Sock Love

I did knit over summer, but as usual, mostly small things.
Now that the weather might be showing some signs of cooling down in the evenings and early mornings, I am very glad that I have new socks all ready to wear.

The problem is, that I have made so many of these lovely plain yet interesting socks before, that there is very little to write about them. (The other problem is that once my daughter models them for me, I don't always get them back, but with this pair, so far, so good)

The pattern is my own.

The yarn is the delicious Aslan Trends Sante Fe, colourway Earth, with a tiny bit of Patonyle grey for the toes, as I was finishing the first sock whilst travelling, and did not have a second skein of the Sante Fe for the last centimetre of the toe ( A 50g skein of Sante Fe sometimes just makes a long enough sock for me, and sometimes is a tiny bit short).

They are very comfortable, and the variegation did not pool at all. I haven't had this happen to me yet with Sante Fe, but it is always a possibility with one of these multi colour yarns.

I may  have another pair or two to show you lurking in my almost finished pile - Don't you think that sounds so much better than UFO pile?

Reveal the contents of your handbag.

A perennial chick magazine topic is the alleged investigation of the contents of a celebrity's handbag. These handbags only ever have a brand new lipstick, some keys and a smart phone inside, but I am pretty sure this is not what most people have in their handbag.

Mine always has quite a bit of beaten up useful stuff, and a partially completed sock -unless there is a partially completed glove, but a sock is much more usual. Socks are portable and by now, I can knit one without a pattern, and not looking very often - not something I can say about a fancy cardigan with lace or cables, much as I enjoy knitting these - It is nice to be accomplished at some sort of garment!
I don't show socks here much because, I admit, they are not very exciting to look at.

I was reminded of this when Lynne commented that making socks could be considered the same sort of strange behavious as knitting a hand towel. Some commercial socks are relatively inexpensive - although somewhat limited in colour and design, and rarely made of wool. Lynne makes socks, so understands these things. Knitting socks requires a different approach to the world.

 I don't see any other swimming mothers making anything useful during hour long pool side waits, and the people hanging around miserably at the doctor's are usually picking up new germs reading ancient magazines rather than producing 10% of a sock.

Watching telly is, in my opinion, merely an opportunity to get some knitting done. Why would you just sit there?

Plain knitting socks, my own plain sock pattern.



Excitingly self stripey Kaffe Fassett sock yarn

Warm feet.
Better than doing nothing.

Kaffe Fassett stripey socks

Even when you are on a scarf binge, it is useful to have some sock knitting underway. Tiny needles, long sections of repetitive knitting perfect for a few rows whilst waiting around at swimming lessons and the like,  and about 50g of yarn per sock to carry around make socks a permanent occupant of my handbag.

The latest pair are knit from my own pattern and the Landscape (striped) Kaffe Fassett Regia yarn in colourway 4352 Canyon. The earthy colours co-ordinate perfectly with my Autumn wardrobe. Now I just need some new shoes that will show off my socks.

Purple socks

The next pair of must finish socks are also in Sante Fe. This colourway is called grape jam. I think it is my favourite - or maybe it is just my favourite at the moment.



The socks are my own pattern again, the usual, but with an eyelet insertion down the front. I am very pleased with how this turned out - it is visible, but not bulky or uncomfortable to wear in boots or closed shoes. I will be using this one again.

I am preparing for a learn to knit class tomorrow. I like to start a few simple patterns so that the students can see what they can make for a first project - at least that is my excuse for starting 2 or 3 new projects whilst there is still a significant WIP pile!

Green socks

I can hardly believe it. Only a week or so ago I claimed that I would be finishing some WIP socks, and I have actually done it! I have also managed to avoid starting any knitting project for nearly a month, which must be a record. Oo
ps, that is a lie, I made a flower brooch last week, but truly that was just finishing off an embellishment for something I had already started....
Enough confessions, here are pair #1 in the beautiful greens of Sante Fe


These are from my own everyday sock pattern, and I did try a little addition - can you see the reverse stocking stitch leaf at the back?

I can't either. Lets put this one down to experience and pretend that they are plain socks.

Araucania Socks

I bought this yarn in October, whilst I was in NSW on a buying, or should I say, trying, trip. I wanted to have some personal experience with lots of yarns that are available, before I bought them for the shop.
This Araucania Ranco Multy yarn (colour 306) caught my eye because of its fabulous varied hues. I am always on the lookout for fun sock yarn. I am very impressed with the dying, the transition of shades, and the evenness of the yarn. However, I will not be buying this yarn for my shop.
I bought one skein to try, and there were 11 breaks, or thin spots leading to a break, in the yarn. I know this is not considered a fault by yarn manufacturers these days, but I find this too many breaks for my personal tolerance level.
In addition, I think I have been spoilt by Patonyle. This wool is quite wearable, but definitely more harsh next to the skin than the merino I am used to.
The pattern I have used is my own plain sock pattern. It is available free at the Stitch Bliss shop with any sock yarn purchase.

Socks

I think I have mentioned before how much I love knitting socks. They are such a convenient handbag project, and I can knit them whilst talking, or travelling or watching television.
Here are 2 of my latest pairs of my socks.
This pair is from Heirloom Jigsaw 4 ply.
I have made them with 2.25mm needles, using my own sock pattern, with a reinforced flap heel and reinforced toe. The self striping colourway is number 66, a most unimaginative name IMO.

Here is the much more imaginatively named Kaffe Fassett Regia sock yarn "Jungle Mirage"
( I used 2.25 mm needles for this pair too, and tried really, really hard to follow the pattern pamphlet that we can give away with the yarn purchase. I am very bad at sticking exactly to a pattern. This was my first time making a round ("German") heel, and I have to say, I am not an instant fan, it does not seem to fit my foot very well. Sharon, however, finds this a fabulous heel, so probably it is just my feet. I failed to follow the pattern when I came to the toe, my toes being less pointy than the pattern and requiring a less elongated decreasing section, and I finished the toes with kitchener stitch rather than a seam, so not too many changes.
The last sock I want to show you is by Elizabeth, who has been knitting socks for around 70 years.
She is unbelievably fast and accomplished, and will not pose for a photo with her sock for some strange reason.:). Elizabeth asked me to find her some very purple sock yarn, but thought she would try Heirloom Jigsaw number 78 whilst she was waiting. Unfortunately she does not care for this sock, finding the colour combination not to her taste, but as there is now a list of about 15 people who have offered enthusastically to take the socks off her hands when they are finished, I am sure her grand-daughter will like them very much as a Christmas present. All the eager sock recipient hopefuls will just have to knit their own.