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

Ribbed Lace Socks

I finished the Ribbed Lace socks I started a long time ago. I don't even remember now when I did start them. I finished them last night. I knit them in Lorna's Sport in the Somerset colorway on size 2 needles. This was a fun knit and an easy pattern to remember. I will probably knit it again.

Chevron-arific!

Just in time to wear for the LSAT on Saturday: the Law School (Chevron) Socks!

More details are on the blog, if you scroll down a couple posts past the baby hat FO. I hope they'll bring me luck on Saturday!

I'm sorry I haven't been commenting as much on everyone's blogs (hi, Carrie and Susan!) but I hope to after the first of the year when the application process cools down and the holidays are over. Then it will just be knitting and baking the "bun" in the oven (due March 10).

I would like to thank Alison for her helpful comments on working the forethought heels on the chevron-type socks. I followed her advice and decreased every other row (per the pattern) for half of the heel, and then I decreased every row. Bingo -- no nipply heels! This pair turned out much better than the Welt Fantastic pair I made.

Did I mention lately how much I love SKS? My sister just took up knitting, and wants to start making socks, so I think I might get this book for her for Christmas.

I hope everyone has a good holiday season!

Waterfall Rib

Here is a picture of the socks I made for my daughter on the trip to Montreal back in October. Actually, I started them then and had to finish them once home. The yarn is Bernat Sox Hot Orange. I used the 2 circular method and the waterfall rib pattern. I would have liked to make the cuff longer, but she likes ankle socks. She's happy with them and that's what counts!

Sock Answers

Why make socks when you can buy them in bulk at the store?
I mainly knit socks because they are quick(er) to knit, they are easy to fit and they don't take a lot of yarn/money to make a nice gift for myself or others. But I still wear a lot of store socks.

What is your favorite sock yarn?
I never met a sock yarn I didn't like.

What is your favorite online sock yarn store?
Astrid's Dutch Obsessions. Great prices, great selection. Even with shipping to USA the prices are very good. I have chosen the cheapest/longest shipping and found the yarn arrived a lot sooner than I thought it would. About 4 weeks. If you subscribe to her e-mail list she will tell you all about her sales.

What is your favorite pattern from SKS?
Hands-down that would be Ridged Feather. I think I have made 4 or 5 sets of that now, and can't seem to do anything else lately.

Hope you USA folks have a terrific Thanksgiving. I am very thankful to be able to share my knitting with you, and I love reading about and seeing your beautiful socks!

Peace!
Susan
ZenKnit

Sock Answers

Why make socks when you can buy them in bulk at the store?

Several years ago I was shopping in Target, and was puttering around the hoisery section looking for some warm chunky socks. While looking, I thought, "Hey, I can knit, why don't I make some?" and then immediately thought, "My god, spend all that time knitting just for a pair of socks???" and totally dismissed the idea. I never did find any delicious chunky socks, and wound up buying a set of thin boring socks that had holes a month later. That very evening I was at our knitter's circle, and the hostess showed us 2 pairs of hand-knit socks. I had never seen such fabulous socks. I was wowed. I was hooked. The next day I ran to the LYS, bought yarn, a pattern, and double points. Within a few weeks I had finished that pair and bought circular needles, and within a few months I had made socks for the whole family, more pairs for me, and started collecting a formidible stash of sock yarn that continues to grow. I love my homemade socks. They feel RIGHT on my feet, while other socks just feel tolerable. They are beautiful to look at and give me joy. I also like the portability of knitting socks. I can stuff the yarn into my pockets and knit on the socks as I travel, or whenever I have a few spare seconds. That's one thing I like in particular about the circular needles, they are much more durable as a project than double points, which always fell out.

What is your favorite sock yarn?

I like anything that stripes. I'm always in search of better stripes. I have knitted more regia than anything else, possibly because it's affordable. Second to Regia would be Cascade Fixation. I had a Fixation fix a few years ago, but haven't knit it for a while. I really need to try Socks that Rock, I keep reading about it.

What is your favorite online sock yarn store?

I've ordered a lot from TheKnitter.com. The prices are very reasonable, the service excellent, and I'm a sucker for free shipping. I also have ordered from knitpicks.com.

What is your favorite pattern from SKS?

I really love how the basket rib weave knits up. I also like the mosaic socks, though I have yet to make a pair that really pleases me.

