Sensible Socks

 

You know, I love striped socks, so I made them, my way.  When I finished them, I don’t know, something just said embellish.  Socks are a somewhat limited canvas when it comes to post-knit adornment, but something, again, said flower and tassels.  Instead of the title Ostentatious Socks, I now deem them the Sensible Socks.  Hopefully, however, you won’t be hearing voices in your head when knitting your Sensible Socks.

Sensible Socks

By The Yarn Bearer

Yarn:  Knit Picks Gloss in Black (MC) and Cocoa (CC), one skein of each (there’s plenty left over if you need to up the size to a US 8 foot, but any larger will probably need an extra ball of each)

Needles:  US 1 set of five dpns

Notions:  Stitch marker, yarn needle for weaving in ends, scrap yarn for heel stitches

Size:  These are knit for a size 7 (US) woman’s foot

Gauge:  16 rnds = 1″

CO 58 sts with MC, dividing evenly (as much as you can) among four needles, join for working in the rnd.  Work 1×1 rib (k1, p1) for 1.25″.  Do not break yarn, but carry yarn not in use along seam line, switch to CC and knit 3 rnds, switch to MC and knit 3 rnds.  Continue alternating CC and MC as established until work measures 6.5″ from CO edge, ending with only 2 rnds of MC. 

This is where we “reserve” a space for the heel.  With MC, knit around to the last 14 sts, join in scrap yarn (and carrying/stranding MC behind the stitches you are working), knit to end of rnd, slip marker (and begin carrying MC AND CC behind the stitches you are working), knit 14sts stitches more.  Drop the scrap yarn and with MC (still carrying CC), knit to end of rnd (drop CC).  Knit two more rnds in MC.  Continue stripe pattern again, beginning with CC until the work measures 5″ from heel reserve, ending with 3 rnds of CC, break off CC.

Begin toe shaping as follows, needles 1 & 3 should have 15 sts, needles 2 & 4 should have 14 sts.  With MC, knit to the last 2 sts on needle 1, ktog.  Knit across needle 2.  Knit to the last 2 sts on needle 3, k2tog.  Knit across needle 4.  Knit one rnd even.  There should be 56 sts, 14 sts on each needle.  Continue star toe as follows:

Rnd 1:  Knit to the last 2 sts, k2tog on each needle.  4 sts decreased – 52 sts.

Rnd 2:  Knit even.

Repeat rnds 1 & 2 until only 8 sts remain.  Break yarn and with yarn needle, thread yarn through the remaining sts and pull tight.  Weave in ends on inside of sock. 

This is where we return to the heel.  Trust me, the peasant heel is not as mean as it looks…

Okay,  nevermind…

Getting back to that heel, carefully pull out the waste yarn you left at the heel and pick up the 55 live sts.  Starting at the edge of the heel and with CC (leave about a five to seven inch tail), knit three rnds (I used two circular needles, so I had the top 28 sts on one, the lower 27 sts on the other).  Begin shaping as follows:

Rnd 1:  *K1, SSK, k to 3 sts before opposite edge, k2tog, k1; rep from * on other half of heel.

Rnd 2:  Knit.

Continue repeating rnds 1 and 2 until there are 15 sts left (8 sts on top, 7 sts on bottom).  Use kitchener stitch to close heel.  Weave in ends (I used my ends to close up the little holes on the heel edges).

 Unfortunately, I can’t give you the pattern for the little flower because I got that from Rowan’s Next Big Thing, using a 2.25 mm crochet hook and CC instead.  Really, though, you can use any flower pattern you like, or leave it alone.  Enjoy!

A word on copyright.  These things I’ve designed are for personal and non-profit use only.  Make them for yourself, make them as gifts, or make them for charity fund raisers/auctions.  You may not sell items made from my patterns and you may not sell or give out these patterns in your store in order to sell your merchandise.  Do not reprint this pattern any where else.  Think karma.  Any questions, just ask.

From Russia, with Wool

 Russian animation can be a little creepy to look at, but there is a good moral here:  Be good to sheep, or they might take off with your face.

Looong Socks

I don’t think that I will ever get used to knitting men’s socks, it seems like to took ages to complete.  Finally, though, my dad’s kilt hose are done.  Unfortunately, Mr. Yarn Bearer took the camera to work (again) so you’ll have to wait a few days for the “pair” pictures.  There is a photo of a single finished sock, so there you go.  On to the specs…

Pattern:  Canyon Hiking Socks by Julia Trice (in Greeting from Knit Cafe)

Yarn:  Knit Picks Telemark in Deep Navy, six skeins

Size:  Large

Needles:  US 3 12″ circular needle

Mods:  I didn’t add the stripes, my dad said that all he wanted were plain socks, in a deep blue.  Dad is oddly specific about not having any sort of adornment on his shirts, pants, socks, and footwear (including stripes, because, apparently, it’s too “busy”).

Hopefully, sending Dad these socks will encourage him to come out for Savannah’s big St. Patrick’s Day celebration.  This will be my first year and from what I hear, it’s huge and totally awesome.  Here’s hoping!

They have smaller brains

 

 This cracks me up.

Not for the faint of heart

You know that I had completed Romantic Handknit’s An Affair to Remember back in August, I love that skirt and get compliments regularly as it enhances my curves.  Today, in Georgia, the weather is sunny and warm with a slight breeze, just right for my skirt and for getting out of the house.

