Startup Library Knitting on Craftsy & ZK Retreat 2017

Hi, Knitters,

I am so proud and excited to announce my newest Craftsy class today called Startup Library Knitting! Craftsy has started a new class series that are truly for the beginner. There are Startup Library classes in sewing, baking, watercolors, weaving, cake decorating, embroidery, and now knitting. Last May I spent a week at the Craftsy studio filming this new class.

I am offering a 50% off affiliate link to anyone interested in giving the class a try. 

Click here for the 50% off link to Startup Library Knitting!

I know that many of you already know how to knit or you probably wouldn't be reading this blog. But many of you, I'm sure, get asked to teach or teach others how to knit. If you are looking for a resource to recommend to new knitters or you want to get ideas for teaching new knitters this class will be a great resource. I really start from scratch and it is divided up so you can click on specific techniques for a quick view or refresher. 

Click on play to see the preview trailer for the Startup Library Knitting class!

It's like a dictionary for new knitters. You can quickly and easily look up any technique at a glance. I also have included three easy starter projects and patterns in the class, a pair of fingerless mitts, a textured cowl and a stripey hat. All of these are packed with important techniques for a new knitter to learn. 

After taking this class the new knitter will truly be ready to move on to other and more advanced projects. After viewing the class yesterday I can truly say that it is really well done and well organized. 

Again, click here for 50% off or just to check it out if interested! This is an affiliate link.

For another topic today, last weekend Barrett Wool Co. traveled to Rochester, Minnesota to vend for the first time. Megan and Amy, of the Stockinette Zombies podcast, were hosting their 5th annual Zombie Knitpocalypse Retreat. There were 200 attendees. It's a well-run and fun retreat that I can highly recommend. I started the weekend on Friday night as the guest speaker which was really fun.  

Then early Saturday morning we set up our Barrett Wool Co. booth for the first time. We had such a good time and we learned so much from this experience. It was a great place to start because the market was open for two hours in the morning just for retreat attendees and then there was a closed lunch break and then the market re-opened and included free admission for the public for two hours in the afternoon. 

It was fast and furious! Our booth was absolutely swamped the entire time. People were incredibly enthusiastic about Barrett Wool Co. yarns and seeing them in person for the first time. We had all 16 colors of our Home Collection yarns and a lot of our Wisconsin Woolen Spun yarns. It all flew off the shelves. 

My business partner and son, Evan, and his wife, Molly (formerly known as Miss Molly) were there checking people out and packaging up purchases in our signature printed bags. They did a great job and were so happy with the event. It was fun to have them with me. It was really a whirlwind of the best kind!

We brought along some Branches & Buds sweater kits in our Wisconsin Woolen Spun yarns and a few of them didn't sell so they are back up and available in the shop. These go really quickly so if you are interested hop on over and snag one for yourself. 

Click here for the Branches & Buds Sweater Kit information or to purchase!

Here Molly is modeling the gorgeous Branches & Buds sweater! It is a winner, both fun to knit and even better to wear.

I'll be back soon with more, Knitters. I hope you are all doing well.

xo, susan

String Along Toys ~ ebook and print book now available!

Note: All photos in this post are provided from Quince & Co. 

Hi, Knitters,

How are you? I hope everyone is doing well and that you are enjoying your last days of summer before school kicks into full swing. We are finally settling down a bit around here after the most hectic, jam-packed summer I can remember. What a whirlwind it has been.

I have a couple of quick announcements to talk about before we talk about my newest ebook and print book. First, I am teaching in Minneapolis at Vogue Knitting Live, November 4-6, 2016. Registration is open for classes and they are filling up nicely. I think one of my classes is sold out and I have raised the numbers a couple of times already to let more students in, but there are still other classes available from me and from many other instructors. I'll be at Vogue Knitting Live in NYC in January 2017 as well coming up here. Anyway, I hope you'll hop on over to check out VK Live in Minneapolis.

Secondly, I'm teaching in Vancouver at Knit City coming up on Oct. 1 and 2, 2016! I am super excited to teach at this venue. I have two classes sold out and I recently let the waiting list join these two workshops. I have a couple of other workshops still available with a few spots left. I hope you'll come and join me. I would love to meet you. Click here to visit the Knit City website and check it out.

Next, I am teaching at A Good Yarn's first big retreat, A Good Retreat, in Orlando, Florida coming up in May 18-21, 2017. I am so excited to be teaching alongside my buddies Ann Budd and Romi Hill. Click here to get all of the details and to sign up to join us!

