Monday, March 24, 2008

A month's worth of socks

I've been busy and haven't posted for a while, but I have quite a few FOs!

Rosy Toes: I'll be donating these to CanAssist, as the colours (while beautiful) have a little too much hot pink for me. They're made from Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome in 'Old Rose' and a simple garter rib.


Coconut Ice. These are made from Toftsies in 'Lightfoot' colourway, in Twin Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks.

Spotty Cactus; Austermann Step, plain stockinette on 2.25mm.



Indira: made from Schaefer Anne in the 'Indira Ghandi' colourway, plain stockinette on 2mm needles. I really love the way this yarn knits up, although it's too hot for summer!

These were all done toe-up with a heel flap. Bigger pics on my blog: Vanessarama

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

happy sock yarn dance

i took this picture:

and because you liked it, i got this:

knittery merino cashmere in 'moses fire'. what a great name. what a gorgeous yarn. i am sooo lucky!

me and my peeps say thank you to the knittery for the lovely donation and to bells and rosered for organising and to you all for voting!

kms xxx

My 11th Pair!

Pattern : Roza's Socks, IK Spring 2007
Yarn : Zen Garden, merino/seacell in the Wisteria colorway
Needles : 2.5mm Harmony dpns

The socks feel so comfortable on my feet that I didn't want to take them off despite today's temperature of 33C. Anyway, these socks are for CanAssist patients & now that I have finished the 2 pairs of socks, I can send them off !

Read more on my blog....



Monday, March 17, 2008

More socks

I haven't posted in a while. I've been quite busy doing other things (like knitting my Easter Show project) and my computer access at work has been limited.

However, I have almost kept most of my goals for SSS.

- Knit my first pair of socks - Done!
- Knit one pair of socks a month (between October and March) - so far so good (kinda)
- Knit one pair of Earl Grey socks - Done (see below - two pairs)
- Knit one sock for my keyring sockblocker.

November socks

Clem's chocolate socks

I knit these socks for fiance, Clem, for Christmas. They're Earl Grey socks, made from Merino Cashmere 4ply in the Chocolate colourway from The Knittery.

December socks

Dad's Earl Grey socks

These were my dad's Christmas socks. They're also using the Earl Grey pattern (again) and knit in Ranco. Unfortunately, I ran short of yarn by a couple of metres and so had to use some of the leftover chocolate yarn to fill in the toes (which will luckily be hidden inside shoes).

January socks

Chocolate raspberry tart leftover socks

These are my chocolate raspberry tart leftover socks, using up some of the left over yarn from my October and November socks. I could have made them longer or used only one colour though, as I had more yarn than I thought. Still they were quick to knit, and my first attempt at short row heals, and finally worked out how to pick up wrapped stitches =)

February socks

Bec's socks

These are socks for my friend, Bec. They're just plain 3x1 rib socks in Ranco. Techinically they were mainly knit in March, but if I managed to finish another pair by the end of March, then I think it still counts.

I can't believe I only knit my first pair of socks in October. Thanks for all your encouragement, inspiration and support. It's been wonderful.

Anna (Knit1 Purl1)

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Challenge? What Challenge?

Way back at the start of summer, I posted my own personal challenge. I hang my head in shame and refuse to link back to that original challenge. However, I note that Bells and RoseRed have extended summer (perhaps in honour of this unseasonally hot weather?) and I therefore proffer my fairly paltry efforts.

One pair of Waving Lace Socks in Koigu (started before summer began, so not strictly within the rules.)One pair of plain old stocking stitch in glorious Tofutsies that the lovely rhonrhon brought back all the way from the States for me (started and finished during summer).
And the Yarn Harlot's Earl Greys in Lorna's Laces pinstripe colourway, which would show up the tiny cables down the side, if only I hadn't used self-striping yarn (just finished this week).

On second thoughts, for someone who's not all that good at FOs, I think this is an OK effort.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Bed Socks for Lynn

Bed Socks
These were a very quick project I started a few weeks ago for my friend Amy's Mom Lynn, who's in the hospital right now. I thought they might be nice to keep her toes warm! The pattern is called "Bed Socks in Lemon Pattern Fancy Knit Stripe" from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. The yarn is Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn, and I actually had quite a bit left over. I knitted them two-at-a-time on two 2.75mm circular needles. The pattern is well-written, and my only complaint is all the bloody k3togs. I hope Lynn likes them! (The quick nature of these means I'm actually ahead of my one-pair-per-month schedule.)

