Beaded Rib Socks

Or, the Socks that Would Not End.



The socks are nice. (Wish I could say as much for my floors. Ugh!)

I really love this colorway of Tofutsies. It's a combination of off-white, tan, and grey that overall looks very pebbly. I used the Beaded Rib Pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. It's rather similar to the pattern for another pair I made recently, which I think is why this pair felt like it took so long. I just got bored, and it didn't help that my other project is off-white. I need to knit something colorful now!

This is only my second pair of toe-up socks and I think I can definitively say that I don't like that method. Short-row shaping is so awkward and messy, and look how terrible the heel looks:



Definitely not the neat orderly sock heels that I love. No! Big gaps and loose stitches on both sides of both heels. I still like the socks though. I'm wearing them now and they are quite comfy, which I suppose is the most important thing.

Shedir, finished

This was a fun project. I used less than skein of the Lion Brand Microspun I had in my stash. My head is pretty small so I omitted a pattern repeat (or possibly two, I can't remember). It fits well and it's perfect for spring!

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

Lovely, impractical socks! I do not like this thing called intarsia, nor do I think it's a good choice for sock heels. But they are cute, no?

The pattern is from Knitty and designed by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka the Yarn Harlot. Unfortunately, it's a bit sloppily written but if you have sock experience it's not too bad. The sizes are very unclear; while the pattern lists sizes S, M, L it actually only includes one set of instructions with a note that if you want to make the larger size, use larger needles. What if you want to make medium? Or maybe I made medium and it is small that is missing. We will never know, because the pattern doesn't include any measurements to help define S, M, or L. The instructions also neglect to tell you to work in stockinette or switch to white for the toe, but you can tell from the pictures. But mostly it was a fun project and really, I enjoy make anything that is turquoise. And they are very springlike.

But what is this wayward stitch marring the otherwise orderly gusset?

Your guess is as good as mine. I have no idea what happened there.

I made these for the February Sockdown on Ravelry. The theme was to make socks with a heel that is new to you; cast on anytime during the month of February and finish by the end of March. There are fantastic prizes for some lucky winners, which is what it's all about. Or maybe it's about having yet another pair of fabulous handmade socks?

Second Top-Down Hat

This is much better now. I ripped back to get rid of some of the decreases, did some more math, and re-knit. Simple stockinette with a seed stitch brim. Mailed both hats off to my mom - I hope they fit!


I have some lovely brown Knitpicks Decadence with which I hope to knit myself a cabled top-down hat. I've been thinking about it for a while but wasn't sure how the cables would work with the increases. The practice from these hats, especially the ribbed one, have made it a little more clear. It'll still take a bit of fiddling and adjusting but at least now I have a better idea. I think.

Blue Ribbed Hat

Of the two top-down hats, this one come out acceptably on the first attempt. The increases that I expressed so much pleasure with in the last post looked even better when I turned the hat inside out, and so that is how it remains.



The yarn and rib pattern were a good choice. The hat is very soft and stretchy and although it fits me fine, it should still fit my mother as well.

Teal Hat 2.0 is also finally done, so stay tuned for pretty pictures!

Retro Rib Socks

These are from Interweave Knits, Winter 2004 issue (I guess I'm a little behind!) I used Zwerger Garn Opal, which is quite lovely yarn and comes in generous skeins of 465 yards.

This is a very enjoyable pattern to knit because it's so simple - just knits and purls - but creates a nice texture. It's also easy to memorize.

I'm so glad these socks are done because I've been very antsy to wear them! Once you start wearing hand knits socks, there is no going back, and right now I don't have nearly enough pairs to get me through the week.

Hey hey we're the monkeys!

Why yes, actually, I do realize that I'm a lame-o dork. But look at how fantastic my new Monkey socks are!


Aren't they so...stripey? Honestly, I had no idea it was a striping yarn until I was totally done. But then again, I've never been accused of being particularly observant. I have to admit, though, that I find it very strange that many sock yarns do not state on the label whether they are striping or just variegated. There is no way of knowing until you knit with it.

These are made of Tofutsies yarn, my new favorite sock yarn. I may have mentioned previously that it is machine washable and dryable which I think are very important qualities to have in a sock.

