Thursday, November 01, 2007

Photo Finish

Oh Koigu, you do it to me every time!
The yarn that you see pictured above is all that remains of the Koigu (a.k.a. the yarn with the most notoriously short yardage this side of Jitterbug) for my sock swap. But guess what? The sock is completed and shipped off to its recipient, and since today is the deadline for mailing, that's a good thing. If only I could've adhered to such guidelines when completing my dissertation! But then I wouldn't have had the grand ole time with Effexor, and thus never known what it means to live on The Dark Side. In any case, after the dust had settled from me changing my mind as many times as Peeper-Lou and Tween Thing changed their minds about their Halloween costumes, this was a fun sock to make, and Koigu does come through for me once again.
Central Air Sock in Koigu P116
The Specs
Pattern: Socks that Rock Central Air
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM P116
Needles: size 1 addi turbos
Central Air Sock in Koigu P116
Those of you who predicted and inferred that I am making the December Lights Tam out of the Finullgarn are correct! It is my next weekend project, but since the Cobblestone is only moments away from completion, I figure I should wrap that one so as to earn some points with the Darling Resident Marxist Curmudgeon. As I'm going to Chicago this weekend for a conference and will be hitting Loopy Yarns for some Malabrigo, a yarn that I have had a heck of a time getting my hands on, I'm sure to be on some thin ice when I get back. So Cobblestone, you have been warned, you are next!

36 comments:

Amy said...

They're totally beautiful! The recipient is super-lucky. And I can't wait to see a finished Cobblestone...

Olga said...

I love the color and pattern on that sock. Must. Have. and lucky dawg- get to go to Loopy Yarns!!! well, buy lots of yarn and have a contest to give some away..hint hint

Veronique said...

Oh, you are going to love Malabrigo! I don't know why it's hard to find in bricks & mortar stores. But it's all over the internet :)
I've had my eye on the Tam from the holiday IK too...

Anonymous said...

I just bought a skein of Malabrigo...I am going to have to repurpose it, I think. Nice sock. I am still working on mine. I had to rip half the sock last night because of a mistake I found before starting the toe decreases. Crap.

Anonymous said...

Lookit you, living on the edge! That sock is gorgeous--must bookmark the pattern.

Sourire11 said...

Ooooh pretty!!!!

Sarah said...

Great sock! The Koigu behaved so well with the pattern, too!

YawnOver said...

The tam! I'll be watching for it - love, LOVE that pattern :)

Anonymous said...

Your sock is so pretty. I've got to try the Koigu one of these days. You will SO love the soft goodness of Malabrigo. Come join the cult.

Can't wait to see the Cobblestone. You always get to take such cool trips!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous sock! Glad you made the deadline. I'll be relieved when my sock deadline is met & the sock on its way! Have fun in Chicago.

Zarzuela said...

It came out great! Love the colors. Good luck with your trip to Chicago. The tam will be a nice quick project when cobblestone is done (I just started one today myself). :)

Jessica

Knitting Bandit said...

Malabrigo....yummm...It's so easy to get around my town. That's crazy! I have yet to knit any Koigu KPPP socks...now I thnk I should. I have it in my stash, just waiting. But what about the Wollmeise ones I'm working on? And the Socks That Rock Club kit I just got and love? Oh yeah, my Fratello kit was shipped from so far away and is just sitting there, waiting, patiently. What am I going to do?

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous yarn and sock! My [only] experience with Koigu yardage was the opposite of yours. I knit a pair of Widdershins (toe-up, heel flap and gusset) with 2x2 ribbing on top of the foot and around the leg, and knit until I ran out of yarn. These are the longest hand-knit socks I own; they reach halfway up my calf! I have a size 8-1/2 foot (the socks are actually a wee bit generous in size) and am 5'5" tall. Huh. Perhaps your pattern eats more yarn than ribbing?

Anonymous said...

That is a great sock! She will surely love it! mmmmm.....malabrigo.....

