Category: <span>Socks</span>

Category: Socks

Socks

Socks from 2015 – Part 4

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If you missed the first three installments, here are links for Part 1,  Part 2, and Part 3

Crazy Pools Socks
Pattern: Sock Knitting Workshop
Designer: Alysania (yours truly!)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Knit Picks Essential Multi in, “Confetti”
Ravelry Project Link
Pulled out of deep, old stash, I apparently never even added this to stash on Ravelry.  The pooling worked up SO bizarrely, but it’s interesting nonetheless.  Another yarn that really didn’t suit an intricate pattern, so I did the old standby plain vanilla sock.  Still, they’re fun colors and the yarn is a known workhorse yarn for socks, so they’ll get plenty of wear.

 

MOAR SOCKS
Pattern: Sock Knitting Workshop
Designer: Alysania (yours truly!)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Knit Picks  Felici in, “Coney Island”
Ravelry Project Link
Not quite as deep stash as the prior pair, but the striping was again destined for plain vanilla socks.  I believe for this pair, to maintain the stripe order, I split at the heel and worked from the other end of the ball and then went back to the regular yarn for the rest.  Nice colors, and stripes are always fun.

 

Jaywalkers
Pattern: Jaywalker
Designer: Grumperina
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Snallygaster Fibers Lindy Hop Sock in, “Jeremiah”
Ravelry Project Link
I already knew how this yarn works up into stripes and it may be my favorite yarn to turn into Jaywalkers.  The yarn was gifted by a friend who I did some test knitting for, so these are extra special socks.  Also, blue and green and grey?  YES PLEASE.  They’re so bright, it almost makes the sparks of bright green look like lightning bolts between sky and clouds and sky.  I’m kind of regretting though not doing an afterthought heel because the striping pattern is interrupted on the gusset, but it does break up the foot and leg, and the colors are still awesome, so it’s okay.

knitting, Socks

Socks from 2015 – Part 3

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Still moar socks!  If you missed the first two installments, here are links for Part 1 and Part 2.

DSC_1411Plain Socks Again
Pattern: Sock Knitting Workshop
Designer: Alysania (yours truly!)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Schachenmayr Regia Fluormania in, “7184”
Ravelry Project Link
Who couldn’t just love this colorway?  Blue and Orange?!  I’m in!  Arguably my favorite color of the fluormania color line, these (again) had to be plain socks to show off the color.  I really love how the transition from color to color isn’t perfectly clean and even and there’s a little bleed over, almost like a watercolor painting.  I’m also pretty thrilled that the socks are almost opposites of each other in how the colors lined up – blue on one toe, orange on the other.  They’re just perfect, and again, this is a great workhorse sock yarn and I’m sure they’ll last me for ages.

 

 

DSC_1424Hand Dyed Socks
Pattern: Hermione’s Everyday Socks
Designer: Erica Lueder
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Artsygal Colonial Nylon Blend, hand dyed by me.
Ravelry Project Link
The pattern was really simple so the socks knit up very quickly.  There’s enough of a pattern to not be plain old socks, but not so much that the pattern is lost in the color.  The yarn was hand dyed by yours truly at a dye day class taught by ArtsyGal.  It was the first time I’d dyed yarn, so it was fun experiment and I’m glad I finally knit with the yarn which was dyed in 2008!  Oof!  So, this is some pretty well aged sock yarn, but thankfully not past its prime.  I love how the pooling worked out to look like waves of color instead of striping or spiraling.

 

 

 

DSC_1433Fireball Socks
Pattern: Sock Knitting Workshop
Designer: Alysania (yours truly!)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Zitron Trekking Pro Natura, hand dyed by me.
Ravelry Project Link
You’ll forgive me for yet another plain sock since this one is pretty neat, right?  I dyed this skein from a blank base myself, measuring how much yarn it takes to knit a row and then mathing it all out so I could get stripes like this.  Then it was walking laps around a set of chairs in the kitchen to re-skein the yarn in the right length, dye, reskein again into a smaller skein and FINALLY knit the yarn.  They buying/dyeing was done in 2008 (seems that class gave me ideas), and they were finally knit this past year and I’m IN LOVE with them.

knitting, Socks

Socks from 2015 – Part 2

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On to the second installment of my adventures in sock knitting from 2015.- for Part 1, click here.