Valerie
http://knitikas.blogspot.com

Monica's Chevron Socks

I have finally finished the socks I was making for my sister. I used the Chevron pattern with 77 stitches, they are knit in Opal Dreamcatcher (I don't remember the color#, sorry). I was trying to make them identical but there seems to have been a glitch in the dyeing process, so they aren't. They do match on the legs though. I like them and I hope Monica will too.

Socktacular!

Why make socks when you can buy them in bulk at the store?
Why knit a sweater or bake a cake? I think it's the same principle. You have to enjoy the process. Overall, I am a product knitter. I knit in order to produce an item, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the process. Aside from that, it's all about the fabulous yarn and the excellent custom-fit!

What is your favorite sock yarn?
My favorite sock yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock. LOVE this stuff. The density and texture are outstanding. It's superwash and wears well. The colors are intense and creative. Love love love! (A close runner-up is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. Nice twist, great colors, wears well).

What is your favorite online sock yarn store?
Tough question, since my favorite yarn (Socks that Rock) can only be bought online at www.bluemoonfiberarts.com I feel like I could never do without them:), however, for overall selection, price, and customer service I would have to go with www.simplysockyarn.com . And for Lorna's Laces, hands down, it's all about www.yarn-store.com . Even though Simply Sock Yarn stocks it too, they don't have the realtime stock meter of each colorway! I love that. Also, Angelika (of yarn-store.com) ships exceptionally fast. I'll order on a Friday and have it on Monday! (She just added two new exclusive colorways...I couldn't resist green apple:)

What is your favorite pattern from SKS?
So far my favorite pattern has been the basket weave rib. It's simple and looks fantastic. It works well with mostly solid yarn or hand-dyed.

Sock questions

Oh, I can't resist the sock questions! Here are my thoughts:

Why make socks when you can buy them in bulk at the store?
For me knitting is more about process than product. Socks, like hats, are great fun to knit because compared to other knitted items they are quick to make, involve virtually no seaming and there is huge pleasure & satisfaction in seeing a complete, three-dimensional object 'grow' off the needles.

What is your favorite sock yarn?
There are so many but I might nominate a lovely cashmere blend that I had from Posh Yarn in the UK. The red dye comes off on my fingers but the yarn is so soft and luscious to work with.

What is your favorite online sock yarn store?
I've had quite a lot of things from Angel Yarns at http://www.angelyarns.com/ - very good for the Opal yarn range as well as their own hand-dyed, and I've already mentioned Posh Yarns for luxury blends: http://www.poshyarn.co.uk/


What is your favorite pattern from SKS?
I haven't made that many but I am slowly completing a pair of toe-up Beaded Rib socks (there's a nice photo in SKS, it's in the five-stitch-pattern section). I was on a steep learning curve with the provisional cast-on & hundreds of stitch markers on the heel and toe, but the beaded rib stitch pattern is lovely - not that hard to execute and looks really elaborate. I am nearly finished making these socks and I will proudly post a photo when they're done.

Rachel

Sock Answers

I'm game. Here are my sock answers:

Why make socks when you can buy them in bulk at the store? For the challenge of it. Something about the construction makes it so much more interesting than other knitting. And until I received my first pair of socks (in the Sock Wars contest), I had no idea about how wonderful handknit socks feel. They are Cleckheaton yarn in a wool/silk blend. Now I am a true believer. The rest of the socks I make may just be for me.

What is your favorite sock yarn? I like Lorna's Laces. I'm knitting with Lana Grossa right now, and the one finished sock is really soft and comfy. Claudia's Handpainted is also very nice.

What is your favorite online sock yarn store? I've only ordered online from Knit Happens, which is one of my LYSes. I ordered Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl. But I actually saw someone knit up a Clapotis from the same yarn and colorway, so that sock yarn might not actually go into socks. (Horrors!)

What is your favorite pattern from SKS? I'm digging the chevron pattern in the Lana Grossa grey/black/white stripe right now, but I'm pretty much over striping yarn, so I'm going to move on from there. I love the Elongated Corded Rib, and may make another one of those. But I also have envied the Harebell Lace and Oriel patterns I've seen on the blog, so those are up next.

Looking forward to seeing everyone else's answers!

