Tag Archives: self striping

Dude Socks Are No Joke

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I had a moment of doubt while working my Dad’s 2019 Christmas Socks. They just felt and looked HUGE. Significantly enough that I quit knitting and put them aside just in case I had messed up somewhere.

I mean they are as wide as my hand! See??

I took them and held them up against a pair of socks I previously knit for my husband. Both he and my dad have size 13 feet and can wear the same shoes. And guess what? They were just right.  I guess after knitting women’s socks for so long I forgot what dude socks are like. And size 13 is no joke!

I’m through an entire repeat of the colors. I think I’ve managed 7 inches? My struggle is now to decide on a heel. I’ve always put toe up gusset heels in my dad and husband’s socks because they accommodate a wide foot really well. But this is self striping and I like the look of the bulls-eye looking afterthought heel. I’m just not sure how that will fit? Much debate is going on in my brain because I can’t just easily put in an afterthought heel and change my mind. I would have to re-knit the leg! Sigh…

Happy Knitting!

Cast On: Cheery Vanilla Socks

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After finishing my Big Bang Vanilla Socks I felt the pull of having an empty sock project hole in my knitting life. I finally snagged some elusive knitting time at work during a conference call that coincided with PB taking a nap.

I cast on both toes of my Knit Picks Felici in the Cheer colorway. When I went back to work after maternity leave I had this project all kitted up and stored safely in my desk. I’m doing another toe up vanilla sock but this time over 72 stitches because I like to use US 0 needles on Felici yarn. It’s a bit thin than I like for size 1 needles. And I did my best to make the two socks match as best I can. My plan is just to crank out some tubes and do afterthought heels later.

It just felt good to get needles in my hand and have some soothing knitting while Iistened to coworkers “discuss” their opinions on our ongoing project, lol. Now as a working mom of two I have to grab my knitting time where ever I can….even if it’s 5 minutes.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Big Bang Vanilla Socks

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My bathroom knitting proved fruitful, my Big Bang Vanilla Socks are finished!! I finished the last afterthought heel….this time with no knots, yay!

img_4847Pattern: My own vanilla socks over 68 stitches with afterthought heel

Yarn: Turtlepurl Turtle Toes in Rock, Paper, Lizard Spock

Needles: US 1s

I used 77 grams or 355 yards of the self-striping Turtlepurl yarn and about 5 grams or 23 yards of Serenity sock solid red.  Even with as tall as I made these socks, I still have the striping yarn left. Maybe I could make some easy leg warmers for PB to match mommy??

I’m really happy with the yarn. It knit up beautifully and the colors really grew on me. The fit is fantastic in the foot and in the heel. But my post pregnancy legs are still….well they are what they are. And the cuffs are a tid bit tight. I will have to see how they wear and if they are uncomfortable or fall down. But it’s still 90+ degrees in Kansas so it will be fall before I find out.

I would totally buy this yarn again. This dyer is amazing and the fabric is scrumptious on my feet. My only conundrum is what easy peasy vanilla project I should start next for my “knitting after the baby goes to sleep” project….

Happy Knitting!!

Big Bang Tubes

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My bedtime knitting time has lead to some (almost) finished socks. My Big Bang Vanilla Socks are officially complete tubes!

I’m just beyond tickled pink that they match exactly. Turtlepurl yarns is a genious and an amazing dyer. I have some big box store solid red yarn on hand for the afterthought heels. I just need some good light and uninterrupted knitting time to get them started. But those two things are a precious commodity these days. Time will tell….

Happy Knitting!!

Date Night Knitting

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The Hubs and I scored a date night thanks to the grandparents and the glory is that pumped breast milk. We had some yummy mexican food and margaritas followed by a viewing of Ant Man and the Wasp. I had my Big Bang Vanilla Socks hanging out in my purse and I churned through some of the second tube.

I’m doing my best to make them them match….including the increases for some slight calf shaping I put in the first tube. I managed to catch myself just at the right stripe in the dark at the movies to put in the first set.

I managed to put the set in while PB was snoozing and take some sneaky photos on the bed. I’m loving having these easy tubes to knit on. But I’m not sure how or when I’ll manage to get the afterthought heels installed. Between being back at work and taking care of the house and two kids my knitting time is precious and I’m not left with many brain cells.