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Snowflake Socks

My very first attempt at fair-isle/stranded work:

Pattern: Snowflake Socks by Chrissy Gardiner from Interweave Knits Fall 2007
Yarn: Cleckheaton Machinewash 5-ply in blue and white.
Verdict: Lots of fun to knit, and much easier then it looks!

Monday, March 10, 2008

after a bit of a lapse...

here's my latest contribution:


Gift socks, using generously gifted yarn.

More over at my blog.

now working on the CanAssist pair...

Spiral Boot Socks

My new year's resolution at the beginning of this year was to knit one sock per month until the end of October - the end result being a pair of socks for each member of my family for Christmas. So far, I've been doing pretty well at this. Here I present my socks for January and February:

The pattern is Spiral Boot Socks from Interweave Summer 2007, and the yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock Solid (try saying that after three beers!) in grape. At Christmas they will be gifted to my sister. There are more detailed adventures of the creation process on my blog.

Shadowlee.

My first socks too!

I too am only just now getting around to posting my first pair. Slack, I know. These are a pair I cast-on right back when sign-ups started, especially for the KAL too. I had hoped that by joining I would be able to avoid most of the effects of the dreaded second sock syndrome (ha, I hear chuckles in the audience already). It was also in order to beat 2ndSS that I decided to disallow myself from posting here until AFTER I had finished my first pair. Oh yeah! Big mistake. The 1st pair fairly flew off the needles and I was diligent in beginning the 2nd. I thought all was going well, and it was for a while. But yes of course I hit that slump, as we sometimes do, though not until I was over half way done with sock number 2. Odd right? I mean surely I could see the light at the end of the tunnel by then? I was on the home stretch. Oh well, I think that I had just finally become bored with the yarn and pattern chosen. Actually, I should have known better. I've taken note of that and plan on making my next pair in either cables or lace in a very yummy yarn that won't be put down. After I finish up a quicky pair of bed socks in DK to get my mojo back, that is.

Yup, that is them up there. Pretty plain I know, but as they are only the second pair I have ever made for myself, I decided to keep it simple. I tried out a new toe and heel on these, the other reason I kept it simple. They were knit up from a rectangular toe, with a forethought-afterthought heel. Big thanks to SpinWeaveKnit for that suggestion, it will be a versatile addition to my repertoire. The yarn is Four Seasons Hotsocks I had overdyed with pink, it needed livening up, a lot.

Next for me, is the aforementioned bed socks in dk, so far they have been knitted to just before the heel. But this time I am working 2 at a time on one circular, though I did start with a rectangular toe again. These will likely have a short-row heel, as they will not need to stand up to much punishment. After I finish those, I will be back on to some experimental sock-ette thingys I have been dabbling with. They are something I need to wear with heels, a little something to pad under the ball of my foot some and to protect the part of the foot just above the tops of my toes. I tell you all this, because I hope it will mean I actually have to do it :-) Clearly keeping myself from posting until I was done, was a bad tactic, so now I am employing another.

*edited to add blog linky* Opps! I seem to remember reading waaay back that we ought to link to our blog at the end of a post. Makes sense, if you went looking for mine on the right, you likely would not have found it. It is Stitches Anomalous, so there you go.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

First First Sock

I lost my sock knitting mojo soon after I joined Southern Summer of Socks so this is my first post!

This is the first Child's First Sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. Cuff down with a shell lace pattern, padded heel and kitchener toe.

Child's First Sock in Bowl

Yarn is Dale Garn's Baby Ull which I got for 100kr (about AUD$2) a ball in Oslo. Knitted on 2.5mm bamboo DPNs. More pics here.

Sweet.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Oops, I Almost Forgot

I finished these socks about two weeks ago and nearly forgot to post about them!


The pattern was found while net-surfing, it is available here. The yarn I used is Lorna's Laces in Rainbow.

These socks were a real drama.... they had been reknit three separate times into three different patterns. The whole saga is here on my blog.... if anyone is interested!

Jo

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Socks on Holiday Winners!

Congratulations to our tied winners, KMS and Rosie!

We had some fabulous entries and were delighted to see such creativity for the Socks on Holiday contest.

Both our winners will win a skein of merino sock yarn from The Knittery, kindly donated by Daphne.

Winners, please email us with your postal address.

Stay tuned for the next contest that RoseRed and I have planned.

It's also worth noting that there's only the remainder of March left fo SSoS! How it's flown by! Get ready to tally up at the end of the month and see who has made the most socks.

Also, the Can Assist project continues. Leave a comment to let us know if you think you will have some socks ready in the next month or so.

Bells
& Rose Red.

