That would be a Finished Sockapalooza Object! Woohoo!
The slightly darker one on the right is the second – it is still wet on its very snazzy bent-wire-coat-hanger sock blocker. Now I just have to assemble some additional goodies (I plan on giving my pal a little taste of Australia), and we are good to post.
The Vital Statistics:
Yarn: The Knitting Ninja Cashmerino 4ply sock yarn (70% superwash Merino, 20% nylon & 10% cashmere), colourway Moulin Rouge; approximately 1 95g skein.
Needles: Knitpicks Classic Circular 2.5mm x 80cm, Magic Loop method.
Pattern: Reptilian Lace by Sivia Harding for Knitty.
Modifications: I used an Eye of Partridge heel instead of the standard slip-stitch heel called for in the pattern, otherwise, I followed it exactly, right down to the beads (which I bought from my friendly neighborhood bead shop, Beading Inspirations in Adelaide St, Blayney).
On the subject of beads, I have to say it was remarkably easy. Several people told me how brave/patient I was, but apart from the fiddly job of stringing them onto the yarn before I started (and if we were afraid of fiddly jobs, we wouldn’t be knitters, would we?), it was really straightforward. The placement was marked out on the chart, and when I came to that spot, I just slid the next bead up, knitted it into the stitch, and kept going. Trust me: if I can do it, anybody can. And it really makes the diamond pattern of the lace pop.
I love this pattern, have since I first saw it. It was challenging without being terrifying, and I will definitely be knitting it again. Right after I finish my red Lone Heart Heel Socks, make my MIL’s backup Mother’s Day socks, and there’s that brown Jo Sharp jumper still hanging over my head like the freakin’ sword of Damocles, and I want to make this, and this, and these….
Sigh.
Added later:
I just found these, and have to add them to the list of Must Knit Soon. I know that S.A.B.L.E. stands for Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy, but is there a related acronym for someone whose pattern queue is rapidly approaching that length?
