Pink Abacus Socks

Found a Canadian independent dyer of yarn based in Calgary
Thought I would try out their yarn on a pair of socks
They have a huge range of colours. 
As I wanted to knit the Abacus sock pattern I chose a semi solid 80/20 merino/nylon fingering
The yarn is delightfully sot and smooth . I'll have to wait until winter to see how well it wears

The pattern is easy to follow
I decided to only use one of the twist charts as the difference between the two was not significant in my view

I also added an extra couple of rows of pattern to the front extending the pattern further down the leg. In fact I should probably have done this to the back as well

Here's a phot showing the twit pattern on the front:
 

Pattern: Abacus Socks by Winwick Mum
Size: 72 sts.
Yarn: Arcane Fibre Works
Colour: Victorian Petal

Blue Slip Knit Socks

 After frogging the Abacus socks , I needed a simple pattern that wouldn't mind the stripes yarn

This fit the bill, simple yet requiring some attention!

I used the plain blue for rib and heel and the stripes for the rest. This left me with 24g  of stripes so I could probably have got the socks out of the striped yarn and not used the plain blue

Pattern: Slip Knit Socks by Yarnspirations Design Studio
Size: 72 sts.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55739 Saltwater

Colour: 55i32 Sing N The Blues Stripes

Blue Abacus Socks

 Saw this pattern and was intrigued to try it
Used plain blue for the rib and then switched to blue stripes for the pattern
Unfortunately while it is a well written pattern and easy to follow , the yarn I chose was not the right one
As you can see the stripes are too dominant and overwhelm the twisted pattern.
So it has been frogged 

Pattern: Abacus Socks by Winwick Mum
Size: 72 sts.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55739 Saltwater

Colour: 55i32 Sing N The blues Stripes

70"s Masonic Lodge Socks

Here are the latest pair of socks.  
I still need busy work for the evening and socks seem to fit the bill nicely. 

I just can't knit all evening  as my wrists get sore

The 16 rows K2P2 rib and the heel are in Saltwater the rest is Seventies Stripes

I modified the pattern so that front of foot has have 2 cables twisting out with a rib panel between
Back is all rib panels as set in original pattern

66 rows pattern, 32 rows for heel, turn heel, 70 rows pattern, decrease toe
Toe decrease: alternate rows to 42 stitches and then every row to 14 stitches 

Plain blue cuff and heel and one coloured skein make one sock with about 12 inches of coloured yarn to spare
Stripes on both socks are almost perfect match and that was just luck

Pattern: Masonic Lodge Socks by Emma Grundy Haigh
Size: 70 sts.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55739 Saltwater

Colour: 55734 Seventies Stripes

G's Slate Spirit Socks

G asked for a pair of hand knit socks. 

Not sure if he was serious but I took him at his word. 

He has very big feet so he has trouble finding socks to fit

Here they are:

The foot is exactly one foot (12 inches ) long so I hope that they fit

The rib pattern makes them quite narrow but stretchy so they should fit comfortably

Pattern: Sutton Spirit Socks by Lucinda Iglesias
Size: 70 sts.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55046 Slate Jacquard

Blue Brown Marl Socks

 Something to keep me occupied at night

I have used this pattern before and it worked very well (September 2012)
I used a grey marl for the cuffs and heels to make sure that there was enough yarn for the main sock.

There was quite a lot of  coloured yarn left from each sock. 

I probably could have got the heel or the cuff out of the main colour but not both

20 rows rib on 2.75 mm for cuff then change to 3mm for the body of the sock

Plain vanilla heel this time

Pattern: Nine to Five Socks by Nicole Hindes

Size: 72 sts.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55101 Blue Brown Marl
Colour: 54045 Grey Marl

Purple Haze Ripple Socks

 I think this is the last of the socks for this year but who knows? 
My fingers may get itchy!!

This was a new pattern for me and it worked very well
I used a grey marl for the cuffs and heels to make sure that there was enough yarn for the main sock.

There was a little coloured yarn left from each sock. 

I probably could have got another 2 - 3 rows on each one

20 rows rib on 2.75 mm for cuff then change to 3mm for the body of the sock

I don't know if I read the pattern right but the rib join didn't look right to me .

