John Moores Crew Socks

You would think I could have whipped out a crew sock pretty quickly. I have done it in just a few hours before. Well, not so this time. I have been working on this sock since back in July. I guess the problem was that I was NOT working on this sock since back in July. The end of summer brings so much to do with the garden and harvest that there just is not time to sit and knit. We work outside until it is dark mostnights which can be quite late in the summer. It is getting dark at about 8:00 now so I have been squeaking in a little knit time before going to bed. Ah, fall.

So, here they are, the next in the "Two Make a Pair" series. These are A's. She has been very patient waiting for them. I think she has taken to finishing some of her own pairs in the mean time. Sorry, dear.

I do like the colors in this yarn. Very pretty. And the stripes matched up perfectly!

These crew socks were knit using Sox by Berroco in color 1425.75% Superwash wool, 25% Nylon.

Matching Socks on a Beautiful Blue Sky Day

For our latest pair of socks in the two make a pair project we used some yarn I spun in the early spring. We whipped up a pair of crew socks to show off the color in the yarn. There was enough of the yarn left that I knit a pair for P too! Now we have matching socks. The roving I used is an interlacements superwash merino.

The sky was such a pretty blue we felt we had to capture that in our photos too! But we got a little itchy, and the sun was in our eyes so we had to be quick.

Monkey Socks

I am quite happy with the finished Monkey Socks. I think they turned out great. It is a pretty easy pattern to knit. The pattern we used is Monkey by Cookie A.

The yarn A chose is Heart and Sole by Red Heart.  I tried to match the stripes but it was not clear until I had knit a fair amount of my sock that the two skeins of yarn were wound in opposite directions. If I had knit my sock starting with the outer end of the skein the stripes would have worked out.

Otherwise, they were a fun pattern to knit.  I finished knitting my sock this morning and had the pair photographed and in the mail to Adele by noon. I have already started my next sock.

It is a sickness.   You probably already know that.

It is a good feeling to know I am writing to an audience who understands. You do understand don't you?

Limbo Socks

I mentioned earlier that I am on a mission to use up a lot of the yarn I have on hand. Since I started knitting socks about eight years ago I have made quite a few socks for B out of Limbo yarn. I hadn't been able to find any for a few years and only had one ball left. I was very excited when A found a ball of this yarn in her yarn stash. Each of us made a quick utility crew sock and- voila- another pair of socks for B. It was nice to add another pair to his sock pile as some of his socks have recently needed darning.  I need to find some other yarn that he will like as well as the Limbo.Next up in the two make a pair project - monkey socks.

Waving Lace Socks

I got a package from A in the mail today! New socks! I have been having such a busy time lately that I had forgotten about the one I made!

The pattern for these is Waving Lace Socks by Evelyn A. Clark in Favorite Socks by Interweave press.

The yarn is Mountain Colors Bearfoot Lupine. 60% Superwash wool, 25% mohair, 15%nylon.  I know they will be toasty warm next winter.

They were a great pick me up today! I needed it as our freezer in the basement went out and we lost everything in there including the rest of our frozen pie fillings, 25 jars of jam, and three gallon bags of blue berries.

Girl's Lacy Socks

I think everyone who knits socks should have a knitting partner. It is so much fun. I love getting hand knit treasures in the mail.  Just before we left on our trip to Florida I got a package from A. that had one of these socks and more pink yarn.

She had chosen the pattern, Girl's Lacy Socks in Vogue Knit to Go sock book and used some pink yarn she had on hand to make socks for P. This was a great project to work on while on vacation and I finished my sock on the plane ride home.

The yarn is Wildfoote Sonatina, shades of pink with a touch of orange for spark. 75% wool, 25% nylon.

The pattern was easy to follow and quick to knit, however, I did the cuff a little different from the instructions. I turned under the hem and knit it together as I went instead of hemming it after the sock was finished.

P loves them because, you know, they are PINK.

Sock knitting partner - if you don't have one, get one.

