What do you say when your sock has a hole in it (again)?

Darn it (again)! 

And that’s just what I did...again...(but I might have used a different word...)

I knit this pair of socks in 2007 and I just love them. I love them so much I’ve worn holes in them. This is the third time I’ve repaired a major blow out. This is why I keep small bits of leftover yarn each time I knit a pair of socks. Handknit socks are very dear and learning to mend and repair your hand-knits is an essential part of the craft. This is the third repair job for these socks. You can tell that I love them dearly! 

A word of warning—the next few pictures are not for the faint of heart. 

The hole.

I have no explanation for how it got so big without me noticing my little toe was sticking out. (Those are my fingers, not my toes...)

Since the hole is under the ball of my foot or right where my pinky toe sticks out (depending on what foot it's on) I wanted something that would lay pretty flat and not make my foot freak out (hmmm...could be a topic for another day "what makes my feet freak out"). I decided to darn the hole by knitting a flap. (Instructions on the Woolery's blog.) 

It took a couple tries and a bit of swearing, but I eventually got the hang of it. The challenge was trying to figure out the decrease on the right side so it would correspond with the original toe decrease. 

You pick up stitches right below the hole. Then knit a flap and attach it to the sides by knitting an existing stitch (K 2 TOG) to the flap as you go. When you get the hole covered with a few rows of overlap you pick up stitches above the hole with another needle. Then graft the stitches together with kitchener stitch. 

Pretty dang cool!!

I had to pick up quite a few stitches. There needs to be strong yarn on either side of the hole so you can slip an existing stitch onto the needle and K 2 TOG. 

When your flap is several rows above the hole, pick up the same number of stitches and graft them together. 

There is a bit of a ridge where the flap and existing stitches are knit together, but it's flattening out each time I wear the socks. It's hardly noticeable now. 

I'll definitely be using this method again. Once I got the feel for the process it was very quick, and it looks good. I am a happy girl! 

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi

Freshening up a bit

I think a little freshening up is order. The plain background was a bit boring. Hope you like it!

The photo is of one of my favorite hand-dyed yarn skeins sold long ago on Etsy. It's fun and inspiring to go through old photos.

As promised in my last blog...upcoming adventures! I've taken the plunge and signed up to go to Stitches South 2014 with Liana, LeAnn and Lori in April. It's in 1 month, 1 week and 1 day. Can't wait!

Also, I finished up a pair of ultra warm socks and just in time! The weather radio is squawking a winter storm warning. Ice accumulations from 1/2 to 1 inch. Snow. Death and destruction. Pandemonium. Chaos. Gnashing of teeth. Hurling oneself over a cliff. You know the drill...

But back to the socks: knit with "Jarbo Garn Raggi Multi" yarn, top down, on size 5 needles. They knit up super fast and are by far the warmest wool socks I own. My feet are size 9-9 1/2 and each sock took nearly a skein, 52 stitches around and knit in a k3/p1 pattern. It was my intention to mismatch the striping of the yarn, and if you know me, having something mismatched is a huge departure from my nearly OCD/anal retentive tendencies about things being the way things need to be. The heel, gusset and toe are basic, nothing fancy. I love them!

I must confess, I told myself that I bought the yarn because I was going to knit them for Zack for Christmas, but after a couple inches I knew the socks would be mine. Actually, I think I knew the socks would be mine when I bought the yarn. Who am I fooling? And if I don't 'fess up, Liana will surely call me out on it (again)! 

But...

I bought yarn.

BUT it doesn't count because it's going to be used for a Christmas gift and will be all used up before the end of the year. BUT it doesn't count because my [insert air quotes] FRIENDS (and they know who they are) goaded me on. BUT it doesn't count as stash until it goes into a ziploc bag in the room formerly known as the guest room. Right?  

Last night, I was talking to my son on the phone. Zack's away at college (give me a break, I know it's only 7 miles, but it's still "away") and hasn't seen the room formerly known as the guest room for a couple months. In all honesty, and I freely admit this, the room has gotten a bit worse. The other day I had to straddle a box in order to reach the ironing board so I could press a pair of slacks. In turning to leave the room, I tripped on the box and knocked the hot iron off the board into another box of yarn. Better than on my foot! Anyway, back to the phone call. How the topic of yarn entered the conversation is still unclear, but he asked, "how many giant ziploc bags of yarn do you have in that room?"

