Pizzelle socks are now live

Pizzelle is live, just in time for the holidays:Whimsical socks with a large floral motif, reminiscent of the floral/snowflake patterns seen on Pizzelle cookies. For added interest they have striped soles and contrasting cuffs and heels.

Don’t care for sportweight socks? Substitute a comparable amount of fingering weight yarn and use US 3 (3.25 mm) needles to produce lighter footwear.

Pick the pattern up on Ravelry or in my Etsy shop.

The pattern is a clear, concise, 4-page .pdf file with large charts and images, as usual.

And the rest:

Size: Women’s Medium (or any foot/leg that is 8” in circumference.)

Gauge: 7 stitches = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in Stockinette st.

Yarn: 2 skeins each of Knit Picks Telemark (103yd / 50 g) in Chestnut (Main Colour – MC) and Passion Heather
(Contrast Colour – CC,) or any other comparable sport weight yarns that complement each other.

Needles: One set of five (5) double pointed needles in US 2 (2.75 mm) or size necessary to obtain gauge.

Notions: A stitch marker to mark beginning of round (optional,) and a sewing needle to weave in ends.

Skills Needed: Increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round, stranded knitting, twisted stitches, and chart reading.

Socks...with a name

I wasn't expecting the impromptu sock-naming contest in response to my last post, but I'm kind of glad that it happened. Thanks so much to everyone who made suggestions! As you can see, the sock is finished:...and I'm pleased to report that it does now have a name. The (impromptu) winner is Ruth, who suggested the name "Pizzelle." (And before I forget, Ruth, please allow me to present you with a complimentary copy of the pattern once it is released. Just let me know where to send it.)

This name struck me as being particularly apt as the flowers on the sock look strikingly similar to those on the cookies. Also, this allows me to now have two patterns named after European desserts (the other being Bavarois.) I sense a trend happening here.

Regardless, you can check out Pizzelle (and Bavarois, too) on Ravelry, if you so choose. Expect the pattern to be out before the holidays.

And, oh, wait til you see the new mittens that are on the way. I do hope you'll like them.

A sock with no name

There's a new sock on the way. It needs a toe......and a name. Hm.

Snowbunnies mittens are live!

The Snowbunnies mittens are out now! Pick up the pattern here, on Ravelry.Row upon row of adorable bunnies (in two flavours!) parade across these cute mittens.

Instructions are provided in the 4-page .pdf to make these as fingerless mittens as well.

Bunny mittens in progress

I don't think it's customary for one to be so chipper on a Tuesday morning, but here we are. I've started a new book, my iPod is replete with unplumbed music and a house full of new yarn (three big yarn-buying trips will do that.)

I also am filled to near-bursting with design ideas. Here's the latest:Bunny mittens (Ravelry link.) Yes.

Pear Mittens!

These had been hanging about since October -- I couldn't believe that it had been so long! It was high time that they were completed, so here they are.

Meet the Pear Mittens:Rows upon rows of cute pears (D’Anjou, Bartlett and Bosc!) adorn these cute mittens. This pattern is ideal for those new to colourwork. The striped thumb adds interest (I'm a great fan of the striped thumb.)

Instructions are included (as usual) detailing how to make these up as fingerless mittens as well.

Grab the lovely 4-page .pdf here on Ravelry. A massive Etsy shop update is due to occur any day now (but if you'd like to see it sooner, let me know.)

And all the usual info-stuffs:

Size: Women’s Medium (or any hand that is 8” in circumference.)

Gauge: 9 stitches = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in Stockinette st.

Yarn: One ball each of Knit Picks’ Palette (231yd / 50g) in Wallaby (Main Colour – MC,) Green Tea Heather (Contrast Colour A– CCA,) Cornmeal (Contrast Colour B – CCB,) Brindle Heather (Contrast Colour D – CCD) and Bark (Contrast Colour E – CCE.) Alternately, any other fingering yarn in these colours or colours of your choice may be used. A 15” piece of waste yarn of the same weight in a contrasting colour to hold the thumb stitches is also required.

