finished object

Well, I have a finished object as in one pair or finished objects as in two socks! LOL. The footlet socks, one of which is shown in the photo in that entry have been finished.

However, there is no photo. They are part of my sister's (belated) birthday present. I thought I might see her yesterday so hurriedly darned in ends on the second sock and wrapped everything up. Then I realised I had not taken a photo. I didn't see her but am not unwrapping parcel.

There's also another small pair nearly done in Opal self patterning sock wool for Winterwarm. This is a mix of yellows, white and greys, bought for children's socks. It's made several pairs already and could well make several more by the looks of what's left.

done and dusted

All finished and blocked and the birthday is not till next week. I've put them with the DVD I bought weeks ago, so hopefully they will both still be together when I go to wrap them. I have a history of getting presents early and secreting them in a safe place. So safe I can't find the present when needed. I think I'll be OK this time around. The Bendigo 8 ply was certainly a change from fine sock wool. It knits up very easily. However, these socks were L O N G! on the leg. Accorcding to the pattern, they should have been almost another 2 inches longer than I have made them. I know I'm shortish, but when I tried them on, the leg came right up to my kneecap. I think they'll be fine as they are. Again the colour is not true. Milk coffee actually.

These are grafted. I've been doing star/round toes for ages, but lately have been enjoying grafting again. I really wasn't sure if a round toe would suit his foot, so played safe with a toe more like a commercial sock. Pattern suggested four balls of Totem but I substituted and have quite a bit of the big Bendi ball left.. The pattern also suggested 3.25 needles but I used 3 mm as I knit a bit loosely and my tension was spot on recommendation.


I was in Burwood today and looked there, but they had nothng for knitting today. On my way out of shops I walked past the local Anglicare op shop. They normally don't have much but I went in. You can see my haul. The dpns will need a good clean and someody has held the four at the far left of the row with an elastic band Urrk! I've sized a few. I'll have to get out my needle gauge with a bigger range than the one from Simply Knitting. I'm not sure yet, but I think the dpns on the left may be 1.75 or 1.5 mm. Must find my vintage bell shaped gauge too. Over forty needles for $2.

pass the slipped stitch over

Drum roll, please!

First man's sock done. This is a present for a close friend of mine whose birthday is in a couple of weeks. I bought him a present a few weeks ago and then this week decided to make him some socks. His Mum was a knitter and he appreciates hand crafted things.

I haven't done a man's sock before and am so pleased I chose 8 ply for my first one, not 3 ply. This is 8 ply machine washable wool from Bendigo and it knitted up quite quickly. The pattern is an old Paton's pattern with shaping at the back of the calf. The leg is over 12 inches long, and I shortened it by about 2". I seemed to have been knitting forever.

Not a wonderful colour here. Late afternoon light. It's really a café au lait colour, like the crema on a good coffee. The needles are some of the vintage sets I bought at St Vinnies a while back. $2 a set. The pattern said to use 3.25 but I knit loosely, so went down to 3 mm. It's certainly a firm fabric. He wears Holeproof Explorer socks often, so I figured these would still fit his shoes as the Explorers are quite thick.

I'll do the second sock next, so they are done in time for his birthday. It will feel srange going back to toddler socks in 3 ply after doing these.

pass the slipped stitch over

second sock

Ta-da! second sock of many colours done and dusted. Well ends woven in etc. I had waiting time yesterday so made use of it. On the station, on the train and some considerable time at the hearing aid place getting one of my hearing aids attended to.

I've just woven in the ends. I waited till morning as last night I could not see to thread the needle. So not only hearing aids but perhaps glasses need attending to as well? The joys of physical aging!

These were a quick little unintended knit. I'll just add them to Finn's Christmas pile. Now I'll have to think about his cousins again. Made one pair a few weeks ago for the youngest cousin but there are two others. Can't have the DILs being jealous, can I? And there is his big sister too who has chubby feet even though she's only seven. I called in at Tapestry Craft yesterday after I could hear again, and bought some pink Jigsaw. I already have some pink Opal upstairs, so will need to get going on little girly socks.