June Wrap-up

What better way to spend my Fourth than in my personal pursuit of happiness — that is to say, with yarn! (Also happiness: engaging in my annual re-watch of 1776, because, really, can it get any better than singing, dancing Founders harmonizing about the amazing powers of Jefferson’s violin playing? No. No, it cannot.)

Here, have some Finished Objects. June was a busy month:
SUMMER TANK
Summer Tank
Pattern:Basic Vest Pattern by Ann Budd, from The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns
Yarn: Pucker Brush Farm Cotton/Flax/Rayon Blend
Needles: US3/3.25 mm
Notes: After letting this yarn marinate in the stash for a year or so, this was guesstimated based on Budd’s vest pattern from my Favorite Book Ever, and came out pretty darn well, if I may say so myself. This will be a nice basic summer top and I am utterly in love with the color.

CONFUSED SOCKS
Forward and Back Socks
Pattern: Forward and Back Socks by Ruth Greenwald
Yarn: Fox Hop Sock Yarn in Wine Country, picked up in a Ravelry trade. Fiber content 55% wool, 25% Nylon, 20% acetate.
Needles: US1/2.25 mm
Notes: These socks got to do a bit of traveling while they were on the needles. They was a new pattern for me, but I think it might be a keeper. I like the effect on the variegated colorway, and I’m always on the lookout for patterns that will work with my stash of hand-dyed sock yarns. It’s written for two circs, but it was easy enough to do on DPNs. I’d recommend to anyone doing the same to use four needles, and divide each chart between the second SSK and the YO-K1-YO, but leave at least one stitch on the right needle so your YOs cooperate. You’ll have to shift a few stitches to your left needle every few rows, but you can just knit them onto the left needle without any fuss.
The yarn itself I picked up in a Ravelry trade; I don’t usually work with sock yarns with such a heavy acrylic content, but it seemed to work out pretty well here. The yarn was a little stickier, but it has a great hand once it’s knit up and those stitches aren’t going anywhere.

GRADUATION SOCKS
Falling Leaves Socks
Written up in this post for your entertainment.

DENIM SILK LUTEA
Lutea Lace Shell
Written up here, for even more entertainment.

July promises to be just as busy, and there should be some traveling sock pictures for you all when I venture to Chicago for the ALA Annual in a week. In celebration, I wound my Franklin’s Panopticon sock yarn yesterday, all ready to go in case I bump into Dolores. Hey, a girl can hope.