Finished: 2024 Advent Socks Take Two

I cranked on my 2024 Advent Socks Take Two and those puppies are DONE!

Pattern: My own 68 stitch “recipe” for toe up vanilla socks and an afterthought heel

Yarn: 2024 Advent Stripe from The Cozy Knitter Bliss base and one mini skein of Red Door Fibers Heels & Toes in Hint of Grey

Needles: US 1s

With the added contrast heels, toes and cuffs and then the little flecks, this project racked up 351 yards of yarn. And I was pleasantly surprised that they fit was good. The alterations I made to the afterthought heel worked and I didn’t make these too large.

Really pleased with how matched these came out. And it feels just satisfying to use up every bit of the Advent skein and contrast AND a bonus mini skein. I love marking my yarn “completely used up” in Ravelry. The floats do give the socks a texture on the inside and they may not make the best boot socks. Perhaps socks for being cozy around the house?

I will definitely work this fleck again as I like how it add some visual interest. Happy Knitting!!

Finished: Kiddo Christmas Socks

Surprise! I have a finished pair of socks….

Jellybean has REALLY been wearing his hand-me-down wool socks when he sleeps at night. I decided he needs some of his own. So I pulled out some sock snakes and got to work. I was knitting these on the down low so he couldn’t see and I didn’t even show the blog the cast on!

These are some Tofutsies variegated yarn with heels/toes/cuffs made from Leading Men Fiber Arts Show Stopper base. These are about 1 inch shorter than mine and they will have a life expectancy before his feet outgrow them for sure. But the yarn is soft, washable and kid perfect.

I worked these on US 1s over 72 stiches and the finished yardage ended up at 257 yards of yarn. Now I need to keep these safe and clean until Christmas!

Happy Knitting!!

Almost Another Advent Pair

The 2023 Advent Leftover Socks are ALMOST done. Heel #1 is in and I’m starting on heel #2.

I just love how neat and tidy socks look on a sock blocker. The fit on the first sock is pretty good. I have been doing my own “recipe” for an afterthought heel for awhile where I add a number of extra plain rows in between my decreases to add depth to the heel. Works pretty well for my foot shape.

I also try to knit at a pretty tight gauge to improve longevity and wear on the fabric. Does take a toll on my hands after a bit. Happy Knitting!!!

2023 Cozy Knitter Advent Socks

Continuing my New Year’s parade of FO, I humbly present my 2023 CozyKnitter Advent Socks!

Pattern: My own 72 stitch toe up vanilla sock “recipe” with afterthought heel

Yarn: CozyKnitter Bliss Sock in the 2023 Advent Skein

Needles: US 1s

Mods: I upped my stitch count to 72 from my usual 68 and that works great for the foot and leg. But my heels are baggy and I should have reduced their size by 4 stitches.

I used about 88 grams of yarn or 300 yards of yarn for these including the contrast and stripe. So these go farther up my leg than my KirbyWirby socks. I really enjoyed these socks as this dyer never disappoints. I will admit my old eyes had some problems with these subtle color changes.

I definitely have enough of this yarn for a full color repeat for a second pair of socks. I won’t use a contrast toe this time and I want to incorporate some sort of slipped stitch or contrast stitch in between the colors. And I fully understand that I may have trouble detecting those color changes in some cases. I really want to try but I may hate it and rip it back out. I reserve that right!

Happy Knitting!!

2023 KirbyWirby Friends Advent Socks

May I present my 2023 KirbyWirby Friends Advent Socks as a delightful FO! They are toasty my tootsies by a roaring fire.

Pattern: My own 72 stitch toe up vanilla sock “recipe” with afterthought heel

Yarn: KirbyWirby Old Faithful Sock in 2023 Friends Advent

Needles: US1s

Mods: I upped my stitch count from 68 to 72 and probably didn’t need to. There is very little negative ease and the heels came out loose/big. But they are serviceable enough.

These came out as ankle socks instead of calf high socks. Which is fine as it adds variety to my sock drawer. The finished object used 62 grams or 280 yards of this yarn kit. That is for both contrast color and self striping. I completely used up the contrast but I may 1.5 repeats of the stripes left? With how I wound my original skeins to be able to start with the same color I am left with one large-ish ball and two small balls.

I don’t think I will attempt to make another matching pair of socks. They would be VERY short. I might think about putting these in my scrap blanket or maybe a pair of mitts? I’ll let that idea marinate for awhile. For now I’m going to snuggle with my new socks!

Happy Knitting!!

Half Of Another Rainbow

Look at me following through on plans! I pulled my first finished tube of my Punch Bug Vanilla Socks and cut in my afterthought heel.

I used the leftovers from the first 50 grams to knit this heel. I tried to put the colors where a color wouldn’t touch itself. I also took note of how many grams I need to do the second sock with the color management I have had to do.

I really like how the heel turned out. I have my own “recipe” for an afterthought heel that adds the depth I need by adding some plain rows in to the basic toe shape. I was a little miffed that I JUST missed ending in yellow and a few pops of orange. Oh well!

Happy Knitting!!

Bumble Heels

I had a FULL week of training at work. Like 8-5 every day for a week. The only way I could survive was to bring some knitting. I chose my Bumbles Bounce Socks.

It was SUPER productive. I finished both sock tubes and even got the first heel knit in. The training was leadership related and lots of thinking and talking so it was very easy to knit. And I caught a couple muggles mesmerized as I was knitting, lol.

So I just need to wrap up this last heel and I will have a finished pair of socks! They won’t be super tall but they will undoubtedly be super festive!!

Happy Knitting

FO Friday: 2022 Advent Socks

My 2022 Advent Socks are in the books!

Pattern: My own toe up vanilla sock recipe with 68 stitches

Yarn: Cozy Knitter Bliss Sock in the 2022 Advent color

Needles: US 1s

Mods: none

The toes and heels are made from Leading Man Fiber Arts Showstopper gradient in the ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’. I decided not to use it for the cuff as I wouldn’t have had enough for both socks.

For the main self-striping, I only used one repeat of the 24 stripe sequence. So I have enough to make a whole other pair of socks! I think all combined these socks have 267 yards of yarn. They are just taller than ankle socks.

The one stripe per day was very addicting. I think I only had two or three days in the month where I was unable to make time to knit them. And in what felt like no time flat, I had a whole pair of socks fall off the needles! Ten out of ten, I will do this kind of advent again!

Happy Knitting and Happy New Year!!

FO Friday: UniZebraCorn Vanilla Socks

I win at deadline knitting! Even though it was a self imposed one, lol. My UniZebraCorn socks are COMPLETE!

Pattern: My own toe vanilla sock recipe with 68 stitches (Rav link)

Yarn: KirbyWirby Old Faithful Sock in the Uniexbracorn colorway

Needles: US 1s

I ended up using roughly 324 yards of yarn which is roughly 72 grams of the 100 gram skein. So I have a nice little ball leftover for my memory blanket and other scrappy project.

The fit worked out well and my “recipe” for the afterthought heel still fits. I add extra plain rows at the beginning of the heel before starting the decrease rows. I progressive use less plain rows between decrease rows until I work down to a traditional every other row.

I have these washed and sitting in my sock drawer for the next cold snap! Happy Knitting!!