Thursday, June 28, 2007

More wonderful Waving Lace!

They're done!

I love these socks.

toe

Eye of Partridge heel, with stitches picked up "the pretty way" (oops, blurry photo, sorry):

heel

Hooray for this great pattern!

2feet3

Notes:

Waving Lace Socks, from "Favorite Socks"
Fleece Artist Merino yarn, "Marine" colorway. This is a very pretty combination of mostly blue, with purple and green (which don't really show in the pix but give it a rich tone).
Knitpicks #1 circs, Magic Loop-style
Eye of Partridge heel, stitches picked up "the pretty way" (thanks, Grumperina!)
"Rescue yarnovers" (thanks, June)!
Toe -- I did NOT go down to 6 stitches per needle before grafting, since that results in elf toes, but to 10 stitches per needle, and per Cat Bordhi, I lift each end stitch over the next stitch on the needle as I go.

These are the socks that my friend Lorri saw me knitting and that inspired her to ask for socks. But for Lorri, I plan to make the Embossed Leaves socks in a nice green variegated colorway. I can't wait!

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

I'm in love with Meida's Socks

I didn't really like them in big fat white yarn, but for some reason, this pink coloway in finer yarn begged to be made into these socks.

I just finished them this weekend. I made a few minor modifications for the yarn I used, like adding additional sts between the repeats so they would fit my feet and moveing the pattern to the center of the foot.

The yarn is Socks That Rock Lightweight in Mist... you can see more pics over here on my blog

Monday, June 25, 2007

It's great to be part of the crowd ...

It's been said quite a few times, but I'll say it again - the Embossed Leaves pattern really is wonderful. I cast on a few days ago but have been too busy to put any time in until today and I've gotten as far as the first repeat of the leaf pattern. I'm knitting on 2 circulars (but only one at a time) and using Nature's Palette Ice Blue yarn. It is a beautiful hand-dyed yarn using plant extracts for coloring. At a glance, the color is uniform but after looking closely, you can see that it's beautifully variegated. It's a very springy 100% Merino - similar to the touch and stitch as Koigu.

Anyway, here's hoping that I can finish off one sock this week (it goes awfully quick once past the twisted rib) and the second before the month is over.

BTW - my next pair are the Austrian socks ... for SURE!

Waving Lace




i got one of the Waving Lace socks done after i reknit the whole thing with size 2.00mm needles. it came out too big with the 2.25mm. i am using the same yarn as in the book, Lornas Laces in Old Rose. it feels so nice i dont want to take it off. so i am sitting here on my couch with one sock on my foot and the other on my needles.....



i dyed some more sock yarn a couple days ago. here it is:

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Meida's socks

Here is another pair of Meida's socks, done in Koigu KPPPM:



The pattern is very simple and easy to work, and I actually enjoyed the heel construction very much; I think it fits well on my feet. I am also becoming a big fan of the "flowerbud toe" (pulling the yarn through the remaining 8 stitches), so much easier and neater than kitchener stitch! The only alteration I made was lengthening the foot; the 14 repeats suggested in the pattern were not enough for my size 7 feet.

Here's a pic of the heel:

Friday, June 22, 2007

Pattern suggestions needed!

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock

I have this lovely sock yarn (Lorna's Laces Shepherd Socks) in this beautiful colorway (Childsplay). I have been working hard finishing my monkey socks for the Monkey Sock 2 Swap. These socks have monopolized my time however I am almost ready to start a pair of socks from Favorite Socks. What pattern do you suggest will show off this yarn. I was considering the Diagonal Cross-Rib Socks or the Retro Bib but I am very open to suggestions especially those who have had experience knitting socks with varigated yarns.
Jeremy

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Padded Footlets


Finally finished a sock-- I have so many on the needles right now. This is just the first of the pair but it took a while to get comfortable with the pattern so I think the second one will go much faster. I am not sure that I will use this pattern again-- it seems like a lot of work for what doesn't seem to be that great a benefit (a double stranded sole). If I really wanted a thicker sole I think I might use the re-soleable pattern and just hold 2 strands together (or a thicker yarn) for the sole. But overall I'm happy with how the sock turned out. I love how sporty it looks w/o a leg. and the lace pattern is very nice-- simple but pretty. The yarn is Footprints from The Painted Sheep (my handpainted yarn company) in the color "Beach Sunrise"

Diagonal Cross-Rib Socks






Finished pair of Diagonal Cross-Rib Socks. Yarn: Colinette 100% merino wool "Jitterbug" in "Peacock." Needles: Addi Lace #2 and #1 in Magic Loop. Modifications: smaller needle sizes for woman's size 9, 7" foot and 6" cuff. I really loved this pattern: just interesting enough to make it fun, but not too difficult. Nice cable look without the extra needle. Also enjoyed the left and right mirrored slants of the ribs. Ann Budd's patterns are always so detailed and fun. Only problem in the whole process was the quantity of yarn. At 267 m / 100 g I had a little over a yard left! I have included pictures after the first sock was done, weighing 51g on my food scale, with exactly 51g of yarn left... I sweated the last few repeats!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

More Embossed Leaves!