I never understood those crazy people who wasted all their knitting time on socks. Now I seem to have become one of them. It is extremely satisfying to knit something and have it fit excellently when you are done, which is SO much more likely with a pair of socks than a sweater.

Baby Cable Rib Socks

I finished these a while back, but they were a gift so I couldn't post a picture until now. Sorry it's not an action shot, but I wasn't sure the recipient would appreciate me wearing them before giving them to her.

The pattern is from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch, which is quite a fantastic sock book. The patterns include instructions for many different sizes, and the book is divided into sections based on the number of stitches in each pattern repeat. For example, the Baby Cable Rib are in the 4-stitch repeat section, along with several other patterns. So you choose the chapter, and follow the pattern, inserting the stitch pattern of your choice. You can potentially make many many pairs of socks from this book of varying construction (cuff-down or toe-up) and level of difficulty.

I used Tofutsies yarn which, if you're not familiar, is made from a blend of wool, cotton, soy, and chitin (which comes from crab and shrimp shells). It's practically a meal. The yarn is a little splitty to work with, but I like it quite a bit anyhow (and got more for Christmas, yay!) The color, which you can't really tell from the picture is a heathered combination of white and pink (or is it lavender?)

They are quite lovely, if I do say so myself, and I'd recommend both the book and the yarn.

Log Cabin Socks

The pattern is from Holiday Knitting by Melanie Falick, a book worth buying just to look at the gorgeous photos. I used Plymouth Tweed, which isn't as soft as I was hoping for, but apparently is pretty comfy. I do love the rustic tweediness of the yarn and would probably use it again. I actually found little bits of twig in it (which I have to assume was placed there intentionally for the effect, because doesn't yarn involve lots of processing?)

These were a Christmas present for Eric, so had to hold off posting a picture for obvious reasons. I'm glad to report that they fit!

Doctor Who

Here's a scarf I made a year or two ago and has been much loved but not photographed until now. The pattern is here, but if you're thinking of making the scarf definitely check other parts of the site because there are different versions from different seasons of the show. I used the recommended yarn, Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport, because even though I had to order it online it was SO much easier than trying to match all those colors in another brand. It's great yarn, too. The knitting was mind-numbingly boring as it's just miles and miles of garter stitch on some crazy small size needles.

The scruffy gentleman modeling the scarf would now like matching fingerless gloves so I'm going to more or less use Knitty's pattern for the Broad Street Mittens. I can't use it exactly because a)it calls for sock yarn and I'm using sport weight, and b)it kind of sucks as a pattern. It includes instructions for the left mitten and then says to do it again reversing everything, which frankly is a recipe for either another left mitten, or a right mitten with the thumb next to the pinky or the flip-top over the wrist instead of the fingers. In addition, the materials list calls for two different sized needles but then doesn't tell you when to use each size. No wonder this pattern is rated "extraspicy."

A helpful soul on Ravelry says that she used the basic idea from this pattern along with the instructions from The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns to use sport weight yarn, and I think I will do the same. There don't seem to be many patterns for fingerless gloves with flip tops, so this may be all I have to work with. It involves math, but I knew I wouldn't be able to escape that forever if I want to call myself a decent knitter. I'll let you know how it goes.

FO: Spicy Fitted V-Neck Tee

Pattern: Spicy Fitted V-Neck Tee from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel
Yarn: Plymouth Encore Chunky
Needle size: 11

Modifications: I skipped the eyelets on the back, as I thought the ones on the front were enough. Also, knit the sleeves in the round.

Final verdict: I like it more than I thought I would. It's just gotten a little too cold to wear it (especially at work where my department has no heat). It's unblocked and you can tell, but honestly this yarn is so highly acrylic I'm not sure what effect blocking will have. But I love the color.

Knucks

I feel like I'm cheating a little in showing these off now, because I made them a year or so ago, but I just got around to taking pictures. They are a little baggy in places and I don't like how the ends of the fingers roll, but they do keep my hands warm and still allow me to type. I also really like the stitch pattern around the cuff. The Knucks pattern can be found here.

FO: Baudelaire Socks

I don't know why I didn't start knitting socks sooner. Wool is perfect for my perpetually cold feet, and these are far more comfortable than any other socks I own (except possibly my Jaywalkers).

Here's a shot of the lace pattern on the top of the foot.


