The hostess finally finishes a pair!

Yes, I am the hostess, and yes, this is only my second pair from the book. Here they are:

You can click on the picture to see them larger. They are the Caesar's Checks done in Knitpicks Essential and one of the Sock Landscape colorways. They fit perfectly and are much too warm for the wonderful weather we are having today.

Bluebell Rib

I loved this yarn so much when it arrived in the mail yesterday that I couldn't wait to swatch it. Somehow the swatch turned into a cuff and the beginning of a heel flap. This is the Bluebell Rib, and I'm doing an Eye of Partridge heel. I'm planning on a Princess Foot(smooth side in). Gauge is 8 sts/inch, 66 sts casted on. I'm using some hand dyed yarn purchased on Etsy from Laura (SugarBunnyBlvd).

*** sheesh, that biasing is something else isn't it?

Baby Socks

I have been knitting baby socks all week. 2 of the 8 pr I've knit I used patterns from the book. The blue (Lion Brand) is the Garter Rib, the pink (also Lion Brand) is Waffle Rib. These are a fast and fun way to try out the patterns.

yearnsforyarn.blogspot.com

Laburnum is growing

She's growing as would an infant.....slowly...but surely....by the fraction of inches....

L1 

My first short row heel....tho second nature to most seasoned sock knitters out here...hehheh...

L2 

Chevron socks

Here's the Chevron socks (page 73) I made for my dad's Christmas gift. This was knit on my usual bamboo double points, in Froehlich Blaudband Maxi Ringel, color 7709, which is grey, blue, red and navy. I ran out of yarn near the toe so raided my stash of sock yarn inherited from my Grandma (my Dad's mom) and found some grey 100% nylon that matched quite well, so we have solid toes on these socks. I did buy a third skein from Carodan Farm, which ended up being a very different dye lot (grey was almost light blue) but I managed by only using the third skein for sections of navy, red and blue. And here's a photo of my dad with his socks!

Twin Rib (you'll have to look close to see it)

Hello, my name is Trish, and I've started on a Twin Rib (6 stitch repeat chapter) from SKS in Sockotta, which is an Italian 45% Cotton/40% wool/15% nylon combo. The color obscures the texture a bit, but give a nice ragg effect. I'm doing my first Magic Loop sock, too. I usually stick to bamboo DP needles.

I've knit (and finished!!) two other patterns from SKS, which I'll post about another time, since they aren't so current.

Stansfield #10

Stansfield #10
Cherry Tree Hill Potluck
66 stitches on size 1 dpn

This is such a nice pattern. Combined with this yarn it is making a wonderful fabric. It is so yummy!!

This picture really doesn't do the yarn justice. The yellow is bright and so is the orange and what looks burgandy is really a very nice shade of purple. It reminds of Fall Foliage in their regular sock yarn collection.

I can't wait to finish both socks and wear them.

Karen

Laburnum progress, colors and textures..

Here is the progress on the laburnum after all the distractions. I had been stuck at the short row heels, googled for more instructions and got back to it. There are quite a # of different short row versions out there. Can't say more until i have it on my feet to see and feel the fit.

lab_1 


lab_2 

I've been using the book for this KAL quite a little bit for the stitch patterns....

On days when i dun feel like knitting, dun feel like spinning, dun feel like plying, but am wanting some color therapy, i take out my orphan skeins of my handdyed and knit swatches with it. Partly to feel what the yarn is like when knitted up, partly to see how the colors come together, partly because it feels right to be doing that at that time. Not that anything functional/wearable will come out of it, but simply for the love of colors and texture.

I do not have the time to knit with all of my handdyed (and i can dye and dry them faster than i can list them on etsy...story for another time....), but i do like their feel and colors...hehe....and...once in a while, i feel compelled to sample them.

This is fingering weight superwash wool in "Rosa" . I'm getting better at naming colorways thesedays...(everything from strawberry fudge to cabbage....hehheh) but that doesn't seem to spill over to posting titles*G* It is knitted up in the Alternating 2x2 rib(pg38), a four-stitch pattern.

