Quirky socks

There is nothing quirky about these socks except for the name of the sock yarn. I'm not sure if it is supposed to be self-striping, but I chose to believe not since I could not find a definitive place where a stripe started.

Pattern: Short-row Toe and Heel Basic Socks, by Wendy D. Johnson
Yarn: Simply Socks Yarn Company Quirky Socks, colorway QS1111, for the foot and leg; Cascade Yarns Heritage, in natural, for toes, heels, cuffs
Needles: US1
Modifications: None to speak of

These socks are knit toe-up, my usual MO. One different thing I do is not purl back on the last row of the toe and heel but go forward. This probably does not make any difference, but it appeals to my sense of structure since that last purl row is not like the others. But now I'm wondering if that contributes more twist that handknit socks naturally have. They are basically one big spiral.

This pair is to be a holiday gift, not sure who to yet. Most of my recipients (myself included) require a larger size, so these are knit 72 stitches per round, 72 rows per foot, 72 rows per leg. That seems to work out just right.

There is more quirky sock yarn to come.

Splash socks

Here is another FO that I forgot to blog about: a pair of socks, destined for my son, a.k.a. Big Foot. For his socks, I cast on for 80-stitch rounds, knit 80 rounds for the foot and 80 rounds for the leg. That seems to be a good formula for his feet.

Pattern: Short-row toe and heel basic socks, by Wendy D. Johnson
Yarn: Simply Socks Yarn Company Splash Sock, colorway 1321
Needles: US1
Modifications: None

A fiber friend belonged to a SSYC yarn subscription or something like it, and the sock yarn was piling up, so she gave some to me. Everytime she saw me working on these socks, she commented on how much she like the yarn. No backsies allowed!

As I have said before, socks are my portable project. If I anticipate having to wait somewhere, I bring either a book or socks to knit. It seems like when I do, the wait is short. Today I did not take anything with me to the vet (besides the dog), and the wait was l-o-n-g. Isn't that the way these things go?

I like to match self-striping socks, although at times I have worked off either end of the cake, so the stripes are reversed. Overheard at a fiber festival: "If you want socks that match, go to the store!"

Last pair of xmas socks

My SO is always understanding when his xmas socks are the last to be finished. And usually that finish date is after xmas, sometimes soon, sometimes far after. I started these xmas eve day, and now over a month has passed and I am just now getting them finished. It's not like they are the only WIP on the coffee table.

Pattern: Short-row heel and toe basic sock, by Wendy D. Johnson
Yarn: SSYC Poste Yarn, Striping, in 'Island of Misfit Toys' and SSYC Simply Sock Yarn in 'Silver Lining'
Needles: US1
Modifications: None really, other than to knit the toe and heel in contrasting yarn, as self-striping yarn does not work well with short rows.

One of my sock-knitting techniques that has evolved over time is to make the leg about as long as the foot, when folded in half. Otherwise, the recipient complains that the leg is too short. Sometimes longer legs means extra yarn, which in this case takes the form of contrasting heels and toes.

I'm pleased with my efforts to match stripes. This yarn makes it easy, as the length of the color runs is very consistent.

I shouldn't say these are the last of the xmas socks; they are the last of the xmas *gift* socks. I have two more colorways of the Poste Yarn, to knit socks for moi. After all, we can't let everyone else have all the fun socks.