Waving Lace WIP

I'm working on my next sock, Waving Lace Socks by Evelyn Clark.  These are from the same pattern as the socks on the cover of Interweave's Favorite Socks.  I like the design but I find that mine are not turning out quite like the pink socks in the book.  For the lace pattern the eyelets in one direction are made with a yarn over after a purl and before a knit. The eyelets slanting in the other direction are made with a yarn over after a knit and before a purl.  I find that the latter eyelets are larger than the others because I have to wrap the yarn all the way around the needle before the next stitch.

I know it is not a big deal but the socks on the cover of the book have that nice zig zag line of eyelets that I am just not achieving here. I do like the wavy ridge design when they are not stretched.

I have to remind myself that they are just socks. As my grandmother would say, "No one will notice from a galloping horse..."Does anyone else have this problem with eyelets?

Merino Lace Socks

Another pair of socks hot off the needles.

The pattern is Merino Lace Socks by Anne Woodbury in Favorite Socks, 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave.  The yarn is Step by Austermann.  75% wool 25% nylon

I like that the pattern of the leg also continues down the back of the heel.  Too bad I didn't get a picture of that before packaging them to send to A.I have some Bearfoot by Mountain Colors for my next pair of socks.  I need to choose a pattern and get started.

Traditional Danish Tie Shawl

Living in an old house in Michigan, my shoulders are often cold in the winter.  Four years ago, I made myself a poncho to wear in the house.  I wore it a few times but the neck just kept getting bigger and the front of the poncho was often in my way when I tried to do anything.

The other day I was looking through the Spring 2008 issue of Spin Off  and saw an article on the Traditional Danish Shawl.  The shawl covers the shoulders, crosses in the front and ties in the back.  It looks like the perfect style to wear indoors and still be able to get things done. I promptly ripped out the old poncho and started a shawl from the pattern in the magazine.

It is easy knitting.

Some days that is just what I need.  Easy knitting.

Helmet Hats

It all started with an old Workbasket magazine and a pattern for an infant's helmet hat.  I adjusted the pattern to be worked in the round and made this hat and scarf out of some super soft alpaca yarn when she was a baby.

I liked it so much I knit her a larger one with mittens and a scarf to match.

I like that it comes down and covers the ears. It has a strap that buttons under the chin and really keeps the hat on while playing outside. I had to have my own version.  I started it for LAST winter but only finished knitting it Thanksgiving week THIS year. I put the button on today, after I found the hat in my knit bag while I was looking for something else. So it goes.

P chose the button for mine. It is pink with a rhinestone in the center.  As she was helping choose the button she pondered why her hat has a white (vintage off white)  button.... when she likes pink.... shouldn't her hat have a pink button....

B thinks mine looks too much like a helmet. I like it because my ears stay warm.  We had some nose rubbing fun during our photo shoot.  P is silly.  Much silliness.

I hope you are keeping warm this weekend.

Side Tracked

We woke up today to lightening and thunder in the middle of a snow storm.  School was canceled and everyone seems to be happy about it.  It was chilly in the house this morning and P informed us that her little kitty was cold and we needed to make her a sweater and a hat.

Luckily, I remembered that I had knit a few little sweater Christmas tree ornaments. Still, the kitty was cold, so, I knit her a pink hat.

She was then warm enough to go outside and play in the deep snow.

I adore the little top knot.

P has now put in an order for matching scarf, mittens, underpants, and tights for kitty - and maybe tiny little slippers too!

Hey, it's not like I could work on any gifty projects while P was helping. But, now she naps, so I must get busy on other pink items.

Fair Isle Socks

It seems like I was working on this sock forever. In fact,  with all of the knitting and reknitting on them I could have made several pair!  I do like the way they turned out.

The pattern is the Fair Isle Sock in Kerter SRK 402. We also used the recommended On Your Toes 4 Ply Sock Yarn. If you do make this pattern please note that the chart is labeled incorrectly. The main color and accent colors are reversed in the chart.  Also, the pattern should be for 72 stitches. We found that the 60 stitches in the pattern makes a very small sock. The sock pictured is knit on 72 stitches.  We also used an afterthought heel instead of the one in the pattern.