2x2 rib_1 

One friend from the LYS called it the twisted cable :)

2x2 rib_2 

It is knitted on US#2 (the cuff too), total of 48 sts.

2x2 rib_3 

These are "Cabbage", "(unnamed)", "Lettuce" and a tinnee bit of Rosa (left to right)in "Openwork Rib"(pg37).

orib_1 


orib_2 


0rib_3 

That's all i have to share for today....until Laburnum grows....

Twin Rib Sock #1 Complete

I'm happy to say, I encountered no problems whatsoever with this particular pattern! And I wanted to take the time to say how nice the folks at Martingale Publishing were when I went to them with the problem on the mosaic socks. I can't tell you how many times I never even receive responses when I email a company, much less a solution in a matter of days. On to sock #2, (ahem, on both pairs...) I seem to be developing a little bit of SSS.

FO!

(You can see the same picture, but larger, here. The difference in stitches between the 2 x 2 rib and the garter rib is much more apparent in this one. The look is pretty elegant IMO.)

Garter rib socks, done!

They are very comfortable and stay up just great. Sort of surprised that the Lorna's Laces is pilling after one day of wear, though. Perhaps that's just normal. I am sure it is fairly strong stuff, what with being part synthetic.

What do you guys normally knit this yarn with? It's the Shepherd Sock, not Shepherd Sport. I used 1s, but another friend is using 0s for hers--but she looked at my sock fabric and thought that I was getting a good fabric. I dunno. I go back and forth on this whole thing a lot, and suspect I'm just going to wind up going daft and knitting everything on 0s!

Twin Rib Progress

Pattern: Twin Rib
Yarn: Socks that Rock - Cobalt Bloom
Gauge - 8 sts/inch on US Size 1 needles

Well, I'm jumping back in with both feet. To celebrate the purchase of her first home, one of my knitting friends proposed a group order of Socks that Rock. Of course we all happily obliged. Last night we had our first Knit Nite at her new house and we all cast on with our STR.

Baby Cable Rib and Reticulated #5

Finally, I got this working to be able to post. Helps to remember passwords!!

Trekking 103
Baby Cable Rib
72 stitches on US1

I loved knitting this pattern. It was very easy to memorize and knitted up fast. Didn't hurt that this yarn is beautiful and I really wanted to wear them!!

Knit Picks Essential-Burgandy

Knit Picks Simple Stripes-Vineyard

Reticulated pattern #5

Ribbing-US1 Leg- US2

I'm just getting started on this sock, and it's my first real attempt at stranding. I like that I'm getting the fairisle look by using the self-striping yarn. I know it's cheating but it looks nice.

Dear daughter has laid claim to this pair when it's done already. And she will probably get them, as I think the leg will be too tight for me.

Karen

Reply from Martingale Pub. Re: Caesar's Check

Rows 3 and 4 of the Heel-st patt on page 85 should read:


Work Rows 3 and 4 with dark and light.
Row 3: K3 with dark, *P1 with light, P1 with dark, rep from * to last 3
sts, P3 with dark.
Row 4: P3 with dark, *K1 with dark, sl 1, rep from *, weaving in light
color across to last 3 sts, K3 with dark. /


I haven't checked these yet, but I will when I do sock #2! I'll let you all know how it goes.

Caesar's Check Heel Flap Corrections

Friday night I had a date with some graph paper and a pencil and managed to figure out the heel flap mess on this pattern. First of all, you have to have an uneven number of stitches to make the color and stitch patterns work...The pattern also has you using the wrong color at the wrong time. It's a mess all in all...

My corrections:
Must have uneven number of stitches, in my case (70 stitch sock) I needed the 35 stitches, so I did not move the 1 stitch over to the other needle.