DSC_1410Vanilla  Socks
Pattern: Sock Knitting Workshop
Designer: Alysania (yours truly!)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: The Alpaca Yarn Co. Paca-Peds in, “Carribean Chocolate”
Ravelry Project Link

The pooling worked out almost like a self-striping yarn with these, and I rather like how the brown and turquoise work together.  The yarn was soft and squishy with only 20% alpaca content, so it’s soft but still has that classic wool bounce and sproing.  Just your basic socks again since I didn’t know what to do with yarn that wouldn’t work for intricate patterns.

 

 

 

 

DSC_1428Stretchy Socks
Pattern: Sock Knitting Workshop
Designer: Alysania (yours truly!)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Cotton Print  in, “Fall Herbs”
Ravelry Project Link

Another plain sock.  I’m sort of mystified how the same yarn can knit up into two very different socks because the pooling lines up differently, but it’s really rather interesting too.  The yarn came put up in two balls, so I suppose the one was just a hair enough different, or my gauge was that different between the two socks.  Either way, I’m not a huge fan of this yarn – when I wore them, they stretched out like crazy and almost didn’t stay on my feet.  I’m not sure if maybe the elastic is too old (the yarn had been ‘aging’ in my stash for quite some time) or that the bamboo and cotton overpower  the elastic.  I’m hoping a machine wash in warm water may bring them back to life.

DSC_1421Jaywalkers
Pattern: Jaywalker
Designer: Grumperina
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Zwerger Garn Opal Feelings in, “1702”
Ravelry Project Link

This yarn was just begging to be Jaywalkers with those HUGE stripes.  The coral and red colors look like that in real life too – it’s super hard to distinguish between the two colors.  For the heels, I did the heel flap and turn in yarn from the opposite end of the ball so that I wouldn’t mess up the striping pattern.  I think I forgot to do that on the first one and then remembered for the second.  Great, basic workhorse sock yarn with fun colors and a super quick (3 day!) knit.

knitting, Socks

Another year of Sock Knitting

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I finally got everything set up and photographed the socks that I’ve knit over the past year.  The tally?  15 pairs!  Some of them are from the end of 2014 since the last time I photographed handknits was September 2014, oops.  Fifteen pairs of socks is no joke, but the majority of them are plain stockinette socks, so it’s really not a lot of substance when you get down to it, especially when you consider that I can knit a single plain sock in about four hours.  I had an off year, what can I say?  The majority of the knits from my past year in knitting were meant to keep my hands busy while I watched TV, fill time while waiting, and bust some of the more colorful sock yarn stash that isn’t suited for intricate cables and lace.  In that way, it was a successful year indeed, and now I’m well stocked to continue working on a scrap yarn blanket for a few more squares.  Here are the first two, and I’ll post a few more every week.

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Fluormaina Socks
Pattern: Sock Knitting Workshop
Designer: Alysania (yours truly!)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Schachenmayr Regia Fluormania  in, “Neon Ocean”
Ravelry Project Link

Nothing really fancy going on here.  I used the same basic sock recipe I use for all my plain vanilla socks, and I happened to publish it on Ravelry and the blog here a few years ago when I ran a sock knitting workshop at a local cafe.  It’s easy peasy and lets the crazy wild color of this yarn really shine.  I just couldn’t bring myself to do anything but a plain stockinette sock for this colorway since it may be my favorite one of the whole Fluormania line.

 

 

 

 

DSC_1417More Plain Socks
Pattern: Sock Knitting Workshop
Designer: Alysania (yours truly!)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn:  Wisdom Yarn Marathon Sock in, “Twin Cities”
Ravelry Project Link

This was a silly impulse purchase because the price was right at Tuesday Morning on a trip through one day.  Green and blue self striping yarn at over 50% off?  SOLD!  It’s your basic sock yarn, nothing too fancy, not particularly soft, but it feels durable, so that works!  I like how the colorway knit up and again, used the same simple basic sock pattern as before.

Socks

Not Just Boring Dude Socks

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DSC_1149 DSC_1150

A friend was back at the sock designing board and needed another test knit, this time for socks for men.  The husband has repeatedly refused my offers to knit socks for him, but let’s be fair, he wears t-shirts all year round and is ALWAYS too warm.  Knit socks are not really what he needs, but he did request an awesome pair of mittens that I’ll get to in another post, soon.