Friday, February 29, 2008

Last of the Summer Socks

I have been as addled as Nora Batty, with her socks right down round her ankles!!!! In spite of events conspiring to stop me knitting, I have made some socks!! In fact I knitted the last sock yesterday and today, egged on by the fact it was the bonus last day of February!!! Lewis is very good sock knitting TV.


There are my Mum's The Word socks, in Blues Cashmere Merino from The Knittery. I used Barbara Walker's Diagonal Fern lace pattern with garter stitch in between.




The The Shocker Socks, in Empire from The BSODL. They're just in 2x2 rib in 8ply for Barry The GardyGardner. His foot is a whole foot long.



And finally The Mauvie Star Socks in Shepherd baby wool. My friend who lives in a mining town in Queensland is coming home so I have made her some Purl-less Monkeys.


I have been a poor poster but I have knitted vicariously through everyone else's socks!!!!

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Socks On Holidays - Vote Now!

Here we have the entrants for our Socks on Holiday contest. Thanks so much to our entrants, who shall remain anonymous for the duration of the contest.

Voting opens the moment I hit publish, and will stay open for one week. Get voting! Great prizes abound!

See the side bar for the voting form.

Bells & RoseRed

Look whales! It's a sock!

Hangin' out with my Peeps

Just married!

The architecture of socks

Hello sailor! How about a bit of socks on the side?

...and another pair finished, and another pair started.


My Pomatomus/Sumotamop socks are finished! My yarn contingency plan worked an absolute treat, and I am very very happy with the result. That's six pairs finished for the KAL, and three of them are for me.
I've also started swatching for the next pair, which will be Cardigan socks by Anne Hanson at Knitspot, in some gorgeous Mountain Colours Bearfoot (colourway Indian Corn) that I have in stash. This pattern and yarn were made for each other! You wait and see.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

My 9th & 10th Pair

Cast off 2 pairs of socks, one after another .....
Pattern : Back to Basics, knitty fall 07
Yarn : Araucania Semi-solid
Needles : Harmony 2.5mm dpns


Pattern : Wendy's Toe-up Gusset Heel Pattern
Yarn : Opal Acapulco

Needles : Pony Pearls 2.5mm dpns

Read more on my blog & now I am off to cast on another sock !

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Time for an update

I just realized that I haven't posted here since my first post in November. Since then, I've accomplished three of my four goals:

1) I have been diligently remembering to knit second socks, and I have completed five matching pairs since November. Two pairs are Thujas, one is basic stockinette from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's sock recipe, one is similar but with the whole leg in 2x2 ribbing, and one is basic stockinette from a toe-up pattern that I don't remember the name of right now.

3) I have tried knitting socks toe-up. So far I prefer cuff-down, but that may just be because I didn't like the heel on the toe-up pattern I tried. I'll have to try another one sometime.

4) I made a pair of socks for my mom (she got them as a New Year's gift because they weren't quite done for Christmas) and also gave a pair to a charity clothing drive.

That leaves me with:

2) Making socks that are more complicated than stockinette or ribbing. I'm not surprised that this is what's left; I've been knitting to relax more than to challenge myself lately. I'm considering casting on for Monkeys because I've heard that's a good pattern for variegated yarn, but I haven't decided for sure yet.

Nicole

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Glib Socks

Glib Socks

These are my fifth completed pair this summer and I'm still hitting my "one pair per month" goal. These have been the fastest to knit so far. Less than two weeks from start to finish!

The yarn is Cascade Fixation, which I bought online because the Snook hates wearing wool on his feet. It's thicker than a normal 4ply, and all the patterns I could find were either girly or boring though. I mentioned my frustration to Bex, and she remarked that she was working on a simple sock pattern at the moment. She e-mailed me the stitch pattern and it was perfect. (She's since put the pattern up on Ravelry as a free download.) I knitted these two at a time on two 4mm circular needles. I used Judy's Magic Cast On for the toe, and a basic short row heel for the heel. A little bit of 1x1 ribbing at the top, and Voila! Man socks. (More details in my notebook on Ravelry.)

Friday, February 22, 2008

summer (?) socks





Sorry about the extra photo (not of a sock) but man that was a funny shirt.


Here is half a sock at the cricket on last weekend, Southern Stars (aussie girls) V England for the only Ashes game. We lost, bugger!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Socks No. 5

Well considering I'd never knitted a pair of socks in my life before this Southern Summer of Socks started, I'm now showing pair number 5 !!!! And I'm enjoying knitting them immensely.

I finished these a few weeks ago but only got around to taking a pic 5 minutes ago. The colour in real life is so much better than my camera took, it really is just a delicious colour.


