Summer Lovin Socks

Finally the pattern is ready for the Summer Lovin Socks. Thanks Andrea and Pam for test knitting. The pattern is available below or on Ravelry (link). I hope you enjoy.

Gauge: 8 stitches and 11 rounds = 1 inch

Materials: 1 hank Hazel Knits Artisan Sock (color Laguna)

US size 2 (2.25mm) double-pointed needles

Tapestry needle

Skill Level: Intermediate

Abbreviations:

K – knit K2tog – knit 2 together P- purl

P2tog – purl 2 together RS – right side

SSK – slip, slip, knit St(s) –stitch

WS – wrong side YO –yarn over

Cuff:

Cast on 64 stitches dividing them evenly onto 4 needles. (16 stitches on each needle)

Join in the round being careful not to twist the stitches. P1, K1 to the end of the round. Repeat for a total of 12 rows of ribbing.

Leg Pattern: (Chart A)

Begin knitting round 1 of Chart A.

Chart A:

Repeat each round of chart pattern 4 times per round.

Repeat round 1-20 of chart A 3 times for leg of sock.

Setup for Heel Flap:

Turn work so wrong side is facing you. You will be working the stitches that you just knit. Slip 1; purl next 31 stitches on to 1 needle. You should now have all stitches on three needles, 16 stitches on two needles and 32 stitches (heel) on one needle.

Heel Flap:

Row 1: (RS) Slip 1, K1, repeat to end.

Row 2: (WS) Slip 1, P1, repeat to end.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until your heel flap measures 2 inches, ending with a WS row.

Turn Heel:

Row 1: (RS) Slip 1, knit 18, ssk, k1. Turn.

Row 2: (WS) Slip 1 st, purl 7, p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 3: Slip 1, knit 8, ssk, k1. Turn.

Row 4: Slip 1, purl 9, p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 5: Slip 1, knit 10, ssk, k1. Turn.

Row 6: Slip 1, purl 11, p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 7: Slip 1, knit 12, ssk, k1. Turn.

Row 8: Slip 1, purl 13, p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 9: Slip 1, knit 14, ssk, k1. Turn.

Row 10: Slip 1, purl 15, p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 11: Slip 1, knit 16, ssk, k1. Turn.

Row 12: Slip 1, purl 17, p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 13: Knit row. (20 stitches)

Gusset:

Needle #1 - Slip the last 10 stitches that you worked onto a separate needle. Using the same needle pick up and knit 18 stitches along the edge of the heel flap (28 stitches).

Needle #2 & #3 (instep stitches) Begin row 1 of Chart A.

Needle #4 - Using a new needle pick up and knit 18 stitches along the edge of the heel flap and knit the last 10 stitches of the heel. (28 stitches) This will now mark the end of your round.

You should now be back to 4 needles

Needle #1 – 28 stitches.

Needle #2 – 16 stitches.

Needle #3 – 16 stitches.

Needle #4 – 28 stitches.

Gusset Decreases:

Round 1:

Needle #1 – Knit across to last 3 stitches, k2tog, knit 1.

Needle #2 & #3 – Continue in pattern following Chart A.

Needle #4 – Knit 1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 2: Knit all stitches.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until you have 16 stitches on all four needles. (64 stitches)

Foot:

Continue working in stockinette on needles 1 and 4 and in pattern on needles 2 and 3.

Knit until foot is 2 inches less than desired length. Be sure to end with an odd row on your instep or pattern stitches.

Toe Decreases:

Round 1:

Needle 1: Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1.

Needle 2: K1, ssk, knit to end.

Needle 3: Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1.

Needle 4: K1, ssk, knit to end.

Round 2 & 3: Knit.

Round 4: Repeat round 1.

Round 5 & 6: Knit.

Round 7: Repeat round 1.

Round 8: Knit

Round 9: Repeat round 1.

Round 10: Knit

Round 11: Repeat round 1.

Round 12: Knit.

Round 13: Repeat round 1.

Round 14: Knit.

Round 15: Repeat round 1.

Round 16: Knit.

Round 17: Repeat round 1.

Round 18: Knit

Round 19, 20 & 21: Repeat round 1.

(20 stitches)

Knit across needle #1 (5 stitches). Your yarn should now be at the side of the sock toe, on the right side. Using a yarn needle Kitchner stitch the sock toe closed. Hide your ends and block socks if desired.

Enjoy your Summer Lovin Socks!!!

Knittingnonstop. No unathorized reproduction, in whole or in part is allowed. No commercial reproduction is permitted without prior written permission. All rights reserved.

Inspiration....

So last time I posted I was feeling uninspired and couldn't find anything that I just had to cast on. So of course I went hunting around on Ravelry and found one of my favorite designers Marnie MacLean. If you haven't had a chance to check out her designs you should. Her garments are beautifully constructed down to the smallest detail. I feel in love with two of her designs one was published through Twist Collective and is called Bijou (Ravelry link). I'm just waiting for my yarn to arrive in the next couple of days so I can cast on. The second design of Marnie's is her newest and it's a beautiful shawl called La Cumparsita (Ravelry link). I'm not much of a shawl girl but this design is so gorgeous I just have to make it.