Unknown said...

Very fabulous socks! er, I meam sock!! I can't wait to get my own swap sock - I hope it's yours:) Okay, I know it isn't but it is gorgeous!

Can't wait to hear about Loopy - never been, but need to go!

Dove Knits said...

Hey, wave to me while you're in Chicago!

Those socks turned out so cute. I love the color variations!

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, I've just found out about Koigu's yardage [or lack thereof]!
I didn't even have enough yarn to weave in the end for the toe!!
Lovely sock, btw.

Knittymuggins said...

Beautiful!! You've got one lucky pal! Thanks for the Koigu warning too. This one is on my list to try still, so that will help me plan ahead :)

knittymuggins

Yarnhog said...

That is a disturbingly small amount of leftover yarn. My discomfort with the concept of running out of yarn leads me to buy so much for each project that I could make a king-sized afghan out of my leftovers.

Malabrigo always seems to be available (at a great discount) at WEBS (www.yarn.com). Also, if you want bulky, dk, or lace weight Malabrigo, you can order it directly from the manufacturer at www.handpaintedyarn.com (just in case anyone out there doesn't already know any of this).

weezalana said...

Nice job on the sock! Finishing with that much (er...little) left over must've been a nail biter!

Hehehe, you could do the NaBlahBlahMo thing and call him DaReMaCu. ;)

Angela said...

The sock is gorgeous. Shoot me a line if you need any recommendations while you are here! (I'm going to be trying hard not to work on work and intently attempting to finish the sweater I am wearing Wednesday night!)

Kirsten said...

Gorgeous! The pattern really works in that color.
I've been drooling over the December Lights Tam. I'm looking forward to seeing yours.

Anonymous said...

Loooovely sock - I love how it didn't pool too. ;) I finally got to touch some Koigu at my LYS, and it sure is nice. Yarn diet. Yarn diet. Yarn diet.

I can't wait for you to get your hands on the Malabrigo. It's seriously the softest thing around except maybe this alpaca stuff I saw the other day...

Robin said...

Great socks! You really did just squeak by with the yardage. I hate when any project is cutting it close in the yardage department - it stresses me out! Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Phew! That must've been so stressful to be near completion and not know if there'd be enough yarn to finish. I'm glad you made it, I'd be wigging!

Alison said...

The socks turned out fabulous! And that was quite the finishing close-call! Were you nervous the last couple inches? he he he
That really is a pretty colorway, now I want some!
I've been so busy finishing sweaters for new pattern deadlines that my sock knitting has been on the back burner- but I'm itching to get back to it! I've got 2 different socks started, waiting ever-so-patiently for my return... what am I doing sitting up bloggin instead of knitting? Where are my priorities?
Shut up and knit, right? Off I go then...

Happy knitting-
ali

Amanda said...

Your partner is very lucky. The sock looks great! Can't wait to see the December Lights Tam and Cobblestone. Both excellent patterns!

bonitapita said...

OH! Those are nice!!!

...Sarah said...

beautiful colours, great socks!

schrodinger said...

Just in the nick of time eh? I both love and hate when I have that little yarn left over, it's great to use it to the max, but it can be pretty stressful not knowing if you're going to make it...

Anonymous said...

Wow, the Koigu really worked well with that pattern! No pooling, no obscuring of the lace -- perfect! I'm sure your sock partner will really love it.

Minty Fresh said...

The socks are gorgeous! Great colorway for the pattern!

Anonymous said...

now that is one prudy sock! Love the colors, the pattern shows them off beautifully.

carrie said...

those socks are absolutely beautiful! the colorway is very relaxing for some reason ...

Anonymous said...

Wow - these socks are stunningly beautiful! What a unique pattern, and the yarn you've been using looks so cozy and warm and soft! Fantastic work !

Octopus Knits said...

Wow, the sock is beautiful (and what a close shave - I hope your pal will be able to squeak the other sock out of the remaining yarn)!