I'm still alive

 

Back in August, before we took a road trip to Yellowstone

(which I haven't told you about - but was lovely)

I won a contest giving out a copy of Cast On Bind Off.

 

This is an amazing little book and if you are a knitter - well you NEED it.

Since I'm always knitting - I decided to try out some different ways to cast on

and bind off.

I've knit 3 pairs of socks since vacation.

The first pair of socks were Carrie's Blackberry Brambles.

I won this pattern 3 years ago for naming the pattern and the yarn has been around that long too.

I tried the Channel Island Cast On on page 56.

It took me a minute to figure it out.

It's stretchy and pretty when the sock isn't on.

Looks perfectly normal when wearing the socks.

 



 

Next was another pair of top down socks - this time a test knit.

I decided to use the Slip Knot Cast On from page 59.

Again - took me a minute to figure it out.

This one was lovely transitioning to the k2p2 rib.

Super stretchy and looks fabulous on.

 

Finally - I had a pair of toe up socks that I was ready to finish.

This time the pattern was the Simple Skyp socks - heavily modified.

I tried the Elastic Bind Off on page 170.

I think it took more yarn than my usual toe up bind off,

however, there is absolutely no binding at the top of the socks.

 

So - if you are a knitter - go get this book.  It's worth every penny!

Pattern Pyramid - Winner!

I'm not very good at this 'puter stuff. 

I counted the entries - there were 18, skipping over the comment who didn't want to play.  Then  I went to the random number generator - it came up with #13 - but I don't know how to put the picture in the blog. 

Then I counted the comments again and the winner of all this cool stuff is:



SoISewedThis

Congrats!  I'll email you for postal information.  Plus I added another vintage pattern to the mix.  Enjoy.

Pattern Pyramid

is the brain child of Karen from Did You Make That?  The original post can be found here.  And since that post - over 2 months ago, I've been stalking Karen's blog and every single blog who has won.  I've added lots of new reads to my reader and I'm quite enjoying getting to know new sewing friends.  Just before we left for vacation, I received an email from Rocket Sews that said my stalking had finally paid off!  So excited.  And when I got home from my first day back at work - JB told me I had a package!! 

It was carefully packaged and shipped from Australia.   I was so darn excited.  I can't decide which pattern to keep - good thing I have some time.  Carolyn - is McCalls 2085 similar to your TNT dress pattern?  I'm torn between the McCalls and the KwikSew dress.  I also plan to add a vintage dress pattern or two, just haven't really made it downstairs this week to do much more than put the dogs to bed.

 

 

If you want your own chance to participate in the Pattern Pyramid giveaway - it's easy.  The official rules can be seen on Karen's blog at the official kick off post linked above.  But really it's like this:

 

*comment on this post and you must have an active blog.  I will post the remaining patterns anywhere.  I must have a way to contact you, if your comment doesn't include your email address, please leave one.

 

*edited -- I will draw a winner next Friday, September 14, 2012.  (I want more people to have the chance to win!)

 

Good luck - this has been so much fun and I'm excited to have won and get to play along.