Through the Loops!

Apollo & Artemis

You guys are amazing!!!  It was so very difficult to choose a name for these socks because of the many, many fantastic suggestions I received.  Thank you to everyone for your ideas.

In the end I chose to name the socks "Apollo & Artemis".   The the fraternal twin children of Zeus and his lover Leto, I like the fact that they are a boy and a girl.  These socks don't have a single gender so why should their name?

Five of you suggested Apollo &  Artemis, so I used a random number generator to choose who would receive the handspun.  The winner is Renna.    The other four, Kate, Bev, Abby, and Robin have all received patterns of their choice along with a copy of Apollo & Artemis.

Apollo



Artemis

Apollo and Artemis are the twin children of Zeus and Leto.  A well rounded guy, Apollo has been assigned many rolls including the god of light and the sun; truth and prophecy; archery; medicine and healing; music, poetry and the arts.  His sister Artemis is the goddess of the forest and hills and is often portrayed as a huntress with bow and arrows.  They seem apt names for these socks since they are fraternal twins who are similar but different.  The simple design works for either man or woman.  The patterning on both socks evokes the sibling’s arrows as well as the lighting bolts of their father.

Fraternal socks are the perfect choice for those among us who suffer from second sock syndrome!  If you are of a more disciplined nature, feel free to make an identical pair.  Either way Apollo and Artemis offer knitting simplicity, with a touch of decorative interest.

Materials:
Two pairs US size 1.5/2.5mm circular needles, 24 inch.
Spare DPN in US size 1.5/2.5mm (or size to obtain gauge.)
Tapestry needle.

Yarn:  Farmhouse Yarns Fannie’s Fingering (80% Merino/20% Nylon) 400yards per 100 gram skein, Colorway:  Harvest, 1 skein

Gauge:  32 stitches = 4”(10cm) in stockinette

Finished Measurements: 7 (8, 9)”  circumference at leg and foot. 
   
Price US $6.00

 

Today marks Kiran's and my 19th anniversary.  Sheesh!  How in the world has it been nineteen years already?!  I will say, the old boy looks exactly as he looked the day I married him.  Good genetics that one.

Please Help Me Name the Fraternals!

Remember these socks from a few weeks ago?

 

I've had a number of requests for the pattern(s), which I am happy to provide.  The only catch?  I am burned out on naming patterns.  Now, I know I've got a lot of smart readers, (not sure what attracts the smart ones to this particular blog, but I'm just thrilled that they come!) and I could use your help.

Anybody care for a little contest?  The rules are simple:

1. Name each of my fraternal socks.   Two socks.  Two names.
2. Send your suggestions in an e-mail to throughtheloops at gmail dot com with "Fraternals" in the subject line.  If you have a blog, don't forget to mention your blog in the e-mail so that I may link to you if you win.
3. The winner will be the one who suggests the names that I choose for the pattern.
4. I will send the winner a copy of the pattern(s), two other Through The Loops patterns of their choice and some of  my handspun yarn.  (Yes, I am giving away some of my precious handspun.  I've been spinning a lot lately and my basket runneth over!).
5. ETA:  Contest ends Friday, June 6th Midnight eastern daylight time.

Thanks!  I'm looking forward to hearing your suggestions.
ox
Kirsten

PS.  For those of you in NJ  the talented, energetic, always inspiring Justine, from Angelfire Studios is having a KIP event on the 14th out on the lawn near her FABULOUS shop in Basking Ridge.   Details here.

Growing Up

Go check out my new pattern store.

For the past few months the side bar here has been getting pretty full.  Things like links to other blogs, knit alongs & webrings have all been pushed aside.  The pattern store is way overdue.

I'll continue to post notices here when I release new patterns, but soon the links in the sidebar on this blog will be eliminated to make room for links to some beloved blogs and shops.

Coming soon to the store:  Patterns for the Wildly Stacatto Hoodie and Fraternal Socks.

Don't tell me my socks gotta match. . .

. . .'cuz I'm not gonna to listen!

Fraternals keep the knitting interest high, and that is just the way we fly.

My identical twin daughters don't match, so why should the socks?

It's all about individuality, baby.

Yup, we're just livin' on the edge.

Fraternal Socks

Pattern(s?):  My own
Yarn:  Farmhouse Yarns Fannie's Fingering
Colorway:  Harvest
Needles:  US 1.5/2.5mm Addi Lace magic looped

Confection

 

Sarah recently sent some of  her beautiful new Plucky Knitter Merino/Cashmere/Nylon sport weight yarn my way.  It wasn't in my house for 24 hours before I caved into the temptation to get it on my needles.  A yarn this soft belongs around the neck.  The obvious choice for the project was a cowl.

The design possibilities were limitless in this semisolid colorway.  As a result swatching was a joy.  In the end I decided to go with something a little frilly.  Confection has a twisted, rope-like edging under the chin, while waves of garter stitch frame delicate fans.

A bit of confection to warm the neck, this sport weight cowl is worked from the top down.  (Although if you’d like to flip it and wear the rope edging on the bottom the knitting police won’t come after you.)

I can’t decide if this cowl reminds me of an ornate cake or the swags of a circus tent.  Either way knit in the Plucky Knitter’s Cashmerino Sport it is a decadent adornment for chilly days.

Size:  One size 7”x23”

Gauge:  23 stitches = 4” in stitch pattern

Yarn:  The Plucky Knitter Cashmerino Sport, 80% Merino/10% Cashmere/10% Nylon, 250 yards per skein; Colorway: Pout, 1 skein

Materials
Needles:  US 5/3.75 mm, 24” circular
Tapestry needle
Place Marker

Price $6.00 US

As with all of my patterns, Confection will be e-mailed to you once Paypal notifies me of payment.

