Socks a la Fassett

Steve's new socks. I used his favorite K4, P1 cuff. It doesn't interfere with the color and the color is what these socks are ALL about.
The toe is a K1 color A, K1 color B pattern. I knit from the outside in, but to get the other color, I pulled from the inside until I found one that would contrast well.
The heel is a K2 (A), K2(B) offset on rows 3 and 4. For this one I wasn't as choosy about the contrasting color. Also the large size of the heel flap used the color repeats more rapidly than the toe.

Sorry the photos are so small. But you get the idea. They are on my sockblockers which don't show them off to my advantage. I think I need to buy him his own sockblockers. Cristi, do you do bicycles?

FO and Some Fun

The Ode to Cristi toe up socks are finished. Pause while I eat some more words. I had some interesting discoveries with these.
You can do a heel flap heel in a toe up sock. The directions for this came from Wendy Johnson's Seaweed Sock pattern. It is easy to do (well written instructions) but the flap is a bit short. I will think about that some.
The sock on the left was the first to be started and I was using the pattern in Wendy's Seaweed, but I couldn't really see it in this yarn. Sometimes it works best just to go with plain stockinette. Doing so did not hurt the impact of this design and it sure made them more portable. I wear so many clogs that a plain foot is often preferable.
I finished these in Canada. You need to know that because of the cuff design. I didn't want to knit a stockinette cuff--too boring, so I decided to knit a design I have used before on an unreleased sock pattern. Surely I could remember it. Yeah, well.

I fiddled and messed up and kept knitting and then looked down and liked what I saw. It isn't what I intended, but is something I like. I am still playing with this 10 st design, because it can be even better. I'll let you know when I've finished swatching and then you can try it.

Major discovery: If I knit toe up, I can save the best for last. The cuff is always the most interesting part for me. Now, if I can just find my perfect heel.

Yarn: Schachenmayr Nomotta Regia Bamboo Color, 2 skeins
Needle: Size 0, 32" Magic Loop technique

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Another new design rattling around in my head is this.This is a building in Toronto and the picture was taken through the bus window. Look at the pinkish building. It's a sweater--even has a V-neck. The windows can all be the same contrasting color, or multi colored, or ascending tints of the same color. I used to take lots of vacation pictures of architectural features that could be quilted; now it's buildings to knit.

A sock pattern that everyone has written

This is my latest sock pattern. I used a Faux Baby Cable and extended it down onto the heel flap. I really liked it and looked forward to sharing it. Then it started. I would net surf on blogs or pattern sites and Voila! There was my pattern. Different name, yarn, designer, but still my pattern (except for the heel). One or two that I saw were for sale. Shucks.
I still love mine. The cuffs came out well and Steve loves the way they fit him. They hug his dainty ankles. :)
I did some linen stitch on the arch area of the foot for another hug.
The cables should strengthen the heel flap.

Star toe is becoming a standard for me.

Yarn is Misty Mountain Farm Blue Ridge Jubilee in colorway Waterfall. Bought it at Charlotte Yarn. Steve selected this skein for himself and I love the greys. Size one needles 60 sts.

I'll eventually get the pattern up on jpknits.com, but just look around--this pattern is everywhere.

Socken Kreativ Liste pattern -- Esther

This pattern was designed by Stephanie van der Linden who is the ringleader of a German yahoo group named Sockenkreativliste. Chat is mostly German, with an occasional English post, but all patterns are produced in both German and English. Stephanie is so very talented and has some of the best designs I've seen in years.
I don't often knit lace socks, because I like to knit a fairly mindless sock that I can work on anywhere. This had a 24 row pattern repeat, so I only knit it at home alone. I changed the heel and toe to my favorites.
The gorgeous yarn is Fleece Artist Nova Sock yarn given to me by Cristi. (She can't bear to watch old women stand and salivate and deny themselves.) I used my usual size 1 Addi Lace circ and knit magic loop.
The picot edge on the cuff is easy and just a bit more girlie for this sock.
Bottom of the foot is worked in stockinette.

Fair Isle Cotton Socks/Happy Easter

After completing the test sock for my design using Cotton Fine, I wore them, washed them in machine on hand wash cycle, hung to dry, and then wore again for a full day before photographing. Don't "E-e-e-w-w-w-w!" You can't smell from a picture.
The shrinkage was tiny. I'm thinking to not have any negative ease in the next pair. The jog which I didn't try to remedy is noticeable, but since it is on the side of the foot, I don't care. I don't like the heel flap after the gusset pickup. I will use the side stitches of the heel flap as selvedges in the next design. Washing did improve the look of the pickup stitches from the original. They are tighter.
The star toe not only looks good, but it feels good. Candace Eisner-Strick told me a year ago that she uses this more and more. It is speedier than the Kitchenered toe and I am all about speed.
I am planning several patterns using this yarn. Stay tuned.

