Boreal Socks - Finished!

Woohoo!  I kept to my schedule and finished my second sock tonight.  And just in time, too.  My next club shipment arrived today and the next club pattern is released tomorrow.

The pattern is Boreal, by Janel Laidman, 2012 Knitterati Sock Club.
The sock is Hazel Knits entice (70% superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon), in Iceland.  I used 83 grams.
Needles, US 1, 2.25mm
Construction:  Toe Up

Boreal Socks - 1 down, 2 to go !?

Hah!  I thought the title of this post would throw you.  I am referring not to completed socks, but to completed repeats of the chart in the leg.  So, strictly speaking, it really should be 2 down and 4 to go, because I am doing 3 repeats of the chart for each sock.  I want to finish these by Friday, so my plan is to knit one repeat of the chart every day, which should have me finishing up Thursday.

Boreal Socks - Footies!

After finishing up my Tart Berries & Honey shawl I turned my attention to my languishing Boreal socks.  Although Bruce thinks my toe pockets are adorable, they are not exactly practical.  I also need to get these finished because the next shipment goes out next week.  So, I have successfully turned the heel with short rows.  I did not do the shadow wraps that everyone was raving about.  I tried them but I was getting holes, so I went back to the old wrap and turn, and got no holes.  Go figure.  I do like the shadow wrap technique, however, it is very cool, and I think it would be very good for shaping clothing (shoulders, darts, necklines...) so I am sure it will be getting used in the future.

Boreal Socks - Chart 2 - 2 repeats

Well, these are not getting finished as quickly as I had thought they would, but I have finished 2 repeats of the second chart.  I have at least one more repeat before I start the heel.  I am going to try a new (to me) heel technique from Alice Yu using shadow wraps.  Everyone on the forum is raving about how easy they are and how there are no holes.  I do love the leaf pattern, it is so organic and sinuous.

Boreal Socks - Chart 1: It's a pair of toes!

Somehow I think these socks are going to get knit up pretty quick.  I just can't seem to leave them alone.  After taking a break I went back and cast on the second sock and in pretty short order I finished up the toe.  This photo also shows the yarn, which is just beautiful, and such a dream to knit with.  While I was taking the photo my cat, Jasmine, decided to get into the act.  Here she is in the long shot.  Now on to Chart 2.

Boreal Socks - Chart 1: It's a toe!

I actually cast on last night.  I just couldn't wait any longer, the yarn and the sock pattern are both so beautiful, even though I have plenty of projects in progress.  I worked through the toe increases, Chart 1.  Now I am going to rest my eyes and my hands and work on something fairly mindless and on larger needles for a while.  Before I go on to Chart 2 I will cast on the other sock onto another set of needles using the yarn from the other end of the ball and knit that sock through Chart 1.  I will then alternate between the two socks in an attempt to avoid the one sock syndrome.  I used the make 1 right and make 1 left increases where you pick up the bar between the stitches, and I made sure to work the stitch in the pattern.  I did find that going from the sole to the instep I had some trouble maintaining tension.  I think that is because the sole is worked in stockinette stitch and the first stitch of the instep is a purl stitch.  I did not have the same problem when I went from the instep to the sole.

The yarn is Hazel Knits Entice (70% superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon).  Needle size is US 1 (2.25 mm) and I am using 2 16 inch circulars.