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home to alternative complementary health |
| Anne's finished projects 2003 (with links to archives with picis) |
| Socks (1 pair): This page: Socka Südsee socks for Chris' Birthday. |
| Finished projects 2002 |
| Socks (6 pairs): Variegated welly socks (Chris), Pastel variegated (Toria), Brown wool (Anne), lime green cotton (Toria), Red variegated (James), Light blue cabled (Anne), Cream gansey yarn (Anne). |
| Other items (3): Black jacket, Red scarf, Project Linus Stripy blanket |
| Anne's work on needles |
| Toria's Daisy Dark blue rowan felted tweed background and large but delicate daisy in rowan wool and cotton. Have finished daisy and entire front. Back half completed. |
| Fairisle socks Patricia Roberts woolybesr fine 4ply in various autumnal colours. |
| Fantastic sites for sock knitters |
| Socknitters homepage An amazing site including cyberclasses in sock knitting, patterns, tips, technical help and masses of inspiration. |
| Whippoorwillhill socks Another superb sock site. Check out the gigantic sock patterns index. |
| Heels by number by Wippoorwillhill socks, the maths and instructions for all heels. |
| Toe index Different types of sock toes to knit. |
| The Sock Drawer
The Sockguy, sock designer and knitter. always worth a visit. |
Katherine DeMoure-Aldrich
An amzing, inspirational sock knitter. |
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Sometimes a piece of writing from an unexpected source comes and hits you between the eyes. Read Bonne Marie's piece "Stand-by 10: #1" I've started fairisle sock's twin, and am enjoying it. There is always a moment of insecurity in the life of a sock, when I am tempted to start something completely different and leave it lonely and abandoned. 18th January 2003  Ta-Daaaahhhh. One sock finished. Now I have to start the next immédiatement, in case the dreaded onesockitis sets in. It fits really well... odd shape of foot I must have. Hmm. 17th January 2003 My word, what a week. I'm back again and ... knackered. My mind and my body have gone into overload mode, so I am off to have a bath, and not think of any more exercise, movement or core stability issue until Sunday. Might even get the sock out :) 14th January 2003 No knitting in the last couple of days. This course is the best I have ever been on. The teaching is superb. I may get to do a little on the fairisle sock - or not... I'm quite tired this evening. 12th January 2003 I've revamped and slimmed my other site (alternative and complementary health), and started both a reading and a writing blog. What on earth am I doing that for? I know I have to get this *&$%*&£*&^%$*&% book finished asap, but that does *not* warrant another blog. Maybe just to detail what I have done, each time I write a paragraph. I am becoming suspicious of myself. I've finished the gusset of my colourful sock, and am half way along the instep in a chequerboard pattern in green and yellow. I think I'll just march along like this until I get to the toe, then turn on the stripes again. Starting Pilates training tomorrow, so blogging may be sporadic, not to say incoherent. 11th January 2003 Browsing through other knitblogs, it appears that a (seasonal?) knitting malaise has made an appearance to blunt the fervour of some of our usually dynamic knitmates. However, they are not to be stumped, and crochet is being investigated as a pick-me-up, as is the old adage of 'a few rows a day' until the slump disappears, as it will, very soon. Best wishes to all who are temporarily under the knitting weather. I'm doing OK for inspiration at the moment, but then, I have got my 2003 'goals' document up and running, an extremely flexible document, in which I track business, creative and other goals, actions, achievements, etc. on a day-by-day basis throughout the year. It is ***fascinating*** to look back at the patterns of action and result, and at how goals were formed, changed, developed, achieved, and discarded altogether. I know this type of goal-setting / tracking is anathema to some, stifles others and evokes all sorts of fantastical prejudices against users in yet others... but it inspires and focuses me. So there. Clinic has gone mad this week. I am away on a course next week, but that does not seem to be the cause. The week after is filling fairly quickly, too. I may not be blogging too much next week - I don't know how it will pan out. I really am looking forward to my (Body Control Pilates) course. :) 10th January 2003 
This is how far I have got with the socks. Heel is turned, I'm going to have to decide how to pattern the gusset. sorry, the pici is not too clear. The yellow and green pattern is the same as the dark and yellow at the top.
9th January 2003 I've been in clinic all day, so no knitting or anything else yet. I'm going to have a piece of cheese, then see my last person. Yippee! 8th January 2003 Two colour knitting with one yarn in each hand is underway. I started out that way with the socks, this method being the only way I know, then thought "This is hard! I'm so ham-fisted at it!" Then decided I needed to keep going, as it probably was a question of practice. So I practised (note different spelling, readers from across the pond: over here we spell the noun with 'c' and the verb with 's'; we're not undecided, American spell-checkers just don't quite do the subtle business; as with some of the more subtle tenses we use, e.g. 'have you eaten?' as opposed to 'did you eat?') and now it's flowing again. There's quite a buzz to the rhythm. I'm still a little sticky on the purl rows of the stocking stitch heel. Update pici tomorrow. 7th January 2003 Progress report: 
6th January 2003 It's midnight. I'm just about to watch pommy v. aussie cricket. We need to win this one (us pommies, I mean). I've been looking at people's blogs and what they are producing now, and have produced since the beginning of the year. It is *phenomenal*! I think of Larry and Clemence just for starters. There's a line of thought regarding this, beginning to weave itself into something coherent, deep in the recesses of my skull, so I shall go and knit a bit on the new socks I've got going. Picis later. Or even 'tomorrow', i.e. when I have gone to bed and woken up again. 