Maybe I can get the grandparents to come back?? Happy Knitting!

Big Bang Update

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My Big Bang Vanilla Sock has been growing quietly in the dark.

This is my post-bedtime knitting in the dark while the temperamental PB sleeps in the bassinet next to me. She still has finely tuned baby radar and can tell when she’s alone in the bedroom. Instead of feeling frustrated I take this as an opportunity to knit or honestly….go to sleep too. Babies are exhausting.

This TurtlePurl yarn has an interesting striping sequence. It’s two different two color stripe blocks each separated by a single red stripe. The colors emerge and are a complete surprise to me when I get this out in the daylight. I bought this yarn for the cute name and to be truthful, wasn’t entirely sold on the colors after I started knitting. But they are growing on me.

I have a TON of yarn in this sock set. I’m going to see how long I can stand knitting a plain tube. I am shooting for tall socks but I don’t think I will use up all the yarn. I don’t want to have to figure in calf shaping or too many increases over my standard mid-calf sock recipe. Time will tell!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Big Bang Vanilla Socks

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My needles felt very naked after I finished the Electric Mayhem socks. And I totally NEEDED another self-striping project. My brain was just craving that popcorn knitting of “just one more stripe” type of project.

So I pulled some Turtlepurl Yarns Striped Turtle toes yarn from my stash in the Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock colorway. That is a reference to one of my favorite shows, the Big Bang Theory. And the dyer had already split the 100 grams into two matching 50 gram skeins. I got this wound up and cast on my usual 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock on US 1 needles. I plan to knit tubes again and add afterthought heels later. Based on the yarn….I’m thinking solid red heels. But I’ll see how the tubes turn out first.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Electric Mayhem Socks

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My nighttime bedside knitting has proved very fruitful! My Electric Mayhem Socks are in the finished pile!

Pattern: My own 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock with afterthought heel

Yarn: KnitCircus Greatest of East in Electric Mayhem colorway and some generic black sock yarn from Joann’s for the heel.

Needles: US 1 nine inch circular

I managed to use up almost every inch of the 75 grams of this gradient set. I have a tiny ball of the yellow left to save for repairs if needed in the future!

This self-striping gradient was SUPER addictive. Even in the dark I couldn’t see the colors shifting and it was always really cool to see what had appeared when I looked in the morning. The yarn is also substantial and yet soft. I would totally knit this base again!

My one possible hiccup was the heels. They heels were worked on separate occasions (in the light) and I took notes. But they are completely obvious they are two different sized heels! One is larger than the other. It doesn’t appear based on a cursory wearing that it affects the fit. But I should get a better idea when they get a full work out in the fall. I have a bunch left of the black yarn. It wouldn’t be terrible if I had to pull out and re-knit the smaller heel. I guess that’s the bonus of afterthought heels right?

Happy Knitting!!

It’s An Electric HO

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I don’t have any FOs this week, but I do have a HO! My first Electric Mayhem sock is completed. Okay, the tube is done and it still needs a heel in full disclosure. But that’s just a minor detail right?

But LOOK HOW PRETTY THIS IS!! I bow down to the prowess of indie dyers who can self-stripe and make gradients. This is a KnitCircus yarn for those who are curious. And I purchased a 75 gram set so I would make a me sized sock without wasting a precious inch of the wonderful color.

Jellybean is currently hunting Storm Troopers in the backyard before daycare. And so I treated myself to coffee and casting on the second sock on the back patio. Don’t you just love when your baby bump and knitting coordinate?

Happy Knitting!!

These Socks Are Electric

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My Electric Mayhem Socks are just downright addictive….

I have cruised through three of the five color changes and only have a teeny bit of yarn left. I find myself thinking, I’ll just get to the next color and then I can’t quit. This yarn just makes you look like a knitting genius and absolutely baffles the muggles. Not to mention it helps this knitter get through some interminable meetings and webinars.

I only have a few grams of yarn left. I think the plan will be to finish the green section in stockinette and when I hit the yellow I’ll switch to 2×2 ribbing for the cuff. As I said before, I’m just knitting a tube until I run out of yarn and I’ll just cut in an afterthought heel when it’s all said and done. Easy peasey and no complex thinking required….just what the knitting doctor ordered!

Happy Knitting!!