One Elongated Corded Rib Sock Down

Thanks to four days away from home and all of the associated chores that go with home, I actually finished the first of my Elongated Corded Rib Socks. I had been feeling rather ambivalent about this pattern, and have decided that some of the ribbed sock varieties aren't the most flattering for my calves. But with the beautiful Socks That Rock Peaseblossom yarn, I ended up liking the end result:



Now it's on to Sock #2!
More on my blog

Deb

I'm new

I'm new too sock knitting, my wonderful SP9 pal sent me this book to start this new obsession LOL...I'm going to choose my sock and i'll post back about what i'm going to make :)...I'm currently doing the Blueberry Waffle pattern ( found at knitting pattern central) in KnitPicks memories Rocky Mountain Dusk...but I messed up on the heel...I thought i'd try a short row heel...I forgot to do the wraps and now there are holes :(...i'm debating starting the heel over or keep going and sew up the holes after and remember to do it right for the 2nd sock LOL...I put it down for a bit and i'll start another from the book :)

Sock Questions

I'm a couple of days behind in posting the questions I promised, but I engaged myself in some insane lace knitting that has to be done by the end of November to wear to a holiday party. So not too much sock knitting going on right now. Here are the questions. Feel free to answer right here on the SKS blog and if you have any questions you'd like to add, let me know.

Why make socks when you can buy them in bulk at the store?
What is your favorite sock yarn?
What is your favorite online sock yarn store? (I'll add the answers here to the sidebar, so everyone can find them.)
What is your favorite pattern from SKS?

I look forward to seeing your answers!

Hostess note:
Stariel, I need your email address in order to send an invitation to you. You can email me at the address in the sidebar. Thanks!

Elongated Corded Rib

I completed my Fail Safe Socks yesterday. I used the elongated corded rib pattern which works out quite nicely with variegated yarn.

More Sensational Knitted Socks

I am not sure where I heard about the book but there is a pre-order for it up on Amazon NAYYY. I don't know when it is supposed to come out and I hope it isn't going to take forever because I am already anxious for the next book. Now I just have to figure out how to add my name to the list on the sidebar because it's not there and I don't know what to do to get it there. More sock knitting to come in a few weeks. I have some really nice sock yarn I bought at the TTC Knitalong just before Halloween and it's crying out to be used.

Intro

Hello socksters!

I've been reading the blog for a while, and have been waiting to finish my most recent pair of socks before posting. These socks pictured were made toe-up from Big Print remnants I found in my stash. I didn't use a pattern from the SKS book, but I did use the yarn-over cable stitch found in there. I knit toe-up until I ran out of the yarn, and then knit a fairly chunky cuff to make the socks tall enough.

I am also in the middle of a pair of socks using Trekker yarn, a gift for my husband. These, too, I'm using my own pattern, but utilizing the basket-rib stitch from the book. This is a gorgeous stitch! I'll be sure to post pictures when they're done.



I knit one pair of socks using a pattern directly out of SKS. It was after struggling through errors in the version I have that I found this blog, because I was googling looking for support. I was glad to see the errata linked here!

These socks were knit from Knit Picks' Essential, using the mosaic sock pattern in SKS, and the crusader's check stitch. They're very fun to wear!

Nice to be a part of this blog. I loooove seeing every body's pictures. What a great collection of gorgeous socks!

Valerie
http://knitikas.blogspot.com

Another Newbie

Hi everyone,
I just joined and am thrilled to be here! I am making my second pair of socks from this wonderful book. I used it to learn how to knit socks, and am now a member of the Socks That Rock Club who makes socks on a regular basis.


My current pair from this book are "Elongated Corded Rib," which I am making with Socks that Rock Peaseblossom. They are looking lovely already, and it's a nice, easy, rhythmic pattern.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's socks!

Deb
http://rather-be.blogspot.com/

Just Joined

My name is Rochelle. I just received my invite to join the KAL. I've already knit one pair of socks from this fantastic book but I will be doing more. I love this book and I can't wait for the sequel "More Sensational Knitted Socks" that is due out in the spring, I believe.

Hostess Notes

Hello there,

I just glanced at the archives and realized I've had the KAL blog going for nearly a year and I also realized I haven't been the best hostess, but I am vowing to change that. I have been looking at everyone's socks even if I haven't been commenting. A lot of really great socks you guys have been making! I have just finished some long overdue maintenance, meaning I've added people's names to the sidebar. If I missed you or if your information or blog is wrong, please let me know. If you asked for an invite and have not received one, please let me know because occasionally things do get lost or put in the wrong email folder.

