Mock Rib Socks

I am still waiting for my copy of More Sensational Socks to arrive but I love the first book. For some reason, I always seem to come back to the Mock Rib pattern. This is the pair that I just finished in Sweet Georgia's Still Water. I have another pair in the same pattern on the needles right now. Plus I have yet another pair in a different pattern from the first book also on the needles.

New to the KAL

Hi, I'm Satori and though I am new to this KAL I am definitely not new to Sensational Knitted Socks. It's a wonderful book and I just ordered the More Sensational Knitted Socks yesterday.

Since the first book came out I've made about 6 pair of socks out of it. The picture below is the current pair. The 3x3 Cable with Moss Stitch. I'm using size 3 circulars and Austermann Bamboo Soft yarn.

I'm really looking forward to seeing all the beautiful socks that you are making.

Have a great day!

basket weave socks

I got my copy of the new book More Sensational Knitted Socks which I love as much as the first one! Here's my first project, that I knitted for my hubby:
This is the basket weave stitch pattern that I used with my basic toe-up method. The yarn is Claudia's Handpainted Yarn in Deep Blue. More pictures and info can be found on my blog if you're interested. Thanks! Tiennie

My First SKS, and first socks in 3 years!

.This is my first post to this blog, and THIS is my first pair of SKS! I'm a newbie sock knitter, but an addicted sock knitter. I took a sock class in 2004 at a LYS, but couldn't make a sock at home. A friend from church recommended this book...and here they are my socks...a basic K2P2 ribbing in a 4 stitch repeat in Austermann Step...I really like the feel of this yarn. I wore them today to our homeschool co-op, and showed them to literally everyone. Thank you for all of your helpful hints and sharing your gorgeous socks in the posts...they're very inspiring to me, and now I'm starting another (and more challenging) pair soon...after my Monkey Socks, that is. :) I can't wait to see the MSKS book that I have on order. Keep the pictures coming of your socks!

Hello! and some very simple socks...

I found this KAL after completing my first two-and-a-half pairs of SKS socks. The picture shows the first ones I finished: little tiny socks for my daughter, 48 stitches around, Lorna's Laces Lucky Stripe (the flash really killed the vibrancy of the colors!) on an Addi size 1 (magic loop).

Straight rib, except I made the heel flaps eye-of-partridge. I also played with some of the heel and instep details, since it seemed unlikely that Tabby would notice... I think I prefer having a two-stitch wide purl valley just above the instep decreases (right sock), and including the garter edge on the heel flap (left sock) is definitely better than not (right sock).

The ones I made for myself, and the ones I'm making for my husband, are also super-plain K2P2 rib. I can't wait to get done with his; I need to try something a little more interesting!

Emma Jane

Beaded Rib Socks

Hi everyone! I discovered this group just as I finished my first pair of socks from the book. They're the Beaded Rib pattern, knit exactly as the pattern; toe up, short row toe and heel. I love these socks, and I really love the book. I tend to mess with patterns quite a bit anyway, so it's nice to have "recipes" for every method of sock knitting.

I used Wildfoote in a color called Mums; you can get all the gory details at my blog.

Next up I think will be the Garter Rib for my hubby, but I'll use the same construction as for these. It's the first pair I'll have made for him, so toe-up is the way to go; I'd hate to run out of yarn halfway down the foot!

yarnmule

Chevron Socks

I finished these Chevron Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks using the lightweight Socks that Rock in the Nodding Violet Colorway. The pattern was perfect for the striping found in the yarn. I love, love, love them! Very comfortable, and I get frequent comments about them from non-knitters. Usually the "Oh, those are cute. Will you make me some?" kind. I'm always willing to offer to teach that person to knit their own.

Hostess Notes

Sorry there hasn't been a question of the week for a few weeks now. I've been swamped by a few things. I am, however, open to suggestions for questions. Just email to the addy in the sidebar with "question idea" in the subject line.

Welcome to all the new members. If you've noticed your name is not on the sidebar (remember I did lose a lot of members' names in the sidebar in the switchover), just drop me an email with "sidebar" in the subject line and in the email body, let me know the name you want on the sidebar and if you have a blog, please list that as well so I can link to you. This goes for new members as well. I'm trying to get caught up again, but don't hesitate to let me know if you're not there. (If you haven't guessed by now, I'm not exactly the world's most organized person.) If you don't have a blog, which is not necessary, I will just link back to the KAL for your name. It was just easier to set up a links list.