Embossed Leaves are so popular, and for a reason: such a GREAT pattern! Please see my picture here. I used 2 skeins of Dale of Norway Baby Ull (not sure the color number, but I will report back later), 2 pr. US3 circular needles. I made them for the friend who gave me the book, and she is happy! The yarn is so soft and vibrant - I have started a pair for me in a bright yellow.
Happy Knitting!

We have two new Embossed Leaves for slideshow

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Embossed Leaves

I so love this pattern. The color really shows off the laciness. Sigh. I gave these to Mom for belated Mother's Day present though so it's time to make a pair for myself. :)



Yarn: Koigu in color #1005
Needles: 5 size US2 dpns
Pattern: Embossed Leaves from Favorite Socks

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to stop by my blog.

Diagonal Cross-Ribs - Without the Cross


Just finished these snazzy socks for my daughter last night. She was thrilled to get them especially since she thought I was making them for myself.
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Pattern: Diagonal Cross-Rib Socks
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I started doing the cross ribs only to notice that the pattern wasn't showing at all with this variegated yarn - so I frogged it and made up the socks without the cross ribs. I am really pleased with how the yarn came out in stripes.
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The only change I would make is to do the entire sock with size 2 needles rather than the top with size 3 and later switching to size 2. They tend to slide down more - probably a great idea for someone with large calves; but that isn't my problem (or my daughter's).
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Yarn: Sockotta - it's 45% cotton, 40% Superwash wool, and 15% nylon
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I'm taking a break from the book for a while to whip up some baby boy socks for my friend who is due any day now.
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Happy Knitting!
Karolee

Sunday, June 17, 2007


My first Favorite Socks: the Eesti Hiking Socks. There's something strange going on in the pattern on the right foot though--I think it may be where the round ended/began. I've read about ways to decrease jog, but for some reason didn't apply that to these socks. They needed to be finished for Father's Day so I didn't do anything fancy! They're made out of Regia Tweed, 70% Wool, 25% Polyamide, and 5% Viscose, on US4 47" Addi Turbos, two at once using the magic loop.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Back again.......

I know, it seems as if I had fallen off the face of the earth, but I haven't. I've been distracted by Miters (go figure). But I've actually been working on socks too, and I've finally gotten a couple of pair finished.

First up, Retro Rib Socks

Yarn: Lorna's Lace
Color: Pond Blue
Needle size: 1
Pattern Alterations: None, strickly by the book

Next: Diagonal Cross-Rib Socks
Yarn: Lorna's Lace
Color: Whisper
Needle size: 1
Pattern Alterations: Plain foot in the instep instead of the
pattern for a more snug fit.

I love both of these patterns, not a bad knit at all, pretty easy patterns to follow.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Embossed Leaves done!


Here are my Embossed Leaves socks, intended for my Sockapalooza pal. I thought this pattern was absolutely fabulous and intend to knit another pair fairly soon for my mother in law. I just loved the toe.


The only change I made is the cast on. I used long tail instead of the suggested cast on method.


Now, I am moving on with some Undulating Ribs and Go With the Flows.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Padded Footlets


Tonight I finally cast on for the Padded Footlets, a pattern I have been wanting to make since I got the book. I have already made a couple of pairs of the Re-Soleable socks, and the Embossed Leaves. This pattern looks so...different. I am interested to see how it works. I am using some of my own handpainted sock yarn, in colorway "Beach Sunrise."
My blog is lbullins.blogspot.com, my knitting website is lbullins.googlepages.com and my handpainted yarn can be seen and bought at paintedsheepyarn.com

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Finally Here!

My book has finally arrived. Now I have to select a pattern and some sock yarn. So exciting!

Half a pair done!

Go with the flow sock

Here's the first of my Go With The Flow socks. I'm making them for a friend using yarn from Fearless Fibers (on Etsy) in the "Midnight Passion" colorway, which is much richer and less blue in real life than it is in this picture.

Email me your photos for slideshows

What does everyone think of the Waving Lace and Embossed Leaves slideshows? Do you want to see more? I'm thinking of doing Retro Rib Socks and Uptown Boot Socks slideshows next since they seem to be the third and fourth favorites. I can easily obtain images from your KAL posts, but you can also email me your JPG or TIFF image files at JaimeG (AT) interweave (DOT) com. Would you mind putting the sock name in the subject line?