Thanks!

Happy Belated Mother's Day

As I write this post it is 12:01 am.  Mother's Day is over.  Sorry I'm a bit late.  Hope you had a good one, whether you are a mother of the child of a mother.

It was a good weekend.  My kids were in a show.  It was my son's last with the group he's been working with for the past 3 1/2 years.  We've watched him blossom from an awkward 7th grader to a confident young man in those years.  That was in no small part due to all of the amazing opportunities he has had to perform with this program.  Now it is time for him to move on and explore new interests and create music of his own, on his own terms.

He went out with a bang.  The kids did a production of the musical "Hair" and he was one of the leads.  The kid put his heart and soul into the role of "Berger" and it payed off.  Mama was proud.

DD#2 was also in the show.  As always when she sings, she gives her mom the chills.  I will never tire of listening her. 

It was fun creating the costumes for the show.  DD#2 was well prepared except for the "dire" need of a crochet scarf at the last minute.  That was easily remedied on Thursday night with a 6 mm crochet hook and some bulky yarn from the stash.

I improvised the pattern on this.  It is based on my memory of a pattern in the Stitch and Bitch crochet book "The Happy Hooker".  I say "based on my memory" because I was too lazy to run upstairs to find  the book and get the actual pattern.  Wasn't it enough that I dug through the stash for the yarn?

Happy Monday.

Eloise

Eloise was originally designed for the Chewy Spaghetti Blue Plate Special Sock Club.   I am now able to make the pattern available to the public.

Eloise is one of my favorite children’s book characters.  Her spunk and carefree style are something all adults could do with a bit more of.  When Khris sent the yarn for me to design this sock with, I fell in love with the color name, “Impudent’.  The most impudent little girl I could think of is Eloise, and so I named this sock for her.  Be a little naughty when you wear these!

Materials:
Two pairs US size 1 circular needles, 24 inch.
Spare DPN in US size 1 (or size to obtain gauge.)
Tapestry needle.

Yarn: Chewy Spaghetti ’08 Blue Plate Special -
April (60% Superwash Merino, 30% Bamboo, 10% Nylon)
Colorway:  Impudent.  1 Skein.

Gauge:  32 stitches = 4”(10cm) in stitch pattern

Finished Measurement: 8” (20 cm) circumference at leg and foot.

Price:  $5.50

Yes, We Are Blurry

But:

1. It was before 7 am when these photos were taken
2. It was very foggy
3. We only had about 5 minutes to take the photos
4. I hadn't finished my coffee

Will you forgive us?
Thanks.

 

Wildly Staccato Hoodie

Pattern:  My Own

Yarn:  Cascade 220

Zipper:  Mood Fabrics (What is up with M&J Trimming not carrying zippers?  I swear I used to be able to buy them there back in the 80's before they were the Mecca they are now.)

Coffee:  Latte w/ 1% - Made as a bribe to get him to model so early in the morning.

Started in January, finished on May Day with much harassment/guilt from the recipient.   If I didn't love this kid so much I never would have been able to get through the weaving in of those ends.
His sisters have designs on stealing this.  Perhaps I should take advantage of the Cascade 220 on sale at Webs and make a few more.

Now, if you haven't already seen it, go have a look at the striped Tomten Nova made for her rock star.   I feel a kinship with her over these projects, not just because of all of the ends that we both had to face, but also because Little Sir reminds me so much of my son at that age.  Seeing him in those stripes is like a time machine.

Hey Nova, guess what his first comment was when he tried the finished hoodie on?
"Where are the pockets?"  They never change.  The only difference, the trains are now Metro cards, random guitar picks and a cell phone.

Off to Maryland Sheep and Wool tomorrow.  The weather report looks great!  I can't wait of meet some of my blog friends.

Chickadee Cowl

Since a number of you asked, I wrote the pattern for the cowl from yesterday's post.  I'm calling it the "Chickadee Cowl" since DD#1 says that the linen stitch looks like little birdie feet close up.  It's available as a freebie in my sidebar.

Enjoy.

Fourty @#*!#%! Six

At least I can still do this:

(Inspired by these talented ladies.)

However, it is advisable after a certain age to apply makeup before taking photographs in bright light.  (Tidying up the background is a nice touch too.)

"The cowl?" you ask.  I had to make the cowl because Ms. Fricknits says they are the new scarf, and I am a follower.  It is a basic linen stitch.  I'll write up the pattern if anyone wants it.

(Gratuitous close up of stitch pattern and the glorious Plucky Knitter's colors. [Colorway: Janis])

It was an all about me weekend.  First there was the cowl.  Then 18 holes of golf.  Then dinner with my golf buddy/tax preparer/sommelier/tech support/the only guy who'd stick with me for 20+ years.
The next day there was the spinning of 4 oz. of Scout's Superwash Merino Roving.   (Colorway: Power Couples)

The fiber arrived on Friday.  Admit it, you wouldn't have been able to just tuck it away in your stash either.

Along with the spinning, there was more golf.  Since I now have a locker at the golf club I had to crochet a key chain for my shiny new key.  You know "had to".  That bag full of sock yarn scraps does come in handy from time to time.

The weekend was nicely rounded out with Indian take out last night.  One would think that I had all the free time in the world.  I don't.  I'm just really good at neglecting the things I should be doing.  It also helps to have a fantastic family who indulges me.

Off to get a pedicure!  ;)  Hey, I can, it is my birthday after all.