DANCING IN THE DARK: Socks

Showing posts with label Socks. Show all posts

Thursday, August 23, 2012

A post from the Past: May 27, 2008 - First Socks ever

I am addicted to Sock Yarn. I have to admit I will spend hours looking at blogs or yarn store websites just looking at SOCKS. I love the self striping sock yarn. I only want to knit them in wool or wool blends since if I am going to put in the time I want these puppies to last.
Here is my first attemp at knitting a pair of socks.
Ahhhhhh don't look at my dry legs!! we are in winter in this pic and boy do I need lotion!!!!!

This is before they were washed. I didn't know about SWATCHING so I just measured my guage after I had knit the ankle part. I was off but I said "I love this yarn and kept on knitting."
I later did stop and knitted a swatch, it was off a little so I learned a lesson. Always always Swatch!!!!!
These were knit on 3.25mm DPN's. See 2nd pair of socks below knit on 2.75 DPN's and story.

So here they are on my feet.

They are a little droopy at the ankle. They have to be the most comfortable socks in the world. I knit them with Felici Self Striping yarn from Knitpicks.

Now I am on my second ever pair of socks. I am almost done.
They're are for my daughter in law Anne for her birthday (7/1) yeah I'm early but I didn't know how long it would take to do 2 pairs of socks and a hat.

I am using Austermann wool yarn with Aloe Vera and Jojoba in the yarn to make your feet soft. They make your hands soft to knit them.
I don't like the color much, I am a bright color kind of gal, or an earthy kind. So I showed them to Anne and she loved them. She tried one on and loved it. But I let her look in my "Stash" (yes I already have a stash) and she picked another yarn for me to make a SECOND pair!!!
Well it's ok cuz I am having fun.
Yes I swatched this pair. The swatch came out a little small so I thought "I'll knit a little looser". LOL.
I am using size 2.75mm DPN so what I did was order a set of 3.00mm DPN's for my next set of socks. That is because I already swatched the yarn she picked out and I was still knitting tight. The yarn for the next pair of socks is ON-LINE Supersocke 100 and the color is Tropic, very pretty.
I like how these socks are coming out. I think I solved my droopy ankle problem with doing the ribbing all the way down.

This sock has a different pattern for the heel. It is a K1 S1,repeat then on the wrong side you purl. The turn of the heel is a triangle shape where the Felici sock had a retangle shape heel (bottom). I am not sure which I like more.
I was able with this 2nd pattern to close up the holes when turning the heel. See my first sock holes.

I will continue with this pattern for a few more pairs and then watch out, I am going to try a cable or some kind of interesting pattern (easy). Any suggestions????

A post from the Past: May 28, 2008 - Socks & Sun

So I finished the "Step" socks for my daughter in law Anne today. They wanted to take a little sunbath so they spent some time on the grass and........................ then they wanted to view the pool.

They were afraid of the water, a little cool. So they just watched my granddaughter lay on a HammerHead Shark while eating ice cream.

The horse tried to entice them into the pool. But these socks haven't seen water in all their life and they are waiting for their maker (me) to put them in gently for a nice bath before being wrapped up as a birthday gift.

The Step socks wanted to try a few steps so they ran in the house and jumped on my feet just to see if I knit them comfortably. The answer is yes, they made me put my feet up and boy were they cozy.

A post from the Past: May 28, 2008 - Notions

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ. That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009

May 28, 2008 Notions

So the box of books and a few more notions came yesterday from Knitpicks. I put all of the needles I own on the floor to check out all of the beauty of these wood needles. I do have some straights that don't fit in the little box.

Then I put them in their Striped Box. I love Stripes and the box is metal and I wrote in the lid all the sizes I have in DPN's and Circulars.
I know you can hardly see my writing but it is there.

So I started the next pair of socks for my daughter in law. Her birthday is July first. I am starting early because she will get 2 pairs of socks and a hat/felted. I have started the hat, see other blog.

I cast on the new socks while sitting at the plaza, outside at a table, in the sun. It is a beautiful day today. Warm but not hot.

