A Sheep In Wools' Clothing

Berlinmuster Socks Completed!

I finished my Berlinmusters twelve days into the Second Round sock pattern.  I could have done them sooner, but since I can't compete with someone who does a pair of socks in nine hours, I sat back and relaxed about it.

This was my first experience using Oceanwind Knits' handpainted sock yarn.  This stuff is incredibly soft!  I'll see how it does in the wash and in the wearing of it, and if it stays this nice without major issues, I definitely see more in my stash!

Pattern:  Berlinmuster
Yarn:  Oceanwind Knits sock in "Shiraz"
Needles:  2  24" circulars, Size 0 Knit Picks Harmony
Caston:  5/1/08
Completed:  5/12/08

Soft, feminine, fun knit!

Sock Knitters' Pentathlon 2008 Round Two

I finished the first round socks in 25 days, taking time to make a different pair of socks in the middle.  I gave up on the speed contest portion when the first knitter finished her pair of socks in nine hours.  (The first pattern was Jacobean, a free pattern on the Internet for a guernsey patterned sock.)

I cast on the second round of socks actually on the first day, but have had some overnight calls, trips to pick up Guinea fowl keets, etc that have cut into my knitting time.  They are making good progress - there was a lot of initial confusion for some over the symbols on the charted version of the pattern, and discrepancies in left vs right slanted decreases between the written version and the charted version.  I've frogged in a couple of places - once where I dropped a stitch in a double decrease, and once where I actually forgot to turn the heel in the second sock on a two-on-two method....  getting good at transferring stitches to double points!

Specifics:
Pattern:  Berlin muster
Yarn:  Oceanwind Knits sock yarn
Colorway:  Shiraz
Needles:  two Knit Picks Harmony 24" circulars, Size 0
Cast On:  May 1

PS  The first knitter to complete Round One was also the first knitter to complete Round Two, finishing her PAIR of socks in just under 8 hours I believe (or was it 10?) - her husband brought her breakfast in bed, as she knit all night long after the pattern was released.  She must have a very full sock drawer, and her relatives must have sufficient socks as well!!!!  I wonder if she has fun at it?

Socknitters' Pentathlon 2008 Pair One Completed

In Ravelry, I got an invitation to join the Socknitters' Pentathlon 2008 group.  In this group, five times this year, a pattern is being released at MN at the beginning of the designated months.  As participants complete their socks and post the photo of the completed pair (as well as an in-progress pair earlier), they will be assigned a number as they post their completion.  First person to finish a pair gets a "1", etc.  At the end of the five pairs of socks in the pentathlon, the participant with the lowest number wins.

The first pattern, Jacobean, was announced and linked March 1 at MN EDT.  The first participant to complete the pair of socks (that is PAIR, not single sock) did so in nine hours.  NINE hours, friends.  You heard me.  At that point, a number of us gave up the race, and sat back to enjoy the process (thanks, Margene, for giving us that).  I personally detoured to make my March Mystery Socks in another Ravelry group, Socknitters Anonymous, as well as do 90% of Anne Hanson's (Knitspot) "Gale"  before I returned to finish my Jacobeans.

I did finish the Jacobeans tonight. 
Particulars:  Pattern jacobean
Yarn:  Zen Yarn Garden Harmony Semi-Solid in "Aubergine"
Needles:  2 24" Knit Picks Harmony wooden circular needles, size 1.5
Cast on March 2, 2008
Completed:  March 27, 2008

SKP2008 Sock One - Jacobean

I got an invitation to join the Ravelry group Socknitters Pentathlon 2008.  The idea is to knit five pairs of socks during the year.  One must publish an in progress photo as well as the completed pair before the deadline.  The first person finished gets a point, the tenth gets ten points, etc.  The idea is to finish with the least number of points. 

I was up at midnight, and downloaded the pattern.  I knew I needed sleep, however, so I decided to wait until I had some before casting on.  By the time I awakened and checked the Ravelry group discussion board, I was seeing posts like "first sock is done" followed soon thereafter, but "finished."  Indeed Barbro had completed the pair of socks in nine hours from the time the pattern was released.  So, I decided to be content with the Slacker status, to take my time and enjoy.  So, I cast on and started carrying the pair of socks around with me to work for quiet moments, etc.  The lefthand photo is the most accurate colorwise.

I have made progress, then I made the mistake of checking the Socknitters Anonymous discussion board.  And then I found that they were once again having a mystery sock as a pattern option this month.  I don't know why mystery socks enthrall me, but they seem to.

Specifics:  Zen Garden Semi-Solid superwash wool/nylon yarn, in "Aubergine" colorway.

              KnitPicks Harmony Size 1 needles