Roar!

Nothing gets knitted here these days except socks. Mindless and portable, the perfect project for the hot and humid weather. What about you? What're the projects you've planned for hot days?

The pair of tiger socks are completed very much in advance as a Christmas present for my husband's 6-year old nephew. More socks to come, all the kids will be getting them for Christmas this year. I know, they all want toys but this auntie is only interested in knitting socks right now. Maybe, I'll sew some softies, if I figure out how to, that is.

Talking about tigers, I was going through Ji Yuan's school file this morning and read that the school will be visited by the author of Tang the Tiger Cub, a book published in support of the Save China's Tiger Foundation. Check it out for those interested.

The first Embossed Leaves Sock is done too. This pattern and yarn combination is growing on me. I like the variegated leaves more and more. And placed here next to the tiger socks for a comparison, you'll see that although I have the fatty calves, I don't have very big feet.

The variety of dpns for sock knitting here is sadly constrained to Clover, which comes in sets of 5s and another Japanese brand which comes in sets of 4s. There are occasionally some old stock of Inox spotted in some stores and those are just about all. Thanks to the convenience of online ordering, in a spurt of the moment, I googled and clicked on to a Scottish website that sells ebony and rosewood dpns at reasonable prices and eagerly made my order. The delivery is very prompt and look what I received. The site is not very informative (no picture of the product) and I thought I was ordering something artisan that originated from Scotland. The needles are actually Susanne's which are manufactured in Germany. The quality of the wood looks really good. However, I've mistakenly ordered the very short ones, thinking that they would be just right for socks. The lengths of the needles were given on the website, I just didn't think when I ordered. They turn out to be glove needles which I didn't even know existed. The bamboo ones in the photo on the right are the Clover that I'm currently using which are 15 cm long.

Maybe I should start thinking about knitting gloves too on top of socks? Hong Kong weather doesn't really require such woolen accessories. Socks, I can wear around the house which is not heated and to bed to keep my fee warm. However, will my husband start to question my sanity when I start to wear woolen gloves to bed too?

Comments

[Laura]

I absolutely LOVE my Susanne's ebony needles. And since you have glove needles now, try fingerpuppets!

[Joan]

I'm in summer top mode with my knitting right now. Also some socks although I'm not a avid sock knitter but they're portable. Your socks look great!!

[Tami]

I started a pair of socks also. I did just finish a Spring tote using cotton yarn.

Your socks look great!

[Agnes]

Hahaha ... surely he would, at least in his mind. But maybe he is already used to all these knitter's weird acts and just won't ask. I really love the tiger colourway! Very cute ... maybe I can get some for myself next month.

[Jennifer]

Your socks are lovely! I love how the tiger ones came out.

[grumperina]

Adorable socks! I'm sure they'll brighten your day every time you see them on your feet :).

[Daisy]

The Embosses Leaves socks are lovely. I often use the glove needles for knitting socks, especially child size socks. Where did you buy them? I find that ordering from Great Britain can be less expensive than ordering from the U.S. Thanks.

[joy]

It's never too early to start Christmas knitting! :)

T&A has a brand (Tulip) of Japanese bamboo dpns that are cheaper than the Clovers, if you're interested.

[erin]

The tiger socks will be a hit with the little nephew. Glad you stuck with the lace leaf sock in this yarn, it works with the variegation. Have you tried 2 circular needles for sock knitting?

[Dorothy]

Maybe it's something in the air because socks are all I seem to want to knit lately too. I'm working on the Embossed leaves socks and I love the pattern. Yours are lovely!

[Helene]

Thanks for commenting in my blog.

The patterns are in Swedish, and there are lots of them at http://www.stickatillbarbie.se/

Just click the numbers in the sidebar, and you'll be busy for a while - fivehoundred and fourty of them :)

[sherry]

Hi. LOve your blog, and if you decide you want to sell the glove dpn's , leave a post at my blog, would love to purchase from you.

[Stacey]

I've heard good things about the Suzanne's needles - you'll have to let us know what you think!

[Veronique]

I had no idea, that they made glove needles. I could have used them when I knitted a pair last winter (for knitting the fingers).
The embossed leave socks came out really nice, I love that pattern!

[mimi]

You always knit adorable socks!Great choice of yarn.
It's amazing, glove needles... Well,you still can knit some gloves for the family, it will make a good excuse for a skiing vacation! ;)

[Juls]

Those ebony needles look pretty nice, and I think Wendy Knits raves about those for socks in particular! For portable summer knitting, I have become fixated on dishcloths, thanks to Mason Dixon Knitting.

[Maryann]

Oh, the little tigers are so cute... The lucky boy will sure love them.

[Sylvia]

Those ebony glove needles are hard to find, always out of stock! Where did you get yours? I use them as cable needles because they are very strong and don't slip.

Would your nephew like it if you knit him one of the Xtreme Knitting dinosaurs? Grumperina has a wonderful one on her blog.

[Emy]

I am really curious about those Suzanne needles too! Care to give us an update of how they feel like after you put them to use?

I found a delicate lace glove pattern I like but that involves some 00 needles :P