Can They Be Socks Yet?

Despite my choice to knit and drink wine, my Paintbox Socks, Take Two have heels that are swimming along.

The first sock heel is complete. I do a modified afterthought heel where I add extra plain rows at the beginning of the heel to add depth. I have a high instep and this extra fabric makes for a better fit. I didn’t invent this, but I have knit enough socks to figure out what works for me.

I need to finish the second heel and then I will I have a second pair of shorties done in as many days! Gotta love knitting from machine knit socks tubes. Happy Knitting!!

Shorties Crossing The Finish Line

I found some brain space and carved out a little time over the weekend to finish my Stranded Paintbox Shortie Socks!

I was a little nervous these wouldn’t fit as they are cranked sock tubes with only a 64 stitch count around. Normally I make my socks 68 stitches if I’m working on US 1 needles and 72 if I am working on US 0s. But these seem to fit just fine.

There is about 1.5/2 inches of leg/cuf above the heel. So I need to wear these inside some shoes to see how they stay up and if they slide down. The negative ease in this pair should help with that.

I used just over 50 grams of yarn for these which equates to 246 yards or half the sock tube. I am confident that I can get a second pair out of this snake if I make contrasting heels!

Happy Knitting!!

Almost Shorty Socks

My Stranded Paintbox Socks have progressed nicely since I last showed you!

The first sock is complete and I just have about 10 rounds left to finish the second sock. I decided to make these shortie socks because I don’t have many of those in my drawer. And because I am using a cranked sock tube I would be able to get TWO pairs of socks out of the tube.

I decided to make these all homogenous and not use any contrast. Likely I will need to dip into contrast for the second pair. But given my busy work season and low mojo…it has felt GREAT to notch an easy win with these!

Happy Knitting!!

A Full Goth Kitty Set

I realized over the weekend that I didn’t show off my full Goth Kitty set of hat and socks!

As a recap, I knit a hat out of Knit Picks Felici in the worsted weight and I just finished sock in the Knit Picks Felici sock yarn. I really feel like the set worked out well! The colors really match well across the different bases.

I have tucked both into my woolen drawer for the next time I need to be toasty! Happy Knitting!!

The Last Goth Heel

My mojo is creeping back in around the edges and I picked up my Goth Kitty socks to finish the second vanilla tube and it flew off the needles.

I think the last time I showed these off, I just had the second toe worked out. I zoomed right up the second sock and did my dandiest to match the increases from the first sock. It’s always easier to make them up on the first one then to match the second one, lol.

Now I just need to cut my knitting and get the second afterthought heel installed. Then I will have a finished pair of socks!

Happy Knitting!!

A Second Goth Toe

After finishing the first sock of my Goth Kitty Vanilla Socks, I started the toe for the second. I had my annual mammogram and managed this week baby toe while waiting.

I will admit that I pulled out the second skein and purposely started with the same stripe in the sequence on sock number two. This way my socks will match. Now, they won’t be a row by row match but close enough for an muggle looking at my feet.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Dad’s 2021 Christmas Socks

The socks that tried to beat me at every turn are DONE! My Dad’s 2021 Christmas socks are done and knit to the correct size this time, lol.

Pattern: My own “recipe” of a toe up sock with 68 stitches

Yarn: Regia 6-fadig in color #6974

Needles: US 2s

I don’t really have sock blockers that fit the socks for my dad/husband who wear size 13 US men’s shoes. So I make do with my sized blockers but it always makes me giggle because I feel like a child trying to wear adult sized things, lol.

I feel great to have these finally done and ready to wrap up for Christmas. Am I totally ready for Christmas? Heck no, but this is at least one thing off my list!

Happy Knitting!!

It’s (Finally) A HO!

I have been struggling with a lingering cold (thanks to my children) that was thankfully not COVID. But it has left my energy levels drained to the point I just needed simple knitting the past few evenings. So I have been working on my Dad’s 2021 Christmas Socks while I lay in bed.

The silver lining? I have finished the first sock completely and zoomed through the foot of the second sock. It does help that this is sport weight sock yarn on size 3 US needles. I am just ready to start the heel on sock number two.

Maybe I do have a shot at actually finishing these things before Christmas! Happy Knitting!!

The Second Cuff On The First Sock

Basically this point I have knit this pair of socks all inside the first sock given all the ripping back and re-knitting I have done on my Dad’s 2021 Christmas Socks. But I persevere.

I’m finally through the leg and starting the cuff again. Another hour’s worth of work and I should be done with this sock. I have the second sock already started and its toe waiting on holders.

I am really hoping the second sock goes much smoother as I will have the first sock to follow as a template, lol. Happy Knitting!!

I Should Pay More Attention

My mom brain and my knitting brain had a fight this week. I was happily knitting away on the foot of my Dad’s 2021 Christmas Socks and was following my recipe. But my knitting brain kept saying “that’s awfully long and it looks too big” but my mom brain kept measuring it and it was the correct number. Ya’ll gauge matters….

I snuck around and found an old sock that I know fits my dad to compare to my WIP. Sure enough the sock was easily 1-1.5 inches too long. Womp womp.

The good news is that I have frogged it back to where I need to start the gusset heel. I didn’t have the fortitude to actually start the heel as I was a little mad at myself. But the silver lining is that I caught it before I finished the sock and I will end up with a functional pair of socks.

Happy Knitting!!