Now for some exciting news! My brand new pattern collection, String Along Toys, is available through Quince & Co. I am so proud of this little group of toys. Let me tell you a bit about them.

I shared the new ebook here on my Instagram! I'd love to have you follow me over there for more up to the minute information and fun. 

Click here for String Along Toys on Ravelry! The pattern collection/ebook will be available for purchase from my Ravelry pattern shop in November 2016 if you are interested. Now it is only available through Quince & Co. 

Click here to order the ebook and print book on Quince & Co.!

I started teaching the String Along Toys workshop in 2013 and I kept promising that the patterns would be available through Quince & Co. since that time. It has finally happened and Quince has done a beautiful job with the patterns. Anyone who has finished their little String Along characters now have a place to post them on Ravelry. I know there are a lot of finished projects already out there. Click here to post your finished String Alongs on Ravelry!

Here is a little information about these adorable friends, monkeys, frogs and mice. They are all worked from the bottom-up and they are all seamlessly worked in one-piece. The body and head are worked in one-piece and then the ears, limbs and tails are simply picked up and knit onto the toy. The monkey and the  If you notice, one of the limbs on each of the toy is finished with a loop. This loop allows the toys to be strung together in any combination. This makes the toys even more fun for little ones.  

Here is the knitty-gritty:

String Along Toys

by Susan B. Anderson

Published in

Quince & Co.

Craft

Knitting

Category

Softies → Animal

Published

August 2016

Suggested yarn

Quince & Co. Lark

Yarn weight

Worsted / 10 ply (9 wpi) ?

Gauge

6 stitches = 1 inch
in stockinette stitch

Needle size

US 5 - 3.75 mm

Sizes available

3½" [9 cm] tall when sitting, 6½" [16.5 cm] body circumference, and 3" [7.5 cm] arm and leg length

• bottom-up
• one-piece
• seamless
• stripes-colorwork
• written-pattern

  This pattern is available for download for $10.00.

Susan B. Anderson, a knitting name synonymous with sweet, adorable stitched creations, brings us a trio of storybook friends in String Along Toys. Worked in Lark, frogs, mice, and monkeys can be worked with loops for hands or feet so they can be linked together with their buddies.

Print book is available for pre-order at quinceandco.com. Print books will ship starting September 6, 2016.

yarn
lark / 1 skein each in the following colorways:
Frogs: Snap Pea 128, Leek 131, and Parsley 129
Monkeys: Bark 121, Chanterelle 118, Egret 101, Bird’s Egg 106 or Nasturtium 136
Mice: Egret 101, Dogwood 135, Kumlien’s Gull 152

needles
set dpns in size US 5 / 3.75 mm

skills required
Long-tail cast on (link provided), increasing, decreasing, i-cord, bobbles (instructions included), working in the round.

For more information, see: http://quinceandco.com/products/string-along-toys

The toys are so sweet and fast to knit in worsted weight yarn. I have my students finish their little toy in one class session which is 3-hours long and that's with a lot of added teaching breaks. 

The monkey and the mouse have a unique construction for the head. I've come up with a really simple way to change the direction of the knitting without doing short rows for these toys and it makes the knitting more enjoyable in my opinion. 

I hope you'll check out this fun set I've designed for Quince & Co. They really are some of the sweetest tiny-sized toys I have ever made. 

The print book is being mailed out starting September 6th, 2016 but you can get the immediate ebook download right now. Click here to find out more on Quince & Co. Quince always does the most beautiful job with their ebooks and print books. I think I have purchased every print book they have ever published, I am such a fan. 

And remember that you can purchase the ebook from my Ravelry pattern shop coming up in November if you'd like to have it in your library over there. I'll be sure to remind you when that is available. I have the Flower Fairy and Leaf Sprite patterns available for download in November, too. 

I've been working so hard on some new designs set for release this fall and I just finished writing a piece for a collaborative book. I am so honored to be included in this book. That took a lot of time and concentration. I need to film a new podcast episode for my YouTube Channel sometime soon. I think when my house settles down a bit I'll be able to do that again. 

Thanks for sticking with me through this summer. I hope to be back with more regularity coming up in the months ahead. 

xo ~ susan

Updates & Prizes

Hi, Knitters,

Late yesterday I sent out a pattern update to all Smooth Operator Socks pattern purchasers. This new information is now included in the pattern for new purchasers. 