Yarn is The Knittery and the shade is Vineyard, purchased from the wonderful Helen at Knitting Inspirations. I can highly recommend for service and speed of delivery. Most impressed.

The pattern is Fiber Trends, Hellens Favorite Socks. Knitted on 2.75mm needles.

Now I'm up for challenging myself and I'm immersed in a pair of monkeys. Go me!!! LOL

My blog is Pins & Needles.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

gratified

i needed a bit of a quick fix these last few weeks so i made myself a pair of 'instant gratification' patonyle ankle socks. finished this morning:


annoyingly, i needed about 55 grams for my rather largish feet:

i would make them slightly larger again, but they are lovely on. they even have properly grafted toes :)

kms xx

Friday, February 15, 2008

Addendum to Socks Ahead



Just to keep sharing the sock love...

:-)

Have a *close* look at the two socks here, can you spot the difference between them?

It's a subtle difference, and not immediately noticed. I didn't until right at the very end of sock #2. These were knitted from two separate balls of the faux fair isle Patonyle, both from the outside of the ball, starting a new ball for each sock.

The colour repeat is opposite on each sock, if I turn one upside down, I can match the colour repeats. I *almost* wanted to frog sock #2 (again) so I could knit it from the *other* end of the yarn. The end in the centre of the ball, which is still there for sock #1.

Socks Ahead!

These are my maiden pair of socks, getting ready to set sail for a life of fun-filled adventure. This is a genuine road sign here on the Eyre Peninsula - okay, maybe Photoshopped a *little*. I'm sure it's a surprise for many motorists who see the sign, then see *this* parked at the side of the road - transport with a difference!

Yep, a landlocked ship.

It is very difficult to get a good photo of socks alongside a good photo of a huge ship. Good thing the motorists driving past are going fast - the sight of two people taking photos, one of them waving socks above her head must have drawn some odd looks. I dunno, I didn't see, I was rather preoccupied...

I have a new respect for those who take photos of socks on their feet, originally I did try waving my feet in the air. Boy getting a good photo of socks on feet, and your props is hard!

For the last part of the sock's holiday, we took them to the beach for a little relaxation in the sand, sun and surf. Sorta, we skipped the surf bit, they'd already had a bath at home.

I hope we're not too late for the socks on holiday competition, I've spent days photographing the socks in various locations, and heading back for retakes of some.

These are the Patonyle basic calf length sock pattern, knitted top down using Magic Loop (yay!). They have increases at the back of the calf, to accommodate leg shaping. I did modify the pattern slightly, by adding a few more stitches - and learnt some *big* lessons...
  • when you modify a pattern, and make notes for yourself...
    make copious notes, so when you are at the heel of the second sock, you can see exactly what you did

  • when using Magic Loop...
    make sure of which needle you are pulling through before you pull, or you will be left with stitches not on needles anymore

  • when knitting with Knitpicks circulars...
    keep an eye on what the puppy's playing with, coz she could be busy chewing her way through your cable

  • when you're stuck on your heel on sock #2, again...
    it could be coz you *didn't* make enough notes as per note 1, or it could be coz you've made a mistake on sock #1 which you can't replicate on sock #2

  • when you've frogged various parts of your socks several times...
    be glad that sock knitting is relatively fast, and enjoy the journey
Now that the socks are finished and photos posted, it's time to put them to the *real* acid test - wearing them and seeing what modification I need to make next time around.

Rosie

Thursday, February 14, 2008

My 8th Pair

Pattern : A mix - C Bordhi's whirlpool toe, Wendy's gusset & Sensational Sock's Braid & Beads
Yarn : Zen Garden's merino/seacell in Mottlecah colorway
Needles : 2.25 Lantern Moon ebony dpns

I love the yarn as it's so soft & knits beautifully but there's some pooling at the heel & feet & the 2 socks are slightly different in color. If you notice, the sock on the top is lighter than the one at the bottom - this pair of socks is turning out to be a little unusual but that's alright as I will still wear them as they fitted perfectly & feels so good!
Read more on my blog !

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Taking care of business

Can Assist
First up, thanks to everyone who put their hands up for joining in on the Can Assist sock donation project. If you listen to the podcast, Sticks and String, you'd have heard David mention the project, quite in isolation of what we're doing, so it seems there's some movement afoot on this and people are getting in on the act, wanting to help out Cancer patients.

We don't have answers to all the questions asked but plan to find out. So please continue to either choose socks from your collection or knit dedicated socks and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Socks on Holidays
We have only a smattering of entries to the Socks On Holidays contest. Entries close 15 February. If you have a picture of your sock/s reclining on beach, climbing a mountain, bushwalking or taking in a different city, click the link above for contest details and send them in by 15 February!

