Two More for the Drawer!

Thanks to TC for modeling!

Hi, Knitters,

I hope you are all doing well. I first want to quickly thank Greg of the Knitting Daddy blog (click here) for the book review. Greg has a great and informative blog and podcast so be sure to check it out!

I have just finished up a couple of pairs of socks that have been in the works for a long time. I have shared photos of the finished socks on Instagram but I want to be sure to share the details here on the blog as well.

The first finished pair has been in the works for a couple of years. I finished the first sock quickly and I started the second sock right away but I became distracted and let it sit. Recently Paula of the Knitting Pipeline talked about knitting socks in the same yarn and it reminded me that I needed to finish my socks, too. I'm so glad they are done.  I love them and I love the yarn!

Here is the information:

Yarn: Gale's Art Wonder Sock in the Graffiti & Asphalt colorway (Almost every stitch is a different color ~ I highly recommend this yarn!)

Needles: US size 1.5/2.5mm Signature Needle Arts double-pointed needles, 6 inch length

Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A, a free pattern from Knitty.com

For my sock I did 10 rounds of the twisted rib. 6 repeats of the chart for the leg. I used the heel and toe instructions from my free pattern, How I Make My Socks. For the foot, I did 6 repeats of the chart on the instep and stockinette on the bottom of the foot. I knit three extra rounds after the last chart repeat and before starting the toe decreases. My shoe size is a women's US 7.5.  

The next longstanding pair I finished is the Regia Arne & Carlos Patchwork Socks! These were so much fun to knit and now they are going to be fun to wear. I combined the leftovers from four different colorways of the Arne & Carlos patterned sock yarn. I have knit full pairs of socks with each of these colors. For the sock I switched the yarn every 10 rounds or so. I worked these socks from the toe-up this time using a variety of techniques. 

~ I used Judy's Magic Cast-On to start the toe.

~ I used a short-row heel variation on page 34 from the book, Sock Architecture by Lara Neel. This short row heel uses increases and decreases only instead of wraps and turns. I like the way it turned out.

~ I used a Russian Bind-off at the top of the cuff for a stretchy bind-off technique.  

Yarn: Regia Arne & Carlos, all 4 colorways are from the first line (I think there are three lines now): 

Star Night #3653 (mainly purple)

Twilight #3654 (mainly orange)

Fall Night #3655 (mainly brown with orange, blue and red)

Summer Night #3657 (mainly blue with coral)

For the toe, heel and cuff I stuck with one color instead of switching it out. Every time I switched yarns in the other sections of the sock I cut the yarn (leaving an end long enough to weave in later) and added in the new color. I like to tie a half-knot around the working strand, sliding the knot up tight to the needle, and then I start knitting with the new color. The tiny knot helps to secure the yarn better in my opinion. I never changed the colors on the front of the leg or foot, or the bottom of the foot. I did all of the color switches on the sides of the socks. Some people don't like to use knots at all but for this project I think it is effective. 

I stopped periodically, every few inches, while working to weave in the ends. This way I kept up as I was going and it wasn't all left for the end. This makes the weaving in part not so bad at all. 

Needles used for Patchwork Socks: US size 1/2.25mm Signature Needle Arts double-pointed needles, 6-inch length

Sock Blockers: From The Loopy Ewe

I hope you are having a great start to your week! I'll be back soon with more.

xo ~ susan