December socks

So here we are, then end of the year.
I started the December socks at the beginning of the month. 
I can make it with time to spare!
Yeah, right....
Got the plan laid out for the socks (finally), got the yarn all ready, got the first sock done, then the needle snaps!
Oh! Great! Two sets broken in one year.... grrrrrrrrrrr...
I have another set in the same size, but they are metal and I always have a different gauge with metal compared to bamboo... so here I am on the second to last day of the month and only have one sock done. I am sorry....
I will finish them as soon as I have my bamboo needles (they are ordered, but not here yet). I get 15 sets of 5 :) Part of my Christmas present from DH.

I will however start with the January socks non the less on Tuesday! It will be a twitter KAL with a few other wonderful Twitter-knitters! Can't wait to start!
Oh... the December sock picture. I have one of the first sock :) I won't wear them until the second one is done, but you can see the general gist of the matter. I won't stitch on the skulls (you don't even see them in this picture anyway), I have found a few buttons that look cute on them instead!

 

I was going for Roller derby! Can you tell?

I will give you the stats along with the second sock. :)

I wish all of you a happy and healthy new year full of hand-knitted socks!See you then!

November socks

I finally finished these socks. They would have been done a while ago, but I was waiting for elastic thread... the thread finally came, but in white... so after a few days thinking about it and trying to make it work, I decided to just finish them and weave the thread in when it comes in black.... (This yarn just needs a bit help in the ribbing department.... elastic will help them stay up better)

Well here they are, my November socks!

Stats:
Pattern: none just cast on and knit

Yarn: Mystery cone yarn from stash

Needles: US size 2 

Nitty gritti: toe up -yet again- my own star toe for toe up socks, nothing special really....but I absolutely love the way they came out!

Pictures:

 Already cast on for December:

lost my mojo, will be returning

Hi there sock knitters et. al.

I was so excited to join this 12 Socks KAL and then only finished one pair of socks. I think about it all the time, am planning to get back to it and even catch up (with kids socks or something small). I really lost my sock mojo for a while, couldn't get interested in doing socks. It might have been the yarn or the patterns - I have three pairs of socks on the needles right now.

Then the crunch for Christmas began and the socks were set aside. I'm currently knitting up a bunch of stuff to sell at my LYS, none of them include socks. At this rate I don't think I'll be getting back to socks until December 26th at the earliest.

Now it seems our gal knittyornice must gracefully bow out of leading this blog, alas. We all understand, jobs, life, stress, it all gets in the way of what we really want to be spending our time doing. In fact, the rest of us have hardly been able to keep up with the project either! Well, maybe we needn't be limited to 12 socks in 12 months. Maybe just 12 socks period? So far I'm one for twelve.

Instead of feeling guilty for not getting socks done (maybe it's just me, I totally feel guilty), we have to look at our other accomplishments. We knitters have moods and phases. I'm in a beaded bag phase just now. Maybe you are in a sweater phase, or a shawl phase. And maybe, just maybe, some point soon we will all come back to socks. Then this blog will explode again and perhaps gather a new batch of recruits.

Finally finished October

After lots of knitting and ripping and re-knitting, broken needles and changing of mind I finally finished my October socks! :D

Here they are!

Stats:
Needles: US 2
Pattern: None, just cast on and went for it. Pattern stitch can be found in "Big book of Knitting Stitch Patterns" from Sterling publishing
Yarn: Mystery wool I got from a friend
Nitty gritty: Toe up, can you believe it? I can't! I'm a cuff down girl!  With my own star toe . Sorry about the pics not being all that... it's raining and I really wanted to get them done.

 ETA one more picture. We had a bit of sunshine today along with the rain... I think you can see the socks/pattern better here:

October socks

Ummmm... yeah....

September socks!

My August Socks were done in July already... I thought I would not have much time this or next month for knitting, so I cast on the next pair right away. Alas I ended up having way more time then I thought possible. Even with two birthdays, two volunteer appreciation pick-nicks and a party all in one month. (I did most of the cooking and all the baking for one pick-nick, both birthdays and the party!)
I also had no Internet for a few days. Internet trouble = more knitting time!!!
The result: I finished my September socks yesterday! YAYY!

