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The weather’s finally getting warmer so it’s time to get out from under a pile of clothes and show some handknit socks. And I’ve got the shoes to go with!

• Pattern: Elegant Ribbed Stockings (Raverly) by Ann Budd (in Favorite Socks)
• Yarn: 384 yard (136 g) of Novita Nalle Colori (75% superwash wool/25% polyamide) in colorway #833 (olive tones/camouflage)
• Needles: 3.0 mm circular for foot, heel and ankle; 3.5 mm for leg and ribbing; 4.0 mm for upper leg (calf shaping)
• Mods: toe-up

The calf shaping is done by going up in needle size (twice!) so these are super easy to knit. I will say, though, that I’m not hugely fond of the resulting fabric. The 4.0 mm needles were a bit too large and the fabric looks loose. (But the socks fit quite nicely, no complaint there.)

And I finally got around getting buttons for Hannah.

Hannah was a super fast and fun knit, it took me just two days.

• Pattern: Hannah (Ravelry) by Blake Ehrlich from December 2007 MagKnits
• Yarn: about 100 g of handspun (bulky weight) in two colors
• Needles: 6 mm circular and DPN’s
• Mods: One-row buttonholes according to Theresa Vinson Stenersen’s instructions in Summer 2007 Knitty. Knitted two rows less stockinette before crown decreases. I’m glad I did that because I think I would’ve ran out of yarn otherwise!

I love it! It’s a bit too large but I love it anyway. I haven’t even found the right buttons for it yet but I’ve been wearing it nevertheless. :)

I’ve never done Lolly’s Project Spectrum before but this year’s elements-themed PS3 seems such a fun idea. Kicking of the year in February/March are FIERY colors of oranges, reds, and pinks.

I started with tame and innocent looking fiber, spun it on a drop spindle, soaked, and finally dyed with food coloring. My first handspun, squee! It’s not perfect but I made it. :) That’s roughly bulky-weight yarn in a 55 g (the paler one on the left) and 44 g (on the right) balls.

And how could I resist casting on something with it? I got nearly perfect gauge for Hannah.