FO: Vintage Lace Socks

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Rayna

Earlier this year, my friend Carla launched Georgian Bay Fibre Company, a hand-dyed yarn company that dyes exclusively BFL and BFL blends, and takes its inspiration from the beautiful scenery of Georgian Bay.

Her sister, Christina, also a long time friend, was designing some patterns for her (my favourite kind: socks!) and asked if I’d be so kind as to test knit for her. The first one I tested was a knit and purl design called Squadron Socks; it was a lovely pattern but that pair never got completed as I made a very poor choice in yarn and it really didn’t suit. I plan to knit them again in a semi solid, when I get a chance.

Her second design was a much bigger success for me, and (because?) this time I chose to knit it in Carla’s Kilcoursie Fingering yarn. The colourway I chose was her 2014 Colour of the Year, called Wakefield Lilac, and I could not have been happier with how they turned out.

Vintage Lace Socks have a lovely delicate lace panel down the outside of the foot, front and back, and the result is beautifully feminine. It was a nice relaxing knit, once I was able to memorize the lace pattern. (I don’t immediately see past the single YOs and SSKs to see what the pattern is doing and until then, I rely heavily on the chart!) I did have a heck of a time with the YOs….at least a couple of times a repeat I found myself having to pick up a missed YO…a hazard when one knits lace in front of the TV, I guess 🙂 And the colour is totally reminiscent of the lilacs that grew every spring in my grandmother’s yard.

I always like knitting socks in the summer because it means that come autumn, I have new socks to wear when the weather turns cool 🙂 I am really excited to have these ready to go for September.

Pattern: Vintage Lace Socks by Christina Bossart

Yarn: Georgian Bay Fibre Company’s Kilcoursie Fingering (BFL/nylon blend) in Wakefield Lilac

Who Was It Made For? Test knit/Me

Were There Changes Made To The Pattern? I did make the toe a little wider (the pattern says to stop when there are 8 stitches on each needle, but the top of my foot is somewhat square so I stopped at 10)

Did I Learn Anything New? No

Anything Else? Not that I recall.

Would I Make Another?: Yes

(Photos courtesy of Shireen, over at the Blue Brick!)

FO: Hofner Socks

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Rayna

One day in August, I received a very flattering email from one of my knitting idols. The wonderfully clever Kate Atherley emailed to tell me she and Kim of indigodragonfly were in cahoots on a pattern collection, and might I be interested in knitting a sample for them? Gee, let me see, one of my favourite designers paired up with one of my favourite indie dyers…how could I possibly resist?

The collection included a hat, a shawl, fingerless mitts and lacy socks, all interesting, but still easy to knit. Kate asked if I might be up for the socks. I picked up the yarn from Kim at her annual Fibre Fling that weekend (Merino Nylon Sock in a heavenly orange called “Safety Pin or Safety Pint: Discuss”) and cast on before the weekend was out.

The one catch? The whole project was sooper seekrit so my morning Starbucks ritual of tweeting my WIPs was out. No progress pics posted to Rav…nada.

As a result, pics like this one taken at 30,000 feet got tweeted:

Flying the friendly skies…in seekrit!

As with all of Kate’s patterns, it was easy to follow and I encountered no issues. Once they were completed, I was in love!

Completed Hofners!

Awesome colour…adorable heart-shaped lace pattern down the outside of each sock. People stopped me when I knit it public and asked to see them. It pained me to turn them over to Kate when I was done. I am seriously considering another pair in a skein of the same base I have in a special edition, charity colourway called “Canoe Up To The Beer Store”.

The rest of the Rock ‘n Roll Collection is great as well. I have at least one other item planned from that collection. So many things to knit…so little time.

Pattern: Hofner Socks by Kate Atherley

Yarn: indigodragonfly Merino Nylon Sock in “Safety Pin or Safety Pint: Discuss”

Who Was It Made For? Sample for Kate

Were There Changes Made To The Pattern? None – that would defeat the purpose of a sample knit.

Did I Learn Anything New? No

Anything Else? Not that I recall.

Would I Make Another?: Definitely…finding the time is another story.

Unexpected Outcomes

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Rayna

Last summer, the lovely and talented Kate Atherley put out a Twitter call, looking for knitters to test knit for her new accessories book. At that point, I had taken Kate’s sock knitting class and I had even test knit for her before, so I thought it might be fun. I sent her off a message, volunteering to knit for her and I got back a surprising response: “Do you think you might want to knit a sample to be photographed for the book?” I was agape. Me? Knit for a book? I was honoured that she even asked and I responded that I would love to.

And then, almost immediately, the inevitable “imposter syndrome” set in. “What if I am not good enough? I am not a real knitter. What if the item I knit is not fit to photograph?” (I know…what exactly is a real knitter, anyway? And I have knit socks, lace, and so many other projects that this is a completely ridiculous train of thought, but there you have it. As anyone who knows me well can attest, I utterly lack self confidence.)

Because of Kate’s deadline, I was afraid to commit to socks, so she offered me her fingerless mitts to knit. Perfect….sounded like something I could do. I knit them up, and nervously sent them back to Kate, and hoped they met her expectations.

Fast forward to December, and the release of Knit Accessories. I leafed through it at the Purple Purl, and there were my mitts, beautifully photographed. (Photography is one of the things I really want to improve upon.) Kind of exciting when you have never had anything you knit print before. I was pretty thrilled and more than a bit proud.

This morning, Kate tweeted a new blog post. Knit Accessories has been reviewed, and quite positively I might add, by Vogue Knitting magazine. So excited for her! So I take a look at the photo of the review, and would you look at that? The pic they selected to run with the story….my mitts.

Photo Credit: Kate Atherley

Something I knit is in VOGUE KNITTING! I understand that the pic was probably just the right size for the space or something, but I don’t care. I might be unreasonably pleased with myself.