Here is the note I sent out with the update:

Hi Smooth Operator Sock Knitters,
First I want you to know that with this update the pattern is completely the same with the exception of 2 pages of variation notes that have been added to the end of the pattern, pages 14 and 15. Here is the reason for the additional notes.

I’ve been tinkering around with the SOS pattern a bit and have successfully tried some new techniques. I want to share these options with you. The new notes at the end of the pattern include:

1. A simple technique tip to get rounder corners on your Kitchener Stitch heels and toes.
2. A new way to finish the heels and toes without any Kitchener Stitch. No Kitchener Stitch anywhere in the sock! I have done the last two socks with this technique and I love the look and feel of this version.
3. Instructions for another way to do the decreases on the heels and toes that creates an even smoother heel and toe decrease line. It is a single sleek line of decreases that is really quite beautiful and simple to do. This is now my go-to decrease option! Now you can substitute this version right into your own Smooth Operator socks if you like.

Thank you for the support! Enjoy.
xo ~ susan

I've been working away on some new socks using the new variations to the pattern. This one is the Opal Sweet & Spicy 2, color number 8615. The cuff, heel and toe is in the Opal Solid Series, number 5186. I have had this yarn for a long time now and I'm so glad I decided to start working on it.

Here are some links you may want to check out:

Smooth Operator Socks Pattern

The Itty-Bitty Knits Group on Ravelry (Come join us!)

The Smooth Operator Socks Knitalong Thread (You can still join in up to August 22, 2016.)

The Smooth Operator Socks Photo Thread

#SOSkal photos on Instagram

Sock blockers are from theloopyewe.com

Needles: Double-pointed needles from Signature Needle Arts, US size 1/2.25mm, 6-inch length

For these socks I used the new single line decrease variation and the No-Kitchener finishing for the heel and toe. I love both of these options so much. I think these variations make the sock look even better. The original version is just as good though.

It's all about having options and trying new things. That's how you learn what works best for you comfort-wise for the wearing of your socks and what makes your knitting the most enjoyable experience for you.

Every time I start the heel and pick up the extra stitches to close up the gap I try to experiment a little with which legs I pick up. For every sock it can be a little different, the technique is the same but where I insert the needle under the legs can be different. I look at the stripes (sometimes skinny stripes will get a jog in the stripe, for example) and the different colors and how the pulled up stitch legs will look. If I don't like the look or if I still have a hole I will try another spot. The more times you do this part of the sock the better you'll become at it.

The sock in the photo above is the first time I didn't have any gap or hole that needed stitching up on the one side of the heel where I joined in the yarn. I achieved this by experimenting with the picked up stitch legs. In the past I have had a tiny gap on the side where I joined in the new yarn which isn't a problem because that end needs to be woven in anyway so at the same time I just stitch up the gap, too. Anyway, I feel pretty good about this one!

Here is a close up example of the Single Line Decrease variation and the No-Kitchener Finish. I think it looks extraordinarily clean, neat and tidy and oh so smooth. I really love it. This is the Noro Taiyo Sock yarn. I lost the label so I don't know the color number and I purchased the yarn in Door County quite a few years ago.

The heel finish in the photo above is an example of the Kitchener stitch with the Rounded Corner variation found in the new update. The simple tip in the update really helps smooth out and round the common problem of those pointy corners.

The finished sock is like a little work of art. The Noro Taiyo Sock yarn is a single-ply yarn that looks so much like a handspun yarn. I know that a single-ply won't wear as well as sturdier sock yarns but I don't mind at all.

I haven't talked about this much but one thing about an afterthought heel, like in this pattern, is that it is completely replaceable. You can simply put your needles back in just like you did to pick up the stitches, cut out or rip out the heel if there is a hole and then knit a brand new heel. It is so slick. If I do get holes in my socks it will most likely be in the heel.  

Berry Colorful Yarning: (l to r) Bright Beginnings, Berry Punch and Hulk

Last but not least, I have randomly drawn for three more prize winners for the Smooth Operator Socks Knitalong! BC Yarning generously sent me three skeins of her beautiful self-striping sock yarn a bit ago. I am so excited to share it with three of you. I randomly selected two winners from the SOSkal Photo thread and one winner from the Instagram #soskal photos. 

The three winners have been contacted and they are:

1sheep2sheep

4laurel

goldiegirl

Click here to visit the Berry Colorful Yarnings Etsy Shop! Thank you for the prizes.

Congratulations to all three winners! I'll be drawing for more prizes next week. I am having the best time with the knitalong. It's so inspiring and I can't believe how many SOsocks have already been completed. There are already 437 posted projects at this time. That's impressive. Socks are really the perfect summer project.