Anyway, the question has been asked if this KAL would include the new book More Sensational Socks due out in a couple of days and the answer is "YES!". I love the patterns in the original and I'm really looking forward to getting my copy of the new one.

Take care and have a good weekend. I hope to have a question for you next week.

2 pairs down

Hey everyone! I finished 2 pairs of SKS this past month before I even knew there was a KAL for them. I'm glad to be joining y'all. Here's the first pair:
It's a garter rib pattern. Here's the second pair:
It's the Waffle Rib II pattern. They were both knitted with Koigu, toe-up, magic loop method on US #2 for my hubby. If you want to see more pictures or read more about them, you can find me here. Thanks for stopping by. Tiennie

More Sensational Knitted Socks

Hi everyone--

Just wanted to send out the alert that Knitpicks has More Sensational Knitted Socks for $18.45, available on Monday, March 19th.

Will this KAL become a SKS/MSKS KAL when the new book comes out? I hope so!

I've been doing other projects but plan to cast on some slip-stitch rib socks any day now...The NCAA tournament makes for great knitting time (as long as you don't care if you miss some of the action). Go Washington State!

Yarn over Wildfoote

Meet my newest socks, yarn-over cables knit in Wildfoote's Columbine colour. They have a short-row toe and heel, just like in the SKS pattern. I'm all excited to get wearing them!

More details on my blog.
Valerie

Five-stitch Beaded Rib socks (p.39)

You know those red, five-stitch Beaded Rib toe-up socks on page 39 of SKS? Here's my interpretation.

Aren't they nice? Worth it, even though it was an absolute mare learning how to do short-row toes!

The yarn is Lucia by Posh Yarn: 30% cashmere, 70% merino.

I'm so glad I've finally finished these, I've been looking forward to posting something here for ages.

The full story is at http://beelzebubknits.blogspot.com

New, and a question....

Hi all! I'm fairly new to sock knitting, but had the book Sensational Knitted Socks recommended to me on the yahoogroup Addicted to Sock Knitting (which I'm finding I am! : ) ) and I am so glad! Here's the first sock I'm working on...
Yarn: 80% Llama, 20% Wool
Pattern: Baby Cable Rib
Needles: 2.5 mm double pointed
Anyways, so glad to have found this blog, and to be allowed to post!
I have a question I've been hoping someone could answer-how do you decide which colour combinations to come up with for the two yarn patterns (I'm thinking especially of the 4 stitch reticulated patterns). I'm considering some yarn with a lot of purple in it (Knit Picks Memories Rocky Mountain Dusk), but I'm not sure I want to pair it with basic black...What other colours do you think would be complementary?

New Socks!

This is my first pair of toe-ups; I used Oriel from SKS and love them.

If you want more details, just hop on over to my blog.

Sorry for the lack of question last week. It was a rough week; I'll have something by Friday. Any suggestions are welcome!

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

Better Late ...

As I patiently wait for the second installment of SKS to arrive, I realized that I needed to go ahead and sign up for this knitalong. The first pair of socks was completed in December '05 and the next two early '06, and the last pair in mid '06.


Maze Socks in Black Regia 4fadig & Ecru Froelich Wolle Special Blauband, men's size 12


Baby Cables in Black Regia 4fadig, men's size 13


Garter Ribs in Mountain Colors Bearfoot Wild Raspberry, women's size 10

Missing is the pair of Openwork Ribs in Regia Bamboo Color. The pattern is virtually impossible to capture and I didn't realize a finished pic was missing until I started posting here.

I look forward to seeing and sharing more sock progress. I can also be found at Fiberitis.

Beverly

Have you ordered the New Book?

I was curious to know if any of you have put your order in for the second book of SKS? I was looking at it at Amazon and need to order a couple of other things and am thinking I should order the book too! Has anyone else seen it anywhere else for a better price than Amazon?
Thanks

Baby Cable Rib

I finished a pair!