And one more look, just because.


This yarn is really fantastic. I have a hard time finding sock yarn that I like, probably because I usually shop at Windsor Button and, much as I love that store, they don't have a great selection of sock yarn. In particular, I have a hard time finding appealing solid colors, which really are the best for intricate lace or cable patterns. Last winter I stopped by A Good Yarn in Brookline and found this yarn - beautiful, solid colors in a skein with more than enough yardage for two socks (very important!) I was so excited, I bought two skeins. The other one is a lovely, deep brown and I'm still looking for the perfect pattern for it.

Pattern: Baudelaire from Knitty, designed by Cookie A.
Yarn: ZwergerGarn Opal
Needles: Addi Turbos, size 2

FO: Short-Sleeved Cardigan with Ribbing

Meh.

The back looks quite nice though.

I had a hard time choosing buttons, but in the end I think I did good!

The pattern is from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel. It's the first item I've made from the book (though I'm working on another). I'll wear it, but I'm not completely happy with it. It's got weird bagginess under the arms which I think is a design flaw since I've heard that so many other people have had that problem as well. Also, using a smaller needle size for the ribbing only causes one to have to block super aggressively so the ribbing will fit around your waist and arms. (Though knitting this on size 10.5 needles means that I had to go down an extra half size. In retrospect I should have gone down a half size less than required, but how was I to know that then?) I also had to aggressively block the button band as I suck at picking up stitches evenly. I don't like how unstructured the button band looks, but to be fair the picture in the book looks the same way. I love the yarn, though - it is Cascade 128 Tweed in the most lovely shade of green with flecks of red, blue, and yellow.

Another thing which made this project frustrating is that there are a number of errors in this pattern which are not in the errata. For example, the horizontal ribbing on the front is written such that you end up making the ribs on the inside rather than the outside and it's difficult to know this before doing it, as the instructions are written in a confusing way. Also, the math on the sleeve decreases make no sense as written, so I just winged it.

I don't feel too bad about the project though, as it did come out well enough to wear and was very quick to make. I think it was a total of 3 weeks, not including the re-blocking and hunt for buttons, and I was also working on a sock at the same time. Not so bad!

FO: Haiku Baby Sweater

This was a gift for a friend who is expecting a baby in October. I finished it about a week ago but couldn't post until after yesterday's baby shower. It was only one of several handmade gifts including an afghan and another two very adorable hand-knit sweaters.

Aren't those buttons adorable? Windsor Button had SO many fantastic kid-themed buttons, but most were too brightly colored and cartoonish to work with this pattern. But these were perfect!

The pattern for this sweater is here at Knitty. I used Bernat Cottontots, which is 100% cotton and is soft, lovely, and machine washable and dryable. I refuse to knit baby items out of yarns that must be hand washed and dried flat. I know a lot of people do, claiming that it will be an heirloom or whatnot, but really, isn't that a mean thing to do to a new mother? Give her baby clothes that need labor-intensive and time-consuming care?

Part of the reason I chose this pattern (aside from the cuteness) is that it is knit sideways, starting at a sleeve cuff and ending at the other sleeve cuff. I've seen adult sweaters knit this way but haven't really liked any of them enough to knit. This, though, was definitely worth the experiment. It was very easy. I finished the main part rather quickly, and was only held up by the buttonholes, which I reinforced - an easy enough job, but still a bit daunting as they had to end up the right size. Sewing on buttons is a pain too, as they have to match up with the holes. But all in all, it was a fun and easy project

Jaywalkers, a tribute

The sock, handmade, is not just a sock. One long piece of yarn looped into a fabric, a pattern of v’s that warms and protects, it is the result of hours of labor with tiny knitting needles. It belongs on display, framed perhaps, to be admired for its beauty and craftsmanship.

The pattern is simple enough, the rows of v’s forming larger v shapes nested together. The center stitch of each large v stands out in relief, creating long vertical stripes the length of the sock, stopping just an inch before the toe. It is shaped as you would expect a sock to be shaped, but the toe is unusual. The sides veer in towards the middle, but stop with a blunt end about an inch across so it is like a trapezoid, and with no visible seam. The top edge is ribbed –two knit stitches, two purled, all the way around the top - to hold it snugly in place.