Stats:
Needles: US size  3
Yarn: Bernat Satin Sport in Seashore
Pattern: No pattern, eyelet-stitch found in "Big Book of Knitting Stitches" p. 202. "Lacy Points" (Gives it a bit of texture)
Nitty gritty: Toe up (again... this is really unusual for me) the round toe for toe up I developed, short row heel, love the yarn! So soft! Super nice to knit with!

Pictures:

Already cast on for the next pair. I made another pair this month for my daughters birthday, but they were so plain (on her request..) I won't let them count unless I run short in the end LOL)

My July socks, just in case you missed them :)
Update on the socks on size US1: I had to rip them... haven't cast back on yet.
On to the next pair!

Phineas News Socks Finished!

They're done! Two days early in fact. First off, the yarn is super squishy and fantastic. The pattern was fun to knit, not as boring as stockinette, but not horribly complicated either. This was a nice break from all the crazy complicated things that I've been working on.

The Specs:
Pattern: Phineas by Rosemary Waits
Yarn: Knit Fit Knitting Footapy in Daily News
Needles: Addi Lace US 0
Measurements: It was a 72 stitch pattern, I ended up with a 7 inch leg+cuff and about 6 inches for foot length
Modifications: I did a slip stitch heel using the formula from Knot Another Hat, and had to do the foot a little shorter to accommodate the 72 stitch pattern, so it would stretch a little more, and fit my foot better. I did do the twisted stitch rib.
Thoughts: This was the perfect pattern to work on while at work. It was not boring, but also not complicated, so it kept me entertained. I like how the pattern is just a hint with this yarn (yes, yes, it would have been more obvious on a more solidly colored yarn, but this is perfect for me)

Phineas News Update

Hello! I have made progress. While I was at work on Saturday, I did the heel turn and heel flap on my Phineas News socks. Now I just need to do 4 more inches of pattern and then the ribbing for the cuff. Do you think I can get these done before the 30th?

The pattern is Phineas by Rosemary Waits, and I used the Knot Another Hat formula for the slip stitch heel that I love so much. (which, btw, is probably the best way for me to do math for slip stitch heel fun. I like formulas. They make me feel scientific)

August Socks Update-Phineas News

Well, I have completed one repeat of the chart (ahem. 33 rounds times two socks, toe up.)

Okay, so you can't really see the cute lil diamonds on the socks, due to the nature of the yarn, but I think it's still spiffy. The yarn is Knit Fit Knitting Footapy in Daily News (Pardon, but she is taking a break until September. Trust me, her stuff is amazing!) The pattern is Phineasby Rosemary Waits. (non Ravelry Link)

I estimate that I need to do another half of a chart before starting the heel turn work, but it is going fast enough to be done in plenty of time. After all, it is purse knitting, which means I do take them everywhere with me.

This is also a very special project, because this is the first pair of socks that I am actually knitting for myself. All the other socks on my Rav Page were done as presents for my mother. Yes, people, I am actually doing something for myself.

yarnsalad July socks done!

Actually I finished these a couple of days ago (yes, in August) but I've been busy. Here they are!

Finished My July Socks!

Just under the wire - very late last night, while watching the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie, I finished my orange "Red Brick Road" socks, by Wendy D. Johnson, as known as "WendyKnits".  The yarn is "The Usual", a multi-plied (eight or more tiny plies?) fingering in an orange colourway called "Chinese Take-out".  I started these socks in April of 2009, and completed the first in about three months.  The first sock was done cuff-down, though the pattern calls for toe-up, but I wasn't comfortable with toe-up knitting then.  Then I started this second one this July, toe-up this time, using the Turkish Cast-on, and knit it very tall/long.  It was longer than my first.  I then had to rip out the cast-on edge and ribbing of cuff-down sock, which was difficult as I was ripping out the opposite way it had been knit.  I picked up the stitches, though it was messier than I anticipated.  And then knit up to match the longer second sock.  The weird seam in the leg makes the sock look a little like a Frankin-sock now.  Oh well, on my upper leg, no one will see it.

Necessary pictures:

August in July

I finished my August pair. I have to get a move on,since I might not have as much time to knit socks in August. (2 of my Kids have their Birhtdays in August and my husband has an operation coming up and will need my help after that)
So, without further ado, here they are.

