Heels and Toes

Yesterday was a day of waiting, and I've found the only thing that helps with waiting is knitting.  I decided to keep it simple, so I focused my attention on this sock.

This is Luxor - the February installment of Yarn Knot Socks.  I've included mini skeins with each shipment, and this Pond Scum was the splash of color I needed for lively heels and toes.  I almost didn't mind waiting . . . 

Luxor

Sometimes it takes a little nudge to get things rolling.  The slight, cooler shift in the weather is a good reminder that summer won't last forever and that I need more handknit socks.  After just a bit of focused knitting time, I released this purple pair into the wild.

Luxor made with Paula Violet.  Paula is 100% Superwash Blue Faced Leicester and has always been one of my favorites.  It's a hardwearing yarn with a subtle shimmer.  

This pattern is a fun knit and comes in several sizes.

The rounds of knit and purl combinations create a split diamond design.  There's just enough variety to make it interesting.  The textured fabric is cushy, elastic and comfortable.

And now I have to deal with this.

Empty needles that need a new project.  Not a bad way to start the week.

Adding Up

Stitch by stitch, row by row.  A little bit here, a little bit there.  You don't need a marathon knitting session to see forward progress.

Sometimes I have to grab my knitting time in bits and pieces.  It was a busy weekend for dyeing.  I'll spare you the debate I had with myself over the merits of starting a new knitting project.  In the end, the work in progress won out.  Whenever I sat down to crunch a few numbers, I also knit a few rows on my current sock project.  And it paid off.  

I finished the first sock and have a healthy start on the second.  In case you're interested, this is Luxor in Paula Violet.  

This design calls for a short row heel.  Normally I prefer a heel flap but decided to go with the flow on this one.  I've been exploring different short row techniques for a while now.  My current favorite is the German short row, but I thought this sock would be a good test for the shadow wrap method.  I'm not going to reinvent the wheel - follow the link for detailed instructions.

The shadow wrap method is a good exercise in stitch anatomy, and it works like a charm.  It's always nice to have another technique in your toolbox.  Give it a whirl if you're working with short rows.

Hidden Gems

Being sick is not fun but after some concentrated knitting time, I feel I'm well on the road to recovery.  I still have a lot of catching up to do, but at least my knitting is in order.  A new pair of socks on the needles is an easy way to lift my spirits.

After considering a couple of patterns, I settled on Luxor.  Round after round of knit and purl combinations - just enough to keep me entertained without being too taxing.  I admit this doesn't look like much.

But with a little help the fabric is transformed into this.

Lovely split diamonds loaded with texture.  The only danger is not being able to put these down to tackle some of the other work that needs my attention.

I always feel virtuous when my computer time is put to good use.  Not too long ago I got sucked into some of the knitting videos over on Lucy Neatby's YouTube channel.   If you need a little break from the daily grind or have a knitting problem, be sure to check them out.