Leafy Socks

Pattern: Toe-up with short row heels and toes using Kaity's method and a leafy lace pattern over 68 stitches
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Cherry, 1 skein
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, U.S. size 1 (2.25 mm)
Gauge: 8.5 stitches/inch over stockinette stitch
Started: June 2, 2007
Finished: June 20, 2007

I didn't do these the way I normally do toe-up socks because I couldn't find my crochet hooks to do a provisional cast-on, and was having trouble getting my Magic Cast-On at the toe to work. So I cast on 68 stitches using the Magic Cast-On, stuck the stitches from one needle onto waste yarn to hold them, then knit my toe using the stitches on the second needle. Then I put the stitches on waste yarn back onto needles and started knitting in the round. It worked out pretty well. I may even keep doing toe-up socks like this.

The funny thing about this stitch pattern is that I saw it somewhere, liked it, made a mental note of what it looked like, then reproduced it on graph paper. But I can't seem to remember where I originally saw it. I could have sworn it was in a shawl on a blog post, but I've checked the finished projects posts for all the blogs I read regularly, so it's still a mystery. But I did a spy a sweater with a stitch pattern that was exactly the same save for a different double decrease in the middle of each leaf (I did a sl 1, k2tog, psso decrease, while the other decrease was a sl 2 stitches as if to k2tog, k1, pass both slipped stitches over) while browsing at the mall last weekend.

Bigfoot

Finally got a picture...


Pattern: None. Just 3x1x1x1 rib over 78 stitches, with a slipped-stitch heel flap, turned heel, and wedge toe
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Navy, 1 skein
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, U.S. size 1 (2.25 mm)
Started: Late April, 2007
Finished: May 24, 2007

More Ribbed Socks?

Pattern: 3x1 ribbed sock with heel flap, turned heel, and wedge toe
Yarn: Louet Gems Pearl (100% superwash wool) in teal, 2 skeins
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, US size 1 (2.25 mm)
Gauge: 9.5 stitches/inch in stockinette stitch
Started: mid-March, 2007
Finished: April 7, 2007

I said here that this was the fourth pattern I tried with this yarn, but I was mistaken--it was actually the fifth. The first pattern I tried was the stitch pattern from Roza's Socks from the Spring 2007 IK, then I tried to two I showed before, and then I tried something based on the Cable Twist Socks. Then, I finally tried the rib you see here.

Storm Watch

I've been a serious sock-knitting spree lately, haven't I?

Pattern: 2x2 ribbed socks, 64 stitches around
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn in Tropical Storm, 1 skein
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, U.S. size 1
Gauge: 9 stitches/inch in stockinette
Started: January 29, 2007
Finished: February 13, 2007

Now I need more sock yarn.

Monkey Business

Pattern: Monkey from Winter 2006 Knitty
Yarn: KnitPicks Color-Your-Own Merino sock yarn, dyed with Kool Aid
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, US size 1
Modifications: I used a short heel flap and a short-row heel rather than a long heel flap and turned heel.
Started: January 14, 2007
Finished: January 24, 2007

Eleven days, not bad at all. But wow, it took a really long time to get a dcent picture of these! Next time I'll have to try to start getting pictures where there is still enough natural light.

6 Day Scarf

Pattern: Scarf in "World's easiest lace pattern"

Yarn: Cascade Bollicine Dolly color 01, 2 skeins

Needles: Denise Interchangables, U.S. size 8

Started: January 8, 2007

Finished: January 13, 2007

So I didn't quite finish it in time, but I was pretty close!

And remember what I said yesterday about freezing?It's 34 degrees right now, so I'm not so far off anymore.

World's easiest lace pattern (I'm sure that there's a proper name for this stitch pattern, but I think mine name is a fairly accurate one):
Cast on an odd number of stitches.
Every row: slip 1 stitch knitwise, *p2tog, YO, repeat from * to last two stitches, purl 2

Kaity's Socks

Kaity's gotten and posted about her socks, so I guess this means I can post about them too.

( Don't worry, Kaity, I washed them before I sent them.)

Pattern: Cable Twist Socks
Yarn: GGH Merino Soft color 50, 2 skeins
Needles: Bamboo DPNs, U.S. size 2 (2.75 mm)
Started: December 19, 2006
Finished: January 3, 2007

I love this yarn. It makes soft, squishy, and very warm socks. I hope you like them, Kaity!

Red Cycling Socks

The parade of FOs continues:

Pattern: None
Yarn: Regia Stretch color 02, 2 balls
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, U.S. size 1 (2.25 mm)
Gauge: 9 stitches/inch
Started: November 13, 2006
Finished: December 9, 2006

Dyeing these was fun. I used Jacquard acid dyes from KnitPicks in Fire Red. I was originally going to use some Black Cherry Kool-Aid, but wasn't sure if it would dye the synthetic part of the yarn. The result is a nice bright red--it's actually a bit redder than it looks in the picture but it's overcast this morning so I couldn't get good light--but there are some white flecks, which must be the elastic.

