Toe Up Sock Class: Sampling Heels

I'm chugging along on the sample sock for the upcoming Toe Up Sock class. [Class 1 - Cast On, Thursday, June 7, 10 - 12 a.m.]  

Plan A: Short row heel. Practice several versions - wrap & turn; yarnover; turn only. Not thrilled with any of them.

Plan B: follow original pattern and go with a gusset style heel. 

Looks good. Gusset heel done. Right? Wrong!

Note to self: measure TWICE; knit ONCE! That darn gusset heel took forever to knit and mere moments to rip-rip-rip. [I should add here that I asked my husband if he would love a new pair of handknit socks. Guess what his answer was?  sigh...]

 

Plan C: Back to Plan A - a short row heel. Watched many videos to gather tips on how to keep holes from forming along the turns.

TA-DA! I'm on the home stretch now. Well-made heel completed. Sock fits.

I feel prepared to teach my students how to knit toe up socks. I've already made all the mistakes so I can steer you clear of obstacles and pitfalls!

Diane

Rose Path Weaving

Summer Yarn Sale!!

 

Come see our summer yarn sale! Red white and blue yarn 50% off!!!

Toe Up Sock Class

You're invited:

What: Toe Up Sock Class

Where: Rose Path Weaving

When: Class 1: Thursday, June 7, 10 - 12 a.m.; Class 2: Thursday, June 14, 10 - 12 a.m.; Class 3: TBA

How much? $35

Reasons to knit socks beginning at the toe:

1) You aren't certain you have enough yarn for a pair of socks, and it's easier to make design changes from the foot upward than vice versa

2) Easier to judge how the sock is going to fit your foot

3) Just because you can!

I have a sample going  -  just to be sure I know what the heck I'm doing. So far, so good. It's just like knitting from the top down; only different.

I have a simple lace pattern in mine. You can, too. Or you may choose to knit yours plain or ribbed or with simple cables. We'll talk about that at the first class.

There will be a series of 3 classes. In the first class, we will look at several different types of cast on options for the toe. The second class, we will knit a short-row heel. The third class will be shorter than the other two because all that's left is a loose bind-off method for the top of the sock. Done and done! Of course, you will need to do "homework" -- the knitting between the toes and heel and cuff.

I'll bring the patterns; you bring yarn, knitting needle[s], a length of waste yarn the size of your sock yarn, a crochet hook to fit your yarn, and whatever other tools you carry around in your knitting bag.

Materials:

Sock or sport weight yarn - your choice; any color [except very dark]; solid or variegated

Needles of a size to suit your yarn; your choice - single 40" circular, 2 circulars or double points

Gauge: 8 sts = 1" in sock wt; 6.5 sts = 1" in sport

    [Please make a gauge swatch to be sure of needle size before the class]

Call Rose Path Weaving to sign up. Or you can do so when you are in the shop. Just be sure to include your email address so I can send you a reminder a few days before the class starts. Or I can text you if you'd rather. Just be sure to note that at sign up.

I look forward to sharing this class adventure with you.

Diane

Rose Path Roving Reporter [now stationed in Lindale]

 

 

Regina and Rachel Take Manhattan 2012 (days 5,6 & 7)

Friday (day 5) We got up late and were glad we had packed the night before.  We only had a few hours to take in The Museum of Modern Art so we wanted to be there when it opened at 10a.  We checked out of the Radio City Apartments, left our bags there, locked up in the lobby of the hotel, quickly ate bagels at the bagel shop next door to the hotel and headed to MoMA.

This was the perfect way to end our time in the city.  I just loved it.  My favorite part for sure, was the sculpture garden.  I have to say when I see any modern art exhibit, I vacillate between, "This is amazing!  I can't believe there are people in the world whose minds work like this!" and "Oh brother! Give me a break!" I felt like MoMA was a perfect mix of familiar pieces, avant garde pieces and a few WAY over the top pieces.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time there.  Below are some pictures of our visit.

I love this one of Regina and Pollock.

We had planned on eating lunch but at this point we were a little behind schedule and were both anxious to get train tickets and find our platform.  We got settled with just enough time to get a sandwich and some water (and yes, if you insist on knowing, another cupcake) before it was time to board.

The train ride to Through New Jersey is so picturesque.  The towns with perfect rows of houses, church steeples and town centers looked like they came right out of a story book. The charming house below is an example of what I mean. This sort of home and yard were the rule in New Jersey, not the exception. Of course spring flowers peeking out everywhere, made it even prettier.  I can see why it is called the 'Garden State' and I'm sorry that because of TV and movies I've had such a low opinion of New Jersey.

The train ride is about an hour or so and Regina's cousin Tara picked us up at the Allendale stop.  Regina's family is so great.  Just like last year, the next two days (days 6 & 7) were filled with interesting conversation, good food and rest.  The perfect place to take stock of everything we'd crammed into our time in NYC.

You're the best Regina!  Only 352 more days!!

   

Regina and Rachel Take Manhattan 2012 (day 4)

Thursday (day 4) was the day we had set aside for shopping in SoHo.

Some of the things on our to do list:

• Fabric and yarn at Purl SOHO
• Shoes at Steve Madden
• Luxurious bath products at Sabon.  
• Board shorts at Quicksilver
• Fabulous purses
• Eating lunch

If we did nothing else that day we were going to Purl SOHO.  This is an annual stop.

When we were at Sabon, we had to wait for some time while they did the paperwork to have our treasures shipped to us and we struck up a converstaion with a young man who worked there.  He was from Israel and had been in the country for about 8 months.  Even though his accent was quite thick, his English was very good and he was easy to understand and he was funny.  We asked him his favorite place to eat lunch.  He told us "Delict Esson".  It was just a few blocks away and he loved the chicken there.

It sounded good and we love local recommendations so we headed there for lunch.  We followed his simple directions but could not see it anywhere.  We called him to see if maybe we had made a wrong turn.  He said, "No, you should be right in front of it." We looked and looked.  Finally Regina laughed and said, "There it is!"  The sign on the door read 'Delicatessen'.  : )  

He was right it was very good, we were glad we listened to him.

We love this body scrub from Sabon.  This is another annual stop for us.

We both bought two pairs of shoes.  Fun!

By this time we had accomplished everything on our list and more.  It was lovely to just walk around and see the great window displays and the beautiful things for sale.  We gobbled down a street vender cupcake and then headed home laden with bags.  It was a little awkward getting through the busy streets and subway with so many bags but like the troopers we are, we persevered and made it back to the hotel late afternoon.

We were bushed but our day wasn't over.  We still needed to get to Chelsea Market (When I wrote this the link was not working, check out chelseamarket.com if you'd like to check it out.)  to have dinner and buy dinner for Regina's cousin in New Jersey.  We rested for a little while and then headed out.

Chelsea Market was so great.  So many shops, clothing, restaurants, flowers, bakeries, grocers; we really could have spent half a day exploring it. By this time in the trip, however, we were both so tired even though we appreciated it, it was hard to enjoy.  We had soup and bread for dinner and on our way out we bought some cupcakes and a few more of the French Macarons.  Hey! We were on vacation okay?

Back at the hotel, we ate our treats, yes all of them, (what are you my mother?) talked, decided we were too tired to pack and would wait until the morning, talked some more, got up and packed and then finally went to sleep.

We don't have photographic proof that this day was the best ever because we were too busy living it so you'll have to take our word for it.