Qualifying Round: Senbonzakura
I do not love knitting Twisted Stitches. And although these are not mini-cables as the word might suggest, the knit stitches on these socks are all knit through the back loop, making them nice and tight and clearly visible (knit stitches flanked by purl stitches tend to look loose, but knitting them through the back loop prevents this).
I chose to knit these on the recommended gauge of 9 sts/inch on needles 2.5 mm (for my hand of knitting), which does put a strain on my hands. And I used the metal Addi colibri needles, that are less friendly than soft bamboo. Suffice to summarise this was rather uncomfortable.
But they're done and I am through to the next round! I knit the bare minimum to qualify, but because my row gauge is always a tad high these will fit me.
Although I had hoped these would be for me, I really don't like them. The leg is just a bit too short to be comfortable and I fear they may sag. I might try them this weekend and if I don't like them, they will go to a happy recipient.
Despite the initial problems with reading the pattern, it all went pretty smoothly. It was just a matter of Read the Effing Pattern and really, really take it one instruction at a time. I may not like knitting twisted stitches or ribbing very much, but it could have been much worse.
Because I had some trouble with the 8/0 beads fitting over this Wollmeise, I went ahead and ordered an assortment of 6/0 and 8/0 beads for the next projects. There will be a few more socks with beads in this year's Madness, and I had a beaded sock on my "to knit" list as well.
This round will run until Saturday morning, and then the contestants will be placed into teams. The next round will start....some time after that.
I chose to knit these on the recommended gauge of 9 sts/inch on needles 2.5 mm (for my hand of knitting), which does put a strain on my hands. And I used the metal Addi colibri needles, that are less friendly than soft bamboo. Suffice to summarise this was rather uncomfortable.
But they're done and I am through to the next round! I knit the bare minimum to qualify, but because my row gauge is always a tad high these will fit me.
Although I had hoped these would be for me, I really don't like them. The leg is just a bit too short to be comfortable and I fear they may sag. I might try them this weekend and if I don't like them, they will go to a happy recipient.
Despite the initial problems with reading the pattern, it all went pretty smoothly. It was just a matter of Read the Effing Pattern and really, really take it one instruction at a time. I may not like knitting twisted stitches or ribbing very much, but it could have been much worse.
Because I had some trouble with the 8/0 beads fitting over this Wollmeise, I went ahead and ordered an assortment of 6/0 and 8/0 beads for the next projects. There will be a few more socks with beads in this year's Madness, and I had a beaded sock on my "to knit" list as well.
This round will run until Saturday morning, and then the contestants will be placed into teams. The next round will start....some time after that.