Someone asked if I will add to the Waving Lace and Embossed Leaves slideshows as other socks are created. The answer is yes, but I may wait until I have at least several new ones to add. And I'll try to figure out a way to archive the slideshows in the sidebar so we can always see them. Let me know if you have any other ideas for how we can be creative with Slide.com - my favorite new blogger tool.

Oh, and let me know if you want the HTML for the slideshow to post on your blog. It's as simple as cutting and pasting it directly into your post window.

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

More Waving Lace


I was going to wait until I was done with these to post them....but since I see some other WIPs I thought what the heck! I'm using some Knitpicks Bare that I died with Kool-aid....that was so fun! The color is a little lighter than I wanted but I still like it, and the fact that it's a little variegated too. This is my first post and I've really enjoyed looking at all of your socks!

My Go With The Flow Socks


I just joined the KAL, and I'm working on the Go With The Flow Socks in Knitpicks Gloss. This is a fun knit.

Linda
http://furryterrier.com

Waving Lace by KAL members - A Slideshow

Embossed Leaves by KAL Members - A Slideshow

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

The Padded Footlets are not excited.



Is anyone else making the Padded Footlets?
Anyone?
Because my footlets are killing me. As in, I think they're about to commit mutiny, jump ship, and run away with a busty lass.

I love these socks. I do. A lot. A whole whole lot, otherwise I wouldn't be driving myself mad to try and make them work.
But the designer and I do not see eye-to-eye on those whole sizing and gauge issue. I get gauge--as in, what the ball band says--with my yarn, but I do not have her gauge. So the needles are changed. And I seem to have fat feet, which surprises me a little bit because I seem to be pretty much right on the average size in the US. Not skinny, not huge. Just sort of normal.



But yeah, 58 stitches to fit around a foot? Who are we knitting for? Tinkerbelle? No.
I refuse to knit another pair of disastrous socks this year. (Why yes, I do have a pair of hand-knit socks that is only good for use as sock puppets. Why do you ask?)

I'm glad these socks are beautiful, because the yarn wrangling and the resizing and the crap has been trying.
Am I the only one fighting to get myself a pair of these?

Also, I hope I haven't scared you off the pattern! They just aren't for the faint of heart or head. They're not summer carry-along socks (because they require two balls on the sole) nor are they mindless knitting (because there are charts and tricks), but they are worthwhile.

My yarn choice is also interesting. I was having trouble finding a solid colored yarn in the correct weight that wasn't superwash so I had to do something that betrays my principles. I bought Knit Picks yarn. (There is a larger reason behind this, but I prefer not to bombard you with it.) I got two balls of Palette in a darker blue and one in a lighter blue to give this a go, because I'd like the soles to felt a little with wear. I think that would make these socks all the nicer and much more cushy as they wear, plus that would make the soles more durable.

Also, the jumping ship and running off thing I mentioned above? Not kidding. I grabbed them before they hit the door, but still. I've got my eye on them in the time out corner.

Uptown Boot Socks

Hi everyone,

I'm very excited to be a part of this knit along. Before I joined, I knitted the "Uptown Boot Socks" using Lorna's Laces in "gold hill". I had a lot of fun knitting this pattern.

I'm currently working on the "Waving Lace Socks" using Rowan 4-ply Soft in "clover".

I love this book!

Carin

Monday, June 4, 2007

handdyed yarn



This weekend i finally had time to dye some yarn. i used food colors, koolaid and lots of vinegar. after heating the yarn up in the microwave i rinsed it with conditioner for colored hair and dryed it. i know it all sounds terrible....but it was fun. and the colors came out great. the orchid pink is very close to the LL old rose.

now i cant make up my mind which patterns i should knit up with that yarn. i think i might use the brown for the Merino Lace socks.

i also knit one sock so far for my little punk in Opal Ambiente Toskana using the Cable Rib pattern on 48 stitches and size 0 bamboos. cute huh?

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Embossed Leafs


hey everybody! i finished the Embossed Leaves in green Lang Yawoll superwash. They are a gift for a very good friend of mine.

Friday, June 1, 2007

Waving Lace Socks - Help Please !

I am knitting my 1st sock from the book & have chosen the Waving Lace which is a nice pattern to knit with but as I knit along, I am not so happy with the "holes"......In the pattern (for the 1st 10 rows) the yarn over is after a knit stitch, so the hole is smaller but for the 2nd part of the pattern (rows 11-20), the yarn over is before a purl stitch & the yarn has to go a complete round on the needle thus creating a bigger hole.
I have seen many finished Waving Lace socks & did not see any "holes" like mine. Am I doing something not right ? Please help .....
Thanks !
Ann www.1morerow.blogspot.com