Toe Up Socks

Pattern: Toe up, 2 socks on 2 circulars, with short row heels. The lace pattern is the "Oblique Openwork" from Sensational Knitted Socks. Class taught by Lynn at City Knits.
Yarn: Lorna's Laces shepherd sock in "Blue Jeans" colourway.
Needles: 2 24" Addi Turbos in size 1.
Comments: Lots and lots to learn here. My first toe up socks, so I learned a provisional cast on and the toe-up technique which I love. The two at once was a bit awkward, and I may stick to just one at a time, but I definitely knit faster on 2 circulars than on double points. I had problems with the short row heel picking up the wraps on the knit side of the heel and had to reknit it really tightly and even then it didn't seem quite right. Next time I'll try one of the other methods and see if it's any better, as I really like how they look, and the speed of knitting them too. New bind off too - Elizabeth Zimmerman's sewn bind off, to give enough stretch for the socks to fit.
Ended up: I'm keeping these! They do look great with jeans too.

Jaywalkers

Pattern: Jaywalker socks by Grumperina
Yarn: Socks that Rock in Fire on the Mountain colourway.
Needles: Two Addi Turbos size 1, 24".
Comments: A fun pattern to knit, but there's not much stretch in it. I knitted the smaller size, and even these came out large.
Ended up: As a possible gift for someone who reads this blog...

Fair Isle Hat

Pattern: City Knits class pattern by Karen Kendrick-Hands
Yarn: Classic Elite Bazic 100% superwash wool (chunky weight, 4 stitches per inch on #9 needles)
Needles: Addi Turbos 16" in size 9, and Crystal Palace bamboo dpns in size 9.
Comments: My first time knitting continental style, carrying one colour of yarn in the left hand and one in the right. I really like left hand carry and will keep trying to use that and get faster with it. The bulky yarn knitted up really quickly - I started this in Tuesday night's class and had it finished by the Friday morning. Remember when bringing up a new colour yarn to catch it one row and one stitch before it's going to be used; this shortens the floats and puts it right in position when you need it. Weaving the ends in as you go is also easier.
Ended up: Got worn on the retreat by me, and may be put into the Christmas pile.

Rainbow Socks

Pattern: Basic sock pattern with legs done in a broken rib pattern. Rows 1 & 2: k2 p2. Rows 3 & 4: knit.
Yarn: Fortissima Colori, in shade 9072 - Sundown. Bought from Little Knits. I used 1 ball for each sock, had to wind on some of the second to get the colour order to match, and have about 1/8 of a ball left.
Needles: Size 2, Clover bamboo with one Plymouth bamboo for good measure. The plymouth needle was nicer to work with - a smoother surface.
Comments: Terry has long toes, so I ended up, on the second sock, adding an extra "straight" knit round to the first 4 toe decreases, so decreasing over 22 rounds rather than the 18 called for in the pattern. Putting the extra rounds in early gave a nicer shape and better fit to the toe.
Ended up: On Terry's feet!

Broadripple Socks

Pattern: Broadripple socks from Knitty
Yarn: Cascade Fixation, colour 9903
Needles: Bamboo dpns in size 3, set of 5
Comments: I love love love these socks. The Cascade yarn was slightly tricky to work with, as I wanted to make sure I didn't over-stretch it when knitting. I may have over-compensated with the second sock, as it's a little looser than the first. The yarn stripes pooled a little too much, but I tweaked where the heel flap went so that the front of each sock looked similar-ish, and the large purple/green pooling was at the back.
Ended up:On my feet or in my sock drawer! I'm keeping these.

First Pair of Socks

Pattern: Yankee Knitter Designs Classic Socks for the family. Used sport weight ladies size with a k3 p1 rib for the leg.
Yarn: Heirloom Easy Care 8 in turquoise, 1 skein per sock
Needles: Clover bamboo dpns in a size 6, set of 4
Comments: I hate hate hated this yarn. The plies kept untwisting as I wrapped, and it felt stiff to work with. But this was my first ever pair of socks and I was generally happy with how they came out. I knitted the leg and heel flap too short for the to properly fit Terry, mostly coz I wanted to stick to only 1 skein and get the knitting over and done with!
Ended up: Terry's probably going to keep them for bedsocks in the winter.

