more nightie pics, and starting some socks for Shey

Hi friends! As promised I have a couple better quality pictures to show you of my lace nightie. I still haven't tried any sort of blocking or washing but I probably will soon. Right now we're still in the honeymoon phase though.

I just want to point out again that if you follow the pattern exactly you won't get the side shaping that looks like mine. That was my touch. I quite fancy it. It also won't be anywhere near as long. I'm pleased with the changes I made when I knitted this.

Now, on to my new project. Socks for my good friend Shey, who is currently braving the Chicago winter. I haven't gotten too far yet but I'm doing the Nine to Five Socks pattern and using Universal Yarns Ditto, which is a tad splitty but okay to work with so far. My gauge was 7.5 sts/inch, not the 8 sts/inch the pattern requires, so instead of going and buying 00 or 000 (!) circular needles so I can do my favorite two at a time magic loop method, I have removed a pattern repeat and cast on 66 sts instead of 72.

So far, all I have are some cuffs. But what lovely cuffs!

I just mentioned that nowadays I really only work socks two at a time using magic loop. I started out like most do using double pointed needles and working one sock at a time, but it really is difficult to start the second sock once you've completed the first. Also, when you work both socks at the same time, you don't have to worry about the socks coming out different sizes or forgetting that you made a slight alteration to one sock and not duplicating that on the second sock.

The first two at a time pattern I tried was this awesome pattern for boot socks. This pattern is great to try if you've never knitted two socks at a time on two circular needles before. The socks go fast since they're boot socks, and the pattern is very well written and easy to understand. The result is super warm, wonderful socks. Here are mine:

My feet are warm just thinking about them! After I made these, I taught myself Magic Loop and now almost exclusively knit socks two at a time on one long circular needle (Addi Turbos are my favorite). You can find a good tutorial for Magic Loop here, or here if you'd prefer a video!

Happy knitting!