I'm using Harmony's size 3.00mm DPN's this time. I think the step socks were too tight, they fit but they are snug. The swatch was asking me to go up a size too. Well ok, it was yelling at me to go up.

That is my new sock cast on and a few rows done. And that is my knitting bag with all my Notions, Lovely Lovey NOTIONS.
I have the pattern, notebook, Ipod, pencils, etc. in the bag.
I keep my ball of yarn in a plastic bag so that it stays clean and doesn't get all fuzzy. I embroidered my name on the bag. You never know....

Now for the bad news. I timed myself on the last sock I made. For one sock it took me 3 weeks and a day. There was a wedding for my son thrown in there during that time but I did knit at his house in Idaho while we visited. I think I am slow. I hope I speed up with each pair of socks I do. I read that some people can whip out a sock in a day or two. How do they knit so fast?
I have been knitting socks since the middle of March 2008.

A post from the Past: June 1, 2008 - Knitting Projects

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ. That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

June 1, 2008 - Knitting Projects

I received this beautiful wool yarn yesterday by mail. I couldn't wait to cast on and start a scarf. It is K1 P1 so that it is thicker and reversible.
My first project on my new needles. I love them. they are short for this kind of project. Size 3.5mm US4 and 7 inches long. This scarf is for me.

At the same time I am working on the first sock of the second pair for Anne my daughter in law's birthday. It is knitting up very fast. I'm using ONline Supersocke 100 sock yarn in color Tropic. Needle size 3.00 DPN's by Harmony.

And then there is the wool felted hat I am also making for Anne's birthday. I am using Patons Classic Merino in color gray and blue/green. I am putting stripes with recycled sari silk.
Hook size is Boye I (as in eye).

I hope I am not working on too many things at one time. I won't begin any more projects till I finish these. I'm excited about all of them.

A post from the Past: June 12, 2008 - Still knitting

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ. That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

June 12, 2008 - Still Knitting

I haven't posted in a while. This week has been busy because it is the last week of school for my kindergartner.
I took some pics of Sally our new kitten. She is a busy little kitty.
Here she is on the couch ready to jump.

This is Sally under the table attacking a crunchy ball.

As for my knitting. I was distracted for a week or so with the scarf on the beautiful new needles. It is the scarf done in Kanui wool. I had started it and decided it was too narrow. So I cast off, and then cast on with more stitches. I had to set it aside to get the Socks done.

I have only 2 weeks left to finish the socks and a felted hat for my daughter in law's birthday. I know I will have the socks done in a couple days. I can crochet the hat pretty fast but the felting takes a few days. I let it air dry after the machine washing so it just takes time to dry out.

Other than that I did get a call from my boss yesterday. I use to work in a dental lab making porcelain teeth. It was so much fun. I went to school to be a dental technician after my husband died. So I had worked in this lab for 3 years but in March 08 I had to quit because my granddaughter needs me to be home. We are still grieving my daughters death. I got custody of my granddaughter late last year. I worked when I had her for a few months but I was killing myself. I can't be mom, employee, cook, cleaner, gardener, etc. I'm not married since my husband died of cancer in Aug. 2000. It's tough being a single mom again. My kids were all grown. I had the empty nest.

So I was flattered that my boss would call and ask me to return. I know I could have asked for a huge raise. I am still thinking about it. He is even willing to wait for the fall when school gets back in.
I loved what I did. I loved working with the tools and baking porcelain, grinding the teeth with tiny tiny high speed drills. I was also doing digital design with the Cad/Cam program with scanning models and designing bridges and crowns on the computer then sending those files to be milled out in zirconia. I was in the High Tech department. I loved it.
I hated the drive from my home to the lab. I had to go on 4 different freeways (only 22 miles) and the traffic was horrible. I do not miss that drive at all. It could take 30 min. on a good day or 2 hours on a bad day. Average time was 45 min. I was ok with the drive before I had Peanut. When I lived alone. I would just listen to the radio and kick back. But when you have a little one waiting for you at after school care it is horrible. I just missed her so bad. She needed to be with me or with family after loosing her mommy.
So now I am home with her and I have more free time for my knitting and hobbies, also for errands and house work.
We go to church several times a week. Our life is full.

