I've been busy

Christmas reveal! I made this pillowcase for my daughter using the Hot Diggity pillowcase pattern. I would make the next one differently. I didn't really like how the french seams came out. The pillowcase is made from two Kaffe Fassett fabrics purchased at Mainely Sewing in Nobleboro, where the choice of Kaffe Fassett fabrics is very large. DD loves her pillowcase and went out and bought blue flannel sheets to match.






I knit these socks from Cascade Yarn Heritage sock yarn. 75% superwash merino wool and 25% nylon. One skein contains 437 yards, so I had plenty for size large socks with a nine inch leg. Good thing as the yarn was $18 for a skein! That was okay because the yarn is beautiful and these socks were a Christmas gift for my son.
Sock model: Mr. Quilt Island himself, feet resting on his lap quilt made at a Camp Kieve retreat some years back.

Yes, I've been busy knitting socks, this time using Cat Bordhi's new book Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters. If you have not seen any of Cat's knitting videos on youtube, do treat yourself to her unique mind and sense of humor.
This sock is the Discovery sock, knit to the individual's own footprint (the cardboard cutout above my sock). Youtube overview of the method is here.

The sock is knit from the toe up, a method I tried and rejected earlier, but with Cat's method it was a breeze.

After increases around the toe (no grafted toe or seam) the foot is knit with increases as necessary to fit around the foot. The sock is tried on numerous times to ensure an exact fit. Get your husband or someone handy to mark a dotted line on your leg to show where the leg will fit in, then continue to the heel. Two rows for the leg stitches are left on "lifelines", the yellow yarn. The row inbetween the lifelines eventually will be cut to open up the sock so the leg can be knit. The heel is knit next with decreasing rows to a final number of stitches all calculated for a perfect fit. Ingenious and intriguing, I just can't stop knitting! Cat's directions make everything clear and easy to follow, believe me, it just looks daunting.

(the formatting on this post leaves something to be desired, sorry)