Some thoughts on socks

What's on my needles (week 102)

I am about to knit up another pair of socks for my husband.  He appreciates them very much and wears them year round.  

I am pondering which yarn to use and as I am looking at the socks I have knitted for him so far, I have a few thoughts I want to share with you.

• Durability  If your hand-knitted socks end up in the wash every week as these do, you have to consider how well they wear.  There is a big difference if you use your sock yarn to knit up lacy shawls or sweaters etc or if you use it to knit up socks.  Some yarns don't hold up well being washed over and over even if they say "super-wash" and even if you wash them by hand.  Looking at these socks I found that the yarns which held up the best were 
• Strauss Innovation Sock Wool (used in 2012)
• Done Roving Yarns Frolicking Feet (used in 2013)
• Adriafil Knitcol (used in 2015)

 The yarn which pills the most is the Cascade (used in 2013 for the grey pair and in 2014 for the red pair)

The Anzula Sebastian (blue pair knitted in 2014) is also a good choice, but the yarn is discontinued.
Lastly the Anzula Squishy (fawn colored) wears nicely, but he has been wearing them for only three months so far; they are incredibly soft and warm (10% cashmere).
And here is what Tony says about the feel of the socks:
"Compared to store bought socks all of these are better in feel.  Favorite ones are the blue, red and grey and gold colored."

• Fit

The other important thing to consider when knitting socks is the fit, which pattern to use.
Here is a list of the patterns I used with links to my notes on ravelry:
2012- Basic Sock by Churchmouse : http://ravel.me/Strickliese/bs4
2013- The Manly Aran by Antje Gillingham : http://ravel.me/Strickliese/tma
2013- Toe-Up Socks by Anne Berk : http://ravel.me/Strickliese/tus2 
2014:- Fish Lips Kiss Heel by Sox Therapist: http://ravel.me/Strickliese/flkh  
2014- Fish Lips Kiss Heel by Sox Therapist : http://ravel.me/Strickliese/flkh2
2015- Basic Socks A La Jeanne by Jeanne Schrader : http://ravel.me/Strickliese/flkh3 
2015- Elementary Watson Socks by Sherry Menton:  http://ravel.me/Strickliese/ews

And here is what Tony says about the fit of his socks: 
" Again compared to store bought  socks all these fit better.  The best fitting ones are the blue, red, grey and gold.  Second best the two multi colored pairs and last the grey-white mottled pair (the first pair)."

Conclusion:  I was a little surprised by the answers.  Definitely the patterns which incorporate the FLK heel fit him best. And two of the pairs he likes for their feel are the ones knitted up in Cascade which I don't like as much because of the pilling, but they are easy on the budget.
I will most likely use another Cascade yarn (perhaps the one I just used for the shawl I finished last week "Wave") and will use the FLK construction.

My final decision on the next pair of socks:

I will use the Cascade Heritage Print and the Wildfoote for the toes and heels :)
I will use the FLK pattern for the heel construction and as this yarn is self-patterning I will do a simple stockinette stitch plus ribbing for the cuff.

My Diamonds in the Sky Shawl

What's on my needles (week 101)

I finished knitting the shawl I was working on during my vacation.  It came out really pretty!!!

The pattern is a free pattern by Skacel :  http://www.skacelknitting.com/Lace-Ball-100-Ethereal-Wrap/

The yarn I used is Cascade Heritage Wave color Plume :)

Here are some of my pattern notes:

