Operation KSL: Mona

In this post, I shared how I was undertain whether I'd have enough yarn to finish my socks and lo and behold I was right. I was short. Can you see how I had to finish the top of my right toe with a purple-ish yarn? Major bummer....

I loved this pattern! It was easy and fun and as it came together, the pattern was really interesting. I'm not big on knitting through the back loop but otherwise, I liked this pattern.

Pattern Name: Mona, pg. 17

Yarn Brand: Sock Ease

Yarn Color: Cupcake

DPN size: US 1

Size Knit: S

Project Timeline: 4 weeks to complete

I can't believe I ran out of yarn! That never happens with Socks That Rock yarn. I branched out and tried something new but I realize now why I should stick with STR. It's well worth the money!

The next sock pattern for Operation KSL is Stalagmite. They're getting progressively harder! Ye haw!

Operation KSL Continues

I'm in the midddle of a pair of socks for Operation KSL. They are coming along nicely. Can't wait to share about them! Here's hoping I have enough yarn. I'm trying a new brand and it sure feels like I'm cutting it close.

Operation KSL: Hedera

In this post I wrote about Operation KSL and my quest to complete every pattern in the book Knit.Sock.Love by Cookie A. I saw that there is a Knit.Sock.Love Knit-A-Long on Ravelry! I'll have to look into that further.

Anywho.....the next pattern I took on was Hedera. I mentioned in my last post how I've only knit socks with Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock yarn. I branched out and tried something new! I used Spud & Chloe yarn. They also have some yummy colorways. Here are the details:

Pattern Name: Hedera, pg. 11

Yarn Brand: Spud & Chloe

Yarn Color: Clementine (fine)

DPN size: US 1

Size Knit: S

Project Timeline: 4 weeks to complete

I loved this pattern! You might recognize Hedera because Cookie featured it in Knitty. It was an easy repeat and as the pattern formed, I loved the look of it with the orange yarn. I think this pattern is best-suited with a solid color but I'd be curious to see it with a verigated yarn. I knit my socks in the evening after the kids went to bed. Is a month a long time to finish a pair of socks? I have finished socks much faster and I could have completed these faster but life gets in the way sometimes.

I like to finish my socks with a star toe. I like the way it looks and feels and it spares me from the dreaded Kitchener stitch! I find my toes look really stubby when I finish socks with Kitchener. Do you have a favorite toe finish?

I like Cookie's patterns because most of her patterns are knit from the leg down to the toe. I'm not a toe up kind of gal I guess! Do you have a preference?

Operation KSL: Marilinda

Operation KSL continues! In this post I wrote about Operation KSL and my quest to complete every pattern in the book Knit.Sock.Love by Cookie A. Marilinda is so far my favorite pattern in the book. Since this is only my second pattern, I'm excited for what the rest of the book holds! Marilinda is the perfect example of the genius that is Cookie A. Take a look at the heel. I love sock patterns that incorporate the pattern into the heel.

I won't lie. I had to rrrriiiippp back Marilinda a couple of times. The pattern repeat is more complicated than Hedera and BFF. I like to knit and watch tv and part of the problem and why I had to rip was because I would get confused about where I was in the chart and repeat a line and realize it later on. If you are a new sock knitter, I'd recommend you tackle BFF first.

Here are details on my Marilinda project:

Pattern Name: Marilinda, pg. 29

Yarn Brand: Socks That Rock (Blue Moon Fiber Arts)

Yarn Color: Cattywampus (lightweight)

DPN size: US 1

Size Knit: One size

Project Timeline: 26 days to complete

Here is a trick I figured out as I worked this pattern. Do you ever find that when you finish a row, you write down what the number of the next row is? Then when you come back to your work you see the row number you wrote down and can't recall if that is the row you JUST COMPLETED or THE ONE YOU NEED TO START ON? I kept having this problem (which would lead to more ripping) and so I made a rule for myself that I'll only end on an odd number row so no matter what number I wrote it better be odd which would mean the next number (even) would be the one I start on. Then I couldn't remember my own rule. I needed something easier and consistent and fast.

I bought these colored sticky tabs at Target and draw an arrow on them, and no matter what row I complete, I always put the tab on the row I should begin on when I pick the work back up again.

Operation KSL

If you knit socks, then you know about Cookie A and her incredible sock patterns. I was so excited when got her Knit.Sock.Love (great name for the book btw!) book. This book is like a beautiful coffee book to me. I love to flip through it and consider what colors I'd use for each pattern.

Then I had a brilliant idea....in much the same vain as Julie & Julia, I want to tackle every single pattern in the book. It is ambitious, I know. I don't have a timeframe, just the desire to do it. I'll call it Operation Knit.Sock.Love (KSL)Soooo........here are the BFF socks:

Pattern Name: BFF, pg. 23

Yarn Brand: Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks That Rock yarn

Yarn Color: Mossley Manly (lightweight)

DPN size: US 1

Size Knit: S

Project Timeline: Took 7 days

This is a great project to work on while watching TV because it is easy to follow the chart AND keep up with the plot of the show. I love cables. I think these socks have a simple, clean design. I wear a size 7 shoe so I try to stick to size small (between 60-64 cast on stitches).

I only knit socks with Blue Moon yarn. It isn't that I don't like other sock yarn, I just find it easier to order online since don't have a LYS. I love their colorways and the yarn holds up really well over time. I'd love to branch out and try other brands. What is your favorite brand of sock yarn?

Sock Love

I received a gift certificate to KnitPicks for my birthday. I've been wanting Cookie A's book, knit. sock. love. for some time now. As soon as I received my certificate, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it! It arrived this week along with this yummy sock yarn and some new sock needles. I can't wait to get started. But I'm still working on this project so my socks will have to wait....

Eunice Socks

M y favorite sock designer is Cookie A. These Eunice socks are from Cookie's Sock Innovation book. I purchased the yarn in Nebraska at Brown Sheep Co. Cookie is a sock genius!

Handmade Holidays continued

My handmade holiday wrapping continues!

Pattern for Children's Socks

Two years ago on a trip to Alaska, I purchased a rainbow skein of yarn. It was the only skein I bought there (which is so weird to me because I thought Alaska would be a yarn mecca!). Since then, whenever she is in my studio, MiniMe pulls out the skein and asks me when I'm going to make her something with it. I knew I wanted to her socks but have been unable to find a children's sock pattern that would show off the yarn colors. So, while snowed in one day, I created my own children's sock pattern. I call my pattern "Roy-G-Biv" to pay tribute to the colorful yarn I used, but you can use a solid color too.

MiniMe loves these socks. She wears them as slippers. Feel free to download the PDF and make some children's socks of your own. I created them to fit a child's size 8-10. Mini Me is 5 and wears a size 10. Enjoy!

RoyGBiv Socks

Socks!

While on vacation, I visited a yarn shop and found this wonderful sock book. Have you seen it? I'm really loving page 113:



I just finished the Woman's Lacy Footlet in a beautiful green color. It's a present for someone so I'm a bit hesitant to blog about it but it came out so cute, I just had to. If you love to knit socks, check out this book. You won't be disappointed!

Top Secrect Finished Project

You're going to have to take my word on this finished project. I joined the Socks That Rock club and members aren't allowed to show the finished project and that includes even showing the yarn. I guess that they sell the patterns the following year and part of being a member and paying dues is being able to have access to the new patterns and yarn.

I received my yarn in mid-January. I finished my socks over the weekend. The next sock package is due any day now. I wonder if I'll be able to keep up?

So again, sorry no images on this one. It's too bad because they're darn cute!