Sparkly Pink Scarf

Pattern:Told to me by Lynn at City Knits. Cast on 8 stitches with two yarns held together. Slip first stitch knitwise, K7. Repeat until you almost run out of yarn. Bind off.
Yarn: 1 ball each of Plymouth Nocturne 1967 and Trendsetter Dune 95
Needles: Size 19 bamboo.
Comments: Otherwise known as Top Secret Project 3. Started knitting with size 15s, wasn't nearly lacey and holey enough, so ripped it out, and started again with the 19s. A very quick knit - took me about 2 hours max.
Ended up: As a birthday gift for my sister
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Classic Cable Hat and Sweater

Pattern: From Top Down for Toddlers by Deb and Lynda Gemell
Yarn: Shepherd Baby Wool 4ply in shade 3835. 1 ball for the hat, and the remains of that ball plus another 3 for the sweater.
Sizes: Hat knit in larger of 2 sizes, sweater knit in the 2 year old size.
Needles: Addi Turbo circulars in 6 for the hat (which served as a guage swatch for the sweater, and came up with too many stitches) and 7 for the sweater. Plus size 6 bamboo double pointed needles to start off the top of the hat, and size 7 bamboo double pointed needles to pick up the sweater sleeves.
Comments: Otherwise known as Top Secret Projects 1 and 2. This was my first big "not a scarf" project, and I was really impressed with the pattern. It was clear, well-written and I felt that I actually understood what I was doing, rather than just following directions. This was my first time knitting with double pointed needles, which took a while to master. Working the hat first was a good introduction and ease into the cables, which also included my first "twist" cables too. I had such fun knitting it, can't wait to see Oscar in the sweater, and all my friends with kids want at least a hat for Christmas, so I'm sure it won't be the last time I knit this pattern.
Ended up: As a first birthday gift for my nephew Oscar

Booga Bag Number 3

Pattern: Black Sheep Bags free pattern.
Yarn: 3 skeins of Noro Koreyon in colorway 153
Needles: Addi Turbo circulars in 10 1/2 for the bag, and bamboo double pointed needles in 10 1/2 for the i-cord.
Comments: Otherwise known as Top Secret Project 4. I did my usual and knitted the i-cord at the start of the third skein, then just knit all the rest of the yarn onto the bag. Felted using jeans, which took it back to only needing 2 washes.
Ended up: As a birthday gift for my sister

Booga Bag Number 2.

Pattern: Black Sheep Bags free pattern.
Yarn: 3 skeins of Noro Koreyon 95
Needles: Addi Turbo circulars in 10 1/2 for the bag, and bamboo double pointed needles in 10 1/2 for the i-cord.
Comments: I did the same as the previous bag and knitted the i-cord at the start of the third skein, then just knit all the rest of the yarn onto the bag. Felted using towels rather than jeans, and this time it took three trips to get to the right size.
Ended up: As a gift for Suz

Booga Bag

Pattern: Black Sheep Bags free pattern.
Yarn: 3 skeins of Noro Koreyon 134
Needles: Addi Turbo circulars in 10 1/2 for the bag, and bamboo double pointed needles in 10 1/2 for the i-cord.
Comments: I was worried that this was knitting up too small, but I think it turned out alright. I got fewer rows than the pattern called for - 95 rather than 100 - even when making the i-cord at the start of the 3rd skein of yarn. It took two cycles through the machine to felt, and I (oops) ended up spinning it a little, coz I got distracted at the end.
Ended up: In the Christmas gift pile I think.

Potato Chip Scarf

Pattern: Potato Chip Scarf from Knitpicks.com
Yarn: 1 1/2 skeins of Trendsetter Dune yarn, colour 86.
Needles: Addi Turbo circulars, size 13, 32"
Comments: Definitely a quick knit - probably about 4 or 5 hours. The stitches only just fit on the 32" needle. Took a long time to bind off all 720 stitches, but the end result was worth it.
Ended up: Don't know. I may keep this one, or it may go into the "Christmas gift" pile.