Hi, Knitters,
Today is an exciting day. First, I have randomly selected a winner for the Morning Bright Yarn giveaway. The winner of a skein of choice from Morning Bright is.... Molly Cline! I have contacted both Molly and Becky from Morning Bright and prize planning should be on its way soon. Thank you to everyone for entering.
There is more good news to go along with my new sock pattern release. Stacie of Must Stash Yarns has offered a very generous giveaway to go along with the pattern debut. Stacie is giving me two skeins of the Family Reunion colorway, the same as the socks in the photos, and one more skein of choice from her fantastic online shop to give to you! Three winners with a prize of one skein each of the hard-to-get Must Stash Yarn!! Hooray! Thank you, Stacie, for adding to the fun.
Details for entering are at the end of the post.
See how the Smooth Operator Socks match exactly? In the pattern I show and tell you how to get matching socks with your self-striping or patterning yarns whether or not your yarn was divided into two balls and dyed for matching socks or if you have one skein of sock yarn that you need to figure out how to match.
Why the name Smooth Operator Socks you might ask? Just look at the socks in the photo above. These are the smoothest looking socks I have ever knitted. The heel transition is almost undetectable. And the toe is just as smooth with only a small line of decreases. They look clean and crisp but best of all they fit like a glove!
The pattern is on sale for a discounted price starting today, Wednesday, July 6th, 2016 through Sunday, July 10th, 2016. I have listed the pattern for $3.50, no code is necessary. On July 11th, 2016, the pattern will be set at the regular price of $5.00.
I love the look of the Smooth Operator Socks and I loved knitting them just as much.
FYI about the clogs: Birkenstock, Bern (style name), wool (I've had mine for years and I can't remember where they were purchased. I think they might be discontinued at this point.)
The yarn is from Must Stash Yarn in the Perfect Sock base and it is the Family Reunion colorway. I purchased this at the DFW Fiber Fest last spring. It is a lovely yarn. Be sure to enter to win by leaving a comment on this post.
Here is some information you might like to know about the pattern:
Sock blockers are from theloopyewe.com.
Smooth Operator Socks
This pattern is available for $3.50.
Discounted release price: Starting Wednesday, July 6th, 2016 through Sunday, July 10th, 2016 the pattern is priced at $3.50. No code is necessary. On July 11th, 2016 the regular price will be set at $5.00.
Sizes included in the pattern:
Extra-small (will fit a large child)
Small
Medium (this is the size I make for myself!)
Large (will fit men or a woman’s larger size foot)
Extra-small (will fit a large child)
Small
Medium (this is the size I make for myself!)
Large (will fit men or a woman’s larger size foot)
I love knitting top-down socks and I love self-striping and patterning sock yarn. I also love it when the patterning in the yarn doesn’t get broken up or rearranged on the front of the sock. This often happens when you are knitting the heel section of the sock. To avoid this problem I started exploring the afterthought heel, where the heel stitches are placed on waste yarn and saved for later. With a little variation of my own, I’ve found that this heel is a clever and perfect solution for your striping sock yarn woes.
What’s different about the Smooth Operator Socks you might ask? The pattern is written for four different sizes and includes instructions for both double-pointed needles and Magic Loop. The tutorial pattern is written in conversational style with tips and tricks along the way. The pattern includes step-by-step tutorials with photos but also has a quick read version at the end for those who don’t need the tutorial or want to have a printed version. The quick version is 3-pages long without photos.
I have a modified twist for placing the heel waste yarn that makes it much easier to remove later. Also, I’ve never loved the look of the bars of stitches in between the decreases that run along both sides of the heel and toe. I’ve found a sleeker decrease sequence to eliminate those bars so the sock looks almost completely seamless and so smooth. I like to complete the afterthought heel before the foot of the sock is finished so taking accurate measurements for the foot length is much easier.
I hope you enjoy knitting the Smooth Operator Socks as much as I do. This is now my go-to sock for self-striping or patterning yarn although it will work for variegated, solid or tonal yarns just as well.
Yarn: 100 grams of fingering or sock weight yarn
Needles: US size 1 or 2.25mm, set of 5 dpns or a long circular for magic loop or your preferred method for working in the round on a small number of stitches. Be sure to check your gauge and adjust the needle size as needed.
Gauge:
8 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch
13 rows per inch in stockinette stitch
8 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch
13 rows per inch in stockinette stitch
Materials:
An extra set of needles in the same size (optional) Detachable stitch marker
Yarn needle
Ruler or tape measure
Smooth waste yarn in the same weight, about 3 yards
An extra set of needles in the same size (optional) Detachable stitch marker
Yarn needle
Ruler or tape measure
Smooth waste yarn in the same weight, about 3 yards
I am really pleased with the tutorial photos for the pattern. The pattern was definitely a labor of love that I hope will help you evolve and gain more techniques for your beloved sock knitting.
For those of you not as interested in the tutorial section I have a knitty-gritty only short pattern version for you at the end of the pattern. It is only 3-pages without any photos. This way you can print out that section only or refer to that section only and have a quick complete pattern at the ready.
Let me know what you think about the new pattern. I am considering a knitalong so we could share our awesome socks along the way. Let me know if you'd be interested in a knitalong, too. I'm sure I could get Stacie of Must Stash to throw in another skein of her impressive yarn for a prize (if not I'll share one of my skeins).
Click here for the Smooth Operator Socks pattern on Ravelry! Remember the discount is only available through the weekend, July 10th, 2016.
To enter to win a skein of Must Stash Yarn please leave one comment on this blog post that includes your Ravelry username or an email address so I can get in touch if you win. Please only enter one time. Only click on "Publish" one time and please be patient. There is a delay before your comment will appear on the blog. There will be 3 randomly selected winners, two for the Family Reunion sock yarn, and one winner gets a skein of choice from the Must Stash Yarn shop. So exciting! I'll randomly select winners next week after the sale price closes.
Thank you for your sock support if you purchase the pattern. If you have used my free How I Make My Socks pattern through the years I really think you will like the Smooth Operator Socks pattern even more.
Good luck if you enter to win Must Stash Yarn.
Let the comments begin!
xo ~ susan