knitting socks

Perhaps the World's Most Enjoyable Sock Pattern

I finished these socks last night while watching a 16 inning baseball game and honestly I was a bit sad to be done. The pattern is Snow Under Cedars by Leslie Comstock from the book Think Outside the Sox and it was full of technique goodness. The pattern features a braided cast on, corrugated ribbing, two-color braids, lots of fun colorwork charts, stranded colorwork knit flat on the heel, Cat Bordhi's riverbed architecture (i.e., gusset decreases are done on the sole of the foot), and to finish, the socks are turned inside out and the toe is closed using the three needle bind-off.

I knit the socks on size 0 dpns and omitted the beads in the top motif.

I started with Knit Picks' Stroll Majestic and Stroll Tonal Pearlescent for the ribbing but switched out the Majestic for Stroll Tonal Deep Waters for the rest of the sock.

Project Planning

I've been looking through the stash trying to find colors for stranded socks. July is Colorwork Month in Sock Knitter's Anonymous on Ravelry and I hope to challenge myself to see how many pairs I can knit in two months. I will be very happy if I manage six pairs of fingering weight stranded throughout socks with patterns that aren't that easy to memorize.

On the left is Knit Picks' Stroll Tonal in Pearlescent and Deep Waters which I may use for Snow Under Cedars by Leslie Comstock. On the upper right is Dale Baby Ull which I would like to use for Bas Symetriques no. 3. On the bottom right is Knit Picks' Felici in Caprica and some black Sock it to Me from Elann which I'm going to use for Antioch by Robyn Gallimore, one of my favorite sock designers.

The top left is some Knit Picks' Bare and some Chroma in Prism for Stephanie van der Linden's Classic Kilim socks. The bottom is some bright yellow Kroy and Knit Pick's Sapphire Heather for Pisqu (although I may sub a dark purple for the Sapphire Heather). The top right is the color combination that has me the most excited - it is some green Sock it To Me (the color is wrong in the photo) along with some Chroma in Lollipop. I plan on using those yarns to make Harika.

We'll see though - there are a bunch of other options in my queue such as Kathrine, Granada, or Both Sides Now. If I end up buying yarn I'll probably add some more black and white yarns along with the yarns to make these Moose Socks from Drops.

Amazing Stash Stories

A long time ago I knit a Dale of Norway sweater for DH on the spur of the moment. The amazing part was that I had enough yarn in the right colors in my stash to knit it. My stash is smaller now so I doubt there are any spur of the moment sweaters left.

This weekend I had another amazing stash moment. I was knitting the Easy Aran Socks in Valley Yarns Northampton from Webs. I realized I wouldn't have enough yarn from just one skein so I didn't knit the toe of the first sock. Once I finished the second sock up to the toe I went off in search of some other yarn to use for the toes. The amazing part? I found a yarn that is very close in color in my stash. It is Elann's Peruvian Highland Sport and is lighter weight than the Northampton, a worsted weight yarn. Still it really is almost the exact same color. I made a few modifications to make these fit my narrow feet and I made the ribbing on the cuff longer.

Speaking of stash, here is some plant-based yarn I bought at the Woodland Woolworks going out of business sale. (Currently the price reduction is 45%.) I bought Maizy, Panda Cotton and Soy, and some Rowan Calmer. I've been buying more yarn than usual because I figure I won't be buying as much once we move.

More Stashbuster Socks

I knit these socks to use up my half skein of Chroma (Pool Party, fingering weight). I paired it with Knit Picks' Stroll fingering weight in the Majestic color. It looks blue on the KP web site but it is really a rich, deep purple. These photos do not manage to show the color as its best either. Anyway, I love the color so much I just bought a few more skeins. The Stroll I've purchased recently really seems softer.

I still have some more of the Chroma left and the socks used about 1 1/3 skeins of Stroll. I used 60 sts and size 3.0 dpns but they are too big for my narrow feet. I think I'll give these as a gift instead.

Bubbles seems to approve.

Striped Chroma Socks

I'm finally done fixing my blog template. I ended up with something simple although I do like the big photo of Ms. Bubbles overseeing the proceedings.

Here's a very easy way to add color to a pair of plain vanilla socks. I used two skeins of Knit Picks' fingering weight Chroma, Regency and Pool Party, and THIS free pattern for these socks. 

For some reason I like the fingering weight Chroma better than the worsted weight; it seems more springy. I think if you bought three skeins of Chroma (in different colorways) you could do three pairs of these socks, all in different color combos.

I normally don't like multi-colored yarns but my opinion of yarns with longer color changes seems to be improving. I may also buy some Mochi Mochi and Noro Kureyon sock to use for stranded socks. Jimmy Beans Wool currently has the Noro Kureyon sock yarn on sale for 40% off.

New Socks Models

 The awesome abstract nearly this ornamentation is that it has been shorthand to domiciliate troika antithetic methods of bash knitting. You can fabric up your Amelie socks using relief pyramidical needles, 2 advertizement needles, or one flyer chevvy (supernatural twine). This graph offers a extraordinary chance to not exclusive try out a new drogue knitting technique, but also to see author how to exchange patterns from one technique to the new. Apiece model is tone coded so it's gradual to cook message for those of you fascinated in needlecraft up this itinerary:

Smooth MEASUREMENTS
Turnup Size: 11 inches stretched.
Foot Size: 7 inches unstretched
Leg Length: 6 inches (shorter variant) 8 inches (thirster writing)
Pay Size: set to fit

MATERIALS
Edition A (Vino Writing): Regia Fabric [55% Merino woollen, 20% Material, 25% Polymer; 219yd/200m per 50g skein]; variety:  032, 2 skeins
Version B (Downhearted Variation); interestingness:  053, 2 skeins
Writing C (Vegetable Edition); colorise:  070, 2 skeins

DPN Method:  1 set of 5 US  1/2.25mm bend tapered needles
2 Circulars Method:  2 24-inch US  1/2.25mm bill needles
Conjuration Intertwine method:  1 32-inch US  1/2.25mm broadsheet hassle

Official blocked jewellery fix markers (2 throwaway or performance circuit method exclusive)
Area pin or metropolis band stitch mark
Tapestry Chevy

Overestimate
34 sts/52 rows = 4" in Knit fix

Oversize Socks Model

Colorful and cozy will keep the sock knitting

Two kinds of knitting socks

The two-color sock knitting patterns here to keep warm

Three Pairs of Socks

I finished these socks during the World Series. I am trying to find more patterns for thicker socks and I'm hoping to make more of the lovely free Drops patterns 

The first pair are 116-42 Socks with a Pattern in Karisma and some Elann Highland Peruvian sport weight. I did an afterthought heel and added some corrugated ribbing.

The second pair are 0-566 Socks with Christmas Pattern. The original pattern used just the red and white colors and I wish I hadn't added the green. Oh well. I did my usual heel and an abbreviated toe.

For these socks I was trying to see if I could get away with just two balls of Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool (worsted) for some hiking socks for DH. Apparently not as he said he prefers 10 inches of ribbing. Also, looking at this photo I realized I need to make the heel flap longer for his socks next time. I used size 4 dpns and 48 sts and went from there.