Stats:
Needles: US size 2 and 3
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks in summer moss jaquard 
Pattern: I used the tutorial in the Fall knitty of 06 for the double knit method to knit two socks on DPN's at the same time! FUN!!!
Nitty gritty: short row heel,I did them toe up (instead of cuff down as shown in the tut), so I could knit until I ran out of yarn.

Pictures:

I already cast on for my next pair... socks on size US 1... they will be my December pair LOL...

July Socks are Done

Okay, so they've technically been done since July 24th, but since I finally have pictures for you, here's the first pair for the 12 Socks Project


Pattern: Adaptation of Kalajoki by Tiina Seppälä, and also Fingering Weight Toe Up Sock with SlipStitch Heel by Wendy Johnson

Yarn:Rio De La Plata Sock Solid in Medieval Blue. This is a now discontinued yarn that I had picked up on the Puget Sound LYS Tour 2009.

Thoughts: The patterns were great, and I liked the yarn alright. Unforunately, through my own doing, as I was working the bind off, I actually ripped the yarn at the top (see the blob on the right hand sock at the cuff?)and ended up having to pick back up 8 stitches and redo the bind off after I had already bound off all the other stitches. I used the Elizabeth Zimmerman Sewn Bind off, which gave me a super stretchy edge. Would I knit these again? Sure. If I had the desire to knit for MYSELF for once. :) Great instruction, and a really pretty pattern.

Coming soon: Phineas socks by Rosemary Waits, August 2010, which are also being done toe up in my Knit Fit Knitting Footapy in Daily News.

2 pairs finished.

Hi there. I am knittywittywoo everywhere and I am addicted to knitting socks.

I have finished 2 pairs recently. They do seem to have been on the needles for ages though as I got distracted with spinning for The Tour de Fleece on Ravelry.

These are for my husband. Sometimes it's nice to have a plain pair on the needles for times that concentration is low. The wool is from Regia.



These are for me, call me selfish but if I am going to spend lots of time on a patterned sock, especially the first time I have tried the pattern, they are mine.

I loved doing these and really have no excuse about them taking so long to finish. I dyed the wool this colour especially for them.

The pattern is Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt and it really is a lovely pattern.



I still have socks on the needles though, a plain pair for me and a pair in 2x2 rib for the husband. Also considering casting on for another patterned pair.

July socks done!

Okay, okay...I really didn't push myself this month. I dug out a pair that had been languishing in my bag for months. They really needed to be finished and I really needed something simple to ease myself back into the sock knitting mode.

I taught a beginners sock knitting class at my LYS this spring. Worsted weight, top down, dpn's (my student did Magic Loop), afterthought heel.
Seeing the light of day for the first time in months:


And then on to the finish:


Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash - 1 Ball (these are about a women's size 6 sock)
Needles: Lantern Moon size 4 DPN's
Pattern: LYS class pattern written by me

Verdict: Quick knit but boring for someone that has knit a few pairs of socks. Would be great under boots or around the house. I should have blocked them, but was too anxious to get pictures and get back to work.

On to new things for August! I borrowed the book Socks From the Toe Up by Wendy Johnson from my library and started the Slip Stitch Heel Basic Socks pattern.


This is my first time doing socks toe up and also my first time doing them on 2 circulars. So far? Total love.

See ya in a couple of weeks for pair number 2!

Sooooooo Close!

I am 14 rows and then some ribbing away from being done with the first pair for 12 Socks! Squeeeeeee! Check out the glorious wavy watery waves (yes, I did say wavy waves!)

I am really happy with how these are going. The only issue that came up is that the ball of yarn for one of the socks decided it wanted to implode, then explode, and then freeze in said horrible state. It took me about an hour to untangle the mess and rewind the cake (by hand! Thanks to CraftyCoug who taught me how to do that!)

These should be done by the end of the month. (I honestly can't imagine them *not* being done 8 days from now! Now I just need to decide what's up next...

Kalajoki Socks

This is what I've done so far. Turned the heels, and have started working back and forth on the first slip stitch heel. The foot took 1.5 pattern repeats for my mom's petite feet. The last two photos give the truest color definition, but the first two give you a better look at the stitch pattern.

