Tag: knitting

Sock progress

On By CarynIn Craft

I’m trying a new-to-me sock pattern that dates from the World Wars and was distributed to help with war relief efforts. The spiral pattern creates a stretchy fabric that conforms to the heel without having to stitch a heel. For soldiers this meant a longer wearing sock, since the heel rotates and takes longer to wear out than a designated heel. For my family, my youngest has trouble lining up a heel on her foot, so this is a potentially frustration-saving accommodation. The stitch pattern is easy, but does require paying attention. The body of the sock is a 4×4 rib, but offset one stitch each row, which is what forms the spiral. I’m using Cascade Heritage Prints yarn, which is self striping.

Photo description: spiral socks in progress, knitted as a pair on two 2.5mm cable needles with Cascade Heritage Prints yarn, with a 1×1 rib cuff

My spiral is not forming the tight twist that I have seen in vintage pictures, and I’m hoping that when the socks are finished and blocked, I’ll get the right structure. If this does work for my youngest, I see many, many spiral socks in my future.

Just the toes

On By CarynIn Craft

My Mom sent a pair of hand-knitted socks that just needed the toes finished.

Photo description: two hand knit socks on a single circular needle made with variegated purple yarn

I am not familiar with the technique of knitting two socks on a single circular needle. I am aware of the technique, but haven’t puzzled out the method. I prefer using two circular needles, so I transferred the work to my 2.5 mm Prym needles.

Photo description: same socks on different needles

My needles are slightly smaller than Mom’s, but I knit slightly looser, so it worked out OK.

Photo description: finished socks with the ends woven in

I did all my knitting waiting in the car. I was not knitting and driving! As I wrote this post I realized how it looked with all the photos taken on a car seat. The pictures were also taken over the course of a few days. Waiting in the car rider line is where I get most of my knitting done.

Photo description: socks on feet!

Striped socks

On By CarynIn Craft

I finished a pair of socks in three months! This is much better than the year and a half for the last pair. It must be noted that I can only knit for about 15 minutes before I get distracted; I am not a power knitter. I usually knit as a time filler between other activities.

Photo description: newly finished toe-up striped purple socks with ribbed arch knitted from Cascade Yarns self striping yarn, toe and heel from Cascade solid color yarn

I knitted these by feel and measurements, rather by row, and that also helped save me time. The ribbed arch is a personal preference that I added to the basic sock instructions.

Photo description: socks on feet, ribbing is right on the arch

That the socks match almost perfectly is pure serendipity. Or fabulous planning by the yarn manufacturer. I split the skein of yarn in two by winding one cake until I reached half the weight, then wound the second cake of yarn. I knitted from the center of each yarn cake, one per sock. I used a coordinating solid color for the toes and heel to avoid disrupting the stripe pattern. To be honest, I’m a little sad that they match so well, I rather like coordinated mismatched socks. Hm.

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