Half way through second repeat!

Here is what I have done on my socks so far. DH took me yarn shopping in Columbus the other day and I got this fab yarn and another for next month. I love it!

Judy

Do-Ovah

I cast on for the first sock on May 1. I did one row of ribbing, then started slipping stitches to other needles for my first attempt at a)making a sock and b) DPN's.

I didn't have enough stitches. Let's hope my knitting skills are better then my math skills!

Then I had the right number of stitches, joined in the round on three needles. I started knitting and ended up with two needles. A quick trip to YouTube set me straight.

Now, I've finished the ribbing on one sock and I'm going to have to write the chart out on some paper since I still can't get my printer to work! (sigh)

Advice needed!!

I ended up frogging my first two attempts :( The first was using 2.75mm needles for the largest size and came out far too big, plus the yarn was too dark. My second I started with another colour on 2.5mm needles, but the yarn pooled funny and then I noticed the errata!!

So, I usually knit plain socks on 2.5mm circs with 60sts and a tension of 7.5-8sts depending on yarn. Will I be ok with the smaller size, cos I measured my ankle and it's 8.25"? Even on smaller needles the bigger size was a bit baggy.

And what size needles should I use if my normal tension is the same on 2.5mm needles as the pattern states, I'd hate for my next sock to be so small. *hangs head in shame and embarrassment at lack of skill!!!* Plus I don't have any 2.75mm circs and I seem to have developed an inability to use dpns now.

Started!

It was only a bit of ribbing last night, sitting lonely in my bag. The only good thing about meeting a carpool at 0730 for a ride to a ceremony is being able to knit for the 90 minutes up, and the return ride.

May Day has grown.



The yarn is STR Lemon Grass in Medium. I did the top on 2,75mm needles, but have switched to 2,5 for the heel and the foot. I am never a yellow or green person, but this skein just said "Spring" to me.

-Holly

Sock #1 finished!

You won't believe the positions I've been in trying to get a good photo of my sock! (I didn't realise I could raise my leg that high! *LOL*) And this was the best I could manage.

This is sock #1, finished about an hour ago. I did toe up because I wasn't sure how much yarn I'd have left over. I managed to get 5 full 24-row patterns and 8 rows of garter stitch at the top and had a teeny bit of yarn left, so it worked out perfectly.

I decided to do garter stitch to finish because I had mostly purl stitches on the last row or two. When I did a 2x2 rib, it just looked like there was a straight line cutting off the rib from the leg. I think the garter stitch flows better from the purl stitches. What do you think?

I love the Fyberspates 100% Bluefaced sock yarn. This is the first time I've used it and it's gorgeous. It's very soft, feels lovely in your hands when knitting and has a subtle sheen that shows up well with the pattern.

One of the community paediatricians where I work was eyeing it up in work today - unfortunately for her, she's a small size 4 and luckily for me, this is a perfect fit-me size 6. :0) She said they were just her colours too ..... Oh well, maybe I'll make her a pair next ..... ;0)

ERROR ALERT - LARGE SIZE ONLY

Alathea is right, I've made a mistake in the chart on the larger size. I did notice this actually when I was knitting the small test of hte larger sock and I'm so cross with myself for forgetting to alter it.

The mistake is in the first two columns on the chart (ie the first two stitches) which should be swapped around - correct pattern should read 'p1, m1(or m1 purlwise depending on which row your on). I've corrected the chart and if anyone wants a new copy please e-mail me.

I'm so so sorry about this.

THIS IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO THE LARGER SIZE THOUGH.

May Day Socks

I did not think I would get a chance to cast on the May Socks until after exams finish next week, but I could not resist. Not only did I cast them on, but I am already into the second repeat thanks to my 3 hour train ride back up to school from my parents' house and a lazy afternoon today. I chose Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Blues/Greens, US 2 needles and the larger size. Unfortunately I left my camera at my parents' -- I will be sure to post pictures next week when I go back home.

Thank you again Anni for a great pattern; very fun to knit and hard to put down. :-) These will definitely be a good study break during the next few days.

The Yarn Thief put to work!

I could hardly stop working on this pattern! It flows so easily and is clearly written. Since Tuner likes to liberate yarn I decided to put him to work modeling....LOL. Needless to say he was less than impressed and bolted the area as soon as I took the sock off him....LOL.

I am using Sockotta on size 0, doing the large version. this pattern & colorway makes me think of fish scales for some reason...so sorry Anni, not May Day stuff at all.

Mom has already put her dibs on them so I will be doing 2 pairs!