Have almost completed the back of Toria's daisy, so it's on to socks again for light relief. I've started some Patricia Roberts woolybear fine 4ply in autumnal colours in a fairisle adapted from the Islamic socks in Nancy Bush' Folk Socks. So far I'm pleased. The fitting is going to be interesting, as fairisle is not as happily elastic as ribbing or one-colour work. The colours look very bright here but are much more mellow in reality. The bright pink, for instance, is a light brick red. Tant pis!The felted bag, in the meantime, looks like this, unblocked, as it came out of the washing machine: what happened to the shape?? I like it, anyway. Mike and Chris are thinking of ways to close and attach handles for it. I need some help here...  5th January 2003 
Yesterday was hectic - Gallery, clinic, getting started with a little background reading for my course next week. Ended up watching Vaughan and Hussein bat against the Aussies, during which time I got this far with a bag in three 4ply (fingering) strands of pure wool for felting. It works out at nearly chunky weight on 7mm needles. At the moment the bag's width measures 51cm (about 20") and I would like it to felt down to about 30cm (12") width and 36 - 40cm height. I shall sew up the sides after it's felted. I'm just wondering whether to put it in the washing machine at 40 or 50 degrees... I'm not sure how to decorate it yet.Knitting of bag finished now. Thanks to Sarah for the info about edges not shrinking as much as the rest. I shall sew it ip first. It has been the most boring knitting project ever! I detest large needles!! I want to knit 4ply!!! Even double knitting seems horribly clunky now!!!! The thought that I am going to have to fashion some kind of strap is toooooo much!!!!! 3rd January 2003 
Aaaah! That looks better. At least they both fit the same, now. I reckon that knitting the heels and toes in a different yarn would have done it. Chris loves the way the ribbing hugs his ankles, and the fact that the socks do not slide down inside his boots when he's half way across a bramble infested boggy copse.
I finished Chris' birthday sock, but chose the *wrong* yarn to do the rogue toe in, so when he wears them one foot fits perfectly, the other resembles a duckbill platypus. Despite the fact that this provided hysterical laughter for most of the evening, I feel duty bound to rip it out and find more suitable yarn.In the search for said yarn, I have reorganised my entire stash. It was in bags according to colour, now it is ordered neatly into double knitting wool (sport weight), Patricia Roberts Woollybear 4ply / fingering (20 years old now?), double knit cotton, Rowan Grainy Silk and Silkstones, enough to make a jumper (anyone remember Grainy Silk?), 4ply cotton (with lots of Patricia Roberts in a brilliant fuchsia), a few mohairs / viscoses / 'odd' yarns, 2 skeins of chunky (London Beanie?) and no aran weight at all. Oh yes, and 2 cones of really odd mottled stone colour pure wool, quite hard and scratchy, but smells beautifully of sheep. I have no ideas for that one yet :( 1st January 2003 Happy New Year tout le monde! I'm feeling quite up for it. The new year, I mean. Loads of things/activities I want to do. Not just knitting related, but knitting will play a part in the general feeling of stuff. 
Jamtart worked herself up to a frenzy of excitement this New Year's Eve...Resolutions? I don't do resolutions. But here lies a tale of rather more than resolutions. I have turned my world upside down in a scary, delightful way, and I don't regret one little bit! Pass the Cava *and* the wool! I am half way down the heel of Chris' second Birthday sock. I weighed the first completed sock and the remaining yarn... and the sock was heavier by about 18 grammes. The second toe is going to be black! He doesn't mind at all, thank goodness. Now, if I had knitted 7" for the leg, I might have made it... we shall see when it is finished. Next time I use this yarn (Opal), which is truly lovely, I shall incorporate a different coloured heel and toe from the start, or maybe stripes up the leg. I've been surfing around and found on someone's site some picis of WIPs using Vivian Hoxbro's 'Domino' technique, not just potholders or smaller items, but a jacket and something else, too. They looked amazing. Now where were they??? I've lost the addy. |
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| The best publications in association with amazon.co.uk. Click on the title for information and to order today |
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How to Knit: Debby Bliss This still seems to be the best book for beginners - you CAN learn how to knit using this one. |
The Knitting Experience Book 1: the Knit Stitch
Sally Melville The first in a series starting with garter stitich. The Knitters across the pond are raving about it, talking about "charming, clever designs", "classic, modern, hip" and "great sense of style". Absolute beginners and seasoned knitters are smitten! US shoppers click here: The Knitting Experience Book 1 |
The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges
Ann BuddThis book delivers exactly what it promises. Ideal for those who want to design a look of their own, but would like a basic pattern - a template - to follow. Knit hats, mittens, socks and sweaters in any size, any yarn and with any texture or colour pattern. US shoppers click here: The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns Ann Budd |
 The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques Nancie M. Wiseman Indispensible techniques for finishing your knitware professionally US shoppers click here: The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques |
 The Sweater Workshop: Knit Creative, Seam-Free Sweaters on Your Own with Any Yarn: Jacqueline Fee (new edition) Takes you through the entire process of making a sweater. Fantastically clear and simple instructions. Peek at the amazon.com link below to see inside the book and to read the reviews. US shoppers click here: The Sweater Workshop: Knit Creative, Seam-Free Sweaters on Your Own with Any Yarn: Jacqueline Fee |
| Software for designers |
| Knitware Design The best programme I have found, and excellent value. |
| Moran software Fantastic sock knitting software for any foot size (shape!), any pattern toe up or top down |