Socks No. 5

I have finished my fifth pair of socks for the 52 pairs of socks in 52 weeks challenge (Ravelry Group). I think that makes me ahead by one pair. The pattern came from the Socken-Kreativ-Liste. It is basically a mixture of moss stitch and brioche stitch down the leg of the socks and then having the two sections of brioche stitch come together on top of the foot by decreasing and increasing. I extended the moss stitch strip down both sides of the foot and then have them come to a point as well. Since there was no planning involved, I did rather well. I only had to add 6 rows to the sock before starting the toes. The fit my 7-1/2 shoe size perfectly. The yarn is Schoeller und Stahl, Kolori in turquoise, bought on sale for half-price at either Patternworks or Little Knits. The turquoise has some sections of gray included and has one ply of silvery thread included. The color is not very sedate.

On other knitting fronts, I have a new shawl going called the "Masked Ball of Venice." The pattern is from Monika Eckert from the Klabauter Yahoo! group. I had to actually buy yarn since the yarn I was going to use had been shredded into pieces. The shredded yarn and the previously mentioned shredded sock yarn came from the same shop. Since none of my other stash is affected it had to happen at the shop. But, alas, she is no longer in business. It pained me to have to throw away the yarn, but one cannot knit a shawl with 1 to 2 foot pieces of yarn, the thickness of heavy sewing thread. The yarn I bought for the shawl is called Cashwool by Zegna Baruffa in Italy. It looks almost the same as the Skacel Lace Merino I had to throw out. The price for 100 gram was $16.25 which, as far as I am concerned, is very reasonable for lace yarn. I just cannot fathom to pay $40 or more for 3-1/2 ounces of yarn. Pictures will come when I get done with the first part.

By the way, the magazine "Simply Knitting" under the wool is a British Magazine I discovered at the book store. It is a bit more expensive than Interweave's knitting magazine, but well worth the price. I have bought now two issues (Winter and Spring) and each issue has at least two items in it that I would knit. And the most important thing: they come in my size instead of Twiggy (for those who remember her). The other thing is that the magazine comes with a suppement, some of which are Alan Dart toy patterns.

Knit on merrily!