Belvedere
May 11th, 2008 by 
mel
I attempted an indoor shoot of my new socks yesterday in the afternoon light, but someone decided to be a camera hog:
This was actually quite an unusual turn of events. Middy is usually quite prissy & standoffish when I pull out the camera, but since I was using stealth mode (aka the camera remote) she didn’t seem to notice that she was actually working it for an audience - since you all don’t see evidence of our other four-footed child very often, I thought you might enjoy. This may be my new strategy in snapping pictures of the Middy-cat-o! We took a time out for some play and pets, and then I decided that my normal sock-picture-studio was boring and decided to move the shoot outside.
I love my new springy socks - They look right at home growing here in the garden! Get a load of this lovely stitch pattern (click for big):
Pattern: Belvedere, by the talented Kirsten at Through the Loops!
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in Velvet Olive. Recognize this? I’m a green fanatic - 90% of my knits are green, but this one in particular is a fairly recent repeat. This is the backup skein I got for Tessa’s Rivendell socks in case I ran out. I only needed one skein and so I had more green yarn to use for selfish purposes. I was previously unaware of Jitterbug’s reputationally skimpy yardage, but I’m happy to report that one skein was plenty for this pair, which comfortably fit my US Women’s 8.5 feet; and just enough for the larger gauge and size Rivendell’s - @ US Women’s siz 9-9.5, I’d say.
Needles: US1 Bamboo DPNs
Mods: None! I moved down a needle size since they were coming out a bit big on the US2’s, but aside from that, no change.
Time to knit: Hmm about 4-5 weeks, I guess. These progressed rather slowly because of the spring yuck, general busy-ness, and the sidetrack of the work on Summer Sky, but they were great commute knitting! They were knit almost exclusively on the way to & from work with Tad driving - when I wasn’t snoring away in the passenger seat.
Verdict: Beautiful! The sock love grows. The stitch pattern is gorgeous on and off the foot, and I adore this heel - this slip/twisted stitch pattern was new to me, and aside from being very pretty, seems very sturdy and strong - I think it will hold up quite well. Thanks go to Kirsten for a lovely and well-written pattern!! I’ve been looking forward to making these since she introduced the pattern last fall - and they did not dissapoint. Belvedere was worth the wait, a very satisfying knit!
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Now playing: Andrew Bird - Fake Palindromes
via FoxyTunes
May 11th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
These are beautiful - definitely one for the queue! And the camera remote, duh, why have I not thought of that…
May 11th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Love the socks (especially the colour) and the cat photo gallery…we’re cat lovers in this house…. big time!
May 11th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
oooh, these are gorgeous. i worked on a sock today in the car while friends drove — how luxurious! love the setting for your outdoor photo shoot — looks like spring has arrived.
May 11th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Wow! great socks!
By the way, do I have you to thank for the GORGEOUS Buckeye recipe? I went to the postbox last week and squealed out “personal mail! personal mail!”
May 11th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
YAY! Love them!
I’ve got to get my green Belvederes out and knit that pesky second sock!
May 11th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Wow!! These are gorgeous!! I must resist the temptation to start my first pair… have two more sweaters to finish… argh!! But you’ve made it oh-so-difficult with your lovely pairs.
May 12th, 2008 at 3:19 am
I can’t decide who/what is better-looking: the kitty or the socks!
May 12th, 2008 at 4:40 am
they look like plain perfection!
bad you placing a link to the pattern… *sigh*
now there are even MORE things I can’t knit!
May 12th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Love them! They came out very nice. I enjoyed seeing Ms. Middy too.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Very pretty - I’ll have to add them to my list!
May 12th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Wow! Those socks look complicated. Pretty, though. Love the cat:)
Ang
May 13th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Super socks, and very, very nice to meet your “other” furry beast. I have one who always looks away and one who’s voguing for the camera anytime I whip it out - go figure.
Camera remote? Coolness - I need to get me one of those!
May 14th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Mel, they are so beautiful! I just love the color as well. Hope to get together soon. M
May 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I’m going to have to buy myself some Colinette Jitterbug now - I always like it when I see it, but this might have just been the skein that tipped me over the edge!
May 14th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Very pretty socks! When I first looked at them I thought - oh, that looks like one of Cookie’s patterns, but it’s a different one. But just as gorgeous, and I love the colour too.
May 14th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
The socks are gorgeous - great color, beautiful pattern! …and Middy is a lovely modeling assistant. You should definitely rig some more stealth cat photoshoots : )
May 19th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Very nice! Perfection is all I can say!
And I was so glad to hear that one skein of Jitterbug would cover a pair of socks for my small feet. Since somehow in the middle of my stress a couple weeks ago, I ended up with a skein. Hmmmm.
Cool to see pics of the kitty…she’s a beauty too!
May 21st, 2008 at 3:04 am
They were beautiful, and your colour choice is master. Well done
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Ooooohhh, those ARE pretty! beautiful job. Middy is adorable! Surprise blog guest….