Sunday, October 19, 2014

Sock Report & Knitcircus Winners!


Hi, Knitters, 
I have randomly selected and contacted the two winners for the Knitcircus giveaway. The winners are:
glongley (rav id) won the sock knit by me and the second Gradient Stripes cake to knit the second sock!

and

kathyg (rav id) won the colorway of her choice in the new Gradient Stripes matching socks set!

Congratulations to both of you. Thank you for entering everyone. Jaala of Knitcircus on Etsy has had an overwhelmingly positive response in her shop with orders coming in like crazy for the new Gradient Stripes socks sets, the Matching Gradient socks sets, and for her clubs. It has been an exciting week at Knitcircus. Thank you to Jaala for the fun, and a huge thanks to all of you for supporting such a great indie dyer who is also my friend and neighbor here in Madison. She is a very talented and generous one.

As you can see, I have started the cuff of the first of my Gradient Matching Socks Set in the colorway Over the Rainbow. Jaala has a pair that she knit for herself and they are just beautiful. I can't wait to have my own gradient matching rainbow socks to wear this winter. I am knitting 8-inch cuffs to make sure I get to all of the colors.


As for the sock update for the day, I am happy to announce that I have finished the String Theory Colorworks Continuum socks in the Kinetic colorway! I purchased the yarn at The Fall Fling and I love the finished socks so much. The yarn is 80% super wash merino, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon base. It is so soft and thick and squishy. What a joy to knit!

On the cuff I did a slip 1, knit 1 repeat for one round every time the color changed. For the foot I went on with plain stockinette stitch. It worked out well for the wider stripes here.

I did make the socks matching on purpose and I have another pair that I am making matching but I have to say that it kind of sucks the joy out of the sock knitting for me. I don't really enjoy worrying about having matching socks. The counting of rows, cutting and splicing in yarn, weaving in of many ends, and finding the right spot to start really wasn't all that fun. I'm not sure how much I'll do that in the future. We'll see. I actually have a love for mis-matched socks and I now know why, they are cute to wear and easy to knit! I have some more String Theory sock yarn coming my way from The Loopy Ewe and I can't wait.

Sock pattern: How I make my socks (my free pattern!)
Yarn: String Theory Coloworks Continuum in the Kinetic colorway (purchased here at The Loopy Ewe!)
Needles: US size 1/2.25mm dpns in the 6-inch length from Signature Needle Arts.

I think making the socks match is more important in some yarns than others.


Now for these socks in the Regia Design Line by Kristin Nicholas the stripes and pattern repeats are so short and varied that it doesn't make any difference if they match in my opinion. I love this yarn! Kristin sent me the yarn I'm using for these socks and I actually have purchased two more of her fun colorways to knit up next. I love it that much. Kristin's color sense rings through and through in this fun patterned sock yarn. I also purchased the Smiling Pansy 3313 and Autumn Harvest 3312 colorways. Oh, they are super fun! Make sure to note if you are ordering that the put up is in 100 gram AND 50 gram balls. If it is 50 grams per ball you will need two balls for a pair of socks. 

Needles: US size 1/2.25mm Signature Needle Arts dpns, 6-inch length


Have a great start to your week. I am going to Vogue Knitting Live in Chicago next weekend. I hope to see you there. I am teaching two workshops on Sunday only (I have TC's swim meets to attend on Friday and Saturday!) and in between the classes I am giving a lecture. It will be a busy day and I'm really looking forward to it. I love this event.

I'll be back soon with more knitting for you. I have another giveaway already lined up coming very soon.
xo ~ susan