Candy Corn Socks and My Hope

Hi Knitters,
I finally finished up the Candy Corn socks I started way last September of 2011. I knit the first sock on the plane to Vogue Knitting Live in Los Angeles. After that Halloween came and went and so I sporadically worked on the second sock throughout the year.

This year I will be properly decked out for the Halloween season in this seasonal Vesper Sock Yarn called, Candy Corn. It is a happy day to be finished with them in time for the fall.

Click here for Knitterly Things and Vesper Sock Yarn!

It's pretty funny that the stripes actually match because I make no effort to ever have matching socks when I am using striping yarn. I don't care at all if they match or not so when it happens it is completely by chance.

I knit on US size 1 dpns and used the pattern, How I make my socks (click here for the pattern). This is maybe the fourth or fifth (or sixth?) pair of socks I have knit with Vesper Sock Yarn. I have a bunch more sitting on the shelf to knit up. I love this yarn.

The fit on these plain stockinette stitch socks with a heel flap and gusset just can't be beat. You know, if you can take the time, or knit enough socks, that you have this style of sock memorized, it becomes as easy as knitting a garter stitch scarf. The sock formula I love to use is second-nature at this point. You could all do that, too. It's really fun and so satisfying to have a drawer full of fantastic handknit socks to choose from in the fall and winter seasons.

I've finished doing a beaded-bind off on another shawl. I can't wait to get it blocked today. Right now it is a scrunchy ball of a shawl. After blocking, the open cross cable sections and garter will be shown to their truest beauty. This one is sure to become a favorite.

The lovely Laura Linneman designed the My Hope Shawl pattern as part of a fundraiser for the Make a Wish Foundation. This is a wonderful pattern and I highly recommend it.

I have to say that the Cakewalk Yarns that I knit My Hope in continues to be a favorite yarn of mine. The yarn is so much fun to work with. The heathered gray in the Smirk colorway in Footsie (click here to see Smirk in the shop) is sprinkled with bursts of bright colors. For whatever reason these colorful spots make the knitting more fun as you work.

I was listening to Paula on her podcast, The Knitting Pipeline (click here to see Paula's My Hope), and she just completed the My Hope Shawl in Cakewalk Yarns Footsie, too. She ran out of yarn right at the end of her shawl, but I had lots and lots left over. The Footsie has 460 yards and the pattern calls for 470 - 500 yards. It's always interesting how gauge can make the yardage used differ by so much.

The loose cable crosses were very enjoyable. Like Paula, these did not bother me in the least. I, too, as Paula said, have heard a few other podcasters voice their dislike about this stitch pattern, which I can understand. However, I loved this section of the shawl. I got pretty good and fast at it by the end. One thing I did differently than the pattern suggests is that I held the cable needle to the front instead of the back. It was easier for me to hold onto this way and helped to keep the loose stitches in order. I know Paula said she did this section without using a cable needle at all. I always like my cable needle though.

It is always fun to hear another take on a project you also knit. Everyone always has different ideas and tips and tricks. That's another reason knitting is the best, right?

Have a good Monday and a great, great week.
best, susie