A. let me borrow her 12 inch circular needle which really helped with the fair isle work. I did find that I did a lot of reknitting because a round on the sock goes so quickly. I would get in the rhythm of the row pattern and keep going and be well into the second row before I noticed. This was probably not the best time of year to work on this project because it required more concentration than I could give it while talking, or in only small amounts of work time. The week AFTER Christmas would have probably been a better choice.  I learned a lot from making these and will probably make more fair isle socks. But, I think I'll work on some simpler socks first.

The next pair of socks will be mine. I need to go digging in the freezer (wool storage location) and see what I can find.

Knitting on the Road

I have been working on the latest pair of socks while traveling in the car and visiting with family. Adele chose this pattern and knit the sock on the left. I am knitting the one on the right. This pair of socks is challenging as I have to match the sock that is already complete.  I had several inches knit and compared the two. They were the same diameter but I noticed that if I continued the way I was working that for the same number of pattern repeats my sock would be inches longer than the other.  I turned them inside out to see if I could see a difference there. Adele's sock, on the left was knit stranded and I had knit mine by weaving the yarns.

I pulled it all out and tried again. The second attempt worked so that the pattern repeats were equal but my sock was narrower. I kept knitting but then decided to take it out again.  This time I am knitting with both yarns in the right hand, alternating colors.

The third time's the charm. Right?

Just in Time for Snow

I got a package from my Two Make  a Pair partner on Friday. I knew it was the latest pair of socks arriving just in time for snow. Saturday, I put them on and they are toasty warm. They are great for sleeping too.

This pair is knit from some beautiful hand painted yarn from Briar Rose Fibers. I do love Chris's yarn. The pattern is Ann Budd's Undulating Rib Socks in Favorite Socks 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave.

These socks are a pleasure to wear. They are like getting a little hug (around my foot) from my friend in a another state. I miss you A.

Socks to Dye For

Did you think we had given up on our sock project? I can't believe it has been almost three months since we finished a pair. Well, that would be me not finishing my half. A has been knitting along and I have a small pile of one socks to match! I guess I have been very busy this fall.

This pair is knit from Nancy Bush's Anniversary Socks pattern in Timeless Designs 25 Favorite Socks. The yarn is Bare by Knit Picks. I really like the feel of this yarn. It is a super soft merino, silk blend. It tended to split a little but the feel is well worth the care taken to knit it.

A. has plans to dye these! I think we will need a photo after they are dyed.

Odds and Ends

The other day B walked into my sewing room while I was working and said, "Oh, you're cleaning up the slow way."

Yes, he knows me well. I made this "little pink riding hood" cape for P from some thrifted pink velvet fabric and fringe trim. She chose the large pink button from the button bin.

Years ago when the boys were small I made capes like this for them and all of the nieces and nephews I had at the time. M was just walking then and his cape was very short. We still have the one I made for D. It is purple with metalic gold trim. I thought P would enjoy a pink cape. And as a bonus, the bulky velvet fabric moves out of my sewing room. Yep. Cleaning up the slow way.

Also, I have started making barn raising blocks out of the leftover bits of sock yarn. I first saw the idea here.  I like the way the self striping yarn turns the corners.

I plan to knit up odd bits of sock yarn this way and eventually make an afghan.

Cleaning up can take forever!

Spiral Eyelet Socks

Here they are, the tenth pair of socks in the Two Make a Pair project.

These are knit with Austermann Step -75% superwash wool, 25% nylon it also has Aloe Vera and Jojoba oil. I am not sure what happens with the Aloe and Jojoba when laundered but it was nice to knit with it.  The pattern we used was Spiral Eyelet Socks. There is a right spiral and a left spiral sock. They can be worn on either foot but the spirals are mirror images.

It was a little tricky to get the spiral design to continue down the instep.  The pattern just said to "maintain the spiral pattern as established."  Once I figured out how to start the new spiral on one side and end it on the other I was OK.

