Socks, Socks, Socks!

1st & 2nd pair - 2009 - 2010

In January 2009 we headed out for a epic journey in our motor home and knowing my inability to sit for long periods of time without something to do with my hands, I made a stop at the local yarn shop before our departure.  At that point in time I hadn't had knitting needles in my hands for at least 20 years and I had never tackled 'socks' - lots of sweater, hats, afghans - but no socks!  That winter I completed my first pair and if you didn't look closely the 'different' heels weren't noticeable.  They have served me well now for three winters and before Christmas I happened to notice that they were getting thin on the toes.  Oh - oh!  What to do?  I checked the toes of a subsequent pair of socks and they too were getting thin on the toes - but not the heels! 



3rd pair gifted 2010 - 4th pair 'Hallowe'en' above 2011

As I completed my fourth pair - my fall 2011 pair in hallowe'en colors - I mulled over what to do and after a bit of research decided to take a different approach for each pair.  One pair I did a duplicate stitch in the worn area, the second pair I ripped out the toes and reknit the toes using both the old yarn and a new strand - double thickness.  I think I like this method better than using the duplicate stitch, one of the suggested reinforcing methods I found.
My 'hallowe'en' socks were a toe up pattern from Cat Bordhi's book "Personal Footprints" and I really like the fit of that pair.  I was too far along to 'reinforce' the toes but as the 'kroy' sock yarn I used is heavier than the yarn previously used I will see if they outwear pairs one and two.  Bonus - the yarn was 99 cents a ball in a clearance bin in Michael's last fall - $2 socks!

5th pair - a keeper at $2!

Since Christmas I have completed another pair of socks from 'Kroy' wool, this time using several patterns to get what I wanted.  Last year I knit a pair of socks for a gift and used the short heel shaping and discovered that for my foot this heel shaping just wasn't enough 'depth' for my high arch as this stitch pattern doesn't have a lot of give to it.  However I loved the mock cable design in the pattern - the Nutkin Sock on www.Knitzi.com.  I just did a narrow band of ribbing at the top rather than the fold over, proceeded with the leg design but when I got to the heel I consulted another of my reference books "Sock Knitting Master Class by Ann Budd and  used the instructions for the heel flap with the standard Sl 1, K1 reinforcing stitch.  Although I don't wear out the heels it was a chance to try a new technique.  I completed the sock with a side decrease and kitchener stitch bind-off.  I was just completing the second sock when I made my toe discovery!

So on to yet another pair of socks!  This pair is back to a toe up pattern form Cat Bordhi's book but this time I am trying something new.  Instead of using Cat's toe shaping I used a reinforced toe pattern that I found while researching repair methods.  It basically is a round toe and used the same reinforcing stitch as the heel on my previous pair.  I think I'm going to like it.

Do you get the idea that I'm hooked on knitting socks?  I'm still fascinated with the variety of technique used for shaping and it's a great way to try out new stitch patterns....and my feet love the warmth when the weather is cool!

Journals and Socks



Today....

I've been struggling to get some art routine re-established and hope that by taking advantage of the inspiration provided by Dawn DeVries Sokol's web challenge Na(tional)No(nstop) Jou(rnaling) Mo(nth), I might just succeed in November.  I'm new to art journaling but have been following some journaling sites and videos for a while so decided it might fit with my November schedule.  I didn't get a lot done this morning - had to break for the 9:30 walk into town - but may get back to it later.

We are currently tucked in for the months of November and December at the N'Kmip RV Park at Osoyoos BC so should be able to 'do art' for a bit.  I'm finding that when we are traveling a lot, handwork is better than 'art' work so have been rediscovering some skills learned in the past and neglected for a while.  In the past I have knit a number of sweaters both for myself and for my family but had not tackled socks until I started to travel.

My 4th pair of socks

Since 2009 I have completed four pair, the first two pair, traditional style with a ribbed cuff, are much loved and worn in the cooler months.  The third pair of socks was knit using a pattern with a short row heel which I liked but which didn't fit me as well as other heel styles - (Nutkin sock pattern found on Knitzi.com). I followed the pattern and found them to be a very tight fit - designed for a more feminine foot than mine.  They were a Christmas gift to my daughter-in-law who has a much smaller foot.  However I loved the mock cable design in the pattern and the yarn I used (sorry, forgot to take a picture) and searched for more yarn this fall but couldn't find the same color mix.

