy Wednesday!!

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

It always makes me smile to see your lovely work side-by-side with Mr. "Just Wanna Give 'Em Tickles"!

Seriously good to see you, Debi. Onward to 2007!

xoxo
Karen, Nik and Rocky

Anonymous said...

Ah - P-man how I've missed my fix! Between him and your socks what a great way to get ready for work :) The Claudia socks are absolutely to die for - is the pattern available anywhere commerically?

Nice to see you back blogging, Deb. Take care and I'll look for you next time. Hugz and cuddles to P-man please.

Carole Knits said...

The peaks n valleys are wonderful in those colors. I didn't even notice they weren't identical until you pointed it out. Glad you like the pattern!
And the others, with the beads on the cuff - oh, those are gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Socks!!! Love the beads at the cuff. I'm all for ushering in a New Year - I hope yours is filled with love and healing.

Anonymous said...

I love the socks over here!

Nana Sadie said...

P-Man is SOO cute in that photo! Mr. Soft Paws!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the socks - are they toe-up?
Hope you are doing okay...it takes a while to hit (and then tends to cycle back when you least expect it), but unthinkable as it is, yes, it does get better.
And oh, yeah, sooo ready for 2007!
(((hugs)))

Anonymous said...

22 pairs of socks is amazing with all the other things you've knit. I jut bought some Claudia's Handpaint yarn and your socks make me want to start right away!
Here's to a great 2007 for you and that cute P-man!

Carol said...

Debie, those socks are fantastic! What lucky feets that get to wear those! I had to go back to the striped socks, cause I didn't notice they didn't match! Fabulous!
You sure P-Man isn't knitting too?

Anonymous said...

What an adorable little pudgy-wudgy face! The P-Man is the cutest! Do you have to be a member of the six sox knitalong to get that scale skin pattern? I love 'em!

Anonymous said...

Now those are indeed some festive socks. And even before I read the colorway of those second socks I thought they reminded me very much of the Gulf of Mexico. Lovely.

I hope you find peace through your grief.

Dorothy said...

Glad to hear from you. I know it seems trite to think that knitting can carry you through grief, but I think having something to keep your hands busy really does help. i have to say the socks with the picot and beads are about the prettiest socks I have ever seen. They are gorgeous! I seem to be in a rut of mindless, stockinette socks, so maybe I need to at least put some beads in. Here's hoping that 2007 is kind to you - you've had two years in a row of difficulty.

Anonymous said...

Hi Debi - I ventured over from Monika's blog and I just want to say those Scale Skin socks are so so pretty. I am in the 6 sock KAL, but have been a lazy member - I think the last ones I made were the Fluted Bannister! After seeing your SSS...I immediately went and printed off the pattern to add to my "to do" list
(the beads add a very elegant touch!)

Agnes said...

Wow ... 22 pairs! I am only at 13 pairs ... but am already happy with that! The CHP colourway is sooooo lovely! I have decided not to join the Sock That Rocks sock club anymore since it just limits my trying out other lovely sock yarns.

Terri said...

I always think your work is lovely, the socks with the Claudia Handpaint yarn and the beads are really stunning. I don't normally even care for that color of yarn, but there is something about that colorway and the beads at the cuff that add a special pizzazz. Wishing you the happiest of new beginnings, and much happy knitting time in 2007.

Cathy said...

You've done it again Debi! outdone yourself :) The socks are gorgeous and the PMan does indeed look like a weeble! LOL

It is nice to have you back and I look forward to hearing about your new KAL.

Anonymous said...

Oh those socks are gorgeous!! I just love the scalloped stripes-I've been looking for a good sock pattern for stripy sock yarn. I think I need those. I can't believe you are giving both pairs away. You are much better than I, I wouldn't be able to part with them.
I hope you're doing well! Thinking of you. :)

Monika said...

Lovely socks, as always! Your P-man the weeble (?) sounds cute. A new KAL eh?

Anonymous said...

The Scale Socks are just gorgeous! Is the pattern available?

Anonymous said...

Beautiful socks - and such a cute little weeble.

Diane said...

What a cute pic of the P man.

The scale skin socks look wonderful. Love, love, love the beading. Oh so girlie.

Jes said...

I can't believe you are knit free atm! Not even a sock? Amazing ;)

I love those cladia socks, the little beads are perfect. I need to learn to do this, I love it every time I see it.

I am ready for a new beginning too. May we all have a fabulous new year!

Holly said...

Those socks are stunning, I would want to only wear shorts and sandals with them so I could show them off to everyone. And that's saying something, since I never wear shorts. :p

P-Man is, as always, adorable! I've never seen a cat with eyes that color, it's just beautiful.