Casting On and Casting Off: Socks and a Vest!

It’s been slow going in the knitting department, but after casting off my mystery sock KAL, I have casted on another pair of socks and a vest.

On the needles for socks is Cailyn Meyer’s free pattern,  Socks (circa 2008) .  This is my first attempt at colorwork in socks and I really have been enjoying this project.  I’m stash busting, which means I’m  using up my  Springtree Road Julep Sock in Aubrine for the main color, and for the colorwork pattern I’m using  the leftover yarn  from the mystery KAL Springtree Road Julep Sock in Silverscreen, a snippet of Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids & Quatro Colors Blue and a snippet of Springtree Road Muscadine Sock in Kohl.  I’m making good progress and should be all finished with the colorwork band soon.

Sorry for the dark photos, but I’m up way before the chickens, which means the sun is not up yet.

This past weekend the hubby and I took a road trip to Prescott, which means I got to stop into my two favorite yarn shops, Studio Three and A Good Yarn. While in Studio Three, Katherine pointed out a vest that had been knitted on US Size 17 needles and just one skein of Universal Yarn Bamboo Bloom Handpaints. I fell in love and decided that I had to knit this fun artsy looking vest. With her suggestion, I opted for two skeins of the Bamboo Bloom and when I got back home, I purchased Julie Weisenberger’s (Coco Knits) Weekend Wrap pattern.  This is straight garter stitch design that is worked as a rectangle, making it simple, quick and  easy!  I love it and can’t wait to finish it so I can wear it to work!

As far as the Universal Yarn Bamboo Bloom Handpaints yarn, it reminds me quite a lot of thick and thin handspun.  This yarn  is a blend of 8% Acrylic , 48 % Rayon from Bamboo  and 44% Wool, with a recommended needle size US 9 – US 11, and a hook size of US K – US M/N.  This yarn is super  easy to knit with and would be great for creating many different garments.