This fall I purchased a book "Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters" by Cat Bordhi and just loved her toe-up approach to custom fitting a sock.  The socks above are my newest pair and were knit using her instructions on 3mm needles with Kroy sock yarn that I picked up for 97¢ a ball in a clearance at Michaels.  Figured I couldn't lose at that price!  $2 plus change with tax for a pair of socks!  For the cuff I did my variation of the inlaid pennants pattern (pg.45) - I add six rows of plain between the pattern repeats and as a result the cuff scrunches down into a series of rings when worn.  Because I used a larger needle than usual I had this pair finished in a week.  Hope it doesn't affect the wearability but I didn't want to spend a lot of time on them as they were a 'learning' project and I wasn't sure about the colorway - which I now love!

My current project is another pair of  '$2 plus change' socks in a different colorway, this time knit on 2.5 mm needles and based on the Nutkin sock pattern but with a different heel design from "Sock Knitting Master Class" by Ann Budd.  I also substituted a narrow ribbed top rather than the fold-over in the pattern but more on that to come when I get to the photography stage.

Sharing Ideas

I've been lying low for a reason - I am reduced to typing with one hand and one finger due to a broken wrist shortly after my last post. Hopefully, surgery later this year will correct the resulting problem.

In the meantime I have experienced 12 weeks in a cast, visits to specialists, travelled half way across the continent west to east and back again to finalize the sale of our home and then halfway across the north and south axis to our winter destination in search of some sun and much needed R&R.

All the above to say I'm just getting into creative mode again. I have discovered that although I can't rotate my wrist to typing position, I have gradually gained enough strength to knit and crochet. So knit and crochet I am. Prolonged activity of any one kind is not in the cards so I bounce from one thing to another.

The first project this summer is a baby sweater for one of a couple of new arrivals into our family in the near future. We don't know whether they will be a boy or girl so pale green was the color of choice. I found a couple of balls of a really nice variegated yarn in my stash so I have been busy knitting. I searched on-line for a pattern I remembered from the era of my children and found a really great web site http://www.freevintageknitting.com/ I didn't find the exact pattern but did find one much like it. When I did my test swatch I found the yarn and pattern didn't match. The sweater is knit from front edge to front edge in one piece so the math to make it work wasn't too complex. I'll provide more details in a later post. The knitting is slow for me. What I would have finished in three or four days, has taken me four weeks and I'm only three quarters finished. So be it!

The second project, is a broomstick lace bunting bag from a pattern leaflet from the late 1970's. I made one for my kids and loved it so one of the babies should enjoy it. This project uses different arm and hand movements so helps me avoid stressing the wrist too much. Broomstick lace works up quickly so my slowness won't be as much of an issue. I'm always eager to get on with new projects and I'd like to add a crib quilt to my selection of gifts as well. I always try and keep a couple of gifts ahead but I depleted my ready gift stash in the fall. The next generation seems to have discovered how to make babies!

The third active project at the moment is a crocheted afghan that I started a year ago. It's one of my 'use-it-or-lose-it' projects. I had a three drawer storage unit full of worsted weight wool in many colors that has taken up space for years. I found a pattern for an afghan that works well for this kind of stash. It is long rows of single crochet using two strands of yarn with a color change at the end of each row. This creates a wonderful tweed effect that helps blend the different colors together. The throw will be heavy when finished but will hold its shape well as a result of is strength. I made it long enough that it will prevent the age-old battle to stay covered when used at nap time on the couch.



I bounce from one project to another, depending on what my wrist will tolerate and what time and weather dictate. On cool days I spend longer working on the afghan - I can wrap my legs in it. The weather here in Yuma has been cooler than usual so this is an advantage when I want to work outside. On the other hand, the other projects are great for the warmer days.

Today was one of the rare rainy days here and I have spent it surfing, reading and planning. I found a great idea for using sharpie pens to get a tie-dye effect. I want to make medallions for applique on a future project I am planning. Here is the link to the info if you are interested. http://blog.sharpie.com/2008/11/sharpie-to-tie-dye-for/

I'm back! It feels good.