Patricia in SC

May Day Sock Pattern

Anni, just checked in this morning to see how things were coming.The socks are lovely can't wait to get started, my question is I don't think I got the pattern, I am as new to this computer world as to sock knitting so I am always a little confused. Should the pattern have come to my email address or should I be accessing some site here at the blog. Any help would be appreciated .I am so excited to get going and I feel so stupid not knowing what to do to get the pattern. Thanky0u!! I am so glad to hear you are feeling better and appreciate your motivation to get this done even when you were sick.

Flying Start

Looks like we're off to a flying start. I'm so excited to see Linda's progress pics. Can't believe how quick you are!!!! It looks great toe up. And it's fun to see the pics of yarns people are planning to use and the modifications some of you want to try. Any changes you want to make, just go ahead. I'm looking forward to seeing all the different varieties you can come up with.

On the admin side, I've been e-mailing out some more patterns to those who got missed out of the original e-mail. Sorry!!! I really didn't mean to miss anyone out. I'll double check for June that I've got everyone's e-mail address listed and try to make a better job of it then.

I'll also try to get around to putting everyone's names alphabetically in the sidebar with links to your blogs/websites. The current 'contributors' list shows up automatically but itsn't alaphabetical. I'll also work out a system for regsitering when everyone's finished their socks for the monthly draw.

I'm feeling a lot better today. Thank you for all your good wishes. I can't believe how ill this abscess made me feel. I'm up and about today although I'm still feeling a bit weak, slightly sick and my tummy is still playing up because of the antibiotics. So I'm planning a relaxing day iwht some socks knitting. Cast on for some fair isle socks (new pattern) yesterday adn on the heel already. It's looking great.

Any questions about hte pattern let me know or post on here and someone else may get to you before I do. Anyone still missing the pattern e-mail me.

And have fun choosing your yarn and get knitting!

My choice

I'll be using some Lorna's Laces in Bucks Bar that I received from a Secret Pal awhile back. Since I'm currently remodeling I'll have to wait a few days until I can get to my stash hidden away in storage. This will be my first chart reading experience also. I'm very excited though because it looks like a lot of fun!

The Chosen Yarn

Gorgeous pattern, Anni! Many thanks. I'm looking forward to starting them, and have decided to use my LL Shepherd Sock in Tuscany.

So, I need to get out the old ball-winder, and wind those skeins into something from which I can knit! I'm going to go with the smaller one on a 2.5mm Magic Loop, and see how that goes size-wise.

Purely because it gives a nice neat edge, I'd like to start the rib with a tubular cast-on. Is that okay, or would you rather we follow the pattern exactly as written? Just shout!

I guess this means there'll be even less progress on my other WIPs. LOL.

Put a Sock in it

30 rows into pattern .....

I couldn't wait to cast on for these when I came home from work but had the tea to cook and wash up first. Then bathed DS and he went to bed. Only then could I get started (at about 8.30 p.m.).

I had a bit of a dither earlier about which yarn to use from my stash. I have some very bright Posh Yarn - Surf 'n' Turf, which is bright green and blue - and I'd be quite interested to see how that knits up in this pattern. But for my first one, I thought I'd go for a more subtle yarn to show off the pattern.


I'm doing the small size (64 sts) and the yarn I'm using is Fyberspates 100% Bluefaced sock yarn on 2 x 2.75 mm Inox Grey circs. The colour is actually quite subtle in daylight - it looks much brighter than it is IRL in this photo. But then I was eager to share what I'd done and didn't want to wait for daylight tomorrow!

As you can see, I'm doing this toe up which is the method I always use now as I find it so much quicker and I prefer short-row heels. It's also handy because I've balled my yarn into 2 x 50g balls, so I can just knit until I run out of yarn. I haven't used Fyberspates Bluefaced before, so I'm not sure how far my 300m will go. It's looking quite promising at the moment though, so I should hopefully get a good leg length.

This is a lovely pattern which knits up really quickly, which is always a good thing. ;0) and Anni's charts and instructions are very clear and easy to follow.

Anyway, I really should get to bed now otherwise I'll be looking like death warmed up in the morning. Not a good look but unfortunately my usual one! ;0) That's what you get for staying up all night knitting!

Greetings from Norway

My plan was to use these socks as a birthdaygift for my niece(19 on May 21st). That won't work. Not unless I make two pairs, because I want to keep a pair for myself! The pattern looks great, and I'm really pleased with it coming in two sizes- since I have very big feet (45 in Norway- you know that is big...)(But I am way above average tall too...)
Anyway- I won't be able to start knitting until next Monday, due to an upcoming "konfirmasjon"( please, Anni, what is it called in English? My son chose a non-religious ceremony, human-etisk or borgerlig konfirmasjon. That takes place on Saturday May 5th. We'll have 13 guests staying here for a few nights, a little more than 20 for dinner, and a total of 40 for coffee...SO- there is some cleaning to be done- and food-and clothes- and so forth...)