Anyway, on to the Dude Socks!  I had to figure out who to knit for, so I opened up a post on Google+.  A bunch of guys responded, willing to be test subjects (and enthusiastic about hand-knit socks which was SO neat to see), so I random-number-generatored a winner who just happened to be friend and almost-neighbor, Steve.  Steve gave me his foot measurements and I set off knitting the large size.  After quick test-fit when the first sock was almost done, I managed to finish the pair  in 8 days!  Super quick knit, really squishy and stretchy, and the sizes fit anyone from a small woman’s foot to a large man’s foot with plenty of ease.  Steve has already worn them a bunch of times which of course made me happy because every knitter wants to hear that their hard work is much appreciated and loved.  The pattern went live on Ravelry recently, and the details are below.

Pattern: Not Just Boring Dude Socks
Designer: Corrine Walcher
Needles: US 2  (2.75  mm)
Yarn: Knit Picks Essential in “Sarge”
–Ravelry Project Link–

Socks

More Socks!

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Because one post wasn’t enough to catch you up on all the sock knitting I’ve been doing, here’s another one!  These were from way earlier in the year, but I finally got photos and notes together to put on Ravelry.  Don’t worry, there are still more to come even after this post.  Yep, backlogged just a little.

DSC00049_logo  DSC00047_logo
Pattern: Jaywalker
Designer: Grumperina
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Zwerger Garn Opal Feelings in “1701”
–Ravelry Pattern Link–
I have a problem with Jaywalkers in that every striped yarn I find, I immediately think, “OH, this is perfect for Jaywalkers!”  It’s more interesting than doing a straight, plain sock, and I love those chevrons.  I will admit though to specifically buying this yarn to make Jaywalkers, so that’s okay, right?

DSC00042_logo
Pattern: Jaywalker
Designer: Grumperina
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Snallygaster Fibers Lindy Hop Sock in “When Doves Cry”
–Ravelry Pattern Link–
See what I mean?  OH STRIPEY, must be Jaywalker material!  It’s neat how the pooling changed up so drastically on the legs as opposed to the foot.  I still get my chevrons, but also neat tie-dye swirly craziness.  Really love these colors.

DSC00034_logo DSC00035_logo
Pattern: None / Basic Sock
Designer: Me
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: dkKnits Technicolor Dream Toes in “Galleria Glitz”
–Ravelry Pattern Link–
Just your basic plain vanilla socks.  The colorway did some neat pooling, and I love what happened on the heel turn with the individual stripes of color.  It’s kind of a hot mess in terms of the bright colors, but in a good way, I think.  They sure are fun, even for being simple socks.

DSC00044_logo
Pattern: Nutkin
Designer: Beth LaPensee
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight in, “Rare Gems”
–Ravelry Pattern Link–
Really easy pattern to knit, even if it doesn’t quite show up that well in the image above.  The colorway had a little bit too much contrast for the pattern to show up well, but it’s still got more interest than just straight stockinette.  The yarn was purchased at Rhinebeck years ago, and it was finally time to go ahead and use it!

DSC00039_logo DSC00037_logo

Pattern: Hisuiiro Socks
Designer: Claudia Eisenkolb
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Cephalopod Yarns Skinny Bugga! in “Mr. Nancy”
–Ravelry Pattern Link–
These were a bit of a slog and took me almost six months to knit.  Mostly, the delay was because the pattern involved charts and a good deal of concentration which I don’t always have time for when I knit.  I am glad I finished them because the design is really lovely, and that heel is so neat and fits in perfectly with the design but is still a slip-stitch heel (my favorite).

Socks

Summer Test Knits

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The blog is slowly sliding away from One Local Summer as winter draws ever closer, so I thought I’d fill in some space with knitting and spinning updates!  For those of you unfamiliar with knitting, when a designer whips up  a new pattern, he/she typically will want to have a friend test knit it to make sure all potential errors are worked out before officially publishing a pattern.  It gives the designer another set of eyes on the pattern which can be really helpful.  On my end, as a test knitter, it’s really fun to be the first person to have a go at a new knitting pattern and help out a friend at the same time.  So, that’s what I did this summer (among other things).