I thought to get things started back on the blog, I'd come up with a few sock related questions for you. I'll do that sometime in the next few days, so if you have a question you'd like me to add to the list, just let me know either in the comments for this post or in an email. Thanks for being patient with me. I'm forgetful and I get easily overwhelmed with things.

Your Hostess,
Alison

My First Sock Triumph!

Here it is, in all it's first sock glory!



It is finished, and I am so anxious to cast on for the second sock I can hardly see straight. What a rush! Thanks to everyone who helped in this crazy process, including my Secret Pal 9 and Charlene from Sensational Knitted Socks. Sock knitting is SOOOO worth it! I will pose with them on once I have a pair. (I couldn't seem to take a picture with the sock on without making my ankle look extremely fat. I will get help with The First Pair of Socks in Use photo shoot.) Will I be able to sleep tonight? Probably not! More knitting? Bring it on! And yea to Socktoberfest!

How Fantastic!

Thanks Charlene for responding to my question so quickly! I'm now knitting down the foot, looking forward to the toe. But I have another question. In the next section, on page 36, under Toe Shaping, it says Knit to marker. According to the section above, the markers were no longer needed, and I removed them. So do I need to place another marker somewhere? Sorry I keep asking all these questions. As I'm sure everyone has noticed, I am a brand new sock knitter and sometimes need things spelled out before I grasp the concept! Can't wait to post a pic of my finished sock!

New & Needing Help!

Hi! I'm brand new to this KAL, and am so impressed with the socks I am seeing! I am presently working on my first sock ever, using the garter rib pattern. Things have been going fairly well until tonight. I am using 2 circulars. I am to the Foot point on page 36 where she tells me to rearrange stitches so that instep stitches are on needle 1 and sole stitches are on needle 2. How is this done? My working yarn is in the middle of my sole stitches at this point! Help!

Oriel Race

You're on Ginny! Here is my current SKS project, Oriel (in red) posing with a Child's French Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks:

It's a race, and I'm sorry to say Oriel is not winning... I like the pattern a lot so far (I have only completed 1 1/2 pattern repeats) but I chose to use Knitpicks Essential for the Oriel... and Lorna's Laces for the CFSs. So needless to say, the CFSs are winning...

All Quiet on the SKS Front?

It's been quiet around here lately, so I thought I would at least post my next wannabe SKS creation.

I'm using Lana Grossa Meilenweit and using the chevron pattern from the book. I did change to a ribbed cuff, since I wasn't crazy about the garter stitch cuff on the Welt Fantastics.

Getting close to the first heel, and I want to get them done for Socktoberfest. Anyone else participating?

I've decided to apply for law school, so I've been calling these my Law School Socks. Unfortunately as I'm studying for the LSAT, I'm learning I really should only do stockinette projects while trying to read.

How about a question for the group? Are there patterns in Sensational Knitted Socks that you have your eye on? Ones that are on your "Want to Knit" List? Any already on the needles? Share your progress shots.

SKS Socks of Doom

Not sure how many of you are in YarnMonkey's Sock Wars, but I kept knitting the Rib of Doom thinking, "This looks really, really familiar."

As it turns out, it's one of the six-stitch patterns, Twin Rib, in SKS.

I made mine with Rowan Cashsoft Baby DK in Blue Boy. I finally got gauge with US7s. They are very loose, but I think they'll fit my victim. (They're not really two different sizes. I think it was the camera angle my husband was shooting from.)

It's been a fun game, and I think these are the fastest socks I've ever knit. I'm not dead yet (to quote Monty Python) but my doom should get to me this next week.

Fun!

Just the Basics

Another pair from the book. I used Lorna's Laces colorway Black Watch. Just the basic 2 x 2 rib cast on of 56 stitches. Knit from the top down. Pattern in the four stitch section.

These are a gift but I would like to keep them for myself:D More details at my blog.

Two New Pairs

My swap partner sent me two skeins of Lorna's Laces and SKS for my birthday, the colourway is Ravenswood. I used the Harebell lace pattern with my favourite toe-up, short-row sock. With the leftovers I made a pair of baby socks using the basketweave pattern.
I really like the basketweave, however I'm not sure I'll knit Harebell again - I found it very fiddly. I also couldn't figure out how it is supposed to be knitted over 66 stitches - I know Carrie has done it but I couldn't see how to work rows 6 and 12 of the pattern if doing 5 1/2 rpts across the instep. In the end I did it on 60 stitches and started at row seven on the second sock to make them symmetrical.