We are about to advertise another competition too, so stay tuned!

Award
Passionate sock knitting convert, Carol, nominated us for the You Make My Day award. Carol's blog is a wonderful place. Go say hello and check out her near encounter with skinny dipping! Thanks Carol! Love your work!

That'll be all for now. Happy sock knitting!

Bells & RoseRed

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Fast and simple!

Introducing my first and second pairs of socks EVER!
(I knit a single ages ago but these are my first pairs!!!)



These guys are, knit from patons jet (just under a ball per sock), on 5mm (purple) and 6mm (grey) needles, from the Clafoutis Bedsocks pattern - as recommended by Taph.



As the title suggests, these were really simple, and super fast - perfect bus knitting.

They look kinda funny here, with the ribbing all skinny, but they're fine with a foot in them =)

Being so quick and easy these were the perfect project to kick off my knitting for Can Assist =)

Saturday, February 9, 2008

A question of size

Can I please ask a question -

I am making random socks now, after having made a special pair for mum and myself. So I want to have a little stash of socks ready for gifts.

Most of the patterns I've been reading say to knit the foot to 1.5 inches less than you want it before starting the toe.

What is the average size that everyone is knitting to before starting the toe?

Would love to know what everyone else does if just making generic socks for gifting.

Thanks :-)

One Down, One Underway


Here's a finished Pomatomus, and the start of its Sumotamop mate. There was a bit of a hold-up, all of which is detailed on my blog (see the blue pooling at the toe? That's a clue).

Can you Assist?

Hi all,
With the help of the lovely Bells and Rose Red I've been making plans for the Can Assist sock drive project.

Can Assist aren't just looking for socks - you can also help by donating chemo caps, scarfs, blankets or any other nurturing item.

You can find out more at my blog, but let me tell you about the prizey side....

The knitters who donate the most socks and the most items to Can Assist between February 6 and May 2 will each receive a grand prize pack, including one year's subscription to their choice of the following magazines:
- Interweave Knits
- Interweave Crochet
- Vogue Knitting
- Yarn Magazine

as well as some yummy yarn and other fibre-crafty goodies!

You can contact the SSoS girls for more info, or email me at kraftykukaATgmailDOTcom (replace the AT and DOT though, ok)

Hope you can help =)

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

One Noropup and two Vog Ons



One Noropup is finished in a spiralling rib patterns and the Vog-ons are off the needles!




Both pretty and very wearable - love the Vog Ons - half a skein of TOFUtsies and fast!


Nutkins are on and I'm itching to start the Rockin Sock Club first sock!

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Knitting Socks for Cancer Patients

Astute and caring blogger, Kuka, has alerted us to the fact that the people from Can Assist, the cancer assistance network, are looking for handknitted socks.

You can find information about the hospital, Jean Colvin Hospital, here.

The way it works is that patients come from rural NSW and stay on average 6 weeks whilst they undergo cancer treatment.

To make patients’ stays as comfortable as possible the guys at Can Assist are creating a welcome pack for them when they arrive, and wanted to include handknit socks in these packs.

The organiser of this project explained to Kuka that they were looking for about 150 pairs but so far had only received two!!!

Now as we're all beavering away on producing vast quantities of socks, I reckon there'd be a good chance we all have pairs we're happy to donate. I know I've made pairs that don't fit me quite as I hoped and that might go very well on the feet of people less fortunate than myself.

If you're interested in contributing, leave a comment and we might just have a contest for most socks knit for Can Assist!

Bells and RoseRed

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Finished, Begun and Planning

It has been a while since I updated. I have finished:


The Feather and Fans Socks from Socks Socks Socks in STR yarn. Absolutely lovely, but they don't fit :( :( Anyone interested in a swap - some gorgeous hand knitted socks for some gorgeous skeins of yarn?? (You need to have a longish narrow foot and narrow ankle - if interested leave a comment on my blog and I'll get back to you). They do need a new home and they really are very pretty.
Also finished:



Lenahlias in STR Monsoon colourway. I love these socks!!

Begun:


Embossed Leaves from Favorite Socks in STR yarn (can't remember the colourway). Easy knitting and fantastic sock pattern.
My next project will be Kitri. I have had this kit for about a year and had totally forgotten it! Shows how fickle love can be sometimes... I am going to make myself get through sock 1 of Embossed Leaves and beginning Sock 2 before I will cast on for Kitri. I can't wait.
Details at The Blog.