 Next time I would cast on 72 and do P2K4 and decrease to 70 on last row

I decided on  a plain foot for 2 reasons

First the ripple pattern makes a stiff fabric which is not very stretchy and  I need stretch for my feet
Second I couldn't figure exactly where I was in the pattern
All in all it was a good choice

If I were to make this pattern again , I might try 10 extra stitches on 2.75 mm rather than go up a needle size

Pattern: Neat Ripple Socks by Winwick Mum
Size: 70 sts.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55708 Purple Haze
Colour: 54045 Grey Marl

MKH Baby things

 M is expecting a bay in November so we will be great grandparents!! As she is out in Calgary we won't be able to see her before the birth.  We wanted to give her something so I decided to make a small quilt as well as some little knits

We don't know the gender or if there is a colour scheme for the nursery so I decided to play it safe with a bright yellow yarn.  There was enough yarn (just!!) in one 100g ball to make a little cardigan , a hat and a pair of socks

Cardigan Pattern: Sunnyside by Tanis Lavallee
Size: 6 - 12 months

Hat Pattern: Sock Yarn Baby Hat by Kate Atherley

Sock Pattern: Baby Socks by Bianca Bonstra

Yarn: James C Brett Soft & Gentle Baby 4ply
Colour: 2 Sy

Green Spirit Socks

Knowing that this yarn is short on yardage, I used some leftover black for the cuffs and heels 
I had 19g  in total but it was in several pieces. It turned out to be not quite enough and I used some green for the last 2 rows of the heel. It does not show and you'd have to know to spot it.  20g in one piece would have done it.

This is an easy pattern but I used Vanilla Latte instructions for heel and toes as the original pattern has errors

There was a small amount of green left over from each sock about 4 g each or 8 g total so I could have made the leg a couple of rows longer.  It is always hard to judge

Pattern: Sutton Spirit Socks by Lucinda Iglesias
Size: 70 sts.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55718 Turquoise Stripes
Colour: 54040 Coal

Sidewalk Chalk Easy Lace Socks

 A vacation knitting project
Not that I need more socks, just some easy sock knitting !!
I love this pattern. It is easy to follow and yet interesting to knit

As usual knitted a contrast cuff and heel so that sock would be big enough without needing a 3rd ball of yarn
One ball of striped yarn had one inch left the other had 15 feet!!

Very happy with the way these turned out

Pattern: Easy Lace Socks by Winwick Mum
Size: 72 sts.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: Sidewalk Chalk Stripes
Colour: 55045 Grey Marl

Coastal Skype Socks

These are the second pair of socks to keep my fingers busy in the evening.

I have used this pattern before and love it.
It is very straightforward with clear directions and a simple pattern

Kroy yarn has a shorter yardage so I always need to add something to make the leg longer
I had to use black for the cuffs and heels as I couldn't find a better solid
It worked well and I didn't need to use any black for the toes

Pattern: Simple Skype socks by Adrienne Ku
Size: 72 sts.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: Coastal Stripes
Colour: 55040 Coal

Slate Olympic Copper Socks

I need something to keep my fingers busy in the evening. 

I picked up this yarn to make some socks
I have used this pattern before. It is very straightforward.
I just need to add 4 stitches to the instep and use 2.75 mm needles

Kroy yarn has a shorter yardage so I always need to add something
This time I planned to use black for the cuff , heels and toes which meant that I could make the leg longer

It worked very well

Pattern: Olympic Copper by Ann Hutchison
Size: 72 sts.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55046 Slate Jacquard

Colour: 55040 Coal

Geranium Latte Socks

Is this the last pair? Probably not but there is no yarn left in the house

I don't need more socks but I may need something to keep my fingers busy

I loved this colour when I saw it on the shelf but there were only 2 balls of yarn .  

I had hoped that there would be enough of the Seashell left to make up the difference

As you can see that plan didn't quite work so I added black toes

Still love this pattern

Pattern: Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes
Size: 72 sts

Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks FX
Colour: Geranium Colours
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks FX
Colour: Seashell Colours

Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks 
Colour: Coal

Seashell Katwijker Socks

 I needed something to keep my fingers busy in the evening. 

