Pair #3:French Socks

These are the most comfortable pair of socks I've knit for myself thus far, although I wouldn't have known it by the way the pattern looks. It's so stretchy though, and fits perfectly. This project did have it's share of headaches though. I don't think I really blogged about it, but I had to knit the toe on one of the socks 5 times, and twice on the other. This has never happened to me before. Maybe I'm distracted, maybe my row gauge is WAY off, but in the end, I knit 4 extra pattern repeats, didn't knit any of the 4 plain rows before the toe decreases, and now they fit like a dream. Just like that. (BTW, my feet are size 8-1/2, so similarly sized knitters, be forewarned.)

Let's take a little closer look at that pattern:
This picture is exactly true to color -- the one above is just a bit dark.

PROJECT SPECS

Pattern: Child's French Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Grapevine
Needles: Susan Bates, aluminum DPN's, set of 4
Notes: 5 extra pattern repeats, for a total of 25 from cuff to toe. Did not knit the 4 plain rows between last pattern rep and decreases for toe.


~Faith from The Needle And The Damage Done

Pepto Pink!

Pattern: Broadripple from Knitty
Yarn: Cascade Fixation in an alarmingly pink colorway
Needles: Lantern Moon Size 3 Blond DPNS
Notes: Not crazy about the pattern when knit up. Really not a fan of the yarn. I screwed up the kitchenering of the last toe and had to rip out and redo - think that is why the one sock has a shorter toe - I must have ripped back too far. But they're done!

Next up: Second sock of my daughter's Tofutsies. Then something for me either with the Koigu I got at Maryland Sheep and Wool or my new yarn.

Footies

I didn't actually do sock-socks, but these were fun. :)

Opal Hundertwasser Socks

Sideway Sock and The Magic Loop

I finished off my Opal Hundertwasser Socks last night, in a miss matching pair in the style of the socks on the label. The first sock (right one in the pair) was a sideways sock using something like the pattern on the inside of the label as I mention in my previous post. I think I overdid it on the short rows on the sideways sock, though and the foot is just plain too long. It makes for a very slouchy, floppy looking sock, especially next to the lean, well fitting "normal" sock. The sideways sock looks a little bit better on my feet (below), but still isn't great. I ran across someone's discussion of her attempts to devise a better sideways sock, and so perhaps I will wait and see what her outcome is and reknit the sideways one. I'm going to track down a copy of Socks, Socks, Socks too and see what that take on the sideways sock is.


The second sock (left side of first picture) was just a plain sock made using the Magic Loop technique. I'm don't I'm a convert yet, but I see some benefits. I used 32" (80cm) size three Addi turbos. They are smooth enough that you can knit pretty fast (it was a pretty simple pattern too), but I found I would occasionally accidentally pull my needle right out of the stitches when there were only one or two on the needle. The other thing I didn't like was that I had to knit the first and last couple of stitches of each needle pretty tightly to keep ladder from forming. Plus, I am kind of a sucker for the way really nice wooden needles feel; they're just so luxurious.

But there, socks for May. (And sock blockers too!)

My Socks for May

I finished my May socks and my 2nd pair of knit socks so far. I love the colors of these but this yarn is fiddly. I just might up my needle size but I do like a tighter gauge in socks to make the knitting easier I hope and 'cause the socks are a bit snug.



yarn: Gedifra Fashion Trend Sportivo, color #5768
needles: #1 dpns
pattern/tutorial: www.cometosilver.com/socks/SockClass_Start.htm
method: cuff down sock

I'm still trying to get the hang of toe grafting and still not quite succeeding.

Now I'm off to check out all the other great socks and figure out which pair to make next.

Green socks

I just completed these, and they are really comfortable. The yarn is Austermann Step color 3, and the pattern is the seed-stitch rib from More Sensational Knitted Socks. I did them toe-up using a provisional cast on and a short-row heel. I was planning to take a break from sock knitting and actually make a sweater, but now I'm feeling edgy about not having a pair of socks on the needles. Maybe I will break my own rule and work on 2 projects at once...how horrible that would be!

Michigan Socks

This pair knitted up quickly and are nice and thick. Thankfully, they fit!

Yarn - bought on eBay from KimiK Yarns (from Michigan)
Needles - KnitPicks size 2
Pattern - plain stockinette and 3x2 rib
Method - toe up, heel flap

I did these two at a time on two circulars for the foot. When I separated them for the heels, I never put them back together and finished them one at a time. More details at Forward Motion.