Crazy Chevrons

Hi all! I stumbled across this KAL via Google and I'm so excited to see all the great socks. I've just finished my first pair from SKS. They are for my 9 yr. old daughter who loves the wild colors.

Yarn - Regia Crazy Color

Needles - KnitPicks size 3

Method - 2 at a time, Magic Loop, toe up, heel flap

Pattern - Chevron, modified to a 13 stitch repeat.

More details at Forward Motion, my blog.

Waterfall Rib

I've started my first sock from SKS. Its the Waterfall Rib in Trekking XXL - color #110. I was a little concerned about using a pattern with the trekking yarn because I didn't want to hide the beautiful colors, but this it turning out beautifully, and it is super stretchy too. I'm very pleased.

Question of the Week and Socks

Lia suggested this week's question. She doesn't care for crazy socks, so she's looking for some other ideas for the leftover bits of yarn.

So, what do you do with your leftover sock yarns?

I plan to do some "crazy socks" someday, but in a methodical way. I was planning on using bits and scraps of similar or complementary colorways and using a black or other solid color and using Fair Isle to make identical or at least very similar socks. I also make a few mini socks here and there. I've been known to make some sock earrings. Scraps also make good baby socks and dolls socks for the kiddies. Since I occasionally play with miniatures, I do think I could use some sock yarn for mini-afghans. And there are tons of books out there with knitted stuffed toys, bears and sweaters for the toys. I think scraps would make for very interesting stuffed toys. I'd really like to know what every one else uses their scraps for and feel free to post pictures of something really cool you've done with the scraps.

In other news, I've started my first toe-up socks using the Oriel pattern.

I think the pattern and the yarn are competing with each other, but I really like how it's turning out. It's Apple Laine yarn and completely yummy stuff!

Slip Stitch Ribs Finished

Finally I'm able to post some finished socks! These were made for a sock swap and the picture is the recipient. I sent them off to her without taking a final picture - how dumb is that? So I had her take it on the receiving end. The yarn is OnLine Supersocke in the Summer colorway. It reminds me of Easter eggs...:-) Love the pattern, love the yarn....now on to the next thing!

I'm jazzed for Stitches West this weekend! One thing I'm treating myself to are some sock blockers...:-) I've finally decided I "need" them.

New member with finished SKS socks!

Hi, I'm Melissa. I'm a "real-life" knitting guild-mate and friend of hostess Alison, and now I finally have a reason to join this KAL. Below are my Baby Cable Rib socks, just finished last night. Yarn: Lorna's Laces "Happy Valley" (well aged in my stash). Needles: Brittany birch dpns, size 1 (the stress of the right twist snapped one of my first set, so I had to get more).

The photo above shows the true colors of the yarn. The next one shows the stitch detail nicely, but the colors are nowhere near that dark.

Now I have to decide which SKS pattern to knit next. I like a lot of them. I did buy the yarn to make the green and neon Fair Isle on the cover, but I haven't done a FI sock yet (I did do a pair in intarsia). I may wait until the new book comes out to decide. I have plenty of yarn to use for "mindless" socks in the meantime, not to mention a zillion other patterns.

Oriel Completed

These are the Oriel socks from the book. I used some Lana Grossa Meilenweit yarn. I cast on with the Turkish cast on. I found I had a bit of a problem figuring out how the heel is constructed. I don't know if I missed something when I read the book or not but I just didn't get it right away. On the whole I like the socks but I don't know if I would use this construction again. Now I want to try other socks from the book, if I could just find the time.

Oblique Openwork

Oblique Openwork
Originally uploaded by stariel.

I knit this single sock for the SSS Swap in Knit Picks Gloss. It's a very easy pattern to memorize, and I think it turned out very well. I will probably end up knitting it again for myself!

Question of the Week

I'm surprised at how many people used circulars for their socks. Maybe someday I'll give it a try, but for now, I'm happy with my DPNs. Now, for this week's question:

How many pairs of socks could you make with your current sock yarn stash? Come on, be honest! Be brave!