Click to see a picture of the socks on the stove.

Finished: Cashmere Beanie

My boyfriend's beanie is done. I tried to get a more interesting photo, but the dogs wouldn't keep it on long enough for me to take the picture.

Pattern: none
Yarn: Colourmart cashmere, 1 150-g cone
Needles: U.S. size 6 (4 mm) circular and DPNs
Started: December 9, 2006
Finished: December 13, 2006

A brief look on Google helped some with figuring out the weights of the Colourmart yarns, but I think from now on I'll stick to calculating the number of yarns in 50g of the yarn. You know, 100-ish for worsted, a bit more than that for DK, 150 or so for sport, etc.

Now I would just have the scarf for my friend Allison left to knit, but one of my brothers requested a new beanie, because he lost the one I knit him last spring. He likes "that Merino wool stuff" I used, but wants green this time. I don't like knitting replacements for things that are lost, since the replacements tend to get lost as well. I'll hold onto the idea as a backup, though, since I haven't been able to come up with a present for him yet.

One Down, Three To Go.

And only 22 knitting days left. But at least my Grandma's Christmas socks are done.

Pattern: Hello Yarn's Cable Twist Socks
Yarn: Regia Silk in Leinen, way less than two skeins
Needles: U.S. size 2 bamboo DPNs, U.S. size 1 for heels and toes
Modifications: I added an extra stitch to each cable so the sock would be knit over 64 stitches instead of 56. I thought about making the cables swirl the opposite direction on the second sock, but decided not to.

I'm going to be knitting another pair of these for myself, but with a different yarn. It's the usual "I like how the finished product feels, but I don't like knitting with it". The next pair might be Shepherd Sock or one of the other usual favorites.

In other sock news, my boyfrind told me this morning that he was wearing the socks I knit him last spring to the big football game "for luck." Aww...

Elfine's Socks

Pattern: Elfine's Socks by Anna Bell
Yarn: Koigu Premium Merino, color 2235, 2 skeins
Needles: Clover Takumi bamboo DPNs, U.S. size 2
Started: October 4, 2006
Finished: October 31, 2006
Other thoughts: The pattern is written for two circular needles, but I didn't read that part until after I'd gone out and bought new DPNs. It's a little bit fiddly on DPNs but doable.

Now I can work on Anna (remember her?) for a few days, or maybe start some socks for my boyfriend, while I figure out what I'm knitting first for Christmas presents.

Real Men Wear Pink (And Orange, Blue, Yellow, and Green)

I spent pretty much my whole summer on these...

...they had better fit!

Pattern: Basic sock
Size: Huge (men’s size 13)
Yarn: Plymouth Sockotta, color 30, 1 skein plus a few yards
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, U.S. size 1

I think that Kaity hit the nail right on the head when she said she’d be glad to be done knitting with these colors.

Redhead Socks

Pattern: Made up, basic sock pattern
Yarn: 1 skein Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Peach, purchased here.
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, U.S. size 1 and U.S. size 0 for heels and toes
Gauge: About 9 stitches/inch
Techniques: Afterthought heel

The afterthough heel is a cool technique, and I like how it creates matching heels and toes without having to use short rows. But (there's always a but) it is sort of a PITA in that it creates a lot more ends to weave in.

These socks are a Sweet Sixteen present for one of my best friends. We have similar fondnesses for chick movies, bargain shopping, and bright pink nailpolish. We also like to go bike riding on the river trail on Saturday mornings and laugh at the old guys in spandex bike shorts. Her birthday was actually at the end of last month, but she's been out of town so I've been slow to finish.

Some garden shots from this morning:

Lots o' Socks

Technicolor Socks.
I finally finished the last little bit of these socks. And by a little bit, I mean about 6 or 7 rounds. Yikes.
Pattern: Standard toe-up sock
Yarn: On Line Supersocke 100 in color 792, 1 skein
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, U.S. size 1
Gauge: 9 stitches/inch
Techniques: Magic Cast-on detailed in the Spring '06 issue of Knitty; short-row heels

"Real Men Wear Pink" Socks-to-be.
These are for one of my favorite cousins, who likes bright colors. He wore a green-and-white striped shirt with a pink tie to graduation, with brightly colored argyle socks. I don't think I have the patience to do argyle, so I'm going to use Plymouth Sockotta in color 30: bright blue, bright pink, bright yellow, and bright orange.

"Redhead" Socks-to-be.
I've ordered a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Peach to make my friend a pair of footie socks for her birthday. She requested pink, one of her favorite colors but not one she wears much of due to her hair color.