Baby Cable Rib in Cherry Tree Hill Spanish Moss on size 0s

New To The Group, But Not To SKS

Hi everyone...:-) I'm really glad to find a group about this book - it is my sock bible! I've made about 6 pairs from the book, but a few of them were what I'm now calling my "vanilla" socks - just stockinette legs (because I wanted the yarn to do it's thing), but I've tried different heels and toes along with it (from the book). I don't know what my favorite pattern is yet but I've done the slip-stitch rib twice now and I love it. I need to get more adventurous and try more, which I'm really looking forward to. I certainly have enough stash to cover the task. I'm at the heel flap on sock #2 of the current pair, so should be posting a finished picture soon - I hope!

Question of the Week

What is your favorite pattern from SKS?

I know it's a tough question because there are so many lovely ones. I think my very favorite is the waterfall rib. I just love how my waterfall rib socks turned out.

Note: I'm still trying to rebuild the members list, so if you don't see your name on there, let me know at the email address in the sidebar with your blog address (if you have one) and the name as you'd like it to appear. If you don't have a blog, I've just linked you right back the the KAL page. It just made setting up a link list much easier that way.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

A finished pair!

I finished a pair of purple socks, and I am almost finished with my red-white-and-blue socks. See photos on the sock page of my blog.

Beaded Rib

Wow, this goup is really jumpin' all of a sudden! I give to you the Beaded Rib Socks:

The Specs:
Pattern: Beaded Rib
Yarn: Who the heck knows? Possibly an alpaca/synthetic blend.
Needles: 5 US size 2 Empress wooden dpns
Size: CO 50 stitches for a slightly narrow size 7 1/2 (US) shoe
Started: 02 January 2007
Finished: 22 January 2007
Mods: Increased in purl spaces for sort-of knee socks (somewhat haphazardly but luckily hidden by the fuzzy nature of the socks). Did the short-row heel as proscribed and find I like it much better in a sock that actually fits my foot (refer to the Sixth Sense Socks for more details about that).

I just realized that I completed nearly-knee-socks in about three weeks. Yay me!

What, you want to see more? You'll have to come visit for that!

sock yarns

I've just joined this blog and just got SKS a week ago. I can't wait to get started on a pair from that book. Any recommendations on good ones to start with?

I'm posting to tell you about a yarn that i got in a som from Knitting.com called regia silk. i don't knit solid-colored socks too often, but this is in a beautiful olive color that matches a shawl I was given for Christmas, so I couldn't resist. Once i started knitting, I fell in love with how it knits and how it feels. I finished the first sock Friday, and of course, had to try it on. I didn't want to take it off. The pattern they sent with it was a lace pattern which i have never done before, but i love it too, and it's not too hard. hopefully you'll like regia silk as much as i do.

Back again!

I feel like I've been awol for quite a while but don't worry, I'm still knitting plenty of SKS socks :-)

Here's the latest pair:

Yarn: Fleece Artist sock yarn, colour 'burgundy'
Pattern: Bluebell rib, toe-up with short rows, 60 sts

I love the way these turned out - my first pair of really red socks!

Ciao :-)

Chevron Socks

chevron
Originally uploaded by stariel.

Hi everyone! I'm new to this KAL, and I recently finished my first pair of socks from SKS.

I used the Chevron pattern, but modified it for a 13 stitch repeat with a total cast on of 78 stitches on size 1 needles. The yarn is JKnits.

I'm excited to be part of this group, hopefully some of the socks I see here will inspire me to try out more of the patterns!

Question of the Week and More Hostess Notes

I'm going to try to start doing a question of the week and everyone can just answer in the comments. My question this week:

What is your favorite sock yarn and why?

My favorite sock yarn changes periodically, but right now it's Cherry Tree Hill because it's so soft and the colors so vibrant. Just look at my post from a couple of days ago. It's lovely stuff!

And your hostess note: As you can see, I've been playing around in the New Blogger and I've messed up the Members List. If you want your name in the sidebar, please send an email to the address in the sidebar with the subject "name in sidebar". I'm sorry for the inconvenience and I hope to get the buttons back up later in the week as well!

lemon meringue chevron

These socks were knit from yarn I space-dyed with a plant called weld. I thoroughly enjoyed knitting up the pattern.

New Blogger, Hostess Notes

Okay, our KAL has been moved to the new Blogger. I don't know if this will create problems for anyone trying to post. I think you might have to create a Google account or you might even need a new invitation. I am not sure, so if you are on the KAL and are having trouble posting, please let me know at the address on the sidebar with the subject "trouble posting". We can now use labels for our posts. For example, I've used "Hostess Notes" and "Baby Cable" for this post.

