Socking Along

In the days dominated by the colours of the Moorland and the many hours spent hooking up the stripes that make up a blanket, I found myself picking up the pointy sticks again. The Moorland Blanket had become way too big to cart out-and-about to the cafe/pub so I was looking for a small portable project. And socks fit the bill perfectly.

I am getting better at knitting in public, more specifically knitting whilst talking/howling with laughter and drinking gin. I am more relaxed with those stitches (gin helps), my shoulders don't hitch up around my ears quite so much, and I'm starting to ease out of the need for complete silence and laser-intensity concentration at all times. It's still not really what I would call a relaxing hobby for me yet, but I can feel that it may well eventually become that in the distant future. 

I love to document my progress on all things creative, so am super-glad that I can use this space to keep a track of my sock production. You can find all my sock-related posts by looking in my<<  left sidebar << in the "category cloud". Look for the small sock word - this will bring up all posts with socks embedded in them, with each pair photographed and the yarn details included. 

So lets shimmy back in time for a quick catch up on my sock happenings, shall we? You might remember back in my last sock post that I showed you the new Stylecraft Head Over Heels yarn?

I picked out this gorgeous stripy colourway called "Everest" (the colours seemed rather appropriately Moorlandish I thought) and cast on back in October.

I whizzed through these beauties and enjoyed watching the subtle stripes form themselves into woolly socks.

{Stylecraft Head Over Heels : colour Everest}, blending beautifully with the Moorland stripes.

After the Everest socks, I cast these ones on at the end of January as portable knit/natter material. They aren't perfect - in fact, due to the pub setting, one of the heels developed a severe lean to the left when I got thoroughly too big for my boots and thought I could turn the heel whilst socialising. Rooky error. In my world of sock knitting, a heel turn requires Absolute Silence, and a brain fueled by caffeine rather than gin. 

But oh, just feast your eyes on those scrumptious stripes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This yarn tickles me (not literally, it's pretty soft and smooth) as it is part of an Opal range inspired by Rainforest birds and animals, which pleases me on so many levels. I love love love to know what inspires colour schemes, the design process is just fascinating I think.

If you are searching for this sock yarn online, you need to look for the word "Regenwald", eg. Regenwald 11 and Regenwald 12. The labels on the yarn show you a picture of the bird/animal that inspired each colourway, just to add to the whole brilliant experience of choosing.

{Opal Regenwald 11 : colour 8976, Kalle the Villain}

I think this pair is one of my favourites to date (despite the wonky heel), the colours are certainly very Me.

I get such a kick out of this small pile of knitting, such an ooomph to the heart of pride and pleasure. I keep my hand knitted socks in a neat pile beside my bed, for the pleasure of having them always to hand when my feet are cold (which is often) and also for the visual delight they provide. Admire, wear, wash, dry, stack, swoon, repeat.

If you've been following my sock making journey from the beginning, you will know that it was my good friend Christine who got me addicted started. For all of my socks so far, I've used her absolutely brilliant Basic Sock pattern which is a full tutorial designed to enable complete beginners. She says that if you can knit and purl then you can make socks, and I am certainly proof of that fact. So if you've always fancied giving socks a go, I can highly recommend joining Christine's Sockalong which tells you exactly what you will need to acquire (needles, stitch markers and yarn), and how to get going.

A few weeks ago, Christine published a brand new tutorial for Easy Cable Socks, and something in me sat up and took an interest. I absolutely LOVED the look of those cute little twisty patterns forming in the stitches! I am really not a competent knitter and the idea of creating twisting cables seemed like it involved a little bit of voodoo magic somehow. But spurred on by the knowledge that there are video tutorials to demonstrate the voodoo elements, and by Christine assuring me it wasn't that hard, I decided to take on the challenge.........

................oooooooooooooooooooooo looooook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go me, go me, go me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made twisty cables in my stripes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you are suitably impressed?! Hahahahaaa!