Pattern: chart from Kalajoki by Tiina Seppälä, using Wendy Johnson's Basic Toe Up with Slip Stitch Heel

Yarn:Rio De La Plata:Sock Solid in SS15-Medieval Blue

Needle Size::Addi Lace in US 0 (2.0 mm)

Thoughts: I really like the pattern, it's very watery and fluid, and even though I am using a yarn that really couldn't do much in the way of stitch definition due to its darker color. The color is more of a Navy, unlike the color shown on the website. The pattern is easy to follow (Wendy Johnson's) and the chart is great. The reason that I am not using the Kalajoki pattern in its entirety is because my mother is the one who requested the socks, and she has a better fit with the slip stitch heel. The Kalajoki pattern is easy to follow, and if you use the entire pattern, you also get the opportunity to do "anatomical toes" which means the toes are actually shaped according to which foot the sock goes on. Also, the river stitch pattern is mirrored, so they both sit slightly on the outside of the foot. All in all, it's very pretty, even with a darker yarn.

July-socks done :)

Hello! I'm here too! I'm spinndiva from Rambling designs! :)
On to the socks now!

I had some leftover yarn from another project, that wanted using up. So I made socks! Of course! :)
Pattern: No pattern, just a pretty cable stitch. (can be found on p. 101, "Claw Cable",in "Big book of Knitting Patterns" from Sterling Publishing, as well as in numerous other books, I'm sure)
Yarn: one partial skein Spa in coral lipstick, from Naturally Caron
Needles: size US3 DPN
Nitty-gritty: Cuff down, short row heel, star toe

They are short, since I had only a partial skein leftover. I do like the cable though and might use it on longer socks later on.

 Close up of cable:

(The colour is closer to nature in the first two pictures.) 

On to August! :)
I started them: Toe up and two at once (DKing)! Wish me luck! I know people do it top down all the time.. I wanted toe up for a change....So far so good!
Here is a sneak-peak:

yarnsalad WIP#1

From the Melissa Morgan-Oakes book 2-at-a-Time Socks book, I'm using the Belle Epoque pattern. Gaia's Colours Pales Superwash Merino sock in the colorway 'Folta'. I'm getting about an inch done per day.

One way I have found to keep track of which is sock #1 and which is #2 is to tie knots in the tail - one knot in sock 1, two knots in sock 2.

I really like knitting with this yarn but the dye comes off on my hands when I'm knitting with it. I hear this happens with indie dyers sometimes.

I also worried that the pattern of the sock would get lost in the colour variation of the yarn - something I hadn't considered when I first put yarn, needles, and pattern together, because the yarn isn't that variegated. But I think I'm going to like this when it's all done.

I only started knitting socks about a year and a half ago. I bought the aforementioned book and have knit more than half the patterns in it, some of them twice. I feel like I really have a handle now on the two-at-a-time technique with the heel flap.

Just last night I finished a pair of socks that were my first toe-up sock with short-row shaping. I started that months ago so I won't include it here, but be sure to check on my personal blog for that story.

Welcome to the 12 Socks Blog!

I figured that we all need a central place to post pics and blog (if you dont already have a blog) about the crazy project that is now called 12 Socks.

This all started about a week ago.... with this photo:



I reblogged it on Tumblr and Melissa aka ATreeHuggersWife on twitter re-tweeted it and came up with the goal of knitting 12 pairs of socks in 12 months. She re-posted the "challenge" and shortly there after Chris aka VTKnitboy joined in. Mind you... he's a sock GENIUS!! Next, Karin aka iknit2purl2 on twitter joined in :) My friend Joni aka orbitalpopdog asked if she could join in too!

We've been keeping track of all the fun on twitter via the hastag #12socks so if you want to see what we're all up to, just take a peek :)

Now, I cast on my first pair on July 1st. I want to learn how to knit them toe up and eventually 2 at a time. For now though, I started with what I know... top down :)

In between working on getting this blog up today... I've managed to finish my first sock! woo hoo!!!



So, if you want to join in on what is now an adventure... just check out the "How to Join" page :)

Happy Knitting everyone!