Wishing for Summer
Woohee! The knee socks, they are done!
The specs: The "body" of these socks were knit with Sock Hop handspun sock yarn from Crown Mountain Farms in the colorway "Say a Little Prayer". The heels, toes and cuffs were knit with my own hand spun, made from Crown Mountain Farms hand dyed superwash merino in the colorway "Hang on Sloopy". Gauge for both yarns is 7 stitches/inch on US Size 1/2.25 mm needles, and the socks are 56 stitches in circumference increased up to 80 stitches at the widest dimension.
The process: The socks were made toe up using a "standard" wedge toe which was started using a provisional cast-on technique. the instep was done in straight stockinette, followed by a shortrow heel. The sock leg is embellished on both sides using the "Ears of Grass" motif from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting patterns, which was knit in conjunction with the increasing required for the calf shaping. The sock was completed with a cuff of K2 P2 ribbing and bound off with the standard cast-off method on larger needles.
The knitter: The knitter is happy. The knitter wore her socks to work today, and even though no one but the knitter knew about them, they added a little bit of sunshine to her day. The knitter did observe that they might be just a tad looser than is perfect, but they still pretty much stay up on their own. After a day of wear at work the stitches and yarn look good.
A few small details:
The increases and decreases are visible on these socks, but I sort of like the pattern they create.
I think this is a great sock stitch pattern, and some time in the future might have to make a sock where the pattern extends all the way around (it's an easy pattern and doesn't really slow the knitting down too much). I charted it in Excel with a knitting symbol font (the instructions are just written out in the BW book) and would be happy to share it with anyone who would like to have it.
Since a number of folks expressed interest in knee socks, I though I'd spend the rest of the week doing an impromptu toe up knee sock tutorial to share what I learned and to help anyone else out there who "needs" a pair of winter knee socks get a running start at it. Stay tuned tomorrow for a discussion of toes and heels.
WOW, very nice socks! Colour, pattern everything! And yeah, a tutorial for knee socks would be great! Groeten uit Nederland.
I look forward to a tutorial on these beautiful socks...I'm just learning socks and those are the first I've seen that I would love to have. Beautiful work.......thanks for sharing.
Great socks.
I have heard that wearing sexy lingerie under your work clothes makes you feel better about yourself all day at work.
Haven't heard that about knee socks. But I'm sure it's the same principle.
;-)
LOVELY! I would like to request that charted pattern ... it looks perfect for a sweater I'm considering!
those socks are beautiful and i'm sure wonderfully warm. i also noticed the pattern from the increases and i think they look great.
Amazing work - well done. The colours really remind me of Orange and Lime TicTacs (do you have those in the states? - excuse my ignorance).
Your socks are wonderful! I have been planning to try to knit my socks toe-up for a change, too, and now seeing yours has really made me want to try it.
YAY for handspun knee highs! They look great!
Beautiful! Isn't it amazing how wearing something nice makes you feel better even if no one else knows about it. I'd love to see the pattern for knee socks. I've dabbled with them, but not successfully to date.
very handsome socks! they really look like grass; makes me wish for a summer picnic.:-)
great yarn combo.
I'd love the pattern, it will be great. I have been wanting a knee sock, but worry it will not stay up and slouch all the time. how do you resolve that?
great socks! I love that pattern on the side, too. Understated but interesting.
I wish I had the patience to knit knee socks for myself! :)
Those are great socks! I love that motif you added to it. It really gives the socks an extra oomph!
They are gorgeous! I think socks are great, because even if you have to look "serious" you can wear unusual socks, and most of the time, you're the only one who knows about it ...
If you do share your chart, I'd love it. :-)
Very nice - I like the Leaves of Grass pattern on them, and the contrasting accents!
The socks look great, just the thing to make you feel like spring is just around the corner. I'd love to have the chart and am looking forward to reading your thoughts on knee socks. Like just about everyone else, I've decided I need a pair of my own.
Your socks are lovely and I too would be interested in the lace chart. And where did you ever find a knitting symbols font?
Fabulous socks! I'd love the pattern chart too.
I love them -- they look fantastic!
So CUTE!
i love the combination of those socks! so so cute!
The are a ray of sunshine! Nice work.
So sunny and cheerful!
Yeah!!! They are awesome!
Very pretty. Do they stay up?
Oh! They are lovely. I've had a craving to knit knee socks for the last couple of weeks. I eagerly await your words of wisdom!