Thursday, March 26, 2015

Sock Report



Hi, Knitters,
I have a quick sock update for you today. I have finished the first sock blank sock. Sock blanks are machine knit pieces of fabric that are then dyed. You unravel the knit fabric and knit straight from the blank so the yarn is tightly kinked up. I worried that I would not enjoy knitting with the kinky yarn pulled straight from the sock blank but I actually don't mind it at all. In fact I really enjoy it.

I haven't washed the first sock yet so the fabric is still a bit rippled from the kinky yarn. When I finish the second sock I will wash both of them and show you how they turned out. The sock blank I am using is from Gale's Art. Gale does this unique and colorful stamping on the sock blanks which is her  original idea I think. I've never seen this done before. I don't know how she thought this one up, it is so creative and fun. The spots where Gale stamps the sock blank makes the yarn beautifully speckled and it knits up like a dream. I really love the effect. 


My socks are going to be mismatched, which I love. You can get double-stranded sock blanks for two at a time socks or you could knit one sock at a time and wind the other strand. You would then get matching socks. 

Click here for Gale's Art!  It looks like she is taking orders for her Special Secret Sock Blanks and they are taking about 10 days to ship. 

Click here for information on the Special Secret Sock Blank in the photo above! Gale has other sock blank choices and colorways and she'll even make custom sock blanks with messages. 

Click here to see the other sock blank I have that is next up. I keep thinking I want to knit a simple shawl from this one..... I think I will do that.

I am using Signature Needle Arts dpns, US size 1, 6-inches in length.


I finished the Regia Colourmania socks. I love this yarn so much. I have a couple more balls of Colourmania yarn and will be knitting more of these. I think the fabric looks fantastic, like watercolors all blended together. The yarn number for my socks is #4067.

I purchased this yarn at Simply Sock Yarn Co.

The sock blockers are from The Loopy Ewe. These wooden sheep sock blockers are my all-time favorites, hands-down. It's the shape and the wood that I love so much.


Last but not least, I finished the Over the Rainbow Gradient Matching Socks Set by KnitCircus Yarns. I love these so much. For this pair you get two matching cakes of yarn so your socks match exactly.

The yarn is: Over the Rainbow from Knitcircus in the Pirouette base: 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 15% Nylon, and 10% Tencel, 385 yards, 100 grams.

Click here for KnitCircus Yarns on Etsy.

Click here for the Over the Rainbow Custom Gradient.

The sock blockers are from The Loopy Ewe. They are red plastic.

For all of the socks I am using my free pattern, How I Make My Socks.

I knit the cuffs extra long, 8-inches, because I wanted to get to all of the colors. I should have made the cuffs 9-inches because I barely broke into the green section at the end and I had quite a bit leftover. The top sock in the photo doesn't show the green due to the lighting but the lower sock shows that a bit of the green is there on the toe. Regardless I love these socks. I wasn't quite sure about the Tencel content of the yarn but it was lovely to knit. The yarn and fabric are silky soft and I know it will be a sturdy sock.

Anyway, two more for the drawer! That's a win.

How's your sock knitting coming along? I'd love to hear what you are working on.

Have a good end to your week.
xo ~ susan

23 comments:

Julie said...

whoa, that's a lot of utterly beautiful socks!! I love how your sock blank has been knitting up, it's just amazing.

Kristebee said...

I love the idea of using the sock blank for a shawl! Maybe I need to have one in the stash in case a pattern pops up? Heehee. I just finished the first sock for Nick. I made two pairs several years ago but they were quite interesting to say the least. I think this one will be a keeper tho. Thanks for the inspiration. :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, all of these look so amazing! I love the sock blank socks. Whenever I see your posts I always get sad that Regia yarn isn't available at my LYS. I'm currently taking a break from sock knitting to work on my first ever sweater, but seeing this post makes me want to pick up the DPNs again.

Jules said...

I am working on WIP socks which I have several. I used a different pattern (a leaflet from Hobby Lobby) and I like the pattern, but I wasn't thinking when it said how much to knit on the foot for my foot size, and the size came out an inch too small. Probably will gift those to Mom since her foot is quite a bit smaller than mine. (Tanknit)

...Fabricole said...

Beautiful colors!

Suzanne said...

Secret message sock blanks are even better than writing a message with invisible ink. The message gets encrypted with knitting and love.

Holly said...

Love how the sock blank sock is turning out. Thanks for sharing, have a good day 😀

Brenda said...

I bought a double stranded blank from Gale in autumn colors. I couldn't put them down and finished the socks in five days---that is some kind of speed record for me. I love the way these knit up---the way the stripes flow together and the flecks from the stamped/stenciled areas in the blank. I ordered another one in bright colors called "Rock Star", and I can't wait for it to get here.

Claudia said...

My double yarn secret sock blank came today! It's beautiful and I want to knit it up. But not right away...I want to look at it a while. Thanks Susan for turning me on to these. I saw your Instagram post and had to order one.

Claudia said...

My double yarn secret sock blank came today! It's beautiful and I want to knit it up. But not right away...I want to look at it a while. Thanks Susan for turning me on to these. I saw your Instagram post and had to order one.

Anonymous said...

What lovely socks! I am mid-heel on my first pair of socks for myself (not my first pair of socks). I can't wait to wear them.

Alina said...

I haven't knitted a single sock in my life! It is all about sweaters and dresses!

Stefanie said...

Whoever thought of this blank business was clever! How fun it must be to knit from that. I need to put that on my list of yarn wants. I wish I could pop over and just pore over your knitted projects and play with your toys.

Felicia from SweetGeorgia said...

Ohh my, that first photo is just stunning. I IMMEDIATELY went to the Etsy site to buy a blank too.

Mrs. Krisch said...

im really thinking of trying the signature dpns- i think you usually use 4 and not 5 for your socks. heres my query...
do you do one sock and then the other or do you work on 2 sets of dpns so both get done at the same time.
for the past few socks ive done them on 2 sets but im not likely to get 2 sets of signatures in the same size.

Susan B. Anderson said...

Mrs. Krisch,
I do one sock and then I do the second, separately and not at the same time.
susan

Casey said...

Both socks are beautiful! I love how that sock blank is knitting up, it's gorgeous!

Andrea @ This Knitted Life said...

Such bright and cheery socks. Happy Spring!

Cloudberry said...

So many beautiful socks!
I really love the first one from the sock blanket - need to check that out :)

Anonymous said...

I ordered a sock blank after seeing yours in the podcast. I've hesitated to knit it, because it is so pretty in the blank. But, seeing yours knit into a sock is changing that idea. Just lovely

Unknown said...

quick question. do you knit continental ? if so can you post a tutorial ? Too much yarn not enough hours. TY Pat NANA 3H Ravelry ID

Susan B. Anderson said...

Pat Holland,
I do knit continental style on dpns for my socks.

I do have some tutorials on how i knit and just some video of me knitting on my youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/SusanBAnderson/videos?spfreload=10

Thanks for writing.
susan

Sharon said...

I love making socks for adults especially young ladies they love them. I'm sure I've about about 12 pairs in the last two years. I will keep making them until I'm unable to knit any more.