Partial second sock
For those of you who were worried about it (heheh…), I present the second sock…well, at least part of it anyway. I finally succeeded in casting on for the thing and managed to get a decent start on it before I was completely waylaid :)
There was this swatch, see. I just wanted to see if the colors would work and if the design would show up well.
Gauge and pattern swatch
I was using the deep pink in a double strand when I started and you can see pretty clearly - about halfway up - where I decided to see if a single strand would work better. I feel that it did. Also, the light pink yarn has been reduced to two strands instead of three (the yarn, as it comes in its cake, is composed of 6 strands). This makes it around aran/heavy worsted weight. Things worked up well on size 8 (US) needles.
The only problem now was that I don’t have a size 8 circular needle long enough to accommodate 176 stitches of moderately stiff yarn. But, having been completely and utterly seduced while working the swatch, I couldn’t just leave it alone. I had to cast on. So I decided that the poncho could be made in four panels of 89 stitches each and sewn together at the end. This also gives me the option of having a front opening so I don’t have to take it on and off over my head which is do-able but not preferable.
So this happened:
Poncho beginning
This would be one front or back side panel and I would reverse the direction of the pattern elements on the other side. I’m pleased with how well it came out and how nice and flat it is. I realize I could probably get a neater looking design if I worked this in stockinette, but I want the flat bottom on the fabric pieces. I will switch to stockinette for the main body, but haven’t decided what to do - if anything - with the top edges. Plenty of time to figure it out, though :).
Now that I have worked out the pattern, the stitch count and the gauge, I can finish my sock and my shawl before coming back to work on this. At least that’s what I hope for. I want to finish the Landscape Shawl and I really want to finish the socks. The seductive, siren song of the poncho can go stifle itself (imagine Archie Bunker voice) until I’m done with these projects :)
Are you buying any of this? Didn’t think so…
Contemplative cat
Goldie seems rather thoughtful this morning. Perhaps he is unaware that it’s a holiday and he doesn’t have to go to work :) I’ll give him a treat in a little while - that always seems to make him happy.
Finally, a major upgrade was done on the blog software this weekend. Everything seems to be working nicely, but I would appreciate it if you let me know of any new problems. Also, there appears to be a strange link out there somewhere to the “Open Cable Scarf” that led to the blog software attempting to load the entire blog! For the time being, this has been circumvented; if you hit that link you’ll wind up at the most recent blog post. If you are looking for the scarf pattern, just click on “Main” and then go to “Patterns” on the sidebar. Click on “Open Cable Scarf” and you’re there :)
Happy Monday holiday!
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the mosaic patterning is lovely and you are going to have a most spectacular garment when you finish the poncho/cape- i do admire your tenacity in working until you get just what you want-
second socks are always interesting- i always have a ‘been there, done that’ relationship with mine-
i can’t wait to see the shawl in its finished state- i almost caved in and cast on for mine during the weekend but avoided the temptation by putting the yarn out of sight- it’s the curse of startitis!
grey and humid here in texas- i am reminded that autumn will eventually be here-
stay happy-
I don’t believe you can leave that poncho alone. There - I said it. I think you’re fibbing to yourself and your reading public. I *know* you’ll have to go back to that lovely pattern again & again. :::wicked, evil grin:::: hehehe
That being said, I can’t wait to see your Landscape Shawl! So get to it, girl! You know you have nothing else to do all day but knit. 
Barb - It does seem to be working out and I was so excited when I finished the pattern-work last night and stepped back to see what it all looked like :)
Hang in honey, cooler weather will get there sooner or later!
Bron - Well honestly, I don’t believe it either (snicker) but I am going to work on the sock this afternoon and the shawl this evening. One day at a time - isn’t that how it works for us startitis addicts? LOL!