I really like the lace rib - I might try that next.

Ciao, Diane :-)

(* edited with much better pic)

Hi and I'm almost done!

I'm Elspeth and I have been working on a Garter Rib sock from SKS. It's in my handdyed yarn and I made it for the Second Sock Syndrome swap, so I make one and my partner makes the other. All I have left is to kitchener:



And I have a question -- has anyone made any of the patterns that start with a YO at the beginning of the needle? I tried the Corded Rib (4 stitch pattern, I think that was the name) and the second row of the pattern started a needle with a YO. I was pretty sure I could fudge it for myself but not for my pal so I switched to the Garter Rib. Any suggestions?

Again, Again!

I made the Waffle Rib socks out of SKS and started another pair of Ridged Feather (my third set). More details on my blog, ZenKnit.

A Theme

And now for something completely different...

Well, not really. It's another Welt Fantastic pair!

I did not grow a third foot. It's the ever curious, always helpful, never shod, Slim!

In a case of great minds thinking alike, Carrie and I made the exact same modifications to the pattern. I also dig the forethought heel because of the cool bulls-eye pattern it makes, but really still don't like the Kitchener stitch. This was my first pair of top-down socks, however, and my first 4 (FOUR!) opportunities to graft, so hopefully I'll continue to get better at it.

Cartoons are a knitting mom's best friend.

More photos and more news over at my blog. I'm gearing up for Sock Wars, so my SKS knitting may be on hold for a little while, but I am hoping to do a Beaded Rib pattern next on a pair of socks for my dad.

Happy knitting!

Welt Fantastic

Aloha! Here we have the latest completed socks from SKS:


Another Welt Fantastic! Here are the specs:
Yarn: Knit Picks Sock Garden in Pansy, 220yds/skein, 1.5 skeins
Needles: 5 US size 1 dpns
Gauge: 6.5 stitches and 11 rows in stockinette

This yarn didn't knit up in a gauge suitable for both my foot and the pattern, so I increased the number of stitches in the welt pattern to 15 (from 11) for a total cast-on of 60. I did 5 pattern repeats each for the leg and the foot. There were some other modifications from the pattern, since the stitch count did not match the pattern as written, but I am a lousy note-taker and couldn't tell you then if I wanted to. (After the heel I decreased until there were 24 stitches for the bottom of the foot.)

I didn't have the same problem as a couple of the other members of this group with pointy heels, but then the pattern was modified a bit from the original proportions. I do like the forthought heel enough, but I think I am a heel flap girl. Doing kitchener stitch twice in one sock is a bit much for me!

More photos on my blog and in my forthcoming Flickr gallery.

Yee haw, on to the next pattern...

Cheers!

Hello SKS knitters!

Hi everybody, I have just joined and am thrilled to have found this KAL. I received a copy of Sensational Knitted Socks for my birthday last month and am keen to try lots of the patterns (halfway through first pair). It's great to see socks knitted up here that only exist as swatches in SKS.

Happy sock knitting to all!

Diane

Greetings Sock Knitters!

I am new to the blog and wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Jamie and I have been knitting for about a year. Last October I taught myself to knit from the internet and made a Hogwarts Harry Potter scarf for my husband. I have been hooked ever since and my latest obsession has become socks! While I think all handmade socks are "sensational" here are my two latest creations from the SKS book.

These were done in Trekking XXL using size 1 (and size 0 for the heel) needles. It is the garter rib pattern. I wanted to choose a simple pattern so as not to compete with the varigated yarn. These were so much fun to make - I will definitely do them again!


These were done in some Baby Ull from Dalegarn that I had lying around. I call them my "Casino Socks" because it was 7 repeats for the leg, 7 for the heel, and then...8 for the foot. Just like when I go to the casino, the slots always come up 7-7-8, and thus no jackpot for me! These were a quick knit on size 1 needles. The pattern is the diamond rib from the 8-stitch pattern section!

Socks of Many Colors

While I was sick with a nasty cold last week I spent my days knitting up a pair of socks for my hubby. He has named them his "Socks of Many Colors". I think they are the most ugly pair of socks that I've ever knit. He likes them. Don't even ask me to try to explain that one:D For more details come on over to my blog and visit. Crazy chocolatey things are afoot over there. Have a good one. Abigail