I selected my yarn!

My Lil Angel deemed my Opal yarn worthy of Anni's May Day Sock pattern. It's in the Neon colorway.

I'm going to start right after dinner. I'm really excited to see how this bright and lively color will turn out.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Patty
http://stitchesinpink.typepad.com

Yay!

Oh I love this pattern! I didn't get it through email, but another member forwarded it to me, so everything's okay.

Would it be all right if I went ahead and did a picot hem instead of a ribbed cuff? I really prefer those. But I'd do the rest unaltered ;)

Now just need to chooooooose a yarn. Yikes!

Gorgeous pattern!!

Thanks very much, I love the pattern. Won't be frogging this one ;) I've cast on already, in yarn yard sock club yarn - the greeny one. Only done a bit of the ribbing, so will put up a piccie once it's grown.

Hope you're feeling better soon, Anni.

Beauty!

How gorgeous! I've spent the past hour trying to figure out why my printer won't print. It's been a problem for about a week but now I have real incentive to fix it! I'm going to double check that the yarn I'm using has the right amount of yardage/guage, then I'm casting on!

Alright, I just went to the Bright Dyes website and I can't seem to find our how many yards per skein? Anyone know?

3RD TIME LUCKY!!!

Looks like the 3rd try was successful. Only problem is I had to add everyone inividually so I'm worriedsomeone may have gotten missed out. Let me know if you didn't get the e-mail titled '3rd try' with a note in it from me threatening to throw my laptop across the room. LOL. Lucikily I didn't have to do that. Just threatening it worked. LOL.

Happy knitting!

GO!!!!

ANOTHER UPDATE - LOOKS LIKE THE 2ND E-MAIL HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT TOO. i THINK IT'S TO DO WITH SENDING OUT A GROUP E-MAIL SO i'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT INDIVIDUALLY i THINK WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE ME MUCH LONGER. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. i'VE GOT TO HAVE A BREAK NOW - still feeling quite ill - BUT I'LL GET ON WITH THIS THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON. please be patient! Thank you!!!

UPDATE - No idea what went wrong. But there seems to be a problem with the attachment. I'm sending it through to everyone again as a MS word document. Hopefully that'll sort it out. Wish me luck.

The first Sockamania pattern has been e-mailed out!!!




If you don't get it, check your junk folder then e-mail me. I e-mailed myself a copy too (to my other e-mail account and it's not come through to me yet so give it a little while before e-mailing me).



I just hope I've not missed anyone off the list. I've checked and double checked the list so fingers crossed.



The socks are called 'May Day' which as today is May Day and all the talk on the local news this mornign was about May Day celebrations I thought why not?! Well, actually it was the only name I could come up with. My recent illness has left me with no imagination at all.



I'm feeling a little better today. I'm managing to eat and not feeling sick. However, I'm suffering from the side effects of too much antibiotics - severe stomach pains and an upset tummy. And I'm still tired and feeling week. Another lazy day for me.



Hope you all like the socks. It's a texturised patten using knit and purl stitches and 's2kpo' (slip 2 st together, k1, pass slipped st over knitted st) decreases to add a directional dimention and it comes in two sizes. I hope you all have fun knitting it and that the pattern doesn't cause you any problems.



Any questions or mistakes please e-mail me.



Happy knitting! Can't wait to see all your progress pics!



Almost forgot - The yarn for the socks and the prizes were donated by Chrissy of Bright Dyes. Thank you Chrissy.

Ready, steady.....

.... no, it's not GO until tomorrow. I need tonight to double check the pattern and make one or two alterations. Things have gone a bit wrong this weekend as I've spent 3 days in bed. The socks were done befroe the weekend but ended up being smaller than I'd planned so I decided to do a larger size too. I prefer to knit up any change in sizes just to make sure it works. Well I started and .... well, let's just say I did enough to double check all my numbers and make sure all the numbers work for the heel/ gusset etc but the larger sock's not finished. Did no knitting at all on Saturday, only a tiny bit (heel flap) on Sunday and have done the heel turn and gusset today but it was a struggle.

What's wrong with me? Well, I've got an awful toothache - abcess. sTarted on Friday and wasn't too bad but went to dentish for antibiotics. Thought it was just a flare up of a severe abcess I had in January. By Saturday evenign my whole right side of my face was swollen and I felt rather ill. Swelling is finally starting to go down and the pain is under control but I'm feeling really ill. All I want to do is sleep and drink lots of water which is apparently what I'm supposed to do.

