Tag: knitting

Thoughts on an afterthought heel

On By CarynIn Craft

After taking a year and a half to knit one pair of socks with a line-by-line pattern, I needed to try something where I could just knit by inches. I chose a toe-up striped sock with a ribbed arch and afterthought heel.

Photo description: a pair of purple striped socks with one afterthought heel location marked with scrap thread and one heel complete

The yarn is printed and self-striping, so no forced color changes or multiple ends to weave in, which is fantastic. I also really like the afterthought heel. It knits up like toe shaping, and is easy to track. No heel flap or gusset confusion.

This pair is almost done. Just one more heel!

Ruffle scarf, 4 vs 6

On By CarynIn Craft

One more comment on ruffle scarves knitted from machine lace “yarn”. Here are two scarves, one using six stitches (purple) and one using 4 stitches (faded glory).

Photo description: two ruffle scarves, “Faded glory” red, white, and cream on the left is longer, the purple scarf on the right is shorter and thicker

Really it is a matter of personal taste when choosing how many stitches to use.

Photo description: in progress work with four stitches on the needle, picked up from the edge of the machine lace

Throwback Thursday: ruffle scarf

On By CarynIn Craft

Today is a throwback with a current twist. As I was going through pictures from 2015 I found one in April of my first ruffle scarf. These scarves are knit from machine made lace. The lace comes wrapped like chunky yarn, and if you knit 6 stitches wide, just picking up one edge of the lace, the lace spirals out and around the central knitted core.

Photo description: red ruffle scarf from April of 2015
Photo description: purple ruffle scarf from July 2025

I just made another of these from yarn my Mom sent as packing material for a package. They can be a bit tricky because the lace needs to be fanned out to find the edge, but once I get the groove, it goes pretty quickly.

Jacob’s wool swatches

On By CarynIn Craft

I started on the swatches for Jacob’s wool, and then finished them all in a day, even the nålbinding. I must have thirty other projects I’m not working on. Hm.

Photo description: four squares made from hand spun Jacob’s wool: knit (top left), crochet (top right), cut open nålbinding (bottom left), woven (bottom right)

I had two large cakes of yarn, and two small nostepinne balls, so I used the smaller amounts to make the swatches. I hope to make something wearable out of the larger cakes of yarn.

Sock progress

On By CarynIn Craft

I cast on a new pair of socks the day after I finished the previous pair (that took me 13 months to knit). This time, though, I’m using self striping yarn, and an after thought heel to minimize fuss. I knit the toes individually with a solid color yarn, then I set them up on two circular needles and joined in the self striping yarn. Now all I have to do is knit, well, and some purls since I want some ribbing on the arch and top. When I get to the heel, I’ll knit in a piece of scrap yarn, then finish the sock. The heels will be last and knit individually.

Photo description: two striped purple socks partially knitted on two circular needles

I’m already making better progress, and I avoid the project less (although I’m not completely all in, I do have a few other projects in process.)