May I Have Socks?

Monday, May 19, 2008

Time for another Sockdown challenge!

One of the May themes is Gigi Silva (also known as Momma Monkey). Gigi was a wonderfully talented and generous sock designer who sadly succumbed to an illness in February 2008. As a memorial to Gigi, SKA included the option of doing one of her many designs as part of the February challenge. But, since the Sockdown schedule was set up way back in Fall 2007, the intention was always have her as one of the featured designers in May and no one wanted to change that. So, two chances of knitting one of her designs. Since I didn't do that in February (I was too busy with the Bayerische and Firestarters), I'm remembering her now.

Gigi also started Socktopia, a theme-based sock KAL that after her passing is carried on and run by its members in Ravelry.

Project: Carolina (Ravelry), cast-on: May 9 2008
Pattern: Carolina by Gigi Silva/Momma Monkey (available as a free Ravelry download)
Yarn: sKNITches Limited Edition sock yarn (60% superwash merino / 30% bamboo / 10% nylon), colorway "Cottage" (creamy white/petal pink/fresh green & chocolaty brown)
Needles: 2.5 mm circular
Mods: Going toe-up, two-at-a-time on one circular. I'm also replacing the k3tog's with a centered double decrease (great instructions from pepperknit here, scroll down the page).

This yarn was the March shipment of the SSYC sock club. I'm not usually big on pastels but this is looking so gorgeous and yummy knitted up! The yarn is very soft and shiny -- I can't believe it's not butter silk but bamboo. In fact, it feels a lot like the ONline Supersocke Silk I used for the Bayerische but it doesn't pill (at least not while I'm still knitting it).

Speaking of the sock club, the final, April shipment arrived a few weeks back and it's a beauty, too.

This is Zen Yarn Garden Tencelicious Yarn in colorway "James Danger" and it came with a delicate rose quartz stitch marker. So shiny! I've never had tencel yarn before. The colorway is named after the now 10-month-old son of Allison, the owner of SSYC. I have no idea what to make of it! The colors are very bright and look so vibrant on the skein but I'd hate to do the yarn injustice and turn it into clown barf. Roxanne the dyer's socks stripe nicely and are anything but barfy. I've been intrigued by entrelac lately (never tried it!) so maybe that's the way to go.

One more random thing before I stop for today: I've fallen for this DROPS bolero (Ravelry pattern page), HARD. So hard I moved it to the top of my queue. I've fantasized of yarns and colors. Want want want! I have another cardi on the needles that's almost done (half a sleeve and a zipper to go, whee!) but after that... I just may have to cast on this one! (I'm showing a lot of restraint here, people.)

P.S. Mom really liked the shawl! She called me the day she received it (having just called the day before) and went on for a good half hour about how wonderfully soft and light and not itchy at all it was and how vibrant the colors were and how did you manage to knit it and was it very difficult and why didn't you say anything??? Tee hee. She was completely surprised and taken. :) Yay!

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