FO Friday: Rainbow Vanilla Socks

Another pair of socks for the drawer!

  
My rainbow vanilla socks are finished! I started out not loving these but they grew on me. My only regret now is that I wish I had tightened up the ribbing. I feel a bit like these might slouch, time will tell.

  
Pattern: My own toe up 70 stitch vanilla sock with afterthought heel

Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Handpaints in County Fair

Needles: US 1s

  

Cold Snap

We have had some unseasonably awesome cool weather here in Kansas. It feels amazing! But unfortunately no one told the facilities department in my new building. It’s 60 degrees outside and the AC is running full blast. Not to mention I wore sandals today. Never fear, knitting to the rescue!

  
I pulled my purse knitting out and put on my one complete sock. My maple vanillas may not be done but at least one foot is warm. I seriously have been switching back and forth to warm my tootsies. Guess this just means I need to knit faster!!

Happy Kniting!

Always Have A Backup

Yeaterday at lunch I pulled out my Vanilla Maple socks and saw this….

  
A dropped stitch that had laddered at least eight rows down. Now I’m at work with just my project bag and no tool kit. I had also had a terrible morning and was in need of some knitting therapy. I was grumpy because I didn’t want to rip back to the drop I just wanted to ladder it back up but had to wait till I had access to my tiny crochet hook. I was going to be very unhappy with nothing for my hands to do…

Then I remembered my Squirrel like nature and ran to the car for my “car” knitting as a backup. Day saved! And I have since fixed the dropped stitch and stashed a crochet hook and tapestry needle in my project bag. I learned my lesson….always have extra tools. And if all else fails, have a backup project!

Happy Knitting!

Onward Second Socks

The chaos of a 9 month old Jellybean who is teething combined with changing jobs has left me with very little knitting bandwidth. Hence my crazy vanilla sock mojo. I’ve managed to cast off the first sock of a couple pair of WIP socks!

Vanilla Maple socks
   

Checkerboard Socks 

   

I kind of tired of both of them and cast off before using up all the yarn as I usually do. They have 5-6 inch legs instead of 7-8 that I can usually get out of my skeins. But they still fit and are perfectly functional socks.

I made sure to cast on both second socks so as not to fall victim to SSS (second sock syndrome). I’m already done with the toe of the checkerboard socks but still working on the increases on the vanilla maples. I’m ready for these to be done and move on to other smooshy yarn!

Happy Knitting

 

More Heels Please!

More afterthought heels please!

 
I’ve put the afterthought heel into my first Vanilla Maple. I was chuffed to get the heel inserted exactly between two stripes. The colors didn’t fall in order but doesn’t bother me one bit. It’s beautiful and I adore the tiny orange bit (I think it looks like a smile peeking out)!

  
These socks are just so pretty and deliciously addicting!

Happy Knitting!!

Checkerboard Update

I’ve made some tiny progress on my Checkerboard Socks.

  
I’m a HUGE fan of working the afterthought heel as soon as I have enough leg. I work with yarn from my second ball or the other end of the skein. I make sure to weigh the yarn to keep track of how much I used. This way I know how much to leave for the second one. But this is just my quirk about using all of the yarn of my toe up socks. My sock leftovers tend to be TINY or just enough to darn/repair later.

Now I just need to decide how long to make the leg before starting the cuff ribbing. Then of course start the second sock, lol!

Happy knitting

Rainbow Vanilla Socks

Shocker of shockers….I’m knitting more socks!

These are vanilla toe up socks in Knit Picks stroll handpaints in a rainbow mix. (I’ll have to check the official name later.)
This yarn is thicker to me than the felici so I’m looking forward to a nice dense sock over 70 stitches on a U.S. 1 needle. I’m already through the toe increases! These are going to be my bedside project. So little by little they should grow.

What’s your bedtime knitting?

Maple Vanilla or Vanilla Maple

I can’t decide…

   
After my Geeky FO last week I’ve decided to cast on some straight vanilla socks. I pulled the maple leaves Felici out of the stash (that you all so graciously voted for) and got to work. I can’t however decide what to call them. They are just full of mapley goodness.

I am wanting a denser sock so I’ve gone down to US 0s and a total of 76 stitches. My gauge should put this in the right fit. Time will tell! Worst case scenario…I rip back and try again.

  
Chloe is helping with this one 😀! Now what to call them…..vanilla maples or maple vanillas???

Happy Knitting!

FO Friday: Geek Socks

Here they are in all their geeky glory!

  

Pattern: Geek Socks by Wei S. Leong

Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Lighthouse

Needles: US 1 8 inch circular

Size: 72 stitches

  
My Geek socks were 50% done last we chatted. I put my try hard pants on and packed this project for a recent road trip. With three solid days of knitting in between chasing Jellybean I finished sock #2.

  
My geeks are fraternal rather than identical and I love them! I didn’t follow the pattern exactly. The patternwas written cuff down and I modified it for toe up with an afterthought heel. I just used the pattern chart and adapted it to fit my basic vanilla type sock construction.

I highly recommend this pattern. Just make sure to mind your floats! I had to relax and let the yarn relax on my floats so as not to knit a tiny tight tube, lol.

Now I need to cast on more socks! Happy Knitting!!

Checkerboard Update

I’ve managed to make some progress on my Checkerboard Socks!

 
I’ve knit the foot and a tiny bit up the leg. And then added the afterthought heel. I like to add my afterthought heels before I finish the leg. I knit the heel from the outside of the ball so all remaining yarn after the heel is done can go in the leg. It might be weird but it works for me and maximizes my yarn.

 

I’m totally digging the variegation in color. And the tiny bit of sparkle is delicious…

  
Now I just need more car knitting to be done! Happy Knitting!!