Firestarter Socks complete!

Yeah, they're done and I am really happy with them. I made these as a Christmas gift (trying to be ready for the holidays this year), but I really wish they were for me! I don't enjoy knitting a second pair of the same sock pattern, so I guess I'll make myself a different pair of socks in the same yarn sometime soon.

So here are the details:
Pattern: "Firestarter" by Yarnissima; toe up with a fun, unique gusset
Yarn: Nova Socks (100% merino superwash wool), 1 ball
Color: Jester
Gauge: 7 st/inch
Needles: US#2.5/3.0mm

My comments:
1. Changed the provisional cast on to Magic Cast-On.
2. Pattern recommended gauge of 8 st/inch; I have 7 st/inch
3. I continued with St St up the front of the shin and ribbing in the back. I did ribbing all the way around for the last inch--probably should have ribbed 1 more inch.

I am really excited to start my next Yarnissima pattern: "La digitessa". Unfortunately, they probably won't be cast on until June because I have 2 other pairs of socks in the queue for April and May.

One down, one to go

Firestarter progress report:

It may not be a pretty picture right now, but trust me, it looks great on. I am saving the full blocked image for the completed project. I love this pattern! I just wish I was knitting these for me...

Firestarter Socks and Twined Knitting KAL

Check out this cool sock pattern:

Firestarter Socks

As soon as I saw these, I knew they would be the next socks on my needles. And I have the perfect color yarn (great for February V-Day and "Fire"): Nova Sock in "Jester"

I am knitting these at a gauge of 7 st/inch, not the recommended 8 st/inch, but my foot is small so it should be fine. I used the "Magic Cast-On" for toe up socks instead of the pattern recommended provisional cast on and I have made a couple of other small modifications, but I'll discuss all of those when these are finished. It is a fun pattern and is knitting up surprisingly quick. I love the gusset--can't wait to knit other socks from Yarnissima!


My second project for this month is a Twined Knitting KAL. At long last, there is finally a twined knitting group at Yahoo Groups and Ravelry (same group). This is exciting because there are not a lot of patterns out there for twined (or two-end) knitting. I hope to one day design a sweater in two-end knitting--maybe that will be a goal for 2009!

Anyway, this Twined Knitting group has started a KAL and you know I couldn't say no to that! We will be making a pair of 2-color wrist warmers designed by Hilly. This will be my first attempt at 2 color twined knitting and wrist warmers are a very manageable way to learn. I am going to use this yarn from Black Water Abbey:

and hope to cast on by the end of the week.