Tag Archives: fibernymph dye works

FO Friday: Smooth Operator Socks

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Unfortunately, my time at work turned out exactly as I knew it would…..sooooo many meetings. But I was able to finish my Smooth Operator Socks! Even the end are woven in!

Pattern: Smooth Operator Socks by Susan B Anderson

Needles: US 1 nine inch circs

Mods: none

Yarn: Fibernymph Dye Works Bounce Sock in Bam Zap Pow

Overall, I was very pleased with this project. The heels did in turn out to have no gaps and fit moderately well. (Full disclosure, I have devised my own personal afterthought heel recipe that I absolutely love the fit of…so there as a high bar to clear.) Both socks match remarkably well if I do say so myself! The yarn was extremely nice to work with and I think will stand up well to the abuse that socks tend to take. The pattern was helpful and well written, but what else do you expect from Susan B Anderson?

I did try these on…and my legs and feet are now 34 weeks pregnant. They don’t fit badly but they don’t make my feet feel head over heels in love. Like my Accidental Travel Socks, I think I will tuck these into my drawer for fall and test them again post-preggo legs. They are just a bit tight here and there. If I don’t end up liking them or their fit, well, they can just go in the Christmas box for my sister!

Happy Knitting!!

Now The Toes

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My web-ex and conference call work time continues apace. I literally spent all day yesterday and will have many hours today in meetings. The silver lining….I have one of my Smooth Operator Socks almost to the toe!

(Dex and I enjoyed some quiet time this morning before everyone else woke up this morning.) I’m really hoping to get the second sock to this point today and work on toe decreases! I only need a nine inch foot to fit my tootsies.

And because I’m working cuff-down, I used my Soxyzz ruler to measure my progress! The ruler fit nicely into the heel and tells me exactly where I am. I was suitably pleased and it was much easier than managing the sock with a traditional tape measure.

Wish me luck today….happy knitting!!

SOS Heels

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The heels were a success! Jellybean and the husband had some Lego adventures last night and I was able to work both heels on my Smooth Operator Socks!

The heel came out to roughly two inches which should be good fit for my robust heel and arch. But I have to knit the rest of the feet to find out. As you can tell, I went with the grey contrasting yarn. This was largely motivated by my pregnancy laziness that didn’t want to fuss with pulling from the outside of each ball. It was just much simpler to work from an already wound contrast skein, lol.

I worked the heel exactly as written and I have one reservation. This is a very ‘pointy’ heel for me. My heel is very wide and typically I Kitchener before I get this narrow so that points are not physically under my heel. But I wanted to give this pattern a true test and do it like I’m supposed to.

Now I have some foot knitting to do! Happy Knitting!!

First Smooth Operator Heels

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Working socks in tandem seems to be really working for me lately. I have been knitting my Smooth Operator Socks in tandem on two separate 9 inch circulars.

I split the skein into two balls and I’m working on trying to keep the socks matching. I think I’m maybe one or two rows off, but it’s close enough for me. I worked these socks for six inch legs and then knit the tube past that point a couple more inches. I went ahead used the scrap yarn instructions in the SOS pattern. Now I’ve gotten my needles installed and I’m ready to install the heels. I plan on doing the no gap heel variation from the pattern update that Susan B Anderson added.

I plan on doing some pondering today. Do I use the stripes for the heels….or do I use contrasting grey? Right now it’s a 50/50 tie!

Happy Knitting!!

Wow Those Are Stripes

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My Smooth Operator Socks have been my bedside knitting here lately. My baby bump has made it increasingly hard to be both comfortable and knit at the same time. I pretty much only feel comfortable laying down at this point. Which obviously makes knitting not always possible.

Despite my physical limitations, I have made a good bit of progress. Self striping always has that effect on me….just one more color change and then I will be don. And these colors…well they sure are vibrant and springy! The color is called Bam! Zap! Pow! and I think that’s apt.

I’m at about 6 inches of leg and I can’t decide if I want to put the afterthought heel in yet or not. I may go ahead and start the second sock to work in tandem until I can decide. I have another size 1 circ needle empty so it would be easy peasy to totally procrastinate that decision.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Smooth Operator Socks

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Hi, my name is Rachelle and I’m a bit a of selfish knitter. I have felt the siren’s call of a special selfish project for weeks but have put it off in favor of finishing some WIPs and baby knits. Now, don’t get me wrong I loved working on those but my deep deep down knitters heart was still yearning to be free.

So while Jellybean had some quality grandparent time I culled my stash and my Ravelry wish list and came up with the perfect pairing!

My Bam! Zap! Pow! skein of Fibernymph Dye Works Bounce sock yarn told me it wanted to be a some Smooth Operator Socks by Susan B Anderson. Now I normally knit my socks toe-up, I am going to give this pattern the full whirl the first time around. I will work cuff down and follow the pattern as closely as possible. I read the ENTIRE pattern and decided the only mod would be the stitch count. Susan tell you to go down to the nearest stitch count when your measurements fall in between sizes. Well fine blog readers…I have nice muscular volleyball shaped calves. I know using that stitch count and my standard sock gauge will result in a VERY tight leg.

So I’m working the cuff and the leg in a stitch count I know will fit and before I get to the heel I will reduce down to the pattern recommended count for the heel and foot. I feel like this is the best plan to avoid tears and cursing down the road. And you know what? It’s just knitting, if the first sock fails I can always rip out and try again. I’m the boss of my knitting after all!

Wish me luck! Happy Knitting!!