Notes

Lately I have been using a lot of BIG , WIDE, rectangular shawls. I totally fell in love with the pattern when I saw it in the Skacel vol. 8 2015/2016 booklet. The Cascade Wave with its long color run seems a good match and I was drawn to the gradient blue/ grey color scheme.
Since the yarn is heavier 200g for the 874 yards (two balls), and as I am a tight knitter I am using a needle size 6. The yarn is a little bit “splitty”, but not too bad so far.
I have to read more carefully before plunging into knitting! I misread row 9 and did “YO, k2tog ” all across the row, basically repeating row 5…I am going to restart over :(
Please note:  The repeats in the written instructions don’t match up the repeats in the chart.
Also in the chart for the middle sections of the beginning and ending borders, it should say “8 stitch repeat” NOT “6 stitch repeat”.
There is also a small errata to the numbering of the stitches in the Chart 2- Center Body& Borders. The left border should start with 64,65,66 etc (66 is missing and the left border is 20sts, the right border 21 sts and seven 6 stitch repeats in the center (21+6x7+20=83)
Just to be on the safe side in case my calculations were incorrect, I put in a lifeline before starting the last pattern repeat and upper border. I had used one skein for a little over 14 repeats and took out several yards of yarn on the second skein so I would finish with the blue color.
I did have enough to finish this with 28 pattern repeats for the center section.
About the yarn:  I wound the first skein blue to grey and the second skein grey to blue. After finishing I notice that the colors don’t repeat exactly the same way in each ball of yarn, much like the crazy Zauberball by Schoppel. I kind of like it even better this way rather than having an exact mirror image.

At 22" x80" the shawl is so big that I pinned down half of the shawl for blocking first

then I pinned down the second half on top of it.

Road Trip knitting

What's on my needles (week 100)

Home Again

I am home again from Florida.  It was nice to tank up on sun and warmth and enjoy the beautiful Florida Keys.

I would have perhaps enjoyed my time more with a yarn shop close by, but alas there was none!  There was one in Key West years ago, but that one closed down permanently :(

View from our hotel

 

Although I took a total of three projects with me, I mainly worked on the Ethereal Shawl.  It was the perfect choice as the color changes kept my interest while the 16 row pattern repeat was easy enough to follow while riding in the car and talking :)

I have come along quite far and think that it may be only another week or two to finish it.  
I only have to knit up four more pattern repeats and the edging :)

The finished measurement should be 22" x80"

Lessons and Classes

I will be offering classes starting in March and will have the schedule up soon.  
This is the time to let me know if there is anything specific you would like to see offered.  Two requests so far are for a two-at-the-time sock knitting class and a class on how to fix common mistakes.  
Meanwhile I am always available for one-on-one lessons addressing your specific needs.  Just e-mail or call me to set up a time.

What's on my needles (week 99)

My bags are packed, I am ready to go; I am leaving on a road trip...

 

I am taking three easy projects, one of them the "Ethereal Shawl"

Tony and I are leaving on a road trip to the Florida Keys this morning instead of tomorrow, trying to bypass the storm...
I will check in with all of you after I get back in February; I may post some things on my facebook page while on vacation, so you may want to stay connected with me on :  

Knit With Doris /Discover Your Inner Knitter 

I do have a parting Valentine's Day gift for everyone:

 

I published my pattern "Tides" on ravelry and it is available for free until February 14th   <3

After that date it will be still very reasonably priced at $2.99.  A LOT of work and thought and heart went into writing it...

Here is the link and a few pictures.  I think that you do have to be logged into ravelry to get to the pattern.

TIDES by Doris Formby 

I am quite overwhelmed by the  positive feedback; after less than 12 hours this pattern had 380 likes, 16 comments, is in 68 queues and Dreamer08 on ravelry started her own TIDES project!

 

What's on my needles (week 98)

Don't miss the Vogue Knitting Show in NY city this weekend

At the NY Marriot Marquis in the <3 of Times Square 

Leah Stickle (owner of "The Knitting Garage at Stickles") will be at booth 415.

Leah has been sewing non-stop and from what I hear the result is awesome:  A lot of project bags, some with unusual design and fabric.

Between Julie, Julibeth and myself, we also just finished a poncho as a sample for the show.  It is the Easy Folded Churchmouse pattern, but striped in the beautiful Acadia Yarn by The Fibre Company!  You will be able to buy a kit which has the pattern and yarn.  This is a great project for even the beginner knitter and with the added striping it won't be a boring knit even for the advanced knitter.

The poncho is knitted up in light grey...

...with two accent colors

très chic !