I'll be back soon with more.

xo ~ susan

Noro Taiyo Sock Love

Hi, Knitters,

I have been playing around with the Smooth Operator Socks pattern a little, making some new twists and turns. I love the results. I started a sock in some Noro Taiyo Sock yarn that I purchased quite a few years ago in Door County, Wisconsin, at Spin of Door County, when we were on an end of summer trip. I lost the label on this one so I don't have the color number but I do know that the Taiyo Sock is a single ply cotton/wool/silk/nylon blend. It is a wonderful mix of fibers and I love the feel and look of the yarn. The sock is soft and textured and really has the appearance of handspun yarn. 

You may notice that I have streamlined the decrease even more on the heel and toe of this Noro sock. I had been thinking of trying this different technique and lo and behold it worked. I honestly wasn't sure if it would work but I really love the result.

For the sock in the photo I just let the Noro yarn do its thing for the cuff, leg and foot of the sock and then I striped the heel every two rounds with two different balls of the yarn that I had wound off before starting. The effect is stunning and I am pretty excited about it.

The wooden sock blocker is from theloopyewe.com. 

What I am going to do is write up a few notes on the minor pattern tweaks I have made here on this new sock. These variations include:

~ a different decrease technique for the heel and toe.

~ a new technique tip to help round out those corners on the Kitchener stitch heel and toe.

~ and a twist on the finishing of the toe and heel that doesn't involve the Kitchener stitch at all. 

The toe in the sock photo above doesn't have any Kitchener stitch and I think I kind of love it! I love trying new things and experimenting. This is how things change and get even better.

The write up of these few notes (which I haven't done yet) including these variations will be included at the end of the Smooth Operator Socks pattern. I will send an update when it is completed to everyone who has already purchased the pattern. And of course, the new variations will be included in the pattern for all future pattern purchasers.

The variations should be coming out sometime in the next week or so.

Click here to find out more about the Smooth Operator Socks pattern! Still available for an automatically discounted price. No coupon code is necessary. 

Click here to check out the Smooth Operator Socks Knitalong! We have over 230 participants now which is fun and exciting. You can join in anytime up to August 22, 2016. All you have to do is participate, post a photo and mainly have fun to enter in. You don't have to finish your socks or even one sock to be entered into the prize drawings, of which there will be many.

In fact, I just sent off the first two prizes....

Knittedtowel (rav username) or Jessamyn won this beautiful gradient mini-skein set from Vice Yarns. It is 600 yards of merino/nylon fingering weight and it is so vibrant.

The second prize was drawn from the Instagram hashtag #SOSkal photos. The winner of this gorgeous set of fingering weight mini-skeins from Vice Yarns is pjknits (Instagram) or Pennyj (rav username)! 

Click here for Vice Yarns! Thank you so much for the beautiful prize donations. 

The prizes have already been sent to the winners. I will be drawing for 3 prize winners later this week. I have some excellent prizes lined up.  

Amazingly enough there are already 322 pairs of Smooth Operator Socks posted on Ravelry which is so much fun to browse through. The yarns and color choices are varied and inspiring.  

I have some new projects and a few new patterns that I am working on right now for various publications. Things are moving right along this summer. I hope you are having a good summer and that you are getting out to enjoy the warm weather. Fall will be here before we know it which actually sounds kind of nice.

I'll be back soon with much more.

xo ~ susan

A New Smooth Operator Sock

Hi, Knitters,

I've finished another Smooth Operator Sock this morning. This time I combined two Must Stash Yarns and it turned out super cute. 

Click here for the discounted pattern on Ravelry! The sale price is $3.50 and no code is necessary. In a week or so the price will be set at $5.00. I've extended the discount price as a thank you for the huge response to the pattern and also for the first couple of weeks of the knitalong. 

The cuff, heel and toe are in Must Stash Yarns Perfect Sock in the Family Reunion colorway. The speckled leg and foot are in The Wall - Alpha colorway. Both from Must Stash Yarn and both wonderful.

Click here for Must Stash Yarn!

Here is the finished sock! I love it. The cuff length is about 5.5 inches. The sock blocker is from theloopyewe.com if you are interested.

I will be choosing the first round of prizes from everyone participating in the #SOSkal in a couple of days so jump in and post if you haven't yet. All you have to do is introduce yourself and post a photo. People are still joining in and you can join anytime. You just have to be working on your SOsock to be entered. You don't have to finish your socks or even one sock. I just want people to participate and have fun. 

All of the information for the knitalong is in my first post on the thread. I'll randomly select prize winners from the Knitalong thread on the Itty-Bitty Knits group and from the knitalong hashtag photos on Instagram, #SOSkal. Be sure to tag your photos on Instagram and your projects on Ravelry, soskal. 

The Smooth Operator Socks Knitalong thread is right here on Ravelry!

Click here to see the #SOSkal photos on Instagram!

I'm so inspired by everyone's Smooth Operator Socks so far. Thanks for the enthusiastic response to the knitalong and the pattern. I appreciate it.

Now to pick out my next sock yarn..... 

xo ~ susan

SOSkal ~ In Full Swing!

Hi, Knitters,

The Smooth Operator Sock Knitalong or SOSkal is in full swing. Thank you so much for jumping on board. So far we have 180 projects on Ravelry and over 150 participants in the knitalong. I hope more will join in here as we move along. This is a great turnout and considering what a busy time of year it is for people and families I am pretty blown away. Thank you once again, it's exciting.

Click here for the discounted Smooth Operator Socks pattern information or to purchase.

The thread on the Itty-Bitty Knits group on Ravelry is already hopping with in-progress photos, sharing and of course, the asking and answering of questions. It is really fun. Remember that you don't have to finish a pair of socks or even one sock to enter into the knitalong and be eligible for prizes. All you have to do is join in and get going on a SOsock. Easy-peasy and pressure free!

Click here to check out the SOSkal thread on Ravelry. Just jump in and leave a comment to join, it's that easy. 

Click here to see the #SOSkal photos on Instagram. Please tag all of your sock photos with this hashtag so we can all enjoy your socks in one collective place. Please tag your Ravelry socks, too, with SOSkal. 

I decided to start a new sock for the knitalong. I am using Must Stash Yarn in the Happy Snowman colorway. It is on the Ritz base which has sparkle or stellina. I love the colors so much. 

It looks like Stacie of Must Stash has both this color and the Family Reunion colorway up for pre-order right now!

Here I turned the Smooth Operator Sock heel and am progressing down the foot. The heel is an afterthought technique where you place the heel stitches on waste yarn for later. Most patterns suggest completing the heel after the entire sock is finished but I like to work a couple of inches past the waste yarn and then I go back to insert the heel.

This order of events is for a couple of reasons:

1. It is simply nice to be finished with the sock when you finish the foot and toe. I find it no different than working the traditional heel flap and turn as far as the sequence of the sock knitting. This is because when you do the heel flap and turn you stop working the long stretch of either the foot or leg of the sock and you are doing something different for that time. This is the same for stopping and working the afterthought heel.

2. The second reason is that putting the heel in before you are finished with the foot makes it much easier to get the foot length correct. You can even try on the sock while in progress to make sure the fit will be good.

Of course you could always finish the heel after you complete the sock if you would prefer to do it that way. I always take a minute or two to weave in the ends as I go and I am always glad at the end. Then you only have that final end on the toe to quickly weave in and you are really done!

Yesterday I finished the sock and it looks and fits great. It is always fun to figure out where to place the heel in the striping sequence. You really can't go wrong but the main thing I try to do is not have the same color stripes right next to each other.

I am thinking about cracking open this new skein of Must Stash Yarn for my next sock cast on, just for fun and to keep things entertaining. This skein is called The Wall - Alpha and it looks to be interesting. There isn't a photo on the label so I'm not sure what it will look like.

I hope you are having a great week so far. I'll be back soon with much more.
xo ~ susan

Smooth Operator Socks Knitalong Begins!

Hi, Knitters, 

First, I have randomly selected three winners for the Must Stash Yarn giveaway! The winners are (by Ravelry usernames):

silkydog

love2read

cccrabtree

Congratulations! I have contacted the winners and Stacie of Must Stash Yarn. Stacy will be getting in touch with all of you to make arrangements for your yarn and delivery. Thanks to Must Stash Yarn for the support and fun.

SOSkal Information

I haven't hosted a knitalong for a very long time so this should be really fun. I am excited to be starting our sock knitting adventure together. 

Today I am announcing the beginning of the Smooth Operator Socks Knitalong or SOSkal. The knitalong is being held over in my Ravelry group, Itty-Bitty Knits. You can enter socks or a sock you've already started no problem. You can join in anytime as well. 

