#9 Peas and Carrots

  On July 10 I started another pattern by Summer Lee and got lost quickly and started over several times. I blamed the tiny circulars, and not being able to print out the pattern onto paper, and instead tried to read it off my laptop. Duh. I wasted a whole day trying to use other needles: two circulars, double pointed needles etc. to no avail. While this start looks good in the picture, it was way off the pattern and I couldn't figure out how to get back to the right place. So frustrating. 

So I ripped it all out and began again the next day. This time I made up a design
and was determined to make this work. Still trying to find the right needles and finally returning to the tiny circulars and lo and behold, I actually got them to work for me. The first sock was tedious as I was still learning, but by the second sock, knitting the cuff just flew! Amazing. 

When I finished the pair, it was bury the ends time and the first sock was a mess, but by the second sock I kept up with the burying as I knit. 

Cast on 64, Using size 2 for the cuff and leg, and size 1 for the foot, toe and afterthought heel. Various merino/nylon yarns.

 

#8 Ode to Barbara Socks

 O I love a project like this, where nothing fatal goes awry and I can sail through to the finish line, enjoying every bit of the knitting. This is another purchased pattern from Summer Lee, hence the name. At this time in my life I know of no Barbara, but nevermind. If I were to name this pair it would be Honeydew Melon socks, based on the yarn color. I used a heavier weight yarn for the cuff, toe and heel for added strength. Cast on 64 sts and used Magic Loop with size one needles. Afterthought heel, my fave. 

 The ribbing provides a nice fit.

 On the feet is where the sock yarn really performs. I used Knit Picks Stroll fingering, 75% Superwash merino, 24% nylon. These socks could be worn on a 98 degree summer day, as they are light as a feather. 

 My self imposed challenge was to read a lace chart and try to not get lost. This was a super easy chart of only eight rounds and I had no problems at all. Yay!!!

 I will definitely make these again and maybe repeat the lace panels around the sock. Just because I can!

#7 clog socks

I did not knit these beauties, but fell totally in love with these heels. I am totally a weirdo. This is a design by Summer Lee and I actually purchased the pattern. (!!!) Love the way the cable is framing the tapering heel and I had to make them. The pattern is written for DK weight yarn and comes in several sizes. I went for the small which casts on 48 sts. My first mistake.

Attempt number one. Looks good now, but when I tried to put it on, not good.  I screwed up the larger cable and that made it too tight to get on my foot.  

The heel looks good, but since I couldn't wear this size, I undid it completely. 

Love the eyelets and how the cable frames the heel. Sigh.

Attempt number two. I continued to screw up the cable but did manage to get the second sock on the foot, but I really don't like the stretched out look between the cables. Again, I ripped it out completlely.

I decided that I would redesign the whole thing so that the space between the cables would be prettier, and what the heck, might as well do a different cable that would cause me less angst.

Third attempt. I changed to a new cable, a three stitch mock cable, and that worked better. And I switched the purl stitches to knit stitches.

It fits. So you would think that I conquered this pattern. But you'd be wrong. 

The finished socks. The center back cable that splits for the heel is different from each other. The one on the right is correct and the one on the left is longer, or has more rows before the crossing stitch is made. The same is true of the three stitch mock cables on the sides of the sock. 

But the really big problem is that the knitting itself is just too stretched for my liking. I should have gone for the next larger size casting on 64 stitches instead of 48, which would result in a denser fabric and less big holes on the heel itself.

Live and learn. Can't win 'em all. Better luck next time. The pattern itself is beautifully written and  I will make it again, and found some DK weight in my stash from Madeline Tosh, so after the sock currently on my needles I will give Clog Socks another try. 

     

#6 Tiny Chex

 This is my first time to try colorwork, in the round no less.  Squeeeee, I am so excited. I got up early Sunday morning (before church) and knit two toes, just to see how the yarn would look. Then decided to begin trying colorwork. I used red variegated Koigu and my own hand speckle-dyed merino/nylon sock yarn from Wool2dye4.com. Simple pattern of two by two, by three rounds. 

The needles were a major investment. I was advised by the Sock Guru-ess Summer Lee that colorwork is best done with Chiao Goo Twist Short needles.

Two sets were included, so it sorta hurt less to spend $32 for this teeny packet.  The needles are different lengths to make it easier to hold when doing socks. So they say. I was all thumbs at first having to hold and knit two yarns in both Continental and then English style. But I knew this was the challenge and I was determined to get the technique. FYI I am an inveterate Continental knitter, but now I feel like English is a good thing to have in my repertoire.

 Inside the sock, where all the floates are visible. One must not knit too tight, and one must use a larger size needle than for a single color sock, as the floats diminish the stretch of the knitting. 

  And here they are finished.  Afterthought heel again which worked perfectly and with this pattern I was easily able to site the heel exactly for both socks. 

 

Not terrible, no puckering and it feels cozy on the foot, but it was not too smart to use two hand dyed yarns as the pattern is not as crisp...O well. It's a learning pair.