Our outing landed us in Barnes & Noble, where Wee One found a unique puzzle and knelt down to look at it.  Mr. Yarn Bearer had strayed only a few yards to the sale section and I stayed and bent over to look more closely at Wee One’s find.  As I was reading the box, I was startled by a very sudden, very booming voice directly behind me…

“OH GOD!”

I shot upright and turned around (as did everyone else within twenty feet… except Mr. Yarn Bearer, engrossed as he was) to find a man, early forties and not too shabby, staring at my ass, so intently that a hooker might feel uncomfortable. 

And he kept staring, for a long time…

And then he finally looked up at me and started walking again, turning this way and that because I’m sure by this point he had no idea where he was or where he might have been going.  Still staring he says, “Oh, hey there,” kind of smooth-like, kind of, um, not.  I’m still standing there, mouth agape, because this man is walking on (still staring) and nearly collides with a book shelf and two store fixtures.  All the while, his teenage son is with him who seems to be unaware of the situation (or maybe just used to it). 

After all of that, I look to Mr. Yarn Bearer, who is still sifting through sale goodies, and words just would not come out of my mouth.  Mr. Yarn Bearer had been oblivious to the entire scene (not surprised) and when I told him, a smile crept across is face and he seemed quite pleased.

Later, I slipped into the bathroom and waited for everyone to leave.  I then proceeded to bend over in front of the mirror to make sure that, I don’t know, my va-jay-jay wasn’t showing or something.  It wasn’t. 

I considered the man’s reaction a compliment, maybe it wasn’t my arse that intrigued him so, but the lovely stitch detail and cable work…  But I doubt that.  Perhaps they should print a disclaimer on the An Affair to Remember pattern stating thus, “Not suitable viewing for those with heart conditions and high blood pressure.”

A tribute to men that think

Monday night, I sat on the couch with my knees bent and a skein of Baruffa Cashwool stretched around them, winding the skein by hand (because the Coast Guard doesn’t have knitting allotments for the purchase of yarn, needles, swifts, and ball winders).  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of knitting with Cashwool, it is absolutely amazing and impossible to think that it is 100% wool.  Baruffa Cashwool has the feel of cashmere and a shine comparable to silk.  A truly luxurious yarn at a price that will make your jaw drop because it is actually affordable and has substantial yardage, $14 for nearly 1500 yards.

But, it’s that last part that had me glued to the couch last night, for four hours and I’m only half way through the skein.  Mr. Yarn Bearer didn’t think it would take as long as it has to wind up that beast of a skein.  After the first hour, he came and sat next to me and realized what “lace weight” looks like and how I had hardly made a dent in the skein.  Mr. Yarn Bearer then disappeared for a while, quite a while, actually. 

When he reappeared, Mr. Yarn Bearer casually said this, “Your swift will be here in two days.”  I think I almost snapped the yarn, it came as such a shock.  Not only did Mr. Yarn Bearer order me a swift, he ordered me a nice swift.  I wished I could have educated him about the importance of a ball winder, too, but at least my hips will stay in their sockets from now on.

Thank you, Jeremey, there is no other man on this earth that will ever understand my fiber habit and be willing to contribute to it.

Ostentatious Socks

Since completing Wee One’s socks, I started longing for some striped socks of my own.  Simple, yes.  Uncharacteristic of me, yes.  Sometimes, however, those quaint, modest projects can make one the happiest. 

I will not be using the Dobby’s Socks pattern, something about a short row heel annoys me, takes too damn long.  No, I believe I’m just going to run with this one.  What I do know is this:  Knit Picks Gloss in Black and Cocoa (well, they were already sitting in my stash), one skein of each, to fit a woman’s size 7 (US) shoe, (5) US 1 dpns and/or 12″ circular, top down construction, and I’ll figure out the toe when I get there.  Seeing as how this subdued pattern is working out, I’ll leave you the instructions as well (once I get through them anyway).  Ta.

Boyfriend Socks sans Boyfriend

I don’t have a boyfriend, just a husband, and these aren’t for Mr. Yarn Bearer, they’re for my BIL.  Now that I’ve finished the Boyfriend Socks (from slippedstitch’s blog, here), I’m thinking I should have knit something more… robust, manly, or of the woodsman persuasion.  My BIL is of the lumberjack variety, literally, and can be found wearing flannel shirts and mud encrusted boots most days of the week.

Pattern:  Boyfriend Socks by Alice Bell

Yarn:  Knit Picks Gloss in Sahara (two skeins, I had about 40-50 yards left over even)

Needles:  US 1 12″ Addis

Size:  Medium

These socks just may be a bit too, uh, pretty for him.  Perhaps he’ll wear them around the house?  Having considered all of this, I wouldn’t be offended if he turns them down, they can be passed over to my dad (who is already getting kilt hose, but whatever). 

There is a Plan B, the Eesti Trail Hiking Socks by Nancy Bush found in Favorite Socks:  25 Timeless Designs from Interweave.  Why didn’t I consider them before?!  The Eesti socks would look awesome even when caked with mud, actually, I think they’re supposed to be filthy…  Yes, it is in the pattern (materials:  worsted weight yarn, US 3 dpns, marker, tapestry needle, muck, sludge, slop or otherwise filthy matter found in the sticks).