Socks are always a good idea so last time the shops were open I bought some yarn

There was enough to make these a little longer in the leg. 

I have used this pattern before and knew that it needed more than 1 ball of this yarn for each sock

Pattern: Katwijer Frok by Erry Pieters-Korteweg
Size: 72 sts
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks FX
Colour: Seashell Colours

Copper Latte Socks

Made these from the last of my Kroy sock yarn.

It is more than a little irritating that one skein is not quite enough for one sock.  I used the remaining Flax for a contrast cuff and still needed extra for the last 10 rows on each sock.  Luckily I had a partial ball left over from my Copper socks.

Still love this pattern So clear and easy to use

Pattern: Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes
Size: 72 sts
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55011 1Flax
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 57510 Copper Colours

Happy Socks

Trying to use up all the odd bits of yarn that I have
Long ago, I only bought yarn when I was starting a specific project . That seemed to work then and I am hoping to go back to that
However I still seem to have lots in my stash

These are made from 3 different balls of yarn and just make me smile when I see them







I followed the pattern very loosely
K2P2 rib in red for 16 rows
Then K6 P2 every row in stripe pattern
6 rows Coal, 1 Red, 6 Flax, 1 Red
Red heels and red toes

Almost had enough red. Last row of last toe had to be black The downside of the stripes is the twist from yarn changes running up the back of the sock but it hasn't bothered me when I am wearing them


Pattern: Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes
Size: 72 sts
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55705 Red
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55040 Coal
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55011 Flax

More Christmas Stockings

When our family was here for Christmas it seemed that the little ones didn't have stockings of their own so I thought it would be nice to make them some.

I had lots of yarn left over from the stockings I made last year for my niece's family.

Followed the same pattern

Notes can be seen in this post:  Christmas Stockings


Pattern: Christmas Stocking  by Red Heart Design Team
Size: 72 Stitches
Yarn: Patons Decor
Colour: Winter White, Barn Red , Pine

Red Katwijer Socks

These have been waiting for some time. I took the yarn to Portugal last winter but didn't get started . Then it travelled to Europe and didn't get started. Finally cast on this July and away we went!!

This is a lovely pattern and easy to memorize. I'll definitely be knitting it again

I had a few adventures with needle size. I started up a size as I know I knit tightly and got gauge but then the cuff was just too tight. So I ripped it all out and went up to 3 mm for the body and 2.75 for the rib.

Then as I should have known, there was not enough yarn in 2 balls of Kroy sock yarn. There were no more in the original dye lot so bought one and used it to finish up the toes. There is a line but as it is well down on the toe of each sock no one will see it

Pattern: Katwijer Frok by Erry Pieters-Korteweg
Size: 72 sts
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55705 Red

Galao Socks

Holiday project which nearly didn't get off the ground.  For some reason I packed 3.75 mm needles. What was I thinking?
Tried two shops in Albufeira without success. I had really high hopes of a little shop selling handknits as well as yarn . The owner and I had quite a pantomime going!  It's strange but there is very little fine yarn here and hence no fine needles.
I gave up and started a tapestry project instead.
A few days later we were passing a shop in Porto and D said "Why don't you try in there?". Another pantomime and a set of five 2.5mm dpns. You just never know!

As they are 2.5mm not 2.75mm I upped the stitch count from 72 to 80. May not have been necessary but it all worked out.

Used Muslin for rib, heel and toe as well as in the stripe pattern on the cuff

Cuff Stripes are 8 rows multi, 2 muslin, 8 multi, 4 muslin, 8 multi, 4 muslin, 8 multi, 4 muslin, 8 multi, 2 muslin, 8 multi

Makes for a slightly longer sock but not much

Pattern: Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes
Size: 80 sts
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55008 Muslin
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks
Colour: 55128 Springtime Jacquard

Copper Openwork Rib Socks

Yet another pair of socks

The colours in these skeins are quite different even though they are from the same 6 pack

The yarn feels a little rough after the sockytalky but it should soften with washing and wear

Pattern:  Open work rib from Charlene Schurch
Size: 72 sts
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks FX
Colour: 57510 Copper Colours