DGS#2 visited for Easter dinner and a personal egg hunt. He is the most joyous child I've ever known, and I think this picture captures that.
He is also a serious independent young man. Each plastic egg was scrutinized and opened before proceeding to find another.
DH's mom also was here. She got a bit chilled watching the egg hunt, so I loaned her my Malabrigo Clapotis. I almost didn't get it back. I think a Malabrigo shawl must be in her future.

New Sock Pattern

I have finished the Herbal Socks and finally written the pattern. It is downloadable at my site. The St. John's Wort pattern stitch looks very nice with handpaints that have very small repeats. One new wrinkle I tried with this pattern was to knit my gusset sts in a twisted rib. This firmed the gusset nicely and I plan to use this again.


I really like this Opal Rainforest sock yarn. The thicker stripes combined with the tweedy effect is rich looking. I'm never disappointed in Opal yarn.

Enjoy the pattern and please email me if you have any problems with it.

Fair Isle Sock swatching

Last year at the Colorado Knitting Camp, Candace Eisner-Strick taught a lovely three day workshop on fair isle techniques. It was wonderful. Candace is a tremendous teacher with the ability to allow students to go separate routes from what she planned for class. Why do I love that in a teacher? Well, if you know me, . . .

The owner/manager of Brown Sheep Yarns was one of the students and Peggy is a phemon. She even brought yarn to share--All colors of the NatureSpun sport weight and all colors of Cotton Fine, the baby brother of Cotton Fleece which I love. The Westerners and Mid-westerners just lapped up all the wool we had and knitted away. Over in the corner sat the lone Southerner just a knittin' that cotton, and praising it's characteristics. At the end of the workshop, Peggy gave me all of the Cotton Fleece she had brought---over 50 skeins, each in a different color. I'm still speechless.

The campers will be taking a bus trip from Ft. Collins to the Brown Sheep Factory this year, and I wanted to show my appreciation to Peggy. I am attempting to design some fair isle sock patterns to give her. These pics are my swatch attempt. I'm testing the different patterns in a short sock so that I can do some washing and wearing tests as well.

Just thought you'd like a look at one designer's slow process of design. Gee, I wish I could do some of this on paper or computer, but it just doesn't work for me.

In the mean time, check out Cotton Fine in you LYS. It knits lace beautifully and I'm far from the first to use it for socks.

Socks are finished.

Thanks to driving to the beach and back the last two weekends, I finished two pair of socks. The pair above is Brigit designed by Gigi Silvia. Click here.Made jof CTH Supersock on size 1's. I like this cuff so much I might make these again. I knit both at the same time on one 40" needle--Magic Loop.

This is my own design highly inspired by one of Cat Bordhi's new patterns. These socks are made of Crystal Palace's Maizy, a corn fiber. Used 1's and knit two at a time on 2 circulars until I could put them on the Magic Loop.
The cuff was knit in Linen St for about an inch before joining. The split is in the center back. I fiddled with some linen and some stockinette for a while and them moved to all stockinette.
As soon as the cuff was long enough to be past my calf muscle, I shaped the cuff by moving into a k1,p1 ribbing which I continued on the heel flap. After I turned the heel I threw in a bit of seed stitch. All of this was just decided on as I knit.

The Maizy yarn feels nice on my foot, but I'm not wild about the colors. I suspect the corn fiber doesn't take dye well which is why all of the colorways are muted. Don't know if I'll use it again.

Veil of Leaves

From Cat Bordhi's new book and knit in Cotton Fine. I don't really like them.

At no point do I attribute my dislike to the genius of Cat Bordhi. Nope. Nor do I think the fault likes in Cotton Fine. The fault is clearly mine in that I chose cotton for a pattern that really needed a yarn with lots of memory so it wouldn't stretch out. The fault, Horatio, lies with me.

I still do not like the short row heel. It feels like it will be eaten down by the heel of my shoe. Maybe it won't, but it feels as if it will. I do not have to be rational about this. I am retired. I paid my dues.



The cuff is lovely, but stretched out and I know of no one who needs to add width to her ankles.