Row 1 (WS): with dark K3, purl to end.
Row 2 (RS): with dark P3, *sl 1, K1, rep to last 3 sts, K3.
Row 3 (WS): K3 with dark, *P1 with light, P1 with dark, rep from * to last 4 sts, P1 with light, P3 with dark.
Row 3 (RS): P3 with dark, *sl 1, K1 with dark, rep from *, weaving in slipped color across to last 4 sts, sl 1, K3 with dark.

I had to fudge a little on the heel turning and toe decreases afterwards because my stitch counts didn't jive with the pattern, but all in all it turned out fine.

I'll be forwarding this info on to Martingale. We'll see what they say....

Errata!

A lovely person emailed me with the errata page for SKS. I don't see any corrections for the Caesar's Check though. Maybe we should email them with that one. I'll put up the link in the sidebar. Thank you, Pat!

Caesar's Check Woes

Dark: Koigu KPM #1017
Light: Koigu KPPPM #P800

Hello everyone. I'm new to your group. I found the KAL while searching for errata for this pattern I'm working on for Caesar's Check. The heel flap is all jacked up. I've solved a couple of the problems in the heel flap instructions:

Row 4 should start with P3, rather than K3
Rows 3 and 4, the first three stitches should be knit with dark, and not light.

I'm still working on my issues with the slip stitch pattern. I continue to get a "checkerboard" effect, rather than the vertical stripe. I'm thinking I need to have an uneven number of stitches rather than the even 34 I'm working on. So, that's my next attempt at a possible solution!

I've also emailed the publisher. I couldn't believe it but I actually got an initial reply in less than 24 hours! That has to be a good sign. I'll let you all know how that goes.

Sock Inspirations

Jennifer (aka Laughing Rat) asked:
Actually, I've got a question about this: how much leeway do we have in regards to our socks being "by the book"? SKS has inspired me to make up my own socks, but sometimes they aren't exactly what's shown in the book. Can we share stuff like this too?

My answer: absolutely! I'm glad you asked, because I think the whole point of the book is to inspire knitters to make their own sock designs. So feel free to share socks inspired by the book. I'd love to know which patterns did the inspiring.

Also, if you find that I haven't put your name/blog link on the sidebar in a reasonable amount of time (two or three days at most), please speak up. I'm only human (with young kids), so things sometimes slip past me. I think I have everyone up now, but please let me know if something isn't correct or if you want to be listed as something different than what you are on the sidebar.

I'm a Slacker

Okay, I admit it, I am a slacker. I start a KAL for Sensational Knitted Socks and what do I do. I start knitting on anything but socks. I just wanted to welcome all the new members and remind anyone thinking of joining that they can send me an email to the address on the sidebar so I can send you an invitation from Blogger.

I do have a pair of mosaic socks going at the moment, but we are in the process of getting a bit of new furniture (including bookshelves) and my SKS book sort of got mixed into one of the book boxes and I'm not sure which one, so I do have a semi-legitimate reason for being a sock-slacker. I'll try and find the book so I can finish soon. Until then, I'm enjoying watching everyone else's progress. They all look great!

Garter Rib Socks

Hello...I'm sort of new to knitalongs, but thought I would de-lurk and show some pics of my progress on a pair of garter rib socks from the book.



I started these last Autumn and got distracted by holiday knitting, so as of a week ago this was the progress I had. One sock, finished in November, and just the beginnings of the second one!

Here's a closer pic of the unfinished one, so you can see how the garter rib sort of stands out and is sturdy. It looks subtly different from regular 2 x 2 rib, which is what I used for the cuff.



The yarn is Lorna's Laces sock yarn, in "Motherlode." I hope two pictures is not too many to post at once! I have to admit that I'm well into the heel of the unfinished one now, since it's been a week since I took these. :) Oh well.

