Preparations for the sock talk are going well. I’ve finished all the samples I want to show. There are a few optional ones that I’ll see if I have time for next week.
I’ve been having fun the last couple weeks getting the fibre prepared and yarn spun to make a pair of socks to show at the talk. Continue reading
Mini socks from hand dyed 50% merino, 50% silk blend. Approx. 35 yards, 16 WPI 3-ply yarn.
It’s one of those things that as a fibre person you either love or hate doing.
I’m sort of in the middle now. I started hating doing it. I didn’t want to take the time and just get into the project.
One thing taking my spinning course has taught me though is that sampling will give me a better end product. It will make it easier to get the final result that I want rather than having it be more hit and miss.
So now I still don’t like to make many samples, but I do try to see what the results of different methods will produce.
I’m getting ready for a talk I’m giving in February to my local spinning guild. It is on spinning for socks and some techniques for knitting toe up socks.
I’ll be covering things like types of fibres to use, different spinning and plying methods, and different knitting methods.
So this is a perfect time to make a bunch of samples to show off all of these things.
I’m planning on making a bunch of small socks. The socks use about 45-50 yards of yarn, and about 25g or 1oz of fibre. I doesn’t take to long to spin up the yarn and the socks can be easily knit over an evening.
For those that might be interested, here is a basic pattern you can use to make a small sock like the one in the picture. I’m going to format it better and will post it later as a free download.
These small socks would make pretty Christmas tree ornaments or small stocking stuffer socks! Since they don’t use a lot of yarn they are perfect for using up those scraps of sock weight yarn that you may have lying around.
WARNING!!! Sock pron and yarn pron ahead! You have been warned!
My name is Danny… (Hello Danny!), and I’m a sock-yarn-aholic.
I confess that I am powerless to the will of my inner magpie (Ooh! Sparkly!) and my resolve is weakened by the yarn fumes of pretty sock yarns.
I don’t remember who persuaded me to knit my first pair of socks. It was either someone in the Toronto knitting guild or Ted Myatt.
Until that point I always thought they would be too hard. Like many people the thought of turning a heel frightened me and I also couldn’t see myself spending so much time knitting on something that could be warn out and need repairing!
First socks made in Jawoll
I picked a fairly simple sock pattern and just bravely went ahead and the rest is history!
I LOVE making socks. They may take me a long time, but they are some of my most restful knitting.
Over the years I’ve knit socks in with many methods. Double pointed needes, 2 circular needles, magic loop on one circular needle. Toe up and cuff down. Heel flaps and short row heels.
About the only things I haven’t done yet are sideways socks and colourwork socks, but those are on the list. I also haven’t done lace socks. Given that I usually make socks for myself, and my sister would find them to frilly, I don’t think I’ll be knitting any of them soon either.
My standard go to mindless sock is done toe up using magic loop method, sometimes two socks at one time. I start with either a lighter circular cast-on, figure 8 cast-on or Judy’s Magic Cast-On. I then do a standard toe till I have 72 or 80 sts, depending on yarn and guage. Plain knitting for the foot, with gusset increases at the bottom of the sole and a heel flap for the heel. The leg is K3, P1 ribbing till about 1.5 inches short of wanted length (or amount of yarn!) and the finishing in K1, P1 ribbing and then a loose cast-off, like Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off.
These are socks that I have patterns for:
The sock on the left is the Crossing Cables Sock pattern.
The one on the right is the Diamond Waffle Socks pattern.
These are a couple more patterns that I have coming out soon:
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The sock on the left is Raspberry Socks, the sock on the right is Gansey Socks. The Gansey Socks are made from The Black Lamb’s City Silk, which is a lovely Merino and Tussah silk blend.
And now the danger begins. But remember – sock yarn doesn’t count towards stash. Really – it doesn’t!
Good all purpose sock yarns:
Kroy
Regia
Yawool
Trekking XXL
More interesting patterned, striping and painted yarns
Zauberball
Opal
Malabrigo Sock and Finito
Manos Del Uruquay Alegria
Amazing luxury and hand dyed yarns that I’ve used and love
Canadian Yarns
Fleece Artist – BFL Socks, Trail Socks and Merino 2/6
Handmaiden Casbah
Rhichard Devrieze
Koigu
Dye-Version – BFL Sock, Bamboo Sock and Wool Sock
Indigo Dragonfly – Great colour names – my favourite is: Plumber’s Butt: Release the Cracken!
Shelridge Farms – Solids with a limited quantity of handpainted colours
Wellington Fibres – They do sell the sock yarn separately, but is isn’t listed.
The Black Lamb – My favourite of their yarns is City Silk Yarn.
Tanis Fiber Arts
Waterloo Wools
Other countries
Madelinetosh
Lorna’s Laces
Bluemoon Fiber Arts
The indie dyed yarns are the ones that can be the most dangerous. Amazing colours and fibre choices. They are not cheap, but when you are making something extra special for yourself they are totally worth it.
Also remember that sock yarn can be used for a lot of other things besides socks. Much as I love socks I just can’t knit them as fast as I can buy yarn. If you look on Ravelry you will find lots of pattern ideas for things using sock yarn. Just in case you have a little stash that needs to be used up. Just saying.