Victorian Lace Socks

A bit of time has passed since the last post. So, without futher ado, here are the finished Victorian Lace Socks from the Six Sox Knitalong.
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They came out great! Trekking XXL, had 75 grams left from the Horcrux Socks, size 2.25 mm needles. I used every last inch! But they are exactly perfect. Its going to be 90 degrees tomorrow, so I think they are going to have to hibernate until October. But thats OK.....

So, I know you are wondering.... What's next??? Well, I'm going to be joining the rest of the world for Mystery Stole 3! I joined about two weeks ago, while hubby was away and I was staying up way too late. The yarn has already arrived, Knitpicks Laceweight Bare, and my friend and I made an excursion to the only bead store in the two local counties last week. So, here is all that hope and promise and mystery, just waiting.

I think I'm going to use size 4 Options needles, since the size 5's are still tied up with the Rona Shawl. I've been trying to make some more progress there - up to row 126, 27 more to go. At anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes a round, I've still got a way to go. Or I could do the MS3 on straights. It might be the perfect excuse to get my beloved Brittany walnuts out. I haven't swatched yet, and wasn't planning to. It will all just depend on my mood when the first clue is released on Friday morning. If I use the Options, its a more portable project, since I refuse to take the Brittanys out of my "safe" zone, aka the family room. After some got broken on an excursion to the library 2 years ago, its the only way I can be sure they stay safe.

A King's Ransom of Brittanys. Just hope my family understands the value of them, Just In Case. Perhaps I'll say something to my SIL, who I've been teaching how to knit. She would treasure them. My sister prefers bamboo, so I know she won't get insulted - besides, I'll tell her she gets the stash. Even value, right?

Anyway, the MS3 has been quite my obsession this last 2 weeks. Getting the right yarn, the right beads, the right crochet hook. And, of course, the zillions of messages that have to be read, 3-4 digests a day. I want to host a meetup for those in the Bergen/Rockland area, it should be lots of fun, probably around the second clue. I'll get on that as soon as the 1st clue comes out this Friday.

And there was nothing better than sitting outside this evening, enjoying the cooling air, listening to knitting podcasts, and plugging away on the Rona. Its quite beautiful out on the patio....

New socks

So, June 1 has come, and there is a new pattern on the Six Sock Knitalong. Its lace, based on the Melon Shawl in VLT. Do I need a lace sock. Not really, but I did sign up for the knitalong. Besides, the Moc Croc's are nearly done. See---

I've turned both heels (Short-rows this time, thank you very much), tapered out the design on the instep, and now its just plain stockinette until the toes.

So, what do I use for the new socks? There is plenty in the stash, of course. The pattern calls for Knitpicks Dye-your-own, but the 4 skeins lurking in the stash are all from before they came out with so many different choices. So, thats not superwash, nor does it have any nylon in it. Now, I may be willing to handknit the socks, but no way will I handwash them. Do I place that order that's been lurking in my cart?

Or, perhaps the Lorna's Laces that I got as a gift. Its pinks and purples, but that might be too much contrast for the lace pattern. It needs something less stripey, more subdued. The Austermann Step was considered, but again, its stripey. I also have the heathered gray/blue trekking from the Horcrux socks. 75 grams are left, and considering its a lace pattern, that should be more than enough. I've also spent the afternoon toying with the idea of a trip to the LYS.

Too many choices, yes? Any votes?

And here is something else I've been playing around with. I saw this on someone's blog, and it was so clever and cheap. The point covers are vinyl caps for screws, a pair is less than $1 at the hardware store. Add some of the many beads I've collected, and put it on the stretchy clear elastic beading cord (no, I don't remember buying that, but I had a brand new roll in my beading stuff). Voila - no more sock needle points sticking through the bag!