"As in actual "ziploc" brand bags?"

"No. As in any plastic bag that has yarn in it. Oh my God. The fact that you had to ask that proves that you have finally reached hoarder status."

"No, it doesn't."

"Hoarder."

I bought this yarn (that I said I wasn't going to buy) to make Zack a pair of socks for Christmas. I think I'll wrap them in a giant ziploc.

When all else fails...

...knit a tiny sock.

I had to knit something but I didn't want to think, swatch, or fuss with a pattern. So I knit a tiny sock to add to my collection of Tiny Christmas Stockings.

 

 

There really isn't a pattern, I just knit them. I cast on 24, divide onto 4 needles. Sometimes I do 1x1 rib, sometimes not. I knit for a while then use 12 stitches for the heel flap. I knit 6 rows for the flap then turn the heel, which is probably the most complicated part. I think I knit (or purl depending on where I am with the heel flap) seven stitches, then K2tog or P2tog (again, depending) then turn, go back until there are 5 sts then P2tog (or K2tog) and do this until the stitches are used up. I typically have 4 stitches remaining. I pick up 4 or 5 along the gusset (if it's 5, I decrease 1 on each side so I'm back to 24 stitches), then I knit for a bit until it's time for the toe. Simple toe decrease until there are 8 stitches left, run the yarn through the stitches and pull the end of the yarn inside and tie it off. As far as needle size, it just depends on the weight of the yarn you're using. This was Koigu PPPM sock weight with a size 3 needle (I think). The cuff, heel and toe are in solid purple. The leg and instep are in verigated.

 

If you knit socks, this should make sense. If you don't knit socks, you should!

 

About "Free-Sole Socks"

It's not very often that I experience "love at first sight" when it comes to knitting patterns. Sure, I see a lot of patterns that I like enough to add to my Ravelry queue, and I've been known to buy a book of patterns now and then. I've also run across a lot of patterns that should cease to exist immediately. (Possible future topic?)

But in this case, I'm talking about LOVE. Shortness of breath, flushed cheeks, special tingling sensations and a spastic rush to find my debit card.

These are the socks that did it to me. Hook, line and sinker...

Up until this point I was a tutorial DVD virgin. I had never taken the plunge--mainly because I'm a figure-it-out-on-my-own-even-if-it-kills-me kind of person. But one look at these socks and I knew that I had to make the video and bonus sock pattern mine. I was really only after the pattern, but I had to buy the stinkin' video in order to get it.

For a couple extra bucks I was able to purchase the HD version of the tutorial. What the heck? I have an HD television, might as well go big. I downloaded the video to a flash drive, made myself a comfortable spot on the sofa (ie, moved the dog) and hit PLAY. After a lengthy advertisement about other videos available for purchase, Anna Zilboorg appeared on the screen and started talking to ME about the socks. The HD upgrade was so worth it. I felt like she was in the room with me (almost).

After explaining the basic construction of the socks she brought out needles and yarn and started to demonstrate how to knit the sock. PAUSE! Wait a minute! I can knit along with this video? Like in a real class? But with no one else to interrupt? And I can rewind if I don't get it? How freakin' cool is this?? I got two balls of Plymouth Galway and my size 7 DPNs, which took no time at all because I had just sorted all of my needles, and went back to the sofa....and moved the dog.

PLAY. Anna cast on 5 stitches, I cast on 5 stitches. Anna picked up stitches, I picked up stitches. Anna knit her purls backwards (or left handed) so I tried purling backwards because Anna told me I could do it. I paused the video and tried again. Guess what? She was right. I did it! By the end of the evening, I had successfully knit a tiny sock. I am so proud of this little guy.

I wouldn't suggest this video to the new/beginning knitter, but if you have knit a sock and are comfortable with picking up stitches and basic increasing/decreasing, then go for it! This is just what I needed to jump start my knitting mojo. (I've been in a bit of a funk and needed a challenge.) When I saw this pattern, I felt my creativity go into over drive. I know the socks will take some time because this is "thinking" knitting. I'll keep you posted as I go. It just so happens that I have cranberry and khaki colored sock yarn in my stash. I swatched and the gauge is perfect!