I'm thinking of using my dream into color smooshy in Cocoa Kiss to make the shawl. I love the gray and brown combination in this yarn. Since the shawl requires 540 yards I'll probably need to order another skein.

The inspiration didn't stop there. I found two sweater patterns that I fell in love with also. The first one is called Buttercup (Ravelry link) and is a free pattern. I first fell in love with it when I saw Jessica's finished sweater. I love top-down seamless sweaters. Not much into finishing and I love that I can try them on as I go. Also easy to modify the pattern as I go.

The second pattern I had to have is called Moch Cardi (Ravelry link). This one is worked from the bottom up; sleeves are joined and eventually grafted at the underarms. I'm not ready to cast on this one yet but I think this will make a great fall sweater. I just love the yoke.

Now that my queue is full I just need to go through my stash and find the perfect yarn.

Queue-less

Usually I love me some summer knitting but, this year I don't have anything in my queue that I'm itching to cast on. I have lots of great yarn that I'm sure would make some great summer tops. So since I am looking for some inspiration what is everyone casting on this summer? Maybe I'll just cast on and design something for myself. That way I can make it fit perfect and hide any of the stuff that needs to be hidden.

My new sock pattern is almost done. My friends Pam and Andrea offered to test knit so once they are done I'll make the pattern available. The picture above is a beautiful Peony that I got at Whole Foods. I love that store.

Off to hunt through my stash to find some summer yarn that speaks to me. ;-P

First Sock Design

So I finally finished the socks I designed in the Sock Innovation class that I took with Cookie A. I loved the class and had a lot of fun creating these. The yarn I used is Hazel Knits Artisan sock in Laguna.

I'm finishing the second sock and writing up the pattern. Once the pattern has been test knit I will make it available here and on Ravelry. Anyone have any suggestions for pattern names?

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!!

Addicted to socks!!!

I think I might need an intervention. When I'm not knitting socks, I'm buying sock yarn or searching for new sock patterns. Now that I took the sock innovation class with Cookie A, I'm even creating my own sock patterns. Cookie A was a lot of fun. Her class was great, I really learned a lot and she even signed my book. I made sure to charge my camera battery so I could take some pictures but I failed to bring my memory card. That kind of describes me a day late and a dollar short.

I'm almost done with my sock from the class. If it turns out okay I'll write up the pattern. Since I have no pictures of my sock in progress, you guessed it more sock yarn. This is the first shipment I received from the Scout's Swag sock club. Now I just need to find the perfect pattern to show off the colorway. Then I received my 3rd shipment in the socks that rock sock club.

I love this color. It's called Pepe Le Plume. It's too pretty to knit. If that wasn't enough I just bought a skein of my friend Jeanne's sock yarn, Destination Yarn, in Copenhagen . She has some other great colors like the Tuscany which I hear calling my name. Off to finish the sock I started in class. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post soon.

Stitch n Pitch

Today is Stitch n Pitch at Progressive field. It's the Indians vs. Kansas City Royals. A few of the ladies from my knitting group Cleveland Knits West (rav link) went down to the game.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to go and I had the t-shirt to wear and everything. I'm already on vacation a couple days this week so I couldn't leave work early today too.

I took Thursday off because I'm taking a knitting class with Cookie A at River Colors Studio. I'm so excited I'm going to learn how to design socks from a pro. The class is 6-7 hrs long so I'm sure we're going to learn a lot. I just picked up Cookie A's new book Sock Innovation. Lots of great patterns. Maybe I can get her to sign my book. I wonder if she'll bring her mannequin leg? LOL!!!

I have been meaning to post some pictures of the stitch markers that my great friend Pam made for me. Aren't they adorable.

Pom poms, a skirt and a sweater. Isn't she talented!!! Now I just need to find something to cast on so I can use them.

It's about time......

So life and work has finally started to settle down a bit. I can't believe that it's June already. Where has the time gone. Even though I have been busy I have been trying to make some time for knitting. Lots of babies being born so I knit a couple of baby blankets and some baby socks. Still have to finish the last sock.

I love to make baby socks to use up the last bit of the left over sock yarn. They're fast and too cute. The blanket is the 8 hour blanket pattern by plymouth. It's made using size 13 needles with two strands of worsted weight yarn held together. I used plymouth encore white and colorspun (7962). For the socks I used my left over Pagewood Farms Yukon in colorway New Horizon and the pattern is a Fortissimo baby sock pattern.

I've also started the Mad Color Weave socks (Ravelry link). I frogged my first attempt using some of my Socks that Rock because the color was pooling. The pattern is a lot of fun and is simple enough to do while watching TV.

So far I just have the ribbing done. I love the yarn. It's Sunshine yarn that I received in my first Harry Potter sock club mailing. The colorway is 'The Quibbler'. Dani does such a great job. Her sock club is definitely worth it. Check out the fun card she encloses to explain her inspiration.


I can't wait to get my house yarn in August.