The socks, therefore will stay with me. I will either wear them under really long pants, or just use them to help me remain humble. Stay tuned for the new ones knit in Maisy. Corn. Who would have guessed?



On the needles today, a top down raglan made from this yarn.
elann Adara from elann.com
Fibre Content: 87.5% Mercerized Cotton/ 12.5% Linen
Made In: Brazil
Care: Machine Wash Cold Gentle/ Dry Flat
Gauge: 18 st/4 inches 4.5 mm (US 7)
Yardage: 85 m (93 yards)
Size: 50g (1.75 oz) ball
Price: $2.48 USD

It isn't the most beautiful yarn I've ever seen, but I love the hand of it. And I think it will get softer over the years. This may be a zip front cardi or a v neck pullover (haven't decided yet and don't have to decide for another 1.5 inches. I think of it like a favorite sweatshirt. I really like to feel the fabric. And the cost is wonderful.

Carpal Tunnel and Socks

It's official--carpal tunnel diagnosed! Cortisone in both wrists and nerve test is scheduled. Surgery will follow. BUT . . . my doctor is a wonder. She is a former East Meck High student, a tennis player and -- wait for it--a knitter. She was a fabulous teen and is even more awesome now. Chapel Hill, Harvard Med, Duke residency, and a sweeter girl you'll never meet. Best of all--she never even hinted I should stop knitting.


Finished object for you is the pair of Socks That Rock socks I knit for DH. Again I am trying to enhance the hand-dye, so this time I knit his K3, P1 cuff with an extra step. Round 1, I slipped the first of the three knit stitches. Round 2, I slipped the 2nd. Round 3, the 3rd. Round 4, none. It mixed the colors nicely and gave the piece a bit more texture.

Also finished is the Mystery Stole #3, but I can't block it until I uncover the guest room bed which can't be uncovered until the bathroom is finished and --well, you get the point. I received an invite for another mystery stole group through Yahoo that I joined. It will start in October, so that's the goal for blocking this one.

Finally on Ravelry where my username is jprater. I've put a few projects on there, but that will go slowly.

On the needles--The Harry Potter scarf, Brigit socks, new socks with Crystal Palace Maisy (corn fiber). I'm trying to avoid anything but wool for a few days, so that means felting. Easier on my wrists. I knit a large fair isle piece with 9 roses on it. I wish I knew what it was. Maybe a pillow top or the front of a bag. Oh, well, I enjoyed the knitting. I want to build up a bunch of felting and then have a go with the washer all at once.

Very tired from the cortisone which reacts on me like speed, so haven't slept much. I'll try to be more inspiring next time.

Cat Bordhi review

Remodeling again and it's wasted me. This time I'm having the downstairs bath enlarged so we can use it as more than a powder room. 1940's baths were tiny.

Steve and I finally painted the living room so the new sofa has a nice home. It was hard work, especially repairing the plaster. So many years since we had tackled such a project together and I quite enjoyed it.

Knitting news! Cat Bordhi's new sock book.

I enjoy Cat Bordhi's mind. I knit the two tutorial socks and I have reservations about both. You toe-up sock knitters have yet to convince me. I knit one from Cat's Sock that Soar, but it doesn't fit well enough. Tossed it on the frog pond.

Decided to work on my two socks on two circs or on Magic Loop. Annoyed by 2 balls of yarn at the same time, but stuck with it. Now I have discovered my own technique to handle the yarn and am racing through two pair.
1. Brigit-- in CTH, a pattern I found online and tweaked with twisted stitches

2. "Veil of Leaves" from the new Bordhi book in Brown Sheep Cotton Fine

The new Bordhi book has the best explanation/instruction of lifted increases and short row wraps I have ever read--and I have read many, many, many. The diagrams and schematics are terrific--well drawn and easy to understand.

Heels are a different story. I like my sturdy Dutch heels or standard turned heels. Short row heels seem insubstantial compared to them and don't ever fit as well. I've about finished the lace pair and am not happy with the heel. I want to knit a gorgeous two color design called Clematis Vine, but I have to figure out how to knit it top down and with my own heel. Well, I can do that.

Got my invite to Ravelry; no time yet to put anything up. Pics and new patterns soon.

Stitch Diva Strikes Again

I was down to the Mystery Stole and the Harry Potter Scarf; I’m sure sane people would think that enough, BUT . . . . Once I get a pattern/project conquered, I need to move to something new even while finishing the first thing. ADD? Probably, but I’ve always been this way and I cope.