I went to to sort-of local yarn store yesterday to pick up a skein of Classic Elite Star in white to make a hat for my boyfriend's cousin's baby-to-be, but I don't like it. I'm thinking I'll go back and get Dale of Norway Stork instead.

Finished: Blue Beanie

Yesterday's primary pursuit was sewing (heming kerchiefs for my brothers' backpacking patrol), but I still managed to finish my brother's beanie.

Pattern: Made up
Yarn: Filatura di Crosa Zara, navy blue, less than 2 balls
Needles: 16 inch Addi Turbo circular, U.S. size 3
Gauge: 6 stitches/inch

And some more sketches...

I don't draw all that well. Generally it's the shoulders (like on the wrap sweater) that completely ruin it.

Finished Footies

Pattern: made up (68 stitches with a short-row toe)

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Georgetown, 1 skein

Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, U.S. size 1

I'd forgotten how quick it is to knit socks for little feet, little being a relative term. I don't have small feet by any stretch of the imagination, but they're lots smaller than the last three sets of feet I've knit for--all three of those sets of feet belong to males who are at least six feet tall.

Either way, I LOVE this yarn. It's a wool/nylon blend, but it's much softer than other sock yarns with similar compostion. This colorway is varigated, but the lengths of color are long enough that (over this number of stitches, at least, I did get some pooling on the heels and toes) it makes a nice stripey pattern.

FO: Birthday Scarf

Pattern: Made up
Yarn: handpaintedyarn.com Novelty Boutone in Pocitos, 1 skein

Needles: Denise Interchangables, U.S. size 10

Techniques:Sewn cast off. Ew.

Now I really need a new project.

For some reason, Blogger keeps rotating my picture of the scarf 90 degrees clockwise. So now my picture looks funky and I'm annoyed.

An FO And A Morning Off

Doberman socks

Pattern: Made up basic ribbed sock
Yarn: KnitPicks Essential in Fawn, 2 skeins
Needles: Susan Bates Silvalume DPNs, size 1 and size 0 (toes and heels)
Gauge: 9 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch
Nice rack, huh? I took this picture now because he wants his socks, but I'm going to do my best to get a modeled picture of these socks, mostly because we picked out the yarn to match his Seven corduroy pants and his favorite shoes.

I get three mornings off this week thanks to seniors not taking state standardized tests. Honestly, I should be going to AP Chemistry review these mornings, or at least studying, but why study when you can knit or sew?

The Novelty Boutone I got from handpaintedyarn.com got here yesterday, so I did some informal swatching and cast on last night for my friend's scarf. Her birthday is next Wednesday (same as mine), so I'm trying to get it done as quickly as possible. It's a really pretty yarn, but the color isn't quite what I expected. There's quite a bit of this funky dark color that sometimes appears brown and sometimes dark reddish-purple. I don't mind it, exactly, but I think it would look better if the dark color was a navy blue or more purple.

I'm also working on my boyfriend's socks. I'm more than half done with the heel on the second sock. My goal was to finish before I see him next, but one of his flaky professors cancelled class this morning so I'll be seeing him in a little bit. I'll aim for finishing before this weekend, instead.

FO: Dad's Zebra Cycling Socks

I would have loved to get a picture of my dad wearing these with his sandals, but unfortunately, I didn't. Bummer.

Yarn: Opal Rainforest Collection sock yarn (465 yards/skein) in Zebra
Needles: U.S. size 1 DPNs
Technique: Short-row heel, and what I call "the normal kind" of toe

I'm not sure I loved the yarn, but my dad thinks they're soft enough and I suppose that's what really matters. I definitely do recommed Simply Sock Yarn, the website I ordered it from. They have a big selection of lots of different sock yarns, and the shipping was quick.

Fleur Makes Her Debut

Time to show off!


Pattern: My own, which I'm trying to get written up. :)
Yarn: Karabella Vintage Cotton in color 311 (sand), 4 or 5 balls
Needles: 24" Addi Turbo circular needle, U.S. size 3

What did I learn doing this? She fits a lot better this time around, so I'd say that I learned something about shaping and sizing. I also learned what kind of increases and decreases I like the look of in a knitted garment. And I got to do three-needle bind off for the shoulder seams, which, as I've found, makes a really nice seam.
Most importantly, I got another reminder that it's so much better to frog it and start over if I don't like it. I would have never worn the first incarnation, but I'll wear this all the time as soon as it warms up.

What would I still do differently? Next time, I swear I'm going to remember what a long torso I have, and make the bottom at least another half inch longer. That way it will cover my stomach without the constant tugging that this one requires. And I think I might have chosen a bright or dark color instead of one that prompts comments from my little brother about how it matches my skin.