Needles: One set of five (5) double pointed needles in US 1 (2.25 mm) or size necessary to obtain gauge.

Notions: A stitch marker to mark beginning of round (optional,) and a sewing needle to weave in ends.

Skills Needed: Increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round, stranded knitting, twisted stitches and chart reading.

I'm off to start another new mitten. It never ends (at least, I hope it doesn't.)

Fruition

The Thistle Mittens (Ravelry link) are finished:
I'll be working closely with MacKintosh Yarns to ensure that the pattern is available sooner rather than later. In the meantime, check out their yarns. I, personally, can't say enough about the Iona Sportweight.

In other news, I am pleased to report that my L'Amour et la Morte (another Ravelry link) socks have happily taken up residence at Antique Beat. Two more pairs of Men's socks are slated to join them there this month.
And for my final news of the day, the Pear Mittens (again with the Ravelry linkage) are currently getting a thumb. Shortly thereafter they'll be having their picture taken, and then? Expect the pattern to be released this evening. I'll update with the link when they're out.

ETA: They're live! The Pear Mittens are available NOW, on Ravelry!

Hedgehog Mittens are out!

The Hedgehog Mittens went live last evening!

The backs:Get the pattern here on Ravelry, and soon in my Etsy shop (which I am going to update one night this week, I swear.)

And the palms:Mittens with amorous hedgehogs on, inspired in no small amount by Nanny Ogg. I’d like to think that she’d wear a pair.

These are available in both finger-having and fingerless varieties. Instructions are included in the 4-page .pdf for both.

____________________
Granny navigated through the press of bodies by the sound of a cracked voice explaining to the world at large that, compared to an unbelievable variety of other animals, the hedgehog was quite fortunate. Nanny Ogg was sitting in a chair by the fire with a quart mug in one hand, and was conducting the reprise with a cigar.

– Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
____________________

Other things that you might like to know about The Hedgehog Mittens:

Size: Women’s Medium (or any hand that is 8” in circumference.)

Gauge: 9 stitches = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in Stockinette st.

Yarn: One ball each of Knit Picks’ Palette (231yd / 50g) in Celadon Heather (Main Colour -- MC) and Bison (Contrast Colour A – CCA) and approximately 10 yards of Knit Picks Palette in Oyster (Contrast Colour B – CCB.) Alternately, any other fingering yarn in these colours or colours of your choice may be used. A 15” piece of waste yarn of the same weight in a contrasting colour to hold the thumb stitches is also required.

Needles: One set of five (5) double pointed needles in US 1 (2.25 mm) or size necessary to obtain gauge.

Notions: A stitch marker to mark beginning of round (optional,) and a sewing needle to weave in ends.

Skills Needed: Increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round, stranded knitting, twisted stitches, duplicate stitch OR intarsia and chart reading.

And now I'm off to work on those Thistle Mittens.

Prickly

I've been commissioned by MacKintosh Yarns to design a mitten with a thistle motif in their Iona Sport Weight yarn. Let me just say that this yarn is ruining me for all other mitten yarns -- I suspect it's the cashmere (can you blame me?)

Meet the Thistle mittens (on Ravelry). The back:Somewhere between William Morris' tapestries, Byzantine herbals, my own scribblings and the Third Style of Roman wall-painting these mittens happened.

The palm:These just might be one of the prettiest things I've ever made.

Encore (et encore)

L'Amour et La Morte (on Ravelry) sock production continues.

I still love this pattern (to death.) And, happily, two more pairs took wing for the UK yesterday morning (may their recipient love them.) That's four pairs (three of them sized Men's Large) finished in less than a month! Here they are, all trussed up:Two pairs (for the Antique Beat Boutique) to go. That's (practically) nothing at this point.

And then there's this, as seen on my Ravelry projects page, which I find particularly apt: