MLO Knitting

Archive for the ‘Socks’ Category

I finally finished the stockinette stitch self-striping socks that I have been working on throughout this year. Somehow, finishing them is cathartic, and some, superstitious part of me believes that finishing these socks means I will not carry the badness of 2008 into 2009.

Here are the socks:

Oh, the irony of them being orange and green – colors of fertility in an infertile year. But, I must admit, they are still rather comfy.

The vitals:

• Toe-up, two at a time with magic loop. (I bought two balls of yarn, so, enough leftover yarn for another pair.)
• Stockinette.
• 2×2 ribbing for 1.5 inch cuff.
• Square Toe
• Sockotta Yarn from The Plymouth Italian Collection. (45% Cotton, 40% Superwash Wool, 15% Nylon)

You know, it should not have taken a whole year to knit these. Even I, the world’s slowest knitter, can knit faster than that…

I think in 2009, I’m going to try out entrelac knitting – and maybe even attempt the Lady Eleanor Shawl.

2-at-a-Time Socks: Revealed Inside. . . The Secret of Knitting Two at Once on One Circular Needle Works for any Sock Pattern! by Melissa Morgan Oakes is one of the best books on knitting two socks at the same time. The only weakness in my mind is that none of the patterns are toe-up!

Truthfully, I’m incapable of doing one sock at a time anymore. I make too many mistakes with any given pattern and it makes it so much easier to have matching socks when you are knitting both at the same time!

I have knitted the Beloved pattern – mostly without the errata ( http://www.storey.com/books/book.php/y/5/p/0/order_no/67691), but they look great anyway! I found Melissa’s Ravelry group after finishing the leg – and I hate to frog anything. Yes, I am a lazy knitter.

Her instructions are very clear with really clear photographs. There are some corrections in the errata (linked above). This is a great book and belongs in any sock knitters library – from beginner to advanced.

I will be reviewing the book in the near future, but I finished the first pair of socks I knit from the book, 2-at-a-time Socks by Melissa Morgan Oakes!

I love the Rosehip variegations from Mountain Colors Bearfoot. Despite only having about 350 yards a skein, I managed to have a little yarn left over. Very little, but a little.

Now, I didn’t find the errata until about the time I turned the heel, so the corrected chart only occurs on the foot, but I think they look rather nice. And, my husband likes these socks too!

The instructions were very clear, so I can’t not recommend the book! But, I’ll save my review for May. That way, I have time to knit another pair from the book to give an even better assessment.

It is kind of hard to see the pattern due to my lack of photography skills, but the pattern does show up on this skein of yarn! Hopefully, the picture to the right gives a better view of the way the pattern shows up. It probably shows up best in a solid, but I seem to have a problem with boredom when dealing with single colors.

Oh, and they are mighty comfy on cold feet! I really liked working with the Bearfoot yarn. That is a yarn, that despite the expense, I will be looking at using again. The spinner and dyer really knows how to make a fun to work with yarn.

Of course, I am thinking of investing in learning to really spin in the near future… If only my husband didn’t insist on a walkway through the house.

Note: My email was unaccessible from Friday till this morning, so I am once again even further behind in certain obligations. Sorry!