pepperknit

I have a single sock to show for Socktober! I’m deeming this project done.

Embossed Leaves Sock
Pattern: Interweave Knits, Winter 2005
Needles: Addi Turbo 2.25mm
Yarn: Claudia Handpainted
Skeins: 1
Modifications: I made it bigger, to accommodate a larger size foot–not mine, but the ultimate recipient of these socks, who will knit the matching one. Lucky girl is going to have to interpret my notes to make it larger! I promise to write it out clearly. I added 8 stitches total (2 per repeat) and made a line of knits within the 5 purls that separate the leaves. I kind of love the wandering path it takes, and I think if I were to knit these for myself someday, I’d keep that feature even in the 3-purl zone.

It required a little bit of fiddly work at the heel and the toe, but I think it works! When I first knit them, I was concerned that the added circumference would mean I had to make them shorter, so I made the leg shorter, but when I got to the toe I realized there was too much yarn leftover. So I took it out to above the heel, made the leg the pattern-specified length, and reknit the whole foot yesterday and today. Now the leftover yarn is respectable. I mean, if this pattern were toe-up, as I believe all socks should be, there wouldn’t be nearly this much remaining, but it’s not bad at all. Not bad at all.

I’ve had one helluva productive weekend. All my clothing is put away! The apartment is starting to be livable! I have boxes of books stacked up where a bookcase will go, once I get one, and I believe–I believe–that I can get a cushy chair to complete my living room, the first time I’ve had a living room that could accomodate this.

But enough about the unpacking. Let’s dazzle you all with an FO.

Naturally, I finished them and there is zero daylight left–curses to the changing of the clocks–so these shots were taken in the apartment, and the color is absolutely wrong. These socks originally began as something totally different, and I took those with me down the shore, so you can see a shot here. Or in the skein, back from when I bought the yarn, here. Crazy different, huh? Even sitting with the socks on my lap here, they hardly look their vibrant selves.

Speedy Socks
Pattern: None; went toe-up. Used the Magic Caston, a short-row heel, and a picot bindoff.
Stitch Pattern: Technically this is the wrong side of Shadow Rib, from Barbara Walker
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, turquoise
Skeins: 1
Needles: KnitPicks circs in what must be 2.5 mm. I guess that’s US 2? My needle gauge doesn’t have a slot for this size–it’s between 1 and 2. I worked one sock past the heel, put the stitches on a holder, then knit the second sock to the same point. Then I magic looped them together, so I could ensure they would be identical.
Size: Who knows. I can’t find the little piece of paper where I jotted down the needed size, but I recall being told that the recipient’s feet are small but wide. So while I can put them on, they are very stretched out to do so, and, well, I’m just hoping they fit. I went with the standard 60 stitches around, but made them short in length.
Started: Thursday, October 26 (late)
Finished: Sunday, October 29 (early evening)
Notes: I started these on Thursday night just to have some simple knitting for the bus ride to and from work. The socks were just a bit too simple and fast, though, because I finished them so quickly! I now don’t know what I’ll do tomorrow morning on the ride in, but I guess I’ll find something else to start tonight.

These are another gift for one of the women in the boy’s family–one of his sisters. The stitch pattern was so straightforward and not particularly feminine that I tried to offset it with a picot bindoff. I’d never done a picot bindoff on socks before, and to be honest, I do not like it. I’ve never liked it from an aesthetic standpoint, but I really hated executing it. It was so tedious.

Still, I think the edging works for these socks, for this recipient, and I’m overall quite pleased. I wanted to eke out a single pair out of one skein of yarn, and I did. They’re kind of between ankle socks and normal socks, but that just adds to their cuteness.

The stitch pattern as I knit it, for anyone interested, is

Multiple of 3 sts
Row 1: knit
Row 2: *k2, purl 1 thru back loop, rep from *

Check out the other side, which is very cool looking, but didn’t seem right for socks.

