Love the magic.........

that is, Judy Becker's magic cast-on for toe-up socks and Wendy's newest  freebie sock Halcyon, which you can get from her blog.  I wanted to try again with the toe-up socks and knitting with two circulars.   I got the yarn (Regia--Kaffee Fassett's colorway) and wanted to do something other than plain ole socks.  Wendy's Halcyon was the answer.  It has a pattern, but it is just perfect for a stripe or handpainted yarn.  So I cast on and have worked two pattern repeats--not enough for you to tell too much about the pattern, but here it is:

Let me tell you, I have really enjoyed knitting with the two circulars----not having to fool around with 5 needles is wonderful.  I'm sold!  I still love my top down socks as well, so I'll probably continue doing them that way from time to time, but Wendy's patterns are so easy to follow.  I can't wait for her new book to come out next year---April, I believe.

Time to get off the computer and run up to the barn to paint some more on John's carousel horse.  We just about have the very first one he ever carved completed.  It's looking good so far.  It's funny, but since this was his very first attempt at carving anything and not having any instruction except for a book, this is a learning piece.  Every leg is carved in a different way, the mane and the ears are not carved like he does them now (after having some instruction), the head is proportionally smaller than it should be,  and various other techniques that he has now learned to do.  The painting has been a challenge as well.  A lot of the books said to paint with oil enamel paint----I'll never do that again.  It does give it an authentic carousel shine, but the paint is horrible to get it on smoothly and very difficult to find in different colors unless you buy it by the gallons.  Next horse will be done quite differently.  I'll get a picture of it this afternoon and show you our progress.  Still have a lot to do.  So---on to the barn.

Comments

[wendy g]

Love the yarn and pattern. I will have to check it out but I am not sure about socks on 2 circulars.

[kathy b]

Oh the colors really set it off beautifully. Happy sock knitting

[Lynne]

That is a really neat sock pattern. Thanks for the link! I've never tried toe-up, even though I have Wendy's book. I just may have to give it a try...