Wild Socks

How are these for my new socks? A little wild for me but under my jeans and in my boots who will see?

These socks are my latest finish. Made from Schoppel Wolle Crazy Zauberball 4ply, a 75% wool 25% nylon yarn from Germany, which I purchased from Morris & Sons. They will be so warm!

The pattern is the Lupine Lace Socks, put out by Fiber Trends, which I purchased from The Wool Inn.

I had a lovely time knitting these socks. I had also purchased a new set of double pointed needles made by Knit Pro while at The Wool Inn, and I must say these needles are a dream to knit with. Much better than the bamboo ones I used for my last pair of socks. These will be all ready for when the snow hits nearby again. Now I will be able to get on with my shawl.

Blue Socks

Another pair of hand knitted socks to the collection.

This pair was started because I needed something crafty to do on a recent weekend away. I always have to think about where I will be going, how long for, what's the reason I am going, etc etc to know what to take with me to do. If I know I am going some place where the lighting is good, I can take stitching. But if I am not sure about the lighting, then knitting is always a good choice.  Depending where I am going and for how long, I have been known to take lighting with me.

My original plan was to knit a very plain pair of socks, that way I wouldn't have to think. To begin with it was just a rib, then plain stocking stitch. As it was only a weekend away, the harder thinking of the heel would happen when I came home.

When I did come home, I found this pattern from Knit Picks and it was free.  I am always a bit wary of free patterns, I tend to think they have a problem somewhere, but hey, I am clever & could overcome any problem. So I pulled my started plain sock undone, and started on this pattern.

Mmmmmm.......... my instinct about free patterns is correct. It wasn't that there was mistakes, it was just hard to read and I feel it could have been written clearer. The fact that I left the pattern digital, and worked from my tablet may have something to do with it too, swiping back and forth to read the pattern wasn't fun.

There were a few other issues along the way, some pattern related, some needle related, some yarn related, but in the end I got there. They are made from a 4ply pure wool, and I didn't quite have enough for my socks, so hence the toes are a slight different colour. But who will notice? They will be hidden inside my boots keeping my toes warm.

Colourful Socks

Another pair of socks finished. This is pair number four, and will have to wait for next winter to be worn. At least I will be ready for when those cold days hit in about six months time.

This pair is using the same pattern leaflet from Paytons that I used before, in a Lincraft 4ply Lullaby 100% wool. It is a variegated yarn, and I found it interesting how the colours changed when the decrease to the ankle stared.

What more can I say? They are socks, they will be good to keep my feet & ankles warm next winter, & yes, I made them.

Cabled Socks

Yet another pair of socks finished. This makes the third pair this year & I have now started pair number four. This pair, and the pair I am making now, will have to wait until next winter before they can be worn. The weather has warmed up too much for woollen socks.

This pair feature cables, and have been knitted in Lincraft Lullaby, a four ply 100% wool. The cables should make them thicker around the shins so they should be warm when the snow next decided to fall. Hopefully that will be about eight months away. At least I will be ready with a supply  nice warm socks to wear.

I have actually enjoyed knitting socks, they really are not that hard. The next pair are another plain pair with a variegated yarn, but I would really like to make some lace ones, so watch this space!

Pretty Socks

Behold, my latest finish. Another pair of socks to add to my winter warmers drawer .

These are my first pretty pair, and  have been knitted with  'Araucania', a 4 ply sock yarn from the UK, though I did buy it in Australia. It is 75% wool and 25% polyamide, and supposed to wear better than 100% wool. I may still  get to wear them this winter, we have had some cold days just earlier this week.

On the note about 100% wool socks not wearing well, my last pair have been worn twice and  as yet no holes, not even an inkling of a hole. So much for the young sales assistants theory, just a sales pitch in my honest opinion. They are very warm and  soft to wear, and  great for those days when the temperature fails to reach 14 deg.

 My next pair will be another pretty pair, this time with cables. Watch this space!

Socks! - Still More Winter Warmers

Behold, some more  warming winter woolies! This time it is socks.

I have knitted socks before, just one pair, and a sample back when I was studying full time . The one pair were made over 30 years ago for my DH, and the sample was part of a Fine Needlework subject of the Fashion Certificate course that I did nearly 40 years ago. The purpose was to learn how to turn a heel & graft the toe.

These socks are for me, made in  Shepherd Baby Wool Merino, a 100% wool 4 ply. I have been told by various sources that socks should be made from a yarn that has a percentage of a man-made fibre to make them stronger & last longer. One very young sales assistant told me that pure wool socks will go into holes after two wears. Interesting. So I asked an acquaintance of mine form one of my stitching groups who is a member of the Knitters Guild, D____ found out that yes socks can be made from 100% wool. Even more interesting.

My theory now is that it must depend upon the yarn quality. After all, I am sure all the socks knitted a century ago would have been in pure wool. Yes, I am sure they went into holes, that's why there are lots of stories about darning of socks. Maybe the sales assistants of today don't know how to darn, or couldn't be bothered. Obviously the yarn manufactures have worked out a better way to make them last longer, and make them prettier. Some of the sock yarns out today are very clever & stunning when knitted up.

I am now knitting another pair, this time in a pretty coloured speciality sock yarn. It will be interesting to note the difference between the two.

I am also hoping to get to wear them at least once this year. We are still in mid winter, but the forecast for this coming week will be more like spring.