I managed to complete two pairs of socks for Socktoberfest! That’s better than I manged in the entire Summer of Socks. And I used a new technique, and I crossed another gift off my list, and I used up some more of the stash–hurray for me!

I finished the Pomatomus for the boy’s mom. This pair will be her Christmas present.

I’m really happy with these babies, and not just because this is a gift to cross off my list. I did one sock toe-up and the other top-down, so the scales go in opposite directions, I learned a lot about making socks, and mostly I think they’re freakin’ impressive!

I’ll also always remember these socks as my “New York” socks. I started them just before my first trip up for my first interview, and worked on them throughout the whole job and apartment hunt process. They saw a lot of Amtrak time. I finished them (well, except for sewing in ends) yesterday, the day I found a place to lay my head in the big city.

Pomatomus Socks

Yarn: Lisa Souza Sock!Merino in “peacock”; more than half of one skein
Needles: US 1 dpns
Started: Not entirely sure. I suppose September 5
Finished: Entirely sewn and done, October 5
Notes: As I’ve said before, I did the first sock toe-up. I learned about the heel flap from the Widdershins pattern, though obviously I fashioned the flap according to the Pomatomus pattern (twisted rib). For the toe-up one, I did the magic cast-on and the sewn bindoff. I should have kept some better notes for when I tackled the second one, but instead I just looked at the sock to determine what I had to do when.

The second sock was done top-down, with a basic old long-tail cast-on and a kitchenered toe. I forgot to throw a tapestry needle in my bag before heading to the city, and my friends didn’t have anything but sewing needles, so I used a rather large bobby pin as a needle to do the kitchenering. I’m proud of myself for that, I gotta admit!

This is the second time I’ve made a pair of Pomatomus; I really enjoy this pattern. I think it’s simple but fantastic to look at. Love those twisted knit stitches. There’s not much more to say! Yay!

First off, I’m late. It’s October 5, and I haven’t yet said anything about this fabulous month-long sock celebration. Of course, I’ve been a leeeeetle busy. (Aside: I found an apartment yesterday! Upper East Side, eensy weensy 1 bedroom. Boy, the apartment hunt sucked, in every way. I was that woman you see crying on the subway. For real. But it’s over now!)

It’s not too late to jump right in to Socktober. Later today I’ll be able to show my finished Pomatomi–I kitchenered using a bobby pin as a needle last night! (Once I’m back in Philly, I will sew in the ends using an actual needle.)

Here’s the excellent little questionnaire Lolly posted, with my answers!

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I made my very first sock in the fall of 1999, actually. A friend had told me how fun socks were–a neat little geometrical feat that never ceased to amaze her. So I found an ultra-simple ribbed sock pattern and worked on the first sock on the plane to the Frankfurt Book Fair. I finished the sock with a backward kitchener (by accident), and I ultimately hated the sock so I never made its match. The thing fit perfectly, though–I recognized that this was a big plus for knitting your own socks.

What was your first pair? How have they “held up” over time?
My first pair was my Pomatomus in Shepherd Yarn “Anne” for the Knitting Olympics this year! I love them, but they seem like sacred socks to me, so I only ever wear them around the house for fear that I’ll muck them up if I wear them out. So they’ve held up just fine.

What would you have done differently?
Nothin’.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
My sock yarn experience is limited, but Koigu ranks very very high. I love its squishiness. I’m not a fan of variegated, however.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
I prefer Magic Loop, but I’ll now use dpns without complaining. I used to complain about dpns, but we’ve since become friends.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
I’m still pretty new to the game, so I’m not well-versed in lots of heels. I like the tailored look of the heel flap, but I find executing a short-row heel so fast, it’s more gratifying.

How many pairs have you made?
Five! Pomatomus (see link above), Zokni, Socks for Dad, Anastasia, Pomatomus. I know, crazy that that’s the full extent of my sock experience. I plan on making many more! I’ve got lots of new designs in the works–and in between some of these there have been other prototypes and things I frogged (like these).