DSC_0763_logo DSC_0765_logo
Pattern: Barrel Riders Sock
Designer: Corrine Walcher
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Aisha Celia Designs Hand-Dyed in “178AA”
–Ravelry Project Link–
I finished these pretty quickly and love the neat detail on the heel as well as the wave pattern on the leg/instep.  For the time being, this pattern is a special release just for a yarn club and isn’t available to the public just yet.

DSC_0734logo  DSC_0737logo
Pattern: Clara Barton
Designer: Corrine Walcher
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight in unknown Mill Ends colorway
–Ravelry Pattern Link–
Another fun project!  I think I knit these in about a week, so they knit up super quickly.  The yarn just happened to be a happy match for a sock pattern called Clara Barton, named for the woman who founded the American Red Cross.  It was a Mill End I picked up at Rhinebeck a few years ago, and I’m glad I held on to it for just the right pattern.  Love that little cross on the heel, and the cable running down the front.  Another great design and fun test knit!

Socks

A Year of Sock Knitting, part 2 – 2012

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I was originally shooting for 12 in 2012, and I just squeaked by with a quick pair of DK weight socks for grandma.  I could probably do another pair, but I don’t think I’ll have the time.  Anyway, the lineup is below!

Rick Socks Pattern: Rick
Designer: Cookie A
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits Sheepy Feet  in, “Tangerine Tango”
–Ravelry Project Link–
I ended up having to cast on more to make the sock fit.  Cast on 72, and then had to finagle around the heel to get the pattern to line up.  The socks don’t exactly match since I’m a lazy knitter who tends not to write down good enough notes to do the second sock the same, but it worked out well enough, and they’re bright and fun to wear.
DSC_9418_color Pattern: Dayflower Socks
Designer: Dayflower Socks
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits Grab Bag Mystery Yarn  in, “Electric Blueberry”
–Ravelry Project Link–
These worked up pretty quickly and were the right combination of lace and ribbing so that it was interesting without being boring.  The color and the pattern just matched up perfectly and I couldn’t have been happier with how they turned out.  The yarn was a neat thing too since it was from a club that offered a ‘grab bag’ option – list the weight of yarn you want and the dyer picked out something that would work.  It did!  I really like how lofty and airy this particular yarn is and it was fun to try something completely different.
DSC_1153 Pattern: Primavera Socks
Designer: natalja
Needles:  US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Little Red Bicycle Tricycle Sock  in, “Mistletoe Grope”
–Ravelry Project Link–
A friend gifted me the yarn for these socks a few years ago as part of a set where the yarn matched two pots of eye shadow.  Pretty neat!  I finally got around to using the yarn and love how it knit up in this pattern.  It’s totally holiday-yarn-barf, but somehow, the pattern breaks up any pooling and keeps it interesting.  I do love the little spot of pooling on the heel since it kinda looks like a candy cane stripe.
DSC_1261 Pattern: Jaywalker
Designer: Grumperina
Needles:  US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Lang Yarns Jawoll Magic  in colorway 1001
–Ravelry Project Link–
Because no year is complete without a pair of Jaywalkers.  Am I right or am I right?  My brother brought back the yarn from a trip to the Netherlands and it was just SO much fun to knit with.  The colors are spectacular and made for a fun sock.  I had worn them before getting a picture, so they’re not as crisp as they were right off the needles, but they sure are cozy.
DSC_1274 Pattern:  Pointelle
Designer:  Cookie A
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Yarn: Sheepy Time Knits Sheepy Time MCN  in “Driftwood”
–Ravelry Project Link–
These probably rank as my #3 most difficult pair of the year.  It wasn’t that the chart was particularly difficult, but it did involve actually looking at the chart instead of knitting away.  I knit the larger size, but probably could’ve done the smaller size since there’s a lot of extra room, especially around the foot.  I do love them, and love the subtle variation in the yarn that works well to show off the pattern without swallowing it up.
DSC_1199 Pattern: Simple Skyp Socks
Designer: Adrienne Ku
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Regia Design Line Kaffe Fassett 6-fädig 6ply  in colorway 05958
–Ravelry Project Link–
These were very simple and quick two-day socks.  We were going to visit grandma and I needed something quick to knit up for her that she’d enjoy, hence these socks.  The bright colors really jumped out at me and the pattern has a neat almost herringbone style motif inbetween the ribbing.  Grandma was very happy with them and tried them right on – they fit perfectly!  Gotta love ending the year with a fun pair of socks like these.