Monica Knits

Even though I haven't posted many knitting articles recently, I have completed 8 pairs of socks over the past 3 weeks, including another pair of lily of the valley socks as a gift. I'm adding additional tips to my knitting notes, because a friend has asked me to order the pattern and some wool for her, so I wanted to make sure there weren't any surprises in the pattern. I didn't follow it exactly the first time; this time I decided I had better do so, or I wouldn't be able to answer questions on the instructions. The first tip concerns the use of stitch markers for parsing lace repeat patterns. Read more ....

The Yarn Over increase (YO inc) is used with laces and the direction in which the yarn is wrapped depends on the preceding stitch (K or P) and the subsequent stitch (K or P). For the YO inc after a P stitch and before a K stitch, the yarn is wound front to back over the right hand needle. This is one of two YO increases used in the Mock Croc Socks. For additional instructions and another photo read more...

Design Features: Designed by Susan Lawrence, the gold merino wool/silk blend socks have an overall 3x2 lace rib design for comfort and fit, accented with mock cables for the Moc Croc^a pattern style. The lace rib pattern runs from cuff to start of heel, and then continues the length of the sock, instep only, to the toes. The pattern includes instructions for both an ankle and crew length sock.

A few minor modifications were made to Susan's pattern, but design intent was preserved. I purchased the pattern for its striking stitch pattern; my husband also commented on it when he saw me knitting the socks. The Knit Picks catalog highlighted this design in an issue featuring socks.

Red Wing BlackbirdThe red-wing blackbird made me think of the many budding artists and designers I have met at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) over the years. Often the automotive design instructors and students wore black, yes and the ubiquitous turtle neck, but they carried themselves with style and cuts that framed their faces and their personalities. There may have been an accent pin or scarf as well. As a result, you remember the face, the smile, the person, with the clothes serving as a backdrop. This set me to thinking of the needlework designers that have influenced my work either directly or indirectly.