Tag Archives: stripes

Zoom Zoom

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My Mandrake socks are zooming!

 

I’ve had a bit of project ADD of late so a lot of things are getting a little progress. But these have been my purse knitting so they have gotten more than their fair share. Thanks to addicting strips of String Theory Colorworks yarn and a vanilla patter these are flying. I’m almost ready to establish the ribbing at the top of sock number two. After that all that is left is the afterthought heel. I’ll be sad and happy when these are done because they are so cheerful and the cashmere content is sooooo yummy under my fingers.

But one thing I find myself thinking about is the afterthought heel. I’m not finding it as comfortable as I used to. Well at least compared to the last couple socks that had toe up gusset heels. I already do an afterthought heel over 60% of the total stitches and it fits. It can feel a bit tight and not as form fitting as the gusset. Maybe my sock preferences are changing?

Happy Knitting!

FO Friday: Ocean Geek Socks

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My Ocean Geek Socks are in the books!

   
 
Pattern: Geek Socks by Wei S Leong

Size: 70 sts total

Needles: US 1 circs

Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Lighthouse

   
 
These turned out fraternal and gorgeous! The wavy stripes are the penultimate in potato chip knitting and quite literally flew off my needles. I turned these in for the Down Cellar Studio pigskin party. They scored me 24 points coming in with just under 400 yards of yarn used. This is my second project turned for this and it’s been a real hoot so far! And of course the added bonus of another pair of socks for #operationsockdrawer and the coming winter.

Happy Knitting!

Stripes Of Fun

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I’m addicted!

   

This yarn is dreamy and wonderful! My conference vanilla socks are growing. I did not know what to expect with this yarn as the colors appear to be random. It’s such potato chip knitting as I can’t wait to keep knitting to find out the next color!

 

For those with inquiring minds this is Wisdom Yarn’s Saki Bamboo in crayon box. I’m two inches past the heel and considering starting the ribbing early to negate the “slouch” factor of the bamboo with the pulling in that ribbing gives you. But I just can’t decide. These are the conundrums you have when making up the knitting as you go, lol!

Happy Knitting!

More Heels Please!

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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!!

Vanilla Maple For The Win

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After a lot of thinking and possibly flipping a coin the winner is…….vanilla maple socks!

  
I’ve knit and inserted scrap yarn for my afterthought heel. I also decided to do a 2×2 rib for the leg. This sock is on US 0s with 74 stitches total (I normally work 68/70 stitches on US 1s). I was trying to get my normal sock gauge with this Felici that feels a bit finer than other color ways I’ve worked with. So I hedged my bets and went with a ribbed leg that would be more forgiving and hug my leg without falling down.

I’m totally loving these stripes! They are kind of addicting….

Happy knitting!

FO Friday: Geek Socks

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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!!

A Geeky Projection

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I’ve overcome my chart reading errors and cruising right along on my Geek Socks!  

I knit the foot, inserted afterthought lifeline, knit the leg, and finally knit the afterthought heel! These colors and pattern are seriously addictive. I keep knitting “just one more stripe” and losing some sleep in the process, lol.

  
I need to finish the leg and knit a cuff. Now just to see how it fits…This sock is a 72 stitch sock when I normally like 68 stitches. But I think the extra stitches really help me have a little forgiveness with my floats. This really is my first time with floats, sssshhh don’t tell anyone!

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Vanilla Striped Socks

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We spent last weekend with Jelkybean’s grandparents do he got lots and lots of snuggles. And in between feedings I got some knitting time!

Because little ones require so much “stuff” when you travel I needed a small portable project. I pulled out my Vanilla Socks from my #sockswithsarah KAL project. Before Jellybean’s arrival I managed to complete the foot and the gusset on both socks. But I hadn’t turned the heel. Well now I have!

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I knit my socks inside out but I turned one right side out to show you the stripes. I hadn’t worked on this project in sooo long that I had to go back and redo my pattern math, lol. I’m making the sock four stitches bigger than the largest size in the pattern.

I’m pretty in love with them! Now I just have the legs and cuffs to complete. Just a few stitches here and there right now. But they are growing!

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Happy Knitting!

Now The Gussets

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I’ve reached the gussets of my toe-up vanilla socks!20140706-160805-58085026.jpgI’m still working a basic sock with gusset heal over 64 stitches. I’ve had a bit of a problem with laddering in between my needles. I need to concentrate and pull my stitches tightly when switching needles. If I get distracted by a show or conversation I find my tension slips and I get ladders. Not that anyone will ever notice but me. Still terribly annoying…

I do love these lovely green colors. The short stripes keep me knitting along and moving from color to color. I’ve quite enjoyed the #sockswithsarah KAL this year. Have you checked it out?

 

New Years Knitting

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Happy New Year!!! I hope every had a safe and fun celebration! I worked 13+ hours at my big kid job as I always do on NYE. The blessings of being an accountant at year end, oh wait! So I wasn’t feeling very festive, but I made it to Midnight for a smooch with my hubby. Then promptly off to bed 🙂

In knitting news, I have decided to do another year of stashbustin’ in 2014! And in honor of the first day of the new year, here is my first project…

Jericho Baby Blanket by Shana Schasteen

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(Photo from Shana Schasteen’s ravelry page) 

This is a center out blanket made with super bulky yarn. Awhile back I discovered I had several skeins of Wool Ease Thick and Quick in black, dark grey, and cream/off white in my stash. I can’t remember why I bought them…I dislike scratchy wool. So I gave the skeins a gentle tumble in my washing machine to soften them. Thanks goodness with only minimal tangling! And off to knitting I go…

I plan to make this pattern with alternating stripes of light and dark. The four row pattern repeats offer a nice way to change colors and keeping the stripes the same And the bonus side of center out construction, I can work until I run out of yarn! Not to mention this super bulky yarn on size US 11 needles should go CRAZY fast! What better way to kick off the new year?

I don’t know what I will do with the FO? Maybe donate to the local women’s shelter or homeless shelter? I have enough blankets in my house already to fill two tote bins. This blanket is wool so the offset to being very warm is that it will require special washing care. I hate giving people items that require a lot of extra special care. Most non-fiber people I know find this very annoying…what’s a knitter to do?