Blending together like a chest of jewels, the colors are luxurious: turquoise, rich purple, vibrant blue, sea green, a little bit of sand. Like the precious stones, the colors have some shine, and the hues are similar enough not to jar, but to complement, as though they were meant for each other. The colors pool in a few areas, leaving, for example, an oblong shadow of purples trailing through a sea of turquoise. A small bit of red, not even an entire stitch, is just a small mark I tried to wipe off, thinking a rogue piece of fiber was stuck in the fabric. Perhaps a manufacturing error in the yarn, it is now hidden on the bottom of my foot.

Pulling on the sock is an experience best savored slowly. The thin fabric is deceivingly warm, a surprise every time. It’s almost a shame to put shoes on. The fine merino feels silky and expensive, maybe a waste for socks, but it feels so good I want all my socks to be like this. It would take years of knitting to fill my sock drawer with these. You may ask why I would bother: socks are cheaper bought from the store, an afterthought picked up on the way to the cash register. Clearly nobody has knit you a pair by hand; if you can’t enjoy simply wearing your socks, you have missed the true experience of sock wearing. It’s like grinding fresh Colombian beans to brew your own coffee compared to mixing up some of the instant powder.

Unexpectedly, the sock smells not of sheep or even of processed wool, but of something sweet, unidentifiable in this context, and much unlike the other, lesser, socks in my drawer. I can’t imagine intentionally smelling any other sock, except its sister. (Yes, there are two perfect socks!)

More a pashmina than a utilitarian foot covering, the sock lies useless in the summer months, waiting for cold weather when it is needed. For now it is not clothing but a piece of art to be looked at not for its usefulness, but for its beauty.

FO: Top-down Raglan Sweater

Yarn: Reynolds Smile (acrylic/wool blend)
Needle size: 11
Gauge: 3sts/4rows = 1in
Pattern: no pattern, used a combination of the top down method from Knitting from the Top by Barbara Walker, and the top-down raglan instructions from Glampyre

This was my first sweater made without a real pattern and despite some setbacks, it was easier than I thought it would be and I'm pleased with the result. In hindsight, I should have made it a tad longer - the body and the sleeves - but it's definitely adequate. Measuring is simply not my strong suit. I tried this sweater on at least 20 times in process, so there is no excuse for the fit not to be perfect.

The neck, in case you can't tell, is a loose turtleneck. It's hard to tell in the picture because of the angle. I like that Barbara Walker's instructions shape the neck so that the back is straight across and the front scoops down a little, so you can tell the back from the front. But I don't like the unclear neck instructions. You start with a raw neckline and I assumed that you then go back at the end and pick up stitches for the crewneck or turtleneck or whatever, but when I got to the end of the sweater instructions it listed "Variations" and gives instructions for starting the sweater with a variety of necklines. I did actually read through the instructions before starting, but somehow missed this little nugget. Anyhow, that was solved easily enough by picking up stitches and winging it.

All in all, quite successful. The sweater is now packed away with cedar blocks awaiting fall.

Edited to add: previous progress on this sweater was documented here and here.

FO: Weekend Pullover

Pattern: Weekend Pullover by Veronik Avery, IK Fall 2006
Yarn: Plymouth Encore in color 0204
Needle Size: 5
Modifications: Neckline - more on that below

I finally finished over the weekend and, sadly, the day these pictures were taken was cold enough that I wore my new sweater for most of the day. I'm very happy with how it turned out. I had some problems involving the neckline, documented here, and rather than making a turtleneck, I just picked up stitches and knit an inch or so of cross-stitch rib to match the hem and cuffs. Originally I was hoping to decrease near each shoulder to preserve the shape of the neck so I cast on a few extra stitches, but when I realized that a)I didn't add enough extra stitches, and b)decreasing would really screw up the rib pattern, I just knit straight. Although a few people recommended just leaving the neckline as is, I thought it needed a little something to make it more finished-looking. I appreciated everyone's helpful comments and suggestions! Here's a close-up of the neckline:



This sweater was fun to knit, what with all the cables and lace and whatnot, but now I'm very happy to go back to stockinette items that can be knit successfully while watching movies. I feel like this sweater took forever. It is now packed away for the summer with all my other sweaters and I will most likely forget it exists until I come across it this fall. What a lovely surprise it will be!