Thanks so much for all your great sock yarn recommendations in the comments to my previous post! How did I not know that Cascade had a sock yarn? I'm definitely ordering some of that to play around with along with some of the other yarns recommended. I'll keep you posted.

One of my problems in finding sock yarn is that I get these particular colors in my head and then I can't find that color in sock yarn, like the deep medium pink I want for the piggy toe socks (DrLeonesse mentioned the same problem in the comments) or the rich kelly green I want for the Leaves socks in the Socks, Socks, Socks book.

I did recently purchase some of Elann's Sock it to Me Essentials. Like LaurieM mentioned in the comments, I also thought the colors weren't quite what I saw on the website - they seemed more faded in real life. Still the price is excellent so I guess I'll combine those with some of the other new sock yarns to get enough colors.




HERE is the link to the German sock book I mentioned. Pat told me about it and that there is a possibility of an upcoming translation to English. I used Google Translate and it looks like there are a good amount of colorwork patterns.

Deep Sea Diving

This week I am taking you deep sea diving! That is where I found my inspiration. The sea anemones, as graceful as Victorian ladies in silks and laces helped create the Under the Sea Collection .I found these colors to have a unique glow. They are at the same time deeply saturated but almost transparent.

I hope you will enjoy going on this under the sea adventure with me.

Good thing I just planted some strawberry plants because here is what it looks like from my front door today:




Fortunately the strawberries are safe in the cold frame and I've even heard the rabbit rescue garage sale is actually doing well in the snow.

Every year I choose a fun summer knitting project and this year my plan is to knit as many complicated mind-bending baffling sock patterns as I can find. Of course I'm getting Cookie A.'s book and a few Cat Bordhi books and I found a German one that has some colorwork socks (link later when I find it). I also have the Katherine Pence Tongue River sock book and PGR's Ethnic Socks books so I should have enough patterns. I don't have enough colors of sock yarn for color work though. For instance, I've always wanted to make those pig socks with toes from the Socks, Socks, Socks book but I have yet to find a pink yarn that is the right color.

Can anyone recommend a sock yarn line with at least 20-40 SOLID colors? Otherwise I could just use my Palette stash but I prefer socks to be machine washable so I can give them away.

Is Spring Here Yet

I am a patient person, but now I have had it with the cold. The official beginning of spring came, and went, but the temperatures remained bitterly cold. Looking out the window one could definitely have been fooled, with the shining sun, the blue sky and the singing birds. As a matter of fact I got fooled. I opened the door to go for my early morning walk...I took a breath, and I went right back in to get my gloves, my scarf and my hat. I still went for the walk, and it was beautiful. The courageous crocus were in bloom...

I love spring flowers in particular the lily of the valley. Its delicate little cups with their curled edges, and the fresh green always make me happy.

I just happened to be staring at the lily of the valley that my littlest pixie had given her father for his birthday, when the knitter in me took over. If spring does not want to come, I'll make spring!
So off I went to my studio, I grabbed a skein of natural cream colored yarn, dyed a smidgeon of fresh green for what will become a hat for babies/toddlers and cute little pixies in general.

So tonight, I'm knitting spring!

Two of my favorite pieces of art are these molas from Panama. A mola is made by the Kuna Indians using reverse applique on colorful fabrics. My father bought these for himself and had them framed in Chicago. Fortunately after a few years I managed to convince him to give them to me. The bird and lobster designs seen here are actually much simpler than some I've seen.







They feature embroidery on the faces and the applique stitching is seriously tiny. There used to be a mola store on Canyon Road in Santa Fe and I enjoyed looking through all the designs.







I'm knitting these alpaca mittens in 3 colors - they will photograph much better on one of our rare cloudy days. I need to make them again in wool with a greater contrast between colors.

Go with the Flow Socks FREE PATTERN

The Go with the Flow Socks pattern is ready. As always I did my best to avoid mistakes, but these can still happen. Please let me know if there is any problem with the pattern. As you know, SockPixie has a new helper, which means that I will be able to answer your questions much faster, so feel free to contact me any time.

In the pattern you will notice that I do not give you an exact number of stitches to cast on. Rather, I tell you to cast on a multiple of 4. What that means is that you can really knit the sock for the intended person. Measure the ankle of the person, round that down to the nearest multiple of 4, and times it by your gauge. For example, if he person's ankle is 10", round that down to 8, then multiply 8 by your gauge per inch, which in the case of this sock should be 8, and you get 64. You should therefore cast on 64 stitches. I prefer to round down as this makes for a sock with a better body on the leg. This sock also has a lot of horizontal stretch because of the zigzag rib, so it is better to cast on a smaller number. Throughout the pattern, you will find instructions that will help you make a sock with a perfect fit.

You can click on the picture below to download the pdf pattern of the Go with the Flow Socks.




Happy Knitting!

Happy Birthday Mr. SockPixie

I had not knitted socks for Mr. SockPixie in a very, very long time. So when I thought about what I could make for Mr. SockPixie's Birthday, socks naturally came to mind.



And then I remembered that he had been blessed with size 13 feet and loved really long cuffs! What to do? He just loves is hand knit socks so much...So, I compromised. Sport weight yarn, of course! I set out to dye a special batch for him, and played with the dyes until the yellow ochre was just perfect. I kept adding drops of green and brown to the dye bath until the color was rich enough. The yarn cooked, and cooked... Once it was dyed, I could hardly wait for the yarn to dry. Isn't it amazing how things can take so long to dry?


Then came the time to think of a pattern. I knit and frogged, and knit and frogged. I wanted something textural, masculine, yet fluid. Finally I found my groove, and came up wih this zigzag rib. I cast on for 2 socks at once on one circular, and started knitting.



Half way down he cuff, I realized that I should have reversed the pattern on the second sock. I debated, and debated, and eventually decided to redo the second sock to make it a mirror image of the first. Even though reknitting the cuff did not at first make me really happy, I am now glad I did, as it really gave the socks a more fluid appearance.



When I reached the heel, I chose a textured stitch stagerring the slipped stitches. After the heel flap was finished I realized I really liked the wrong side of the heel flap. No problem, I turned the socks inside out making the wrong side of the flap the right one.
The rest is history, turning the heels, working the gussets, and all the long, long, long way...down to the toe!


Mr. SockPixie's verdict: "He loves the socks!" and so do I. I love them so much that I am writing the pattern up, and will be offering it as a free pdf pattern (the pattern will be posted either later on today, or tomorrow.) I will call them Go with the Flow.
Happy Birthday darling Mr. SockPixie!