Tag Archives: toe up vanilla socks

Knitting Pool Side

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Summer is in full swing around here and that includes swim lessons. Jellybean is taking group lessons and PB has parent/tot lessons. My hubby took to the water so I was free to lounge poolside with Purple Rain Vanilla socks.

This still sock number and and I’m fully past the heel and working up the leg. I think I have one grey/purple color left before the final pink. My plan is to work the pink section 2×2 ribbing to close out the sock.

I did have another swim parent, a dad to boot, recognize my knitting and correctly identify it as a sock. I missed Knitting in Public day earlier this June so I am counting this as my event, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

A Purple Rain Heel

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Purse knitting for the win! I have reached the heel on my first Purple Rain Vanilla Sock

This yarn is turning out less gradient and more color blocky. But I am considering that a pleasant surprise. I am still struggling to make sure I don’t split the plies on this yarn but as long as I pay attention, its not horrible. My plan is to just knit up the leg until I get the last color block and then add the cuff. And I will make the cuff until I run out of yarn!

My one bummer is that in one of the darker purple sections had a ply break. And that run away play wound it backwards on to the previous yarn. So now I have a line. The dark line is where I have three plies of yarn that is immediately followed by a lighter section of just one ply. This could potentially be a week section of the sock. For this reason I won’t gift these socks. I figure if something goes wrong then I can always mend or patch what blows out.

But it has been good for my knitting mojo to have this project showing such good progress. It makes me feel accomplished even though I can’t seem to find big blocks of time for knitting!

Happy Knitting!!

Two Purple Rain Toes

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I have had my Purple Rain Socks project in a bag for almost a month with maybe three rows on on the first sock? I just didn’t feel the drive to work on it. So the other day I asked myself why that was. I answered myself with “I don’t want to fuss with the toes I just want it to be ready for round and round stockinette”.

So I bribed my self with the promise of Dairy Queen ice cream and I powered through not one but both toes for the socks. This KFI luxury sock yarn came wound in two identical gradient cakes so I could do both toes without any yarn management. I have the first sock on the nine inch circular needles and the second I will put in a needle minder.

My needles are Hiya Hiya sharps and this yarn is a 2 ply sock weight. It is a little splitty in spots so I have to pay attention and make sure I am getting both strands in every stitch. It has a nice sturdy hand so I’m not worried about the finished product. But I can see if I only get one strand I will create a weak spot.

These have become my primary purse knitting project so maybe I can start gaining steam. But school is out for the summer so I won’t have as much car knitting time over the next couple of months. But as with many of my projects…slow and stead will win the race.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Purple Rain Socks

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My sock needles/project bag were getting lonely and cold so I decided to cast on a new pair of toe up vanilla socks after I had finished my Toxic Oreo Vanilla Socks.

I went downstairs to my sock yarn stash and rooted around. Being too lazy to get out my swift and ball winder….I selfishly pulled some already caked sock yarn to start my next project.

This is the KFI Collection Painted Sock I picked up on my accidental yarn crawl a few months back. And this yarn has the bonus of already being split for socks. My plan is to knit toe up vanilla socks with gusset heels and just let the gradient fall where it may.

I haven’t knit with this yarn before and I’m not sure how the guage will work out. These could be shorty socks rather than mid-calf socks. But the great benefit of toe up socks is that you can literally work until you run our of yarn!

Happy Knitting!!

Ripping Back

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My Double Vanilla Socks having been sitting in timeout for….awhile. The foot just kept looking super skinny compared to what my normal socks come out to. So I pulled a finished sock from my drawer and held them up together. And my instincts were correct….this sock is too skinny. So to the frog pond it went.

I didn’t go crazy, I only ripped back to the toe. I think I am going to only add 4 stitches to the total sock. That equates to two more increase rows before proceeding with the foot again. I think I will just be happier with a bigger sock.

My interest in this project has been rejuvenated since I made the decision to make them bigger. Sometimes my sub conscious is better at knitting than I am, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Toxic Oreo Vanilla Socks

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I held true to my arbitrary knitting rules and finished my Toxic Oreo Vanilla Socks!

Pattern: my own 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock “recipe”

Yarn: Lemonade Shop Sturdy Sock in Toxic Oreo

Needles: US 1

Mods: none really except for a few increases in the leg region to account my calves

The speckling turns out more pronounced in one sock versus the other. But this happens with indie hand dyed yarn and I’m happy with the individuality. The fit is pretty good with some negative ease without being too tight.

The toe up gusset heel from Wendy Johnson turns out to be a really good fit for my foot and instep. They stay well on my foot during wearing them without stretching out or slouching. I ended using 315 yards of yarn or 68 grams of the 100 gram skein of yarn. So there is a decent skein of yarn leftover for scrap projects.

Now I need to scheme/brainstorm for my next pair of vanilla socks! Happy Knitting!!

Almost Complete Toxic Oreos

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My Toxic Oreo Vanilla Socks have been living in my purse and see slow but steady process. I have reached the cuff of the final sock.

I think last I showed you guys, the second sock was at the heel where I have the project keeper clipped in. I did my best to match the leg increase of the first sock until I got to the total stitch count I needed for the cuff.

If I sit down I could probably knock these out in maybe an hour? And then I would have some new socks to add to my drawer. But knitting heart only wants to work on hats right now. I might have to implement an arbitrary knitting rule and say no more hat knitting until these are finished, lol.

Do you have any arbitrary knitting rules?

FO Friday: 2020 Advent Socks

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I have another pair of socks for my sock drawer! The 2020 Advent Socks are done and ready for my feet.

Pattern: My own 68 stitch toe up vanilla sock “recipe” with a gusset heel

Needles: US 1s

Yarn: AGirlAndHerWool 2020 Christmas Advent Calendar (minis #1 through #8)

These socks are just so cheery and happy. It felt satisfying to actually use up the mini skeins from my advent calendar instead of hoarding them. I will admit the socks are a tad bit big or maybe have less ease that I would normally want. I could have probably done with 64 stitches instead of 68 for the foot and heel sections. But 68 feels good in the leg.

The socks ended up decently tall and the BFL content feels soft but hardy on my feet. I ended up using roughly 360 yards of yarn to finish these socks so that puts these on par with the amount I use from a normal skein.

Finishing these socks inspired me to clean my sock drawer. I pulled out six pairs of socks that I have knit that have shrank in washing (or my feet grew during pregnancy) and no longer fit super well. I gave all six pairs to my sister who wears a size 7 shoe compared to my size 9.5. She was super grateful and I’m hoping those socks get some wear instead of hanging out sadly in my drawer.

Happy Knitting!!

A Toxic Oreo Heel

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I finished turning the heel on my Zoom meeting project. My first Toxic Oreo sock now has a heel!

I’m really happy with how evenly the speckles spread out as I increased the number of stitches in the heel. And I’m now I’m set up to just keep working up the leg. This is now PERFECT meeting knitting. And the Lemonade Shop yarn is just the perfect bright pick-me-up to the winter grey and gloom.

What is your favorite meeting knitting?

Advent Socks, Ready For Mini #3

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My 2020 Advent Socks are growing little by little. I have worked in the first two mini skeins and ready for the third.

It’s very apparent that all 24 minis are NOT going to fit into one pair of socks. I could rip back and make skinnier stripes but that seems like extra work. I think I am going to just keep working the minis as is and see where I end up. I could always start a second pair?

The BFL sock yarn is really nice and should make hardy and warm socks. And I have successfully been able to spit splice my joins to cut down on the weaving in ends.

Happy Knitting!!