Laburnum with Apatite

Started on my first sock from the book using a five stitch pattern with my handdyed, superwash in Apatite colorway....

was intended for DH, but feels more like my size *BG*. The pattern called for 50 or 60 cast on, i went with 50....how was i suppose to know? i usually go with 54, so it was natural to go down....


laburnum 

Class Sock

Well I am working on the class sock in the book. I am going to make a pair and give them to my niece. I'm not sure when they will fit her but they should eventually. :) I am doing this has part of my training for the Knitting Olympics! I am making Jaywalkers for that but I needed to at least knit a sock first. :)

Hello

Greetings, everyone!
i'm new here, although i've been lurking around a little bit.
I'm thinking the mismatched rib, aka brioche. May be i'll get to cast on tonight...we'll see....

Catch up with ya all later!

Purled Ladder Socks

Purled Ladder Socks a four stich rib pattern are finished! They are a birthday present for my sister!

2 socks on 2 circulars

This sock is a 4 stitch pattern on page 38 called Purled Ladder.
I was able to get the 2 socks in profile. but I had to move them around using double points. Yes, I cheated! Im working on how to do it without cheating but it may take me some time! Oh! the yarn is Wool Ease. I cast on 48 sts. for size 7 1/2 shoe. Liz C.

Moving Right Along

 
I've finished the heel and am starting the decreases. I hope to finish it this week and start the next one next week.
Kara 

Different Pattern for Fortissima

Well, I got about 4" of the Chevron pattern done and hated it in the Fortissima. So I ripped it and did it in the Textured Rib instead. I've started the second sock and hope to be wearing them by the end of the week. The pattern doesn't show in the picture but it is quite nice and very stretchy.

I also started Fan Lace in some Cherry Tree Hill yarn I got for Christmas. It's a potluck color that looks to be a cross between Spring Frost and Sarengeti. It's very lovely too. I will post a picture of that one when I'm further along. I have so many socks on the needles right now, I really must finish them before I start more. Right?

Karen

Baby Cable Rib

 
I started these out following the instructions on page 34 (Honey Merino Style for knitpicks, CO 48 sts). After numerous reknits for various reasons, I decided to leave off the plain rib at the knit. I'm fairly short and thought it wouldn't look that good. I'm ready to turn the heel.
Kara 

Casting On!!

Hi! I got this wonderful book for Christmas and was happy to find this KAL. I've cast on the Chevron pattern on page 73 using Fortissima Mexico 9076. I don't have enough of the leg done yet to see the full effect of this pattern on the yarn, but I'm looking forward to seeing those zig-zags. I also cast on the Twin Rib pattern for a CIC sock in some Peruvian Wool from elann.com. I don't have a blog, but enjoy going to them to read and see what everyone is doing. I don't know that my life is interesting enough to blog about it. Happy Knitting!!
Karen

Getting Started

I'm finally getting my socks going. I did a swatch New Year's Eve. I'm going to do baby cables in Merino Style honey. I'll post pictures when I get started.

Class Sock

Just finished this class sock on 2 circular needles on page 29. I had alittle bit of trouble gettting it in profile on 2 circular needles, otherwise it was fine. Instructions are pretty clear for a beginner sock knitter like myself.
It will fit my grandaughter who is 6 and wears a 12 shoe.
I'm off to try and make 2 of these socks on two circular needles!

Liz C

Christmas and Mosaic Socks

Two socks done.

Now that the Christmas pair is done, I cast one for another pair.

This is Caesar's Check done in Knit Picks Essential Black and Sock Landscape Rocky Mountain Dusk. I absolutely love the colors. The fabric is a little stiff, but not too much and they should be pretty warm.

To those who want to join the KAL: This is an ongoing knit-along, so join up and make a pair whenever. You can send me an email or leave a comment, but if you leave a comment, please make sure you also give me an email address or I can't send you an invitation so you'll be able to post. Thanks!

Christmas Socks

Well, one Christmas sock.

I'm using one of the Fair Isle patterns and I've cast on for the fraternal twin. The twin will have a red cuff, heel and toe. Festive, no?

I will be on vacation next week. I will be checking emails, but probably not as often as I usually do. So if you want to join the KAL, send me an email as usual and I promise I'll get an invitation to you as soon as I can.