March Socks

I’ve discovered the best sock pattern so far! This one is also from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. It is the Child’s French Sock in Citron Pattern and Diaper Knitting. Of course, as with all the patterns in this book, the child size has been scaled up to adult size by using larger needles and thicker yarn. Here is the finished article:

I have loved making these socks. The pattern is ideal. It is a simple enough design to accompany TV watching, with no need to refer to the pattern frequently. It has enough variation in each row to maintain interest. The pattern repeat is six rows, which I found just right to encourage me to knit to the end of a pattern repeat, making me get on with it faster, and the pattern also meant that there was no tedious counting of rows to make sure I had each sock at the right length.

I also really like the fact that the toes were Kitchenered,

the heel is a French heel, so has a lovely curve instead of the straight heels I’ve had on the last couple of pairs I’ve made,

and I just love the overall look.

Perfect. I am just so, so pleased with this pair of socks. I was a bit disappointed with the ones I made last month, so I’m thrilled to have now found the best pattern so far.

Oak Ribbed Sock

I’ve just finished the latest socks! These are in that gorgeous Jawoll Magic wool I posted about a couple of weeks ago. I really love the hot fiery colours in these socks – perfect for chilly winter days. The pattern is quite a simple looking rib. Again, it’s from Knitting Vintage Socks, and again, I would recommend anyone to give them a go.

Am I becoming a sock bore? I hope not, because I looked in my drawer the other day, and thought, ‘Oh no! I’ve got no socks left to wear!’ Then I realised in reality I had loads, but I was only seeing hand made ones as worthy of consideration. I’m going to have to do an awful lot more knitting before I have only hand made socks!

I promise my next post will be something completely different. How about… rabbits?

The Pair!

Wow! I hear you say, That was quick! Yes, I was determined to get this pair of socks finished this year, and I have made it with a day to spare!  Four days is all it’s taken, and I love, love, love them!

Green Sock (singular) Ta-Dah!

Here it is at last!

You might remember that this is the Little Child’s Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. I love this sock!

I like the way you cast on with two pieces of yarn. My previous socks, the purple pair, fit well, but you can just feel a slight tension when the top is pulled, as the wool reaches maximum stretch. These don’t do that because of the double thickness cast on.

I love all the different stitches included, the ribbing divided by a horizontal band, and the k2p2 design on the instep. I like the look of a seam stitch down the back, and, whilst I do love a Kitchener stitch toe, this one does look rather neat.

The only thing I’m not quite so keen on is the heel. The way the heel is turned leads to it being very narrow indeed on the underside of the foot. It stretches round OK, and looks better on than off, but it’s the one thing I’d change if I were designing this myself.

And now, all I need is a second one!

More Socks

I’m off again.

I was warned, a few months ago, how addictive sock knitting is. Now I am well and truly hooked. This is the ‘Little Child’s Sock’ from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. It is not, however, a little child’s sock. Some of the patterns in the book were originally designed for children and were intended to be made on skinny, skinny needles with very fine yarn. Nancy Bush has re-written the patterns to be used with more ‘normal’ (for us) sized needles and 4-ply yarn. This makes a good sock for a woman. Perfect.

I’m loving the colour of the yarn as well. For some reason, I can imagine Gandalf pulling on socks like this before tramping off across Middle Earth. Although perhaps, grey and white are more his colours. Maybe these would do for Radagast – master of shape and changes of hue.

Fancy Socks, Complete!

They’re done!

Here they are. My goodness, it is difficult to take a half decent photograph of your own feet! Particularly in the dim light of a November afternoon.

These fancy socks from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush are a lovely pattern. If I make them again, I will use a plain colour yarn, because I think the changing colour distracts from the pattern, you can’t really make it out at all in the leg, but overall I’m very pleased.

These poor socks have taken quite a while to knit. They have been interrupted and put on the back burner for various other things, and if you’ve seen my older posts you will know that between the two socks I have cast on about seven times. Thankfully, after that one awful day when I went backwards rather than forwards, they knitted like a dream. I did get quite expert that day at realising I had missed a yarn over, knit two together two rows down, and managing to fix it without taking the whole thing back. It’s a very useful skill! I finished them this afternoon, and I do like having purple socks. On with a green pair next!

Fancy Sock, Take Two

Firstly, let me apologise for the terrible photo. My camera just doesn’t do low light levels. Basically, if I have to use the flash, it can’t focus on anything within about a metre. I had been borrowing my son’s camera, but he has now told me that his camera lives in his room, and I’m not to borrow it (he’s four, and very tenacious in an argument). This is me holding the sock under the best light source in our living room.

As you can see, I’ve managed to get past the cuff again. All is going well so far. I keep reminding myself that this is not difficult.

Completed Sock

The first sock is done! I made it round the heel with no problems whatsoever. I happily decreased and made my way to the toes. I measured how long it should be, and worked out how many rows that should be. 80 rows of patterning from the heel to the start of the toe shaping. I checked it again after 72 rows, just to be sure, and it was about right – it looked like it needed another 8 rows. Strangely, that extra 8 rows made it too long! I did the toe shaping, and just stopped when it was the right length. I ended up missing the final 8 rows, and grafting together 36 stitches instead of the intended 20.

It does mean I have a rather square toe.

That’s OK, though! I just have to make sure I make the next one the same.

Fancy Silk Sock

…except not in silk.

OK, I admit it. I didn’t re-start the toasty gloves. I started a pair of socks instead.

A week or two ago I bought Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. I have been looking through the gorgeous patterns, planning what to make. They all look wonderful in the book.

I have only been knitting socks for a few weeks. I have so far knitted four pairs, all completely plain stocking stitch, but I felt confident enough to move on to something a bit more complicated. I looked at this book and suddenly wanted a range of patterned socks. So I started!

Knitted as the pattern was originally written, with silk and 1mm needles, this sock should fit a 5-6 year old. As it is in the book, knitted with 4-ply (that’s superfine or fingering weight, depending on where you live) and 2.5mm needles, it should fit me, a reasonably average footed woman.

This is not a good half-term occupation. It required all my concentration to get started. All three times. Yes, I had to start this sock three times before I got it completely right. Now, I’m reasonable confident with the pattern, and I’m gradually working my way down to the heel. Let’s hope it’s still going smoothly once I’m round the heel!