A post from the Past: June 16, 2008 - Socks

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ. That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

June 16, 2008 Socks

Well last night I finished my 3rd pair of socks. These took me 18 days to knit which is good for me. I was also swatching other projects during this time.

I didn't like the colors of this sock. I ordered it online and ironically it is named OnLine supersocke 100. I like the colors when it was in the skein but as I knit it up there seems to be way too much yellow. I also don't like the beige color stripe in the yellow section.
I love the purple, magenta, navy and red. The yarn was splitty too. For the high price I think I would have liked to spend the $14.99 on another yarn. We will see if it is worth the money by how long wearing the socks are and if they look good after some years.

I tried them on even though they will be a birthday present for my daughter in law. Sally Cat helped me.

They fit very good. I had changed from the 2.75mm DPN's to the 3.00mm DPN's. It was a good choice. So my DIL will have a pair of socks from both sizes. She tried on the pair from the 2.75mm and they were snug. She said they were cool but I think the 2nd pair will fit better.
Here is the 1st pair I knit for her. These are done in Austermann Step Yarn, expensive at $14.99 a skein but I got a pair from one skein and I have a lot left over. This yarn is infused with Jojoba and Aloe Vera. It is soft to your hands as you knit. The yarn felt a little stiff but after I washed them the socks were so soft. The label says that the jojoba oil and Aloe Vera will last through 40 washes.

So that is the skinny from here. I will be starting a sweater soon. More on that later with photos.

A post from the Past: July 7, 2008

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ. That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

July 7, 2008 Feed the Monkey!

That is a great line from The Big Lewbowski, "she had to feed the monkey". But really I wanted to write that I started a new pair of socks. They are the Monkey Socks by Cookie A.
I am doing them in Knit Picks Essential yarn of superwash wool & nylon. The color is called Peacock Multi. The yarn is now called Stroll sock yarn.

So while I fool around with socks, Peanut my granddaughter is turning into a crafter. She has a white fish and she is coloring the body.

This is very intense work as you can see.

In the end it is exactly how she wants it. Bravo!!!

We took the 'ol fish swimming. The fish swam great. Crayon art work stayed on, no problem.
It's only 104 degrees today. The pool felt great. Peanut is swimming so well.
We found a Potato Bug the other day. It was yuckie. He was in the pool trying to get cool too but he didn't know how to swim and he died.
I got him out and of course took his photo.

Have a nice summer. Peanut had her first day at Vacation Bible School. It was so much fun.

A post from the Past: August 24, 2008

These are some markers I made for my knitting.
Every metal part is Sterling Silver, the wire going thru the beads are headpins with that silver cluster soldered on (by the manufacture) all sterling silver. The beads are all glass except for the skull which is bone.

Then I have been busy knitting on several projects at the same time.
Here is ONE finished sock. I am casting on the second sock today.

I'm getting better at the gusset where you pick up the new stitches from where you slipped the stitches for the heel. I also am not getting the ladders. I used Regia Design Line sock wool. I knit in size 0 metal DPN's because this pattern called for 72 sts. to be cast on. I began with 2.25 dpn's and the cuff was looking huge. So I ripped out and went to size 0. They are so thin my hands would hurt after a while Sooooooooo I would take a break and work on a NEW SCARF with my new NORO Silk Garden wool. I love the colors.

Noro Silk Garden Sock-40% Lamb's Wool, 25% Silk, 25% Nylon, & 10% Kid Mohair
This scarf is my own pattern. I wanted to learn how to make cables and I wanted to make something
that would show (socks are basically hidden by your shoe and pants, so I chose to make a scarf.
I am just knitting stocking stitch on the edges, then garter stitch, a cable every few rows, more garter stitch, then stocking stitch edge. The stocking stitches are rolling in. I don't mind but it is making the scarf narrow. So I want to know about Blocking.
If I block this scarf flat, will the edges cease to curl?

I am using my signature knitting needles in size 3.50mm or US size 4. This yarn is more like a DK weight.