I've also gotten around to adding a few vendors on the sidebar who sell a bit of sock yarn. I'm not affiliated with any of them personally, but I've either had good service from them or know someone who has. If there are any you'd like me to add, just send an email with "sock yarn vendor" in the subject.

Meanwhile, I've been working on this:

Baby Cable Rib in Cherry Tree Hill colorway Spanish Moss.

I wanted to do the run of the mill, who cares if the stripes turn out wonky, heel. Does that make me a bad human being/Knitter? I feel guilty. I needed to come clean.
Well, If im gonna come clean, I may as well be squeaky about it. I was too lazy to find the scrap yarn required for the chevron pattern's afterthought heel. It just seemed like too much work for not all that rewarding a cause. I stuck with what I know. Im the pbj kinda sock knitter I suppose. But, honest nonetheless.

I apologize for the sideways picture. I am also too lazy to rotate apparently.

Completed Yarn Over Cables

Yarn Over Cable socks

Time taken to knit: December 25th to January 8th with a few interruptions
Pattern: Yarn Over Cable from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn:100g Koigu Kersti Merino Crepe K8294 which was a gift from my friend CL in Canada
Needles: 2 x Addi Turbo 3.5mm circulars

More photos can be seen on my blog

Baby Cables for Papa

My Christmas knitting was a pair of Baby Cable socks for my Dad in Stahl Socka Color. I enjoyed doing the no-cable version of the two stitch cable particularly. I did the 80 stitch version, so hope they fit Dad's size 12 feet. More details and a closeup photo on my blog here.

I just checked Amazon about More Sensational Knitted Socks, and they have a publish date of March 26, 2007 for it. It'll be hard to wait. I'm always looking for more patterns and I really like the format of SKS. I had the local Kinkos add a spiral binding to my copy so it would lay flat nicely. Only cost about $5 if I recall correctly.

Trish

Howdy. I am new.

This is my second pair of socks from sks. I made one of the simple cable patterns first, though I cant rememer which one, and to be honest I am just way too lazy to get up and look. Forgive me for the starbucks cup, It was a gift.I thought I would like the chevron pattern more. I am just about ready to turn the heel. Its been a slow sock. I gotta get movin on it. I apologize for being a bad blogger.

Yarn Over Cables in Koigu Kersti Merino

I've been playing with some of the fantastic yarn that I received for Christmas & cast on with the Koigu Kersti Merino Crepe and the Yarn Over Cable pattern.


Yarn Over Cable in Koigu Kersti Merino

I have 100g of this DK yarn so chose a toe up pattern to make sure that I got as much sock out of it as possible. I've never done short row toes or heels before so it was an education & a fair bit of tinking took place but I've got the hang of it now.

The second sock looked like this last night:


Yarn Over Cable - toe up sock

Chevron socks

Here they are! Finally, I took pictures of them today. I used the 2 circular method with Parade yarn by Knitpicks. I'm not overly fond of the before afterthought heel method though I like the bull's eye pattern it makes by doing it.

Two Pairs of Socks

I recently joined the Sensational Knitted Socks KAL and thought I'd post a couple of photos of some of the socks I've knitted recently. These socks are the Elongated Corded Rib socks. I used Posh Yarn's sock club yarn. The yarn is Lucia which is a blend of Cashmere and Merino and very scrummy. I can't remember the name of the colour, unfortunately.



My first sock pattern that I knitted from the SKS book was the Basket Weave Rib socks. I used Sunshine Yarns sock yarn in the colour Reef. There are more sock photos on my blog: http://fraggleknits.blogspot.com/

blog button

Can anyone tell me how to take the SKS blog button from the sidebar and put it on my personal blog to be able to link back here? I'm new at this and tried to do a search to find out how to do this, but apparently I'm searching with the wrong wording. Much appreciated! Thanks, SueC

Elongated Corded Rib Socks Done!

These came out nicely, even if there is some pooling with the Socks that Rock yarn. You can't beat it for comfort, and this pattern was rhythmic and easy!

Read more about my sock sagas on my blog: http://rather-be.blogspot.com/

Deb