Bobbin Lace and New Sock(s)

Okay, Folks .... my first attempt at Bobbin Lace in progress! Well, this really isn't lace yet as I have to "master" the technique LOL It really isn't as hard as it looks once you start to understand the process. The first lesson in my textbook BOBBIN LACEMAKING by Doris Southard was a bit daunting until I followed the advice of some of my HBT (Here-Be-Tatters) group. Sue, our retiring list mom, calmed my nerves and Barb sent me a magazine article that also helped. The first lesson has four samples and what I'm doing here is sample #1 and is known as CLOTH STITCH which is a background bit. I will continue with this part until I run out of thread. Although the first lesson has all four samples worked together I know I don't have enough thread on my bobbins as I only used two yards per pair.

I tried to get a close-up but I'm still fumbling my way around editing my photos so didn't do so hot a job. In a way I'm glad you can't see a close, close-up as there are some mistakes .... but then that is a big part of the learning process .... making mistakes. In some hints I read it was suggested to keep the bobbins from rolling around to use a towel under them .... so I put a towel under my bobbins and found that hint to be very successful! I can hardly wait to use up this thread so that I can start the next sample in lesson one.

Aha! The first of my next pair of socks. Although you can't see it here there is a lace pattern so when the pair is finished I'll have my son take a photo of them on my feet.

There are several sock knitting techniques that I'm trying out but the completed sock, worked on while "watching" the Olympics was done in the traditional 4 dbl pointed needle style and I used a different heel technique .... short rows for the heel shaping. I was a bit uncomfortable with that technique for the heel but managed to struggle through. You can see the yellow needles I used for that sock. So for the mate I decided to see how the two circular needles would work for speed as well as tension wise. I did discover that the two needles over the four were quite a bit faster and when measuring for size there wasn't a big difference there. Also played with the "magic loop" technique on some scrap yarn. I think I'll like that technique as well. The "magic loop" uses a 40" circular needle in the same manner as the two circular or 4/5 dbl pointed ..... article completed "in the round". The next thing to try with my socks is to knit from the toe up instead of top down. Of course that means using a totally different type of cast on but then this is my year of trying new things LOL So we'll see what happens there.

The last of my Season To Season swap blocks from my CQ4Newbies group. Half of the embellishing had to be done by me and then it was mailed to a swap partner to be completed. Janet, in Colorado, was my partner here and did such gorgeous work. As soon as I get a bulletin board hung up in my "studio/work/play" room I'll pin the four up until I decide how to finish them off as a wall hanging. At one time I thought about fabric framing them individually and changing them with the season but have decided against that as I want to enjoy all four all the time. We'll just have to wait and see what happens here.