Tag Archives: Socks

FO: Lace Stockings for Meeee

Posted by on December 7, 2011 4 comments

Finally finished! After a bit of second sock syndrome for a month in between, I cast off for these last week.

Bettie’s Lace Stockings Pattern

I realized I had started these back in July when visiting family for the 4th. Speedy knitter I am not. These were so worth it though! I love the finished pieces and found the pattern enjoyable to work as well. The lace patterns are easy to memorize but still interesting. The shaping in pattern is also very clever (Keep notes of how many repeats you end up doing to match for the second sock. The transition is so seamless it’s really difficult to find, found out the hard way).

Love them!
(Oops, bow came untied in this shot. That’ll teach me to not double knot.)

I did use rljulie on Ravelry’s very nice mod for a third lace version, Extra Wide Gathered Lace. My lace just didn’t seem that “stretchy” even though I don’t think I have that great of calf muscles.

My other mods I detailed here. They included working extra repeats (final numbers after heel: 10 of narrow, 8 of wide, and 6 of extra wide), working the bottom of the foot in Stockinette Stitch instead of lace, and working on US Size 3 needles to get row gauge.

Art and Crafts

Posted by on August 7, 2011 2 comments

I love my dog Aejaz. However I didn’t fully noticed how much he really is like a furry satellite until I started trying to photograph things. I can’t tell you how many outtakes I have with random fluffy ears or a tail in them. While attempting to snap a picture of my first finished “Bettie’s Lace Stocking” I decided why fight it? At least he could be useful if he was determined to be in the shot. He made a pretty good foot rest.

Bettie's Lace Stocking, modeled on my dog "ottoman"

For something a little different, I recently attended a BYOB painting class a friend and I had gotten a Groupon for. It was fun and nice to do a little more traditional art again (and while sipping my favorite Lindemans Lambic). While I never really painted on canvas (except for simple pieces for our bedroom) I have always done drawings.

Van Gogh's Almond Branch

This was a version of Van Gogh’s “Almond Branch”. It has me itching to break out my easel again! 

Heather's Haberdashery

I also couldn’t reisist showing off this hair pretty I got from a friend of mine while visiting my hometown Des Moines. We all know I can’t resist a fun headpiece. She makes lovely hair fascinators and accesorries, check out her stuff at Heather’s Haberdashery.

DK Xmas Stocking

Posted by on December 2, 2010 1 comment

I took a break from sweater knitting. My double knit pattern for this mini Christmas stocking was a perfect little diversion.

Double Knit Stocking in DK weight

As you can see this is a larger version of my original worked in DK weight yarn. Followed the pattern exactly the same, but was wanting to show how you can really use any size yarn. Just keep in mind if you want to give this a try to use a needle a couple a sizes smaller than the usual recommended size.

To understand a little more why that is, if you’re the curious type, I gave a bit of a Double Knit primer in my Double Knit Button Band Tutorial here.

These really go very quickly and seem like a neat trick to do. They are knit back and forth on two needles and inside out. But when you’re done, you turn it right-side out and viola! it’s a circular tube stocking.

Just say No to decapitation

Posted by on January 26, 2009 1 comment

My once pristine craft room was no longer so, especially after being used for the xmas present wrapping, it looked like a gift wrap explosion occurred. So the other day I buckled down and cleaned and organized and wow am I so much more inspired now! I’ve rediscovered several projects that I picked up pieces for ages ago and now have gotten to whipping up, so more to come soon.

But first, I got one of these painfully cute mini Sockblocker Key Chains with pattern probably close to two years ago and it was time to retrieve it from buried under the stash.

Behold my wee cuteness!

This was also a perfect excuse to sample some Claudia Hand Painted yarn I’ve been admiring in my stash. This is the Buckeye colorway. Sadly, I may be ruined for cheapie sock yarn now.

Mini sock blocker keychain

Oh, and what’s up with the title you ask? Well I always do love amusing signage so I felt compelled to share this one with you. Pulled over and snapped this gem of sign-making design at a hair salon next to my office.

Texas chain saw massacre strikes again!