These are just a few of the things you will be able to see at booth 415;  stop by to say hello and check it out :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aurita Shawl

I finished the Aurita Shawl for my friend yesterday and am even more pleased with it than with my own.
I used the Madeline Tosh Sock yarn which gives a different feel  to the shawl.  The yarn adds a little weight , has great stitch definition ( it is spun in a tight twist) and has a bit of a sheen; lovely drape, too.  I will definitely keep this yarn in mind for future projects.
And the pattern really is easy to remember!  Here is the link again to the pattern:  Aurita by Susanna IC

Click here for my pattern notes on ravelry:  AURITA

A close-up of the beaded lace edging

What's on my needles (week 97)

 Tullamore by Emily Ringelman (click on the link to get to the pattern on ravelry)

With the holidays and gift knitting behind me, I picked up the "Cullimore" cardigan again and am happy to say that I finished the sleeves.  Now the only thing left are the fronts and finishing :)

The back and sleeves are done

Aurita by Susanna IC  (click on the link to get to the pattern)

I also started on a shawl I had promised a friend of mine a while back (last Spring!). 
I am so glad that I am finally working on this and am making good progress.  The pattern is "Aurita" by Susanna IC.

I have gotten the pattern down pretty well and am using a little trick.  Each 12 row pattern repeat gets one bead added on each of the RS rows.  I line up my 6 beads in groups of 2 and know that when I pick up the first of two, I will M1 (or later in the decrease rows k2tog) and end with k1, YO, k1.  When I pick up the second of the two beads I end the row with k1, k2tog.

More than half done!

Etheral by Evelyn A Clark (click on the link for the free pattern)

I also started a shawl for myself which I am planning to take with me later this month when I go on a road trip with my husband.
Lately I have been wearing a lot of BIG, WIDE, RECTANGULAR shawls. I made two in neutral colors:  The Rosebud Shawl by Iris Schreier and the Wrap to go by Zelda ThreeOhFour. (click on the links below the pictures for more pattern information on ravelry)

Rosebud Shawl

Wrap to go

I totally fell in love with the Etheral shawl when I saw it in the Skacel vol. 8 2015/2016 booklet.
The Cascade Wave with its long color run seems a good match for this pattern and I was drawn to the gradient blue/ grey color.

Since the yarn is heavier 200g for the 874 yards (two balls), and as I am a tight knitter I am using a needle size 6. The yarn is a little bit “splitty” at first, but after getting used to having to be careful it is not too bad.
This is a great pattern which is free to boot, but watch out about a couple of points:

• The repeats in the written instructions don’t match up the repeats in the chart. Also in the chart for the beginning and ending borders, it should say “8 stitch repeat” NOT “6 stitch repeat”. 
• There is also a small errata to the numbering of the stitches in the Chart 2- Center Body& Borders. The left border should start with 64,65,66 etc (66 is missing and the left border is 20sts, the right border 21 sts and seven 6 st repeats in the center (21+6x7+20=83)
• If you are like me and put markers between each 6 stitch repeat, you will have to move your markers over in row 5 and row 13 following the chart instructions, but personally I still prefer having the markers even if I have to move them over every eighth row.

Other than that- once you are working the center body and borders-, it is easy knitting following either the written instructions or the chart.

Cowl/ New pattern in progress

Last not least I started to write a new pattern for a cowl using two colors of the Lana Grossa Lace Lux.  This is a 67% Viscose, 33% Virgin Wool blend with a lovely sheen.and comes in many pretty colors.  Stay posted, I am planning to have the pattern written out within the next two weeks before my road trip.

What's on my needles (week 96)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Thank you, everyone, for a great year 2015

Let's see what we can get up to in 2016 

Is knitting one of your New Year's resolutions?

Perhaps 2016 will be the year when you learn how to knit 

or improve your skills 

or learn a new technique. 

 

I just made a list of projects I want to tackle next year. 

I don't intend to strictly stick with it as I know from this year that a few projects were added as the year went along and some have still not been started, because I lost interest at least for now or I simply ran out of time.  

Here is a slide show of all the projects I have knitted up during 2015.  The pattern names are next to each picture.  Perhaps there is some inspiration in there for you.  Let me know if you want the link to a specific pattern and I will e-mail it to you.
There are 52 projects in all, but bear in mind that a few had been started the year before and a lot of them are small; for example the washcloths...