I know, I know. Don’t pass out because I’m posting so soon already. It’s just that I have quite a few FO’s to share with you and the projects are all so great, that I felt I had to share.
I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful friend like Laura who is also a talented designer that lets me test knit her patterns. I’ve recently completed 3 of them but I won’t try to overwhelm anyone with all three in one post. First up:
Pattern: Grandiflora by Laura Patterson (Ravelry)
Yarn: Chameleon Colorworks Bambino in Briar Rose
Needles: Knit Picks Circulars size 2.5 mm / US 1 1/2
Raveled here
If you have beautiful hand painted yarn in your stash that has short color repeats, it can be tricky finding a pattern that will show off the beautiful yarn while not obscuring the pattern. Look no further than this Grandiflora pattern. It reminds me in some ways of Grumperina’s Jaywalker pattern that is so very popular, except this pattern will stretch on your foot whereas the Jaywalker pattern seems to have people commenting on how snug and tight the socks are.
I know Laura spent countless weeks (possibly months) trying to get this pattern perfect, and she really did succeed beautifully. I know I’m a bit prejudiced, but I also have knit quite a few socks in the last 2 years (36 pairs) and so I look at patterns with a bit of a critical eye. Besides, who wants to wear ugly socks? I’ve frogged one too many pairs of socks where the pattern and yarn did not work well together and I realized I need to be more critical of patterns I choose to knit, so that the disappointing half finished socks stop staring at me from the corner of the knitting room with an accusatory eye like I’ve abandoned them. Although usually I have.
Besides having a beautiful pattern, the yarn is quite amazing also. Chameleon Colorworks has some beautiful colorways, but also their base yarn is divine. The Bambino yarn is 30% bamboo and 70% superwash merino. The combination of these two fibers makes a sock that is incredibly soft, but also breathes a bit better than 100% wool yarns. Perfect for my southern California climate.
Also, if you’re an official member of Summer of Socks 2008, you can get a free copy of this pattern until August 15th.
How lovely! It sounds like just the pattern for my Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn that is defying all attempts to play nice and not pool. I like the colors, too.
I have just the yarn for that pattern! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks!
Beautiful! I’m longing for sock weather.
These socks are just beautiful!
Ohhhhh maaaaaaan those are gorgeous
They are beautiful. I love the color.
Lovely! I’ll have to check out that yarn — sounds delicious!
Those are so pretty! It is hard to find stitch patterns that can handle tightly variegated yarns, so bravo to Laura.
Beautiful! If my sock mojo ever returns, this one will definitely go on “the list”.
Pretty sock pattern and nice choice of yarn. You are very lucky!!
Absolutely gorgeous – both the design and the knitting. 🙂
Grorgeous socks! Guess who just made me add that pattern to my Rav queue?
Oh, very pretty!
You are *so* sweet! I’m glad you liked knitting them so much. 🙂
oh so beautiful!
GREAT socks. Love how the colors didn’t pool. Im on sock rest right now, but I LOVE seeing other’s and will go back in a bit. Now, you great sock knitters, has anyone come up with a sock that uses double sock yarn? Or any pattern that uses sock yarn doubled?
Those are great and I added them to my Ravelry queue. Too bad I missed out on the free download but it was worth it since I was on vacation!
Thanks, a very specific useful resource !!
-Esperanza