I am also still working on my sweater by Jarod Flood. I am using Queensland Kathmandu DK. It's a tweed in the color Chocolate. I love this yarn. I am enjoying knitting this so much. The yarn is 85% Merino Wool, 10% Silk, & 5% Cashmere.

Here is my sweater today. I am working on the body.

So other than this, I also spent the day at the beach yesterday with my granddaughter and friends. It was so
beautiful and we swam in the ocean. The waves were so big. I got bowled over once. I had sand in every nook and cranny. But it was a wonderful day. Not too hot. Only in the 70's at the beach while back home in the valley, San Bernardino valley it was hitting 100 degrees.

Huntington Beach

A post from the Past: September 4, 2008

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ. That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

September 4, 2008

Ok, So I am trying to finish up the Monkey socks for my granddaughter and I'm sort of stressed this week. I worked on them last night, then went to sleep and had a dream about Sierra, my daughter who died last year. Sierra was in the hospital to get her ears pierced. She looked so beautiful. She didn't know it was her last day to live and I did. I had my camera and was taking pictures of her laying there. I was pretty sad. She had on eye makeup which she didn't do too often. She was just so pretty.
So I finished up the Monkey socks this morning. I was so proud to have made the best kitchners stitch I have ever made in all my life. It just looked knitted.
Then I laid the 2 socks side by side and here is what I saw.

Now I am ripping out that toe. UFF!

A post from the Past: September 6, 2008

September 6, 2008

I fixed the Monkeys yesterday. Added another pattern repeat. They don't fit my 6 yr. old like I would like. Thats because I did the leg as if they were for me then when they didn't fit I decreased my stitches to fit her. Oh well. Maybe she can put them on her dolly.

So after I finished the socks I decided to start a new project. Ha ha ha I know I have 3 other projects on the needles, but I wanted to do some MITTS.
So I started the mitts called Serpentine by Miriam L. Felton.

(her photo, not mine.)

So here is my beginning.

This is yarn from Dream in Color-Smooshy. I love this yarn. It is soft but I like that it has a sheen and it doesn't pill, so far.
The monkey socks above was pilling on the skein. That yarn is Knit Picks Essential sock yarn, superwash wool. It is not called Stroll sock yarn.
Smooshy is 100% Superfine Austrailian Merino Superwash, Spun & handdyed in the USA.
It is pricey but I think worth it. Well not if your going to make a sweater and need 9 skeins of the worsted weight Dream in color. I wish it was more affordable.

So there you have it. Done with one project and beginning another.
Right now I have on the needles:
1. Cobblestone Sweater in Tweed wool
2. Scarf, my pattern in Noro Silk Garden Sock
3. Mockery Socks in Regia sock yarn (love it)
4. Serpentine Mitts in Dream in Color-Smooshy

A post from the Past: September 14, 2008

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ. That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

September 14, 2008

I have been working on a lot of projects at the same time, again. I want to show ya'll what I have been up to. So I finished one of the Serpentine mitts.

I love this yarn. It is Wool by Dream in Color-smooshy.

I made the mitt cover my knuckles more than the pattern called for. I have an update pic of Alexis in her Monkey Socks with church shoes. Scuffed toes and all.

I was teaching the mother of my daughter in law, or my son's mother in law or I think the best label for her and I since our kids married each other is Co-madres, that is spanish for co-mothers. So I was teaching her today how to make socks. And she has this huge stash of yarn. One of the big hospitals here use to have people knit hats for patients and babies. Then no one was doing it so when they heard that my Co-madre was interested they gave her a few bags full of yarn. There is all types and sizes of yarn. She gave me this small skein because it is too small for a hat. I don't know what it is but it looks natural and it if soft like angora. It also looks thick and thin so could it be handspun? There is a tag on it and it says: Phoebe 11/00 60 yards. I think 11/00 means November 2000. Here it is, can you identify this yarn?

And a close up

It was a good day teaching someone to knit socks. I just learned in March. This knitting is really addictive. I love it. I have 4 projects going right now and a growing stash that is calling me. I just have to keep my eyes off of the spinning websites!!!