I've posted two threads that are stickied at the top of the forum. One thread is a chatter and joining in thread to share your socks, yarn,  questions, encouragement, compliments, any photos, etc. The other thread is the place to post your in progress or finished socks. You can post as many photos as separate socks you are working on during the knitalong. There are already 67 SOS projects posted on Ravelry so that is exciting.

The pattern for the Smooth Operator Socks is still at a discounted price of $3.50 for a couple more weeks to celebrate the start of our knitalong! Click here for the discounted pattern on Ravelry! No code is necessary to get the sale price.

Click here to check out the SOSkal chatter thread or to join in! Please ask all questions on this thread. I will be checking in very frequently but sometimes someone else in the group can get to answering questions before me and this is very helpful all around. Please jump in and answer questions anytime, I need all of the help I can get.

Click here to check out the finished or in progress photo thread (this is where I'll be drawing for prizes)!

I hope you'll join the Itty-Bitty Knits group because it is a very active, smart, helpful and fun group of knitters but it isn't a requirement for joining the SOSkal. 

Here is the general information from the thread on Itty-Bitty Knits:

Hi, Knitters!
Welcome to the Smooth Operator Socks Knitalong! Please tag all projects SOSkal so we can check them out. On Instagram let’s use #SOSkal, too! I haven’t hosted a knitalong for a very long time so this should be fun.

To join the SOSkal simply make a post in this thread to say hello and tell us your SOS plans (and then hopefully share your progress along the way). Then before the ending date be sure to post a photo of your progress in the photo thread to be entered in the prize drawings.

The Smooth Operator Socks pattern is still listed at the sale price of $3.50! I just haven’t gotten around to changing it to the regular price yet. Now that I am starting this KAL I think I will continue to wait a bit and I will change it to $5.00 in a couple of weeks from now.

The SOSkal starts today, July 22, 2016. You can enter socks that you have started already, there is no official starting date. Some have already finished entire pairs of SOS socks. Totally fine, enter those as well! You can join in at any time along the way. All participation is good and welcome and any sock yarn can be used!

You don’t have to finish your socks by the end of the SOSkal, you can just start a sock, get one sock done, or finish 2 socks, or 1.5 socks. It doesn’t matter. If you join in and post a photo of your work in progress or finished socks in the photo thread you are entered in the prize drawings at the end.

I will have another thread for photos and descriptions only. This thread is for photos, questions, comments, compliments, chatter, encouragement, etc.

The ending date is Monday, August 22, 2016!

I hope you’ll join us.

I'm going to be randomly selecting prizes throughout the SOSkal. I will select prizes in the chatter thread and also on Instagram and at the end in the photo thread. Please use the hashtag #SOSkal on Instagram to share your photos. I will be selecting prize winners from the postings on this Instagram thread.

Also on Ravelry use the tag SOSkal for your sock photos. Remember the socks can be in progress only. You don't have to finish. I just want people to join in and have fun without any pressure at all. Being together and working on our socks together is the main goal.

I am going to be working on a new pair of SOSocks, too, starting today. I am using Must Stash Yarn's Happy Snowman colorway on the Ritz base, it's sparkly. This is fun because I am considering the yarn to be a holiday/winter yarn so it fits in with my Christmas sock knitting in July goal.

The Family Reunion colorway in the original socks is up for pre-order on Must Stash Yarn (at least at the time of posting). Click here to visit Must Stash Yarn.

I am working on gathering loads of prizes right now. I have a lot of stuff already and I will be contacting some friends to get a few more things to add to the pot.

Post a comment here and most importantly on the Ravelry thread and let me know if you are joining in! I'd love to hear from you.

I'll be back soon with more.
xo ~ susan

Smooth Operator Socks Pattern ~ Sale Price & Must Stash Yarn Giveaway!

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. 

Click here to see more information or to purchase the pattern on Ravelry!

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

Published in

Shop Susan B. Anderson

Craft

Knitting

Category

Feet / Legs → Socks → Mid-calf

Published

July 2016

Suggested yarn

Must Stash Yarn & Fiber Perfect Sock

Yarn weight

Light Fingering / 3 ply ?

Gauge

8 stitches = 1 inch
in stockinette stitch

Needle size

US 1 - 2.25 mm

Yardage

440 yards (402 m)

Sizes available

To fit: extra-small (small, medium, large) OR to fit the circumference measurement at the ball of the foot at: 7 (8, 9, 10) inches. The patttern is written with 1-inch of negative ease for a snug fit.

• afterthought-heel
• in-the-round
• kitchener
• one-piece
• other-toe
• seamless
• top-cuff-down
• top-down

 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)

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

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

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