 The fit is just right and I am so relieved. 

I noticed an abundance of red socks from my output. That will change as I have a desire for sweet pastels and Fair Isle patterning in bright colors. So inspired. 

Well, it's the last day of June and I have finished six pairs (not counting the four that were started ages ago and got finished before the Sock Project got rolling). 

I've learned toe up construction, magic loop and English knitting, different heels, lace, stripes, cables, and colorwork, and that is the tip of the sock iceberg.

I bought and assembled this bookcase (Walmart) for all my sock yarn, and put it on bed risers so I could easily access the colors I want to use without having to kneel down. My little chair and lamp fill the corner and it sits across from me as I knit. So lovely. 

I've spent a goodly amount on new yarn, but it was all on sale and that's my justification. Also I am using my tax refund, which has yet to come in the mail, but never mind.  

#5 Red Luxury Socks

I used one of my estate sale purchases, bargains which retailed for $34.75!!! I have saved it all these years and finally felt 'worthy' enough to use it. The variety is Carnal and the colorway is Hoochi Mama. O yeah baby.  This yarn was so sensuous to knit and I totally lost my mind as I started this sock. 

 The first mistake...My new size 1 needles arrived and I wanted to use those on this design (my own pattern)  and knit my entire first sock and found that it was so small and narrow that I had to completely rip it out and start over with size 2 needles. I could barely get my hand through the sock. Boo hoo.

 Undaunted, I tried again and did the same pattern, cast on 56 stitches, toe up, afterthought heels and super stretchy bind off. I was thrilled even to get them on the sock blockers and steam them. Phew!

The stitch patterns is called OXOX which simulates those letter shapes (I adapted my design to stretch out the cables) . I kept getting lost in the row count and had to reknit sections a few times. But they are correct now and both socks match. Minor miracle. I blame Hercule Poirot on PBS which I binge watched as I knit.  

 

Love these so much!

#4 Lacy self striping Socks

 Somewhere on Youtube (?) I saw this lacy design sock and later decided I would knit those next, but I couldn't find the pattern. Looking everywhere and finally giving up, I figured I could just design my own. It wasn't difficult, using only elementary math and I was ready. Top down is not my fave way to knit socks now that I have learned toe up Turkish cast-on, but decided (why???) to do top down anyway, so I could get the lace design to center on the foot when I got down to there ( O that's why!). But then what about the heel? Oy. So I chose cut through afterthought heel again because it is my new fave. It is shown here before I cut the yarn, and I am doing it before I knit the whole sock so I can try it on and decide when to start decreases for the toe. 

 After the afterthought heel is finished. I used a different yarn, more highly twisted, thus making it a bit more hardwearing.

 Here's the picking out the in-between row of yarn to begin the heel. It was scary the first time I did it and the second and third too, but practice makes perfect and now it is so much easier and not scary at all. 

 And then voila! the socks are done and ready to be steamed.

 Steaming relaxes the yarn, makes the stitches look so much better and gives the socks a finished look and feel. It really improves the softness and yumminess and I am so glad I found this technique.

 While the self striping doesn't match, they are coordinated and look hand knit rather than commericially knit. The yarn is Drops Fabel Print and is 75% superwash wool and 25% polyamide. I used a 2.75mm needle and cast on 48 sts.

 I ordered a bunch of yarn from Drops, as they were on sale and I couldn't resist all the great colors. This lot came from Denmark and oooooh it made me happy.

NO skeins to wind and enough in one ball for a pair of socks.  I intend to try colorwork and 'needed' a bunch of solid colors that I didn't have in sock weight. That's my excuse.

I feel like the challenge of lace was met. And now onto the next project. 

#3 Stripey Pride Socks

My new 'wear with socks' fake plasticky Birkenstocks I got at Aldi for $5. 

Knit with Merino Mia from Prism and my own hand dyed pastel rainbow, both are fingering weight. I used Addi Turbo 2.75mm and Turkish cast on for the toe up sock. The Cut Through Heel is the new technique. One marks the spot where the heel will go with a clip-on marker and then just knit a tube. When the sock is at the end then slip the needle into the right leg of the stitch for half the amount of stitches, skip a row and repeat for the second needle. Then take your life in your hands and snip the center stitch of the skipped row and pick out the two ends of yarn, leaving a couple of stitches at the beginning and end of the row. This will prevent those dastardly holes at the apex of the heel. In theory.

 Here's the pair I tried this on first...don't know the brand of yarn but am guessing it is Mad Tosh Sock and then Koigu for the heel. I am using the scissors to show how there is no hole at that apex of the heel

 And Voila! it worked on this pair. 

 This finished pair. When I finish the socks I slide them onto sock blockers and then steam them to relax and fix the stitches. The difference with a steam finish is miraculous. The sock becomes smooth and drapey and it makes my knitting look perfect. 

 And this time they fit just right. I used 52 stitches for this pair.

 Happy feet.