Sugar Skulls Designs

I am in a whimsical mood. The long weekend beacons AND I have a couple of days off work. The whole topic of Sugar skulls hit me when I found a design for a small bag on Ravelry. It was cute and I offered to knit one for Corinne. Better make two I have a grandaughter who will want one as well.
Then I got to thinking, always dangerous, but timely. I have plenty of time to design, knit and felt in enough time to offer this on Ravelry for "Día de los Muertos." Which is Nov 1st and 2nd. This will be a free design as I will be using another free pattern for inspiration. If all goes well I may do something else down the line. We shall see what we shall see. It is all about colour after all. The picture above is not my design and is only meant to illustrate the subject of Sugar Skulls.
My LYS, Little Red Mitten, is bringing in a new line of pure wool fingering, {be still my beating heart}, in SIXTY-FIVE colours. I swoon.
I predict.........when the lace knitting furor dies down, and it will, everything is cyclical, the knitter's are going to return to colour work. The "fair isle designer from Scotland" and yes, I now know better than to mention her name in print, is being re published. That in it self should be a clue that the knitting powers that be are gearing up for a change in taste.

Fair Isle knitting

The first band of the design is finished on Michael's vest. I am into the water and waves motif then comes the anchors and chains. When I am further along I will explain the significance of these designs. I really really like this wool for fair isle work. It is "Whiskey" by Reynolds, 100% wool, 170 some odd meters to 50 gm. To see the colours I am using go back a bunch of posts and you will see a picture of a wooden bowl full of loaves of wool. That's the wool I bought in Connecticut. I just noticed that the colour photoed incorrectly. Joys of using a flash at 6:30 in the morning. It is really brown zigzags on a green. Hmmm.. Oh well, looks good either way. Hopefully I will get a couple of inches done this weekend because the kit I ordered is on it's way and once that arrives...well you know. I am going to have to start it just because because.....

It is the little things that bring joy....

I am easily pleased. I was approaching the end of the ribbing on Carl's black sock when PKDD set in. I just came across this expression and I think it is perfect. Thank you Helen for passing it along. The suspense is killing you I know. So here you go....Post Knitting Disappointment Disorder. OMG that is so perfect. I have been unhappy in the extreme with the cast off on my toe up socks. Disappointment in this final step,(pun intended) ergo, no joy in sock ville. I tried everything I knew.

Increasing stitches, casting off with a larger needle, EZ's sewn cast off. Hauling 4 yards of yarn through every stitch twice was a drag. All to no avail. When all else failed I googled "cast off toe up socks" and "eh voila."

Wendy of "www.wendyknitsdotnet" came to my rescue with a "variation of a Russian bind off" This is the best cast off ...ever.... hands down!. I am totally chuffed .

I render the directions here. Remember I knit with 5 needles adjust accordingly if you are a circular knitter. I was using a knit 2 purl 1 rib. The directions reflect this, also adjust according to your rib.

Knit the first stitch on needle 1. Slip this stitch onto needle 4. makes a nicer join at the end.

Knit 1 purl 1 slip the left needle through the two stitches (on the right needle) as if to purl and now purl these 2 stitches together.

Knit 1, now knit this stitch with the previous purl 2 tog.

Knit 1, now knit this stitch with the previous knit 2 tog.

Purl 1, now purl this stitch with the previous knit 2 tog.

Keep on going. Knit or purl as the stitches present themselves.

It is the nicest finish an wonderful and stretchy. For anyone with a high instep this is invaluable.

Now, on the " I will knit this next" list: a tale of woe and confession.

Once upon a time (20 years ago) I began to knit son #1 a true "Alice Starmore inspired" fair isle vest. It was a beautiful pattern comprised of traditional motifs by yours truly, see above.

Life intruded and I didn't finish it until about 4 years later. Yup you guessed it. The vest shrunk in the knitting basket, funny how that happens. I finished said vest and entered into a fall fair and took a red ribbon ( in Canada firsts are red!) Then I sold the vest! This apparently added insult to injury.

I thought perhaps he had "grown out" of the idea. But I was informed yesterday this is not so and I am being held accountable. He doesn't want to hear about the wool in my stash or my ideas he wants me to ante up the goods and no more procrastination.

Son #2 had a wonderful time stirring up the pot by reminding #1 of the 2 sweaters I have knit him since then. In my defence I did knit (whilst wearing sun glasses) #1 a fluorescent orange jacket to wear hunting, so no one would shoot him and although it is appreciated it does not assuage his need for the fair isle.
So, let me see, I have to finish Jackie's shawl, the other black sock, Molly's socks and my left foot....
So I think I should be able to cast on the fair isle when I get back from my holiday. The Knitter's Fair is the Saturday after I get back I will shop for wool then.....or I could look online..Hmmmm?????