The pattern will be e-mailed out tomorrow morning. I'll get on to it as soon as the kids have gone to school. I'd actually planned to do it tonight as I wanted to go to a knitting club tomorrow, but the club is an hours drive away and there's no way I'm up to it, unfortunately. At least I'll be hope to do all the e-mailing.

I'll post a message on here when I've done the e-mailing. Get your needles ready. You'll need US size 2 or 2.75 mm (2.5mm will do though) needles and fingering weight yarn (yarn I used is from Bright Dyes (see sidebar) and it's similar to Opal).

OMG

I haven't looked on here since I signed up and I thought I'd better check how it was going, as May is nearly upon us. 50 members!!! that is great! And what gorgeous Bright Dyes yarn. What lovely buttons, I'm putting one on my blog right now! I'm really looking forward to seeing the first pattern. Guess I'd better finish the socks I have OTN first (gulp)

Can't Wait!!!

Hello, my name is Orchid, I come from Mama Llama Knits and I would like to be knitted into something pretty very soon. I have been waiting in Audrey's stash box since Christmas and I now feel the urge to unravel my secrets. You cannot beat them out of me with sticks, as I have no bones, but you can certainly knit them and wear them on your feet. Please Audrey, set me free!

Okay, I haven't had enough caffeine today! I just wanted to say I was looking forward to May 1st :)

As I like to think of myself as a bit of a maverick, I've never done a KAL before. I'm not sure if doing this one is an exercise in knitting solidarity or just another sign of my fiber-induced insanity, but I intend to have a lot of fun!
Naomi

Anni - Will it look ok in a solid also? I live about 75 to 100 miles from the nearest yarn store where I can get nice sock yarn and I like to see it before buying so don't really want to buy online. Although I have bought some from knitpicks. Anyway, my sock stash is enough yarn for 3 pair of socks and all three will be solid, lol. At least until I can get to a nice yarn store.

busyJ

Pattern Decision made

Hi all and a huge welcome to all the new members who've posted since my last post and to those of you who haven't posted yet.

After agonising over the pattern for the May socks I've finally made my decision. I had decided on a design but the yarn Chrissy donated to be used for the socks didn't go well with the pattern, so I had to rethink. I've been swatching like mad for the last few days but nothing grabbed me. But this morning I had a break through. I was doing some knitting just after I had my breakfast and it just clicked. The design I've chosen works great with variegated or self striping yarn and looks great with a busier yarn too. I've done two pattern repeats now. This is the yarn I chose - it's the Easter Parade colourway from Bright Dyes. The other two skeins that Chrissy donated are the prize yarns for May. Yes, there will be two prizes for May.

To help you all get ready for May 1st the needles you'll need are US size 2 or 2.5/2.75mm. I'm using my 'Boyes' dpns which are American size 2 and US size 2 translates to 2.75mm, but 2.75mm aren't that easy to get hold over here in the UK so if you've got some 2.5mm they'll do just fine. I wish the whole world would use the same needle classification system - would make things a whole lot easier.

I may give you all a tiny sneak preview in a few days. ......... or maybe not.

And, I've decided to let Miss V (aka my daughter, Ness) join us. She's not had a go at socks yet and I told her she had to learn - she didn't seem to keen but I'll work on her. She's an honorary member and I may even let her post on her. LOL. She said she only wanted to join to get the free patterns as she likes freebies - what's she like?!

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend and getting lots of knitting done. We've had glorious weather and I slept on the beach yesterday afternoon and in the garden this afternoon - had planned to knit this afternoon but slept for 2 hours instead. LOL.

Back to my socks now.

Happy Knitting!

I'm glad to join too, and am looking forward to getting my first pattern. I may need help, as I'm notorious for frogging patterned socks!!! I agree, you should teach Miss V to knit socks ;)

whee!

I knit socks just a wee bit... like maybe every day! So I can't wait for patterns and knitting along with you guys. What a fun opportunity, thanks.

Hi, I just wanted to chime in with everyone else and say thanks for letting me join your group after you had your initial 25. I am looking forward to the first pattern. I am working on my first pair of socks right now. I am teaching my 11 year old as I learn myself and we are really enjoying ourselves.
Paula

I have to agree

Anni -

I must say any child who is willing to write such a well written letter of complaint deserves to be allowed to join! I mean, heck I got in and all I had to do was say "Please!!!" Well, okay, I may have begged....I try to blot that from memory - it's not so pretty.

Let Miss V join the fun!