Sock Update

I've had socks-on-the-brain this week (I'll explain why in a bit), and it occurred to me this morning that I could really do with having a little chat about the socks I've made since my last update back in May. I don't keep a physical record of my sock making journey (other than the finished socks themselves of course), and never manage to keep a hold of the ball bands, so it's really helpful for me to be able to record the yarn info here on my blog for future reference. Plus, it's always nice to share colourful yarny stripes, these photos make me really happy!

Seven pairs of socks (an actual stack of them!) plus the pair I sent to my Mum last Christmas makes eight pairs in total. I still can't quite believe that these socks have been made by my very own hands, with pointy sticks and teensy stitches and skinny-minny 4 ply yarn, it truly amazes me that I can do this magical sock thing. I am a Knitter of Socks, and I am so proud!!

After the handpainted Pea Green socks that I knitted for my Mum, I decided that she must have a super-stripy pair to follow. I went with {Opal Viridian Schafpate sock yarn : colour 'Thelma'} as I love the way that Opal sock yarn comes out so very cleverly stripy, they are quite irresistible.

I got rather a bit addicted to making this particular pair of socks (I couldn't seem to leave them alone) and cast the pair on and off my needles within about two weeks. Boom! Go me! I'm hoping to be able to get down to Dorset at the end of October so that I can gift them to my Mum's cold feet in person. She is a hand knit sock convert since the first pair I made for her and quite honestly I know exactly how that goes. They really do feel like a woolly hug for ones feet.

There are many things I love about knitting socks, the bestest thing by far being that I get to wear them and flaunt my knitting skillz. I also love that a good many of my yarny friends now knit socks (many pairs are often on the go around the café table at Knit and Natter sessions), which makes me feel like I somehow belong to a rather special Sock Knitting Club. Although truthfully I do still struggle with knitting in public - I can crochet quite happily with only a small portion of my brain engaged with what my hands are doing, but knitting? Nope, I most definitely need all my grey matter to cope with the itty bitty stitches and counting of the rows, and find that talking and knitting simultaneously presents a bit of a challenge. I'm told this does get easier with time - I'm hopeful that one day I'll be able to cope better with chatter+coffee+knitting.

The pretty pink and green socks in the above photo were on my needles in July, the yarn is another {Opal Viridian Schafpate : colour 'Kate'}. I decided about half way through the second sock that I wouldn't keep them, but would give them away instead. Not to family this time, but to a complete stranger......

....I wanted to join in with this year's Charity Sockline organised by my friend and sock-queen extraordinaire Christine.

So once my socks were off the needles and all nicely washed and blocked, I made a label for them and added them to Christine's fairly impressive pile......

....oh just look at that, a whole mail sack full of beautiful hand knitted socks! During the past few months, parcels containing knitted socks have been arriving at my studio, waiting for Christine to come and gather them all together. It took most of yesterday to sort through them all......

....with more than 80 pairs lovingly knitted and sent to Yorkshire by followers of Christine's blog and Facebook Sockalong group. The socks will be displayed at this year's Yarndale festival (this will be the second year for this fabulous project, you can read about last year's charity sockline here).

After Yarndale, Christine works hard to make sure each pair of socks is donated to a charitable organisation where they will be gifted to those in need. Places like shelters for the homeless, women's refuges and children's hospices, where it's hoped that a pair of gorgeous, hand made woolly socks will make a tremendous difference to someone who needs a little bit of extra love and warmth. You can find out where last year's socks were given here.

It's a wonderful thing to be a part of our generous yarny community here in Blogland, I really do think crocheters and knitters have very huge big hearts indeed. And very clever fingers.

Now then what have we here......not MORE pretty sock yarn surely?? I know you must think I lied very badly indeed when I told you that I really don't stash sock yarn at all. Uh-uh, not me, I buy just one ball at a time as and when I need it, honest I do! Cross my heart! 

These six balls of gorgeousness were given to me last month to squidge and have a play with, aren't the colours lovely? This is a brand new 4ply yarn called "Head Over Heels" made by Stylecraft. It's been specially developed to be durable enough for socks, but also fine and light enough for knitters and crocheters who like to make shawls. The three balls on the left (from top to bottom : Matterhorn, Everest, Kilimanjaro) create short stripe repeats, whereas the three balls on the right (from top to bottom : Eiger, Olympus, Fuji) have much longer and more graduated colour changes. There are some pictures showing how they each look when knitted up here, so you can see what I mean about the short and long colour changes. It's fascinating how these colour changes work and I'm looking forward to having a play with them once I can breathe out again after Yarndale.

Oh, such beautiful stripy goodness! The Attic24 #operationsockdrawer is still a bit on the miniscule side, more of a small select pile than an actual drawer, given that I only have four pairs so far. Gotta start somewhere though, there is definitely a full drawer in my future I'm sure of it!

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ps All my socks are made following Christine's fabulous Basic Sock pattern which you can find for free on her blog {Winwick Mum Basic Sock Tutorial}

If you want to find out more about my own sock making journey, all my posts are archived in the Sock category {my socks}

xx

 

 

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Comments

[Patricia Leonard]

I didn’t think I could knit socks either. My mother of knitted socks with the double pointed needles. It looked so hard. I am a little above average crocheter, beginner knitter I thought until I found the pattern for the small 9 inch circular needle. Believe me the pattern is easy peasy in the yarn makes the pattern. Since trying it I have made at least 14 pair of socks for me an my family and friends. It’s portable and you can watch tv at the same time. The pattern I found on Pinterest. Also Winwick Mum has a pattern. The needle I got on Amazon. Give it a try it’s fun, and productive.

