Something Completely Different

Having done an about face on the STR socks I was working on, I started these worsted weight socks. I call them slippers because I have no shoes into which they would fit. But I really like the pattern and the colors and I needed to work on some plain yarn for just a bit. I think the pattern could be adapted for fingering weight, and that might be something I'll do later on.

Just a Little Blip

Remember this? See the little black blip? That little blip became a black line later on and then a knot. That was the second knot in this skein of yarn. It's Step sock yarn, my first encounter with it.

Knowing that the sock would end up looking like a blemished second next to the perfect one, I decided to frog it. I did not undo the one on the left.

Anyone else have problems with this yarn?

Warning! STR Spoiler! Grasshoppers!

Having never done socks on two circulars before, I approached this pattern with a bit of trepidation. After glancing through the pattern, I began. You know, there are at least a couple different types of pattern followers:

1. Those who read the pattern thoroughly before starting to knit.
2. Those who glance at it and begin with blind faith.

I am in the blind faith category. Don't ask why; some things cannot be explained.

The pattern for the April STR 2007 Rockin' Sock Club kit has so far been very clear and easy to follow even though this is only my second toe-up sock. Sometimes, though I wish we had a local get together to just knit the club socks and get ideas (help?) from other knitters. However, the postings on the Rockin' Sock blog are really helpful.

The yarn is beautiful, wool and silk blend that is so very soft in a lovely color. I just want to knit all day and not do anything else. But alas...

LBFF - Finished!

The yarn in this project is Socks That Rock lightweight in colorway Little Bunny Foo Foo. I used #1 double points and had very little yarn left over from the 360 yards on the skein, as you can see the tiny ball in the smaller photo.



The yarn is beautiful and wonderful to knit. The stitches knit up neatly and evenly. And I simply love the color combination.





Guinifer, about your comment in my recent post about the Vivid Blue Socks--the vinegar did the trick! I soaked them in cold water with vinegar added before washing, and there were no blue toes!

More Yarn Art

After setting this sock project aside on my desk, I noticed that they looked like little flags bravely waving atop yarn cakes! Of course, I had to take a photo of it.

I'm thinking of ripping these out and making Jaywalkers out of them. I still have not made that pattern...must be the only living knitter who has not. I love the striping and the colors in this yarn.

A feast for your eyes is this Flickr site for portraits of Yarn Cakes.

Bearfoot Ankles - Finished!

Woman Accomplishes Knitting Goal in Ten Months!

When I started, I had an unspoken goal to make 24 pair of socks in a year and my goal has been met with these.

Here is my 24th pair of socks since about the middle of June, 2006, when I made my very first sock! To say that I am hooked on socks is an understatement. There's just something so satisfying about making--and wearing--and giving--them.


Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot "Elderberry."
Pattern: Ankle Socks
Needles: Susan Bates Quicksilver #1 dp's.
Comments: I liked this vintage pattern and plan to use it again mainly because I have more skeins of yarn that have less than 400 yards, and this pattern took just under 350 yards.

The Bearfoot yarn is really beautiful, and it knits up in nice, even stitches. It's a hefty wool yarn with 25% Mohair and 15% Nylon. Curiously, the ball band on this says the needle size is 3-4, but I have another skein which is definitely Bearfoot and it reads Needle size 1-2 or 4-6. Hmmm.

Bearfoot Ankles

Using Mountain Colors' Bearfoot yarn, I embark on my 24th pair of socks. These are from an old Jaeger pattern you can get here.

Since they are only anklets, which means a much shorter leg than I prefer, I would think 350 yards would be more than enough. But when you have a long foot, you are bound to need more yarn than the average.







And here's the progress...I am getting yarn shortage anxiety again!

My thought is that if I get to the toe part and am sure I don't have enough yarn, I will use some solid color that blends with it, rather than spend another $21 to finish them. After all, the toe rarely shows, right? Except if you tend to walk around the house stocking footed...who would do that with hand knit socks? me.

These really look like the old-fashioned bobby sox, if you are old enough to remember that.

I hope to finish these in a couple of days...just in time for my book club retreat, and then I'll be starting another project (to keep me from eating so much at this eatreat--er, retreat)!

Vivid Blues - Finished!

When I first started making socks ten months ago, most patterns I looked at called for at least 400 yards of yarn. Now, some of the patterns I am swooning over call for 500 or more yards.

So when I made a very simple sock pattern, a 2x2 ribbing (not even on the instep) and wisely reduced the length of the leg by 1/2", I did not expect to have yarn shortage anxiety. But I did, and there was very little yarn left over at the completion of these socks.

Yarn: Great Adirondack "Soxie" denim - 360 yards
Pattern: My own remix
Needles: Susan Bates Quicksilver #1 dp's (I love these needles)
Comments: The yarn stained my fingers a bit, probably the nature of indigo dye. The socks have a soft, springy feel and a really beautiful blending of color. I plan to soak them in water with vinegar added before I wash them, just to try to set the dye a bit more. If you know another way to set the colors, please comment!

Stay tuned for my next project involving Bearfoot Mountain Colors yarn (only 350 yards).

The Vivid Blues

This yarn is springy and colorful. It's called Soxie "Denim" by Great Adirondack, and I believe these socks will feel good on.

The variation of color is subtle and pleasant and the yarn has a lovely twist. The sock pattern itself is classic.

-I am so looking forward to the next 2007 Rockin' Sock Club kit! For sure, it's going to be exciting, and anything but classic.

Work Socks--Finished!

Yarn: Lana Gross Meilenweit and Brown Sheep Wildfoote sock yarns

Pattern: Striping borrowed from Hiiumaa socks by Nancy Bush in her book, Knitting on the Road. I also used the heel in this pattern, because I think it's really nice, and I did it in white.

Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume #1

And way more weaving in of loose ends than I care to think about.

These are the kind of socks one grabs for everyday, to wear with your jeans or sweats. They pull on easily and don't squeeze your toes or ankles like store-bought socks can do on a foot like mine. The color is neutral enough to go with lots of other colors, and I like the tweedy effect the yarn gives when knitted.








And here's a side view of the Work Socks.

This is my 22nd pair of socks since the middle of June, 2006. My formerly unpublished goal was to make 24 full-sized pair before the year is up. Goals are good. The pressure is on. If I make my goal, then I can relax and go on to other things. But I probably will still always have a pair of socks on the needles. It just seems right.

The Mean Reds

Oh, do I love this yarn! Beautifully blended shades of crimson by Schaeffer Yarn and Brown Sheep Company! This was added to my stash after a friend and I did a whirlwind tour of three area yarn shops.

The Minneapolis area is blessed with so many great yarn shops, with knowledgeable staff. It's so tempting to pick up skeins of sock yarn--because they don't count in your stash!

I also picked up a rather interesting sock pattern produced by Jojoland. They have some lovely sock yarn but it's not machine washable. Still, it would be worth a knit.

Now if we could just purchase more hours in the day and more days in our lives...