Anna did a wonderful job teaching this technique, and I hope to take a class from her in person. The producers at Interweave did a great job with the camera work and overall quality of the production. I have since purchased another download, Spin Art, by Jacey Boggs. I've only watched a few minutes of that video, but from the little I've seen, Jacey is absolutely terrific! Needless to say, I've changed my tune from figure-it-out-on-my-own-even-if-it-kills-me to buy-the-tutorial-and-spend-less-time-swearing a blue streak figuring-it-out-and-more-time-knitting (or spinning or weaving or doing anything other than housework)!

About Christmas Stockings

Each year I vow to never take on another commission for hand-knit Christmas stockings, but I'm a sucker. I can't resist.

It starts in mid-November. Actually, the knitting has already been started. November is simply when reality strikes and I realize the knitting-left-to-be-done and time-left-to-do-it ratio is not in my favor.

Reasons to never do this again:

• Slave labor
• Out of print patterns
• Discontinued yarn
• Intarsia sucks
• Sequins
• Seed beads

This year I knit eight and used a stocking from the 1940s as a template. I had to match the yarn, replicate the pattern and pray for gauge. Swatching was grueling, but I finally found the right needle size. I knit like hell. I didn't do house work. I knit during my lunch hour at work. I knit every spare moment I had. I even considered taking the bus to and from work so I could knit during rush hour. By the time I sewed on the last sequin and snipped the last tail of yarn off the last sock, my house was a disaster and I had lost 6 weeks of my life. My carpet was covered in red, white and green yarn...and sequins. I spilled an entire pack of red sequins during my finishing frenzy. It would have really ticked me off but I'm a sparkle whore. As messy as it was, it was sparkly. I knew I was going to need extra vacuum cleaner bags.

So, why do I do this? Because of this:

The stockings are incredible! I love them and everything about them -- the look,the designs, the yarn - its heft and color, the details, the sequins, the bells -- they just announce Christmas in their sight and sound!

 

They took me back to my own childhood as I opened your bag.

 

They have such a timeless and old-fashioned feel about them. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

That's just part of the e-mail I got after delivering the finished socks. I know exactly how she felt when she opened that bag. Every year, I hang the Christmas stockings that my mom knit for me and my son. (Mine is considerably older than Zack's and it has been repaired a couple times.) They are the most valuable Christmas heirlooms that I own. There is no describing how good it made me feel to read her e-mail and know that I helped bring those memories back to her. That's not something you get to do every day.

Is it any wonder I'm a sucker? 

The pattern (such as it is) and charts are at the end of this post.

Basic pattern…if you can knit a sock, these directions will make sense. No copyright on this pattern as I duplicated an old stocking knit in the 1940-50s that was given to me as a template. Plymouth Encore works well, could also be knit in Galway or similar weight. I used a size 6 needle to get a tighter fabric than you would want for a garment.

• cast on 62 (use a stretchy cast on!) on straight needles with intarsia the leg of the sock needs to be knit flat
• 2x2 rib for an inch
• stockinette stitch for body
• decrease two times on both edges, first one about half way down, second one about 2 inches after that
• transfer to DPNs and join, knit in round for about 4 rounds
• knit heel flap on 28 stitches. S1 K1 for knit row, and S1 P to end on purl row. do this for 24 rows, or so you have 12 slip stitch rows
• turn heel starting with a purl row as follows:
• purl 15 sts, p2tog, p1, turn
• s1, k3, k2tog, k1, turn
• s1, purl to gap (between the two stitches purled together and the slip stitch) purl these two together, p1, turn
• continue as such until all stitches are used up, should end after a knit row
• pick up 13 stitches along heel flap, knit across instep, pick up 13 more stitches along other side of heel fap, continue knitting in the round AT THE SAME TIME, decrease on either side of gusset every other row until 28 stitches remain
• knit in round for desired length
• decrease for toe

The sock is a bit narrow for my taste, but I was matching existing socks. I would probably cast on a dozen more stitches or so, and maybe make the toe just a bit shorter.