[susan tonzing]

Hi Lucy,

I have a beautiful daughter in law and with my son, they have made England their home, and they are very happy, except Emma has freezing little toes, and hands ! my son asked me could I crochet her socks and gloves, and I am just learning to crochet, so I was wondering do you sell your socks and could I please buy some for my Aussie daughter in law.. got to say they Love England, just miss the Sun Of Australia you might enjoy this I crochet both of them beautiful scarves to take, they said "we are going in the Summer" ! now my son advises both scarves had a serious work out ..!
thank you Susan

[Carol]

Do knitted socks wear well? My mum remembers knitting them years ago but said that they develop holes quickly. Could this be because the yarns then weren't as hard wearing as now? If I did persevere and actually learn how to knit them I would be gutted if they fell into holes within a few weeks!

[Donna]

This is awesome!! I too am a sock knitting addict, and nothing beats the feeling of wool on my feet. Thanks for introducing me to a new sock yarn, I need something for my Christmas gift knitting. Hope you all have an amazing weekend at Yarndale.x

[Angela]

I wish I could knit socks :(

[Sierra]

I love knitting socks! I can knit with yarn I would never usually choose for a shawl and it doesn't matter because it's going in my shoes! Thanks for sharing the charity you are knitting for.

[Charlotte.]

You have inspired me to go back and finish the knitted socks I have started. Cannot find pattern so am using Christine book for pattern. Hope it works. Lol

[Anne Marie]

Not visited for a while, been busy but I'm so impressed by your beautiful socks. Yes, pointy little sticks - even I have become somewhat addicted as I even found it strange crocheting the other day. I had a real fear of socks but now - the only problem is I don't knit fast enough. Love all your wool.

[Holly]

I love knitting socks with self striping yarn - it keeps the knitting interesting!

[Sue Murphy]

Would love to try socks but do no knit. Are there any crochet patterns for socks you would suggest?

[Jo]

So envious of your beautiful sock stash! I cannot knit on little needles no matter how hard I try so can't make knit socks. Please, please could somebody out there design a nice pattern for crochet socks that actually fit!

[Mona]

I've been a crocheter since I was 6 years old or so. I am now 49 years old and recently taught myself to knit. My first project a pair of socks and then a sweater. I share your joy in knitting socks. The process and results are like no other. I have been a fan of your site for a long time and have been inspired by your creativity and community. You are very blessed to have so many people who share your joy in yarn. Have a good day. - Mona, Love2Bloom

[Kim Luniak]

Love the look of all of these. They are so beautiful. But why oh why can't they be crocheted?

[Place Under The Pine]

Wow! You are a sock making machine! Great job.
My MIL knit me a pair of socks for Xmas last year. I loved them and wore them all the time...unfortunately wore them right out in only a few months. Hoping for another pair this year ;)

[AnnieOB]

Wonderful socks and gorgeous colours. I too have the bug thanks to you and Christine! There are so many great yarns and not enough time to knit them.

[Crotchety Cath]

Wow! I love your socks!! and the new Stylecraft yarn. Will definitely have a go after I've finished the 10 crochet projects I have lined up.......maybe next year! I bought Christine's sock book and hope to be able to dip into it very soon. I always look forward to reading your blog. Thanks for taking the time to show us the lovely things you make.

[Jen]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Barb]

I love all your pretty socks, and all the yarns are lovely, and I envy your talent at sock making, you are definitely good at it! I can knit a little, but no fancy patterns, just simple knit and purl, and then I have to have no distractions. I love crochet much more, still sometimes I make a flub if I'm not paying attention. I've been making your Cupcake blanket in the ripple pattern this summer in spare time. Love the colors in it, and I'm not a pastels person, but you've done an excellent job of picking colors that go so well together. Good luck with Yarndale this year!

[Diane]

The socks are lovely. We meet on a Thursday for Knit and Natter and the subjects covered are varied but we all say the samething ... Take something simple to knit or crochet otherwise it is knit and natter and then go home and un-ravel your work. Such fun.
I am really looking forward to trying the new Stylecraft yarn to make socks.
I am using up left over sock yarn by knitting alternate rows in plain and patterned wool. It really does work.

[Eleanor MacLean]

Gorgeous colours! I love knitting socks.

[Angela-Southern USA]

They are all lovely! Congrats on your growing pile of socks! I must admit I've been inspired to knit more of late and your socks have definitely pushed that urge to have my own sock drawer full of hand knit socks, once all the baby makes are behind me for my expecting Niece. Love Christine's tutorial! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Paola Speccher]

Bellissime le sue calze vorrei riuscire a farne anche io perché noi ne consumiamo tantissime. Io e mio marito e i figli lavoriamo fuori e l'inverno è freddo. Forse un giorno riesco a fare le calze. Ma sono contenta di poterle vedere oggi. Bravissima Signora. Grazie MfG Paola B&B Popai Le Coin Perdu 'Garni' a Castelluccio di Montecrestese -vb- Lago Maggiore ..

[Debbie Woodburn]

I'd love to be able to knit socks - terrified!!!
Maybe one day.

[Gwynne]

Love the Head-over-heels from Stylecraft, love it enough that I am now 2/3 of the way through my very first hand-made sock. And I think I'm hooked x Christine's basic sock pattern is fab for a beginner sock knitter xx

[Charlotte.]

I too have knitted a few pair of socks and then crocheted a pair. The crocheted ones are not as stretchy so must be an exact fit. Also the self stripping yarn does not stripe but creates a Monet like mottled pattern. May try one more pair but love the way knitting makes the yarn stripe..Great update Lucy.