Look how well the spirals and stripes match.

Go With the Flow Socks

I think I may have started a few too many projects and I am now on a mission to finish some of them off.  Let's see what I can get done in the next few days.

First off the production line is the next, pair nine, in the Two Make a Pair project. A. knit hers lickety split as she was driving to her new home. I, however, only worked on my sock a few minutes here and there until I had to sit at the car shop waiting for my car to be serviced.  While there, I finally made enough progress that I was encouraged to finish without much more delay.

The pattern, Go With the Flow Socks by Evelyn Clark, can be found in the Spring 2005 issue of Interweave Knits or Favorite Socks by Interweave Press.

We used Wildfoote Luxury Sock Yarn by Brown sheep.  We followed the pattern as printed except worked the first 10 rows P2, K4 instead of following the chart in the book.

I have learned that it is very difficult to photograph your own feet from the side. I have done it a few times but I have to take soooooo many photos. I just hold the camera out and click. There is no way to see what will be in the picture.  I take a bunch of shots and then look at them on the computer and go back out to try again.  So, I sort of put M. in charge of this photo shoot.  When the evening light was right we went out and he had me stand on some old fence boards beside the pumpkin patch. I didn't argue because at that point P. was the only other person around and I don't think her photo would have turned out any better than one I would take. I am lucky I did not break a bone. The next sock photo may be a photo taken by me looking straight down at my feet.  We shall see. M also took photos here, here, and here.

P. wanted in on the action so he also took this photo.

Sometimes I wonder what the neighbors think when we are out with the camera.

We just "go with the flow..."

A Well Worn Pattern

I have a huge collections of patterns and books. Some of them I try out. There are some that I never finish, some that I finish and say, "I'll never make that again" for whatever reason, and some that I make over and over again.

The felted clog pattern by Fiber Trends is one of those patterns that I make again and again. I have made well over 30 pair.We don't wear our shoes in the house so these slippers are our "home shoes." They get worn until they have holes in the soles and toes. P thinks they are very fun when they are so big. The color is actually a deep blood red, not the pinkish look in the photos.

In an effort to make the slippers last longer I tried knitting wooly nylon with the wool on the sole on this pair.  It felted up nicely and I will be watching how they wear.

B has two pair, one for the basement and one for the rest of the house. That way he doesn't track saw dust and other "basement stuff" upstairs. I have made them in all sizes from the child's small to the men's large. One year I made them for each of my nieces and nephews.  I gave them to them in the prefelted stage so they could have the fun of shrinking them to fit their own feet. I am not sure how much fun my sisters had with that project but I think the kids enjoyed it.

I noticed today that someone else had holes in their slippers so I have already started the next pair.

Yep, this pattern is a keeper. It knits up fast and we all love wearing them. They really help keep the feet warm in the winter.

Happy Trails

Sadly, the time for A. to move has come. I mentioned when we started making socks together that this would be a good way for us to keep in touch when A. moves away. A. and I are still working along on our socks. Our latest pair is a basic crew sock. A. chose this design to make for her teenage neighbor who shoveled her driveway each time it snowed last winter. He would not take payment so she decided that warm socks for next year would make a good gift. With the flurry of activity as school ends and summer vacation begins, my knitting time has dwindled a bit. Knowing that this pair had to be finished before she left, I gave A. the sock in progress almost finished...As the movers at her house packed everything in sight she finished it off in a hurry.

So, here they are, pair eight in the "two make a pair project."  Nothing spectacular in the pattern but that was not called for here.  Socks for a teenage boy shouldn't be fussy.  These say, "thank you." Thank you for being a good neighbor, for being a friend.  Thank you for going along with my knitting together idea, and for not making me feel bad for not finishing the sock.  Who knew all that could be said with "just socks."

The movers packed everything except the needles A. was knitting with so I am sending her on her way with some yarn and sock designs to work on until she unpacks her supplies.

Happy Trails to you.