I got off to a rocky start (and nope, not a drop of gin was involved), as I counted wrong and then tried to undo the wrong stitches across the twisty bit of the cable, which resulted in a Dropped Stitch and some minor panic. I managed to rescue the dropped stitch but it meant the first cable went a bit rogue. However, undeterred I carried on and the more rows I did, the easier it became. 

Now if you've been following my sock knitting from the start, you will know that I knit on short 23cm circular needles, and that I taught myself (using YouTube) to learn continental knitting - this is where I get to hold the yarn in my left hand in exactly the same way as I hold the yarn when I crochet, which is rather brilliant for us hookers who are using sticks. However, I have only been able to make knit stitches this way, needing to switch back to English knitting (yarn in right hand) whenever I needed to purl. 

With the cable pattern, there is a fair bit of knit and purl switching that needs to take place in every row, so I set about learning how to do a continental purl. I'd been told a while back by some skilled ladies with knit-know-how, that I should look up Norwegian Purl, as this keeps the yarn at the back of the knitting and would work for me and the way I hold my yarn. Well.....if I thought cables were made of voodoo magic, Norwegian Purl looked like the work of the the devil. There is a lot of needle wiggling and yarn twisting, a lot of procedure needed for just one stitch. It looks complex and impossible. But...............after stopping and starting this video a gazillion times, I finally, finally mastered it. 

WOW. What can I say? It has transformed the way I knit socks and I am so so so happy.

I don't mean to brag here.....but I am ridiculously proud of my cables, and my newfound Norwegian Purl technique. It has given me a real buzz to challenge myself and find that my brain isn't as foggy as it so often feels. 

By the way, the yarn I'm using for these socks is {Stylecraft Head Over Heels : Eiger colourway}

I'll be sure to show you this pair when I've finished. There may well be gushing.

My Cable Socks are actually pair number ten, believe it or not. Two pairs went south to warm my Mum's toes, and one pair went off to Manorlands Hospice to warm poorly toes as part of the Yarndale Charity Sockline.

I am still aspiring to fill a whole drawer with socks one day, yes, #operationsockdrawer is very much happening in the Attic, slow and steady.

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...more little snippets from the Attic...

❤ Three Things ❤

The Colours of May

Comments

[Rowena Corlett]

Hi Lucy - you probably won't remember but I posted about having major surgery and having to put my Moorland down until I have recovered! I am now 3 weeks post op and all is going well but as I can't crochet I am occupying myself finding everything I can about knitting socks with the intention of taking the plunge fairly soon!! I am interested to know why you choose to use a short circular needle as opposed to the magic loop as I am trying to decide on which needles to buy in the first instance - any advice gratefully received. I love your socks xxxx

[Lord Ganesan Wallpaper]

Nice Post,Keep Updating Like This.

LATEST THANJAVUR TEMPLE PHOTOS
THE ANCIENT BAGAN TEMPLES
LORD BRAHMA TEMPLE

[Zozie]

I love cosy socks - I've not MADE any though.
I think socks are underated and had a fun chat about them on my blog

https://whimsyandcosy.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/gifts-full-of-whimsy-or-cosy/

[Vicki]

Argh, the 'attic 24' effect strikes again. I've been wanting to have a go at knitting some socks for a while and I love the Head Over Heels yarn you've used in this post so I popped over to Wool Warehouse to buy some. They're all sold out...!

Love your socks though. Hope I one day manage to produce something so neat.

[Sophie]

Those cable socks are beautiful! <3 You should definitely be proud of them! I am still trying to perfect my ribbing stitch and so I am very impressed! Operation sock drawer sounds like a brilliant plan!

[Annie]

Love those socks...just ordered some yarn

[[email protected]]

Wow I could have written this post - well not really but I totally agree about knitting Continental style and purling using the English method. I was taught the Norwegian Purl method but I did not get it and gave up. You have inspired me to try again!

I thought I would never knit socks but now I am addicted!