A little help from your friends

Posted by on May 23, 2008 5 comments

The cast-on desire for a memorizable compact project was overwhelming of late. So I decided it had been far too long since a pair of socks was on the needles. With some stashed Jawoll yarn and an idea of what I wanted, I took to looking for a pattern. I was itching for something with eyelets but a little funky. After awhile I wandered over to the “Friend Activity” feature in Ravelry (something I like to do often) – I feel my friends have good taste!
Hello sockie
Waiting there was Fluke, matching just what I was looking for! I pulled up the details page and it actually calls for Jawoll – how often does that happen?? Obviously it was meant to be so I didn’t argue and cast on. See the twisted garter stitch band? I am amused by cranking my knitting around and around on purpose; I’m a dork.
Speaking of twisting around, there has been some spinning too.

Singles from some of my hand-dyed Yarn School fiber, all ready to be plied.

FO: Basic Ribbed Socks – first pair!

Posted by on June 1, 2007 28 comments

Wow, three FO’s in a month – what’s happened to me? (Technically they were finished in May, I am late blogging them)
9 months in the making, really are like babies
Yep, really basic socks, but I figured a good place to start (crazy idea, I know). I’m so happy with them! And fun to photograph! I have this theory that socks are kinda the “baby pictures of other peoples kids” of the knitblog world. It’s never quite as interesting to others as it is to you. I know before I started a sock, I’d see photos and was like “That’s nice, but you know- looks like a sock, whoopie.” But then you start you’re own, and every little part is so novel. I was all “Look!! It actually Looks Just Like a Sock!”. And you want to show it off even to those you know have less than equal enthusiasm.
knit blogging makes you do odd things, like photograph your own feet
It really took a long time to finish the second one, but that’s because I made them my traveling socks. They’re such a great easy-yet-interesting project to take on the road. They’ve logged several flights as well. I think a pair of socks will always be on the needles for me. Not going to be churning them out left and right but it rounds out the WIP basket nicely and oh so portable.
No they're not blocked, far too lazy to block socks
Showing someone the socks – “Look, see how the gusset is formed, cool huh?” Equals about the same reaction as
Showing some teenager – “Awww, isn’t the baby cute when it burps like that?”
Handknit sock friendly shoes, woot!
These shoes have found a new purpose.
Yarn: Bernat Sox in Jazz Hot colorway
Pattern: Basic Ribbed Socks from Spunmag.com by Kate Atherley
Needles: US size 2
Followed the directions exactly and worked at 60 sts.

The Littlest Stocking

Posted by on December 12, 2006 14 comments

I couldn’t help it, really. I needed a little breather, something different from the Deadline Knitting. I suppose “little” is the operative word here.

Mini stocking swinging from the xmas tree

Cute, no? Now one for scale.

For scale

A seamless 12 stitch sock in crochet thread on 0000 needles, no wait- really I’m not completely crazy. I think if anyone admitted to enjoying working a dozen stitches on four double points everyone would back away from them slowly. What captivated my attention on this little guy is its great use of my favorite technique, Double Knit. It’s knit entirely “flat”, or more accurately, back and forth but produces a seamless tube. This type of technique allows for what would otherwise be an unwieldy amount of stitches in the round to be worked relatively easily. I wanted to experiment with just how small I could take it and thus this little stocking was born. (See Aubyn, new knitting content!)

Close upInspired by Beverly Royce’s Baby Socks from “Notes on Double Knitting” these toe-up socks use short-rows for the toe and heel shaping. A thicker thread or yarn could easily be substituted for a slightly larger stocking as well. I used just what I had in the stash. The red is actually left over Classic Elite Provence from Scarlet Woman split into 1 ply.

I’ve written up the pattern here, so hop on over and join the crazy, er, fun!

ETA: I’ve worked up a version in DK weight yarn here!

The new Bobby Socks

Posted by on February 14, 2006 6 comments

Who says you’re ever too old for some lacy socks- or pink?

The details
Knit in fine sport weight on size 5 needles and attached to some commercially bought socks with black elastic thread. Little black ribbon bows tied into eyelets on each side for embellishment.

Talk about a quick project, this particular lace pattern is only 7-12 stitches wide. I’m pretty pleased with the results as it’s more or less precisely what I was envisioning. I have some other hot pink mercerized cotton in my stash I’m already planning to make a second pair with.

*Edit: Guide/pattern added to the side bar too, or click here