I just counted my stash and figured I have about enough for 40 pairs of socks which is a lot less than I had thought. I probably could work out a few more socks by combining some of the leftovers and I'll probably do that at some point, but actual full skeins of yarn will get me about 40 pairs. I was thinking I had enough for at least a pair a week for a year. I certainly won't feel quite so guilty with my next sock yarn purchase :-) I did finish a pair of socks, but they're just a plain 3X1 rib, not really anything out of SKS except for the forethought heel. I'm probably going to attempt my first toe-up socks using a pattern from the book. Just have to figure out which one!

Question of the Week

Dana suggested the question of the week - needle style - but I thought I'd expand it a little:

What is your favorite method of doing socks? This includes needle style, preferred heel (flap, short row, afterthought, etc), favorite toe, toe up or cuff down, and any other sock method related things you can think of.

My favorite method is DPNs. I've never tried the circular needles (though I love them for just about everything else), but I think working with DPNs for me is relaxing and repetitive. I much prefer heel flaps to any other heel; it just fits my foot better, but I have been known to do one short row (which I didn't care for at all) and I like the forethought heel for certain yarns. And I've never tried toe up, so I'll probably always prefer cuff down, but my next pair will be toe up so I can maximize the yarn.

First efforts

I'm excited to have discovered this book and this KAL. I bought the book in January, after devouring the library's copy.

My first pair are the green Corded Rib socks, which I made in Gjestal Silja Sockegarn using size 4 Inox circular needles. The knitting experience was good--the fit not good. (Apparently I was measurement impaired and thought my 8.5" foot was 9.25" around.) They're warm and great for around the house, but a bit baggy. If I were to make these again I would--obviously--measure correctly, and probably go down a needle size for a less-drapey fabric. (Being nearly a sock novice, I just went with the recommended needle size for this sport-weight yarn.)

I am MUCH happier with the blue socks, pictured here nearly ready to be kitchenered. I am making these with KnitPicks Essential Solid in Dusk using size 2 KnitPicks options circulars. I also learned how to make TWO socks on two circulars--what a blast! These fit like a dream and the color is perfect for wearing with jeans.

Next up? probably the slipstitch rib, or maybe I'll up my learning curve and try the chevron?

Addendum: If you'd like to know more about the technique, see my blog.

question of the week

How did you start making socks?

I had never knit socks until my SP9 pal sent me the SKS book, DPN's and 2 skeins of sock yarn, I am now hooked :) They are probably one of my favorite things to knit :)

Laburnum Rising

I recently cast-on for Laburnum. The yarn is NatureSpun sport not my usual choice, but since they are a demo pair for a class and I needed to use sportweight, I used what was on hand. These are working up quickly and the pattern is an easy 5 stitch, 4 row repeat, one of the things I love about SKS.

I used the Twisted German cast-on for the first time and if you haven't used it before give it a try. It makes an excellent stretchy cast-on and is the best I've encountered so far. I'm going to try a few others so that I'll have a point of reference as to the pros and cons of each.


Laburnum
I also took a picture of the missing Openwork Ribs.


Regia Bamboo Color, Women's size 10

Question of the Week

How did you start making socks?

I learned to knit when I was a kid, but didn't do it for many years. About three years ago, I re-learned to knit and while browsing online for knitting books, I came across a sock book. I knew, of course, that that's how socks used to be made. (My grandmother has since told me stories of her grandmother who used to spin cotton and then knit all the children and grandchildren socks; this was in the South. Since I also spin, it's a connection to my own grandmother since she enjoys watching me whenever I visit down there and bring my wheel.) I hated buying socks because they never fit me, my feet were always cold, and the storebought socks always wore out quickly. Did people actually really still make socks? (Little did I know then ;-) So I bought the book, bought some Lorna's Laces and was hooked. I buy a lot of sock books, but usually use SKS for my guidelines and rework any other patterns as needed.

I'd love to hear how you started making socks!

Slipped Stitch Rib Socks

This is the third pattern I've knitted from the excellent SKS book. I'm looking forward to the new book coming out and I'm excited to see what the new patterns are like.

Pattern: Slipped Stitch Rib.

Yarn: The Yarn Yard Club yarn for December.

DPNs: 2.5mm