I want to knit, I want to play with yarn, I want to learn, but I am in no mood to design. I have really been enjoying the Mystery Stole because all I need do is knit it. So I hit the computer—as well as books, years of magazines, the yarn shop—but couldn’t find anything I wanted to knit. This often happens.

Finally I found a pattern for a twisted stitch sock. Click here.
It’s called Brigit and was designed by Gigi Silvia; and it’s really lovely. Yes, I tweaked it. I took Austrian Twisted Stitches from Candace Eisner Strick and I’ve just received two books on the subject by Maria Erlbacher. Take a good look at those stitches in the background.The top design is knitted normally as the pattern directs, the next two designs are knitted with twisted knit sts (ktbl). Much neater, tighter effect. I didn’t really get it right until the third design which was knit after I charted the pattern. I learned the technique from charts and was getting bogged down in the verbage. I’m going to use them as samples in some sock techniques classes I’m teaching in August, so the errors will be teaching tools.

As usually happens, as soon as I found the sock, I began to plot a sweater. I thought I would redo the Stitch Diva Simple Bodice by Wendy Bernard. I liked the red one I did but I wanted to knit it with a different waist feature and a different bottom finish.

StitchDiva picked today to email me an opportunity to

1. buy patterns at a discount and

2. help some knitters.

Can’t pass that up. I bought Sahara, a sweater designed by Wendy again, and Shimmering Thread Necklaces.
Well, I need something to do with the beads leftover from the Mystery Stole.

Would have bought Trapeze but it is not yet available. I’ll get it soon.

I love these patterns because they follow the body and don’t leave inches hanging to add even more flesh to my ample body. The pics with them look too young, but they are so easy to adapt for me. Raise the neckline a little and lose the bell sleeves and it becomes quite a conservative, classically fitted sweater.

Class tonight with my very accomplished beginners and then to finish plans for all the August sock classes.

New Sock Pattern--Chicken Feet

I have FINALLY posted a new sock pattern for you. This is called Chicken Feet. It is similar to Bird Walking, but I changed the pattern some and used a contrasting color. This is easy colorwork. You only use one yarn at a time and you don't have to cut them. Try a swatch of the cuff pattern if you have doubt. I think this is my best sock ever; I just wish my photos did it justice.

Look at the pattern on the heel. Here you do carry both yarns at the same time, but there are no floats to worry about. Actually the use of two yarns strengthens the heel.

Please enjoy! And let me know how you like it. Use the entire pattern or just a part. I guarantee your handpaint yarns will look good in this pattern. No pooling.

Now my DH can finally wear his new socks. He has become quite a dude. A few more pair and we might even see bright colors. Warning! Wool socks are addictive. Wear them once, wear them forever.

Now to stop knitting and paint the doggone living room. Ugh!

Mystery Stole #3 Knit a Long, Sidewinders

Mystery Stole #3 Knit a Long

Clue #1 came out today. Above is a picture of Chart A. We are knitting on the diagonal. I changed my mind about the yarn. I’m using a mercerized cotton that I bought some years ago in Copenhagen. I remember when I bought it wondering what on earth I would do with it—I didn’t knit lace then—but it was the most beautiful dark pewter gray I had ever seen. Over the years I have fondled it regularly. This contest was the “Aha!” I’m using beads leftover from another project. I hope I have enough---but if not, there is a design opportunity.

It is not too late to join me and over 3,000 other knitters around the world who are participating in this knitalong. You can even just lurk and read the chat—boy, these guys do talk alot. Google Mystery Stole 3 and it will send you to the yahoo groups. The sign ups close July 6th.


Sidewinders Sock

This is the cast on for the most wearable vertical sock I have seen to date. The design is available from Nona Knits.

The instructions are long, but that makes them thorough. She has sized them for every imaginable foot. Warning: Do a real swatch. I didn’t and knit the first sock to fit Olive Oyl. I’m keeping it to show and tell. After I swatched, I went to a #2 needle (I usually knit on #0 for socks.) It fits well. It also fits my daughter (see pictures). Once I knit the second (third) one, I’ll have to decide who gets to keep them. The yarn is Opal—the Hundertwerken series I mentioned earlier. I loved working with it and after it was washed it softened nicely.





I highly recommend the pattern. Nona knows her stuff!! I like best the vertical instead of horizontal strip. Also – it seemed to take a long time and some serious thought to knit the first sock. The second sock flew. There is a learning curve with this, but it’s steep.