I love your blog!
Teresa

[Angela-Southern USA]

Fantastic! Lovely cables you should be proud! I'm working on pair number five now for this year. I'm a continental knitter as well and my yarn travels around my pinkie and over my index finger as I hold the left needle with the rest of my fingers, then when I purl after inserting the right needle into the stitch I use my middle finger to push the yarn behind the right needle and finish the stitch, my middle finger goes back to holding the needle in-between time. On instagram checkout #howiknit and #howipurl loads of short videos on how others knit, great resource.Hope it's a sunny day there today!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Angel Jem]

Woo! Get you!
Sock knitting is all pure voodoo as far as I'm concerned... God Bless Christine, I even got the book, but I am no nearer casting on than I was before. I can, however, do cables in knitting already.

[Flora Lam]

Hi lucy
You may like this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL2R467DSJo

[Helen]

Those colors are so beautiful. :)

[Liz]

WONDERFUL socks! I love seeing them all stacked up like that. I love knitting socks and i have a little drawer in my dresser set aside for them - I feel proud looking at them all folded up in there together!

[Sunshine]

I love everything you post, seriously!! I just bought needles and yarn from loveknitting. You are so inspiring and such a wonderful person to share. Thank you for the time you put into posting and letting us into your world. From the US, I love reading about you from the across the pond!!

[Susannah]

Your socks are beautiful and your perseverance is inspiring! I don't know how to knit but I believe I can learn (hello youtube!) and then....hello sock making.

[AnnieOB]

Wow, they are all gorgeous and some Head over Heels and Regenwald will probably be joining my wish list. Christine has got many of us addicted - thank goodness.

[Annie]

Try again with the continental purl stitch. It is a bit trickier than the continental knit but not nearly as troubling as that Norwegian one-Yikes!. Lots of youtube videos of continental stitch. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your collection of handknit socks! I knit on 4 double point needles but I will have to try that tiny circular needle. Congrats on trying and succeeding on doing new things-I have never been able to get the hang of English knitting. I originally learned Russian style but you can't (I can't) knit that in the round without twisting stitches.

[Kayla]

The socks look amazing! Once I am ready for a change from crocheting blankets I will have to give them a try.

[Hayley McLoughlin]

As if you haven't inspired me enough!
Thanks to you I am now on to my second sock (crochet though, not knitted) and I can't wait to finish and show them off.
I feel a purge of You Tube-ing coming on to learn all the random magic / voodoo needed for knitted socks, Norwegian purls and cables :)

[Rachel B]

Sooooooo lovely! It seemed a natural step (!) to go from crocheting snuggly blankets to trying socks... I too struggle with the pointy sticks - but I'm proud of my one sock so far!

xxxxx

[cheryl]

oh yes! I am MORE than suitably impressed! they are all gorgeous & the cables are amazing! you go girl!

[Jacqui]

I have only managed one pair and I am so proud of them might try some more soon he he
Thankyou for another lovely blog swoon those socks

[Aly]

I love the socks! I have some wool and a circular needle waiting for me to start. I promised myself I would finish the moorland blanket first! Then I have your cottage one to do and have just ordered cupcake! I am in wool heaven just now!

[Amy Marcoux]

Your socks are stellar!!! Have you ever checked out Hand Dyed by Kate yarns? I think her self striping sock yarn is totally up your alley, based on your blankets.

[Brigitte]

Oh Lucy! This purl thing is heartbreaking. I'm a German knitter and have knit (and crocheted)for the past 40 years (continental way of course). Try this: Holding your knitting in your hands, wool is coming from your right needle, going to your left forefinger. Lift the yarn over the left needle so it is in front of the left needle. Stick your right-hand needle from right to left through the next stitch on the left needle, move it under your wool, lift the tip of your right-hand needle upward, thus picking up the wool and simply lift it through your stitch - purl stitch done. Note: Do not move your needle over the wool and pull it through the stitch downward, the stitch would be twisted! Let me know if it worked for you. Happy knitting!

[Melissa]

Oooh your sock posts sing to me! I adore knitting socks, and they feel sooo good on the feet, as you point out. You have the most colourful collection going there, love it!