It's been five months since my last sock update, and in that time I've had three pairs on and off my needles. This first pair ended up being quite a long time in the making, given that they presented me with a fair few knitty challenges and took some lengthy stints in the Naughty Corner.
I started these socks back in early February I think, using Christine's Easy Cable Sock pattern combined with her fabulously helpful YouTube tutorials. I loved getting to grips with the cables, and I am super-proud of myself for sticking with them even when they made me want to pull my hair out at times.
Ditto the "crossed rib stitch heel" which I found quite hard going (even harder than the twisty cables). I think this stitch looks really amazing, but don't think I would ever be tempted to try it again unless I was paid a squillion pounds to do so.
I spent over two months challenging my brain and fingers with these socks, and there was a ridiculous amount of pulling back and re-knitting that went on at one point. But finally, that second toe was done and my Cable Socks were complete......
..............................ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE how the gentle gradient colour changes of of this particular sock yarn shows off the cable pattern....and look, I even managed a pretty good colour match. This yarn is from the Stylecraft Head Over Heels range ::
{Stylecraft Head Over Heels : Eiger colourway}
All in all, I'm really rather chuffed with these beauties!
And here we have a pair of GREY socks in progress..... no, of course these aren't for me - you can't imagine for one minute that I would choose to knit socks for my own feet in multiple shades of grey? Nah, it's never gonna happen.
This next pair came about after J executed a prolonged and dedicated campaign for his very own pair of Man Socks. I admit I felt secretly elated that he wanted me to knit him some socks as he doesn't usually show very much interest in the things I make with yarn.
We had quite the job agreeing on which yarn to use - I point blank refused to make all black/grey socks and J made plenty of disgusted sounds when I showed him stripes, even if the stripes were dark. In the end we reached a compromise and settled on this Opal yarn in shades of grey which satisfied my need for a bit of colour tonal variation, but obeyed the stripes-over-my-dead-body rule. There are eight shades to choose from in the Opal Classics range and it pleased me on some childish level that this colour way is named Elegant. Ha!
{Opal Classics : Elegant colourway}
This yarn was especially lovely to knit with I have to say, despite the lack of colour. It's really soft and smooth and glides beautifully over the needles....and those plain non-twisty rows were such a pleasure after the last pair of naughty-complicated socks. The other advantage of using this yarn is that there is no need to do any stripe matching, not that I don't enjoy that particular challenge, but sometimes it's just rather nice to get stuck straight in and go for it.
J has size 10 feet against my size 5/6, but it didn't make a huge difference to the pattern really. I simply cast on 64 instead of 60, and elongated the foot by working 52 rows. I drew round J's foot on a piece of paper and used it as a guide to help me get the foot length right, and he tells me they are a really good, comfortable fit. Funny thing was, as soon as the first sock was off the needles he insisted on wearing it, so spent a few evenings with just one sock on "trying it out" which made me laugh.
Spurred on by my Man Sock success, I showed J the Opal Classic choices again and asked him to pick a second colourway. He ummed and ahhhed, almost went for "Luxurious" but in the end surprised me by choosing this one.
{Opal Classics : Exclusive colourway}
I worried a little about the Exclusive choice to be honest - the socks came out quite a bit more stripy than the ball of yarn suggested, and although I loved knitting them I thought that those bright flashes of red and yellow might be too much for him to want around his ankles.
Soooooooo.............. do you think these look like Man Socks? I'm not convinced, but J says he likes them and will certainly wear them tucked way inside his boots and under his jeans, so I'm calling it another success story.
I would love to hear from any of you who've had Man Sock success - what yarn choices have you gone for? And please don't tell me Black or Grey with coloured heels or toes, cos that just won't be happening on my needles any time ever.
Now then, whilst we're chatting about all things sockilicious, I want to jig your memory and remind you about the oh-so-fabulous Yarndale Sock line that I help organise with my lovely friend Christine, AKA the Queen of Socks. The sock line will be running for a third year at Yarndale in September so if you wish to join in and make a pair of socks which will be gifted to those in need of a "woolly hug", you can find all the details {HERE}. Last year's sock line was a huge success with over one hundred pairs donated - you can find links to the supported charities and write up's of the previous years {HERE}
Of course, I am proud to work with Christine on this charity project, although to be fair, she does all the work and I'm just the mail lady who gets to oooooh and ahhhh at the visual gloriousness of it all. But......as I did last year, I will certainly be doing my little bit and knitting up a pair of socks to donate, how could I not? I've read the letters and shared in the emotional impact of this endeavor and know just how wonderful it feels to be a part of this generous and kind hearted woolly community.
SO, do you want to see my yarn?
It's a thing of beauty, let me tell you!
I'm going to be using this ball of beautiful West Yorkshire Spinners yarn which has been produced as a special limited edition colourway to support the Marie Curie charity. As you may know, Marie Curie have the daffodil as their emblem and this yarn has been designed so that the stripes knit up to represent rows of daffodils......awwww!!! I can't tell you how much I love that idea - daffodil socks, how cool is that?!
And while we're here thinking about this beautiful ball of yarn that I'm squishing, please can we just pause and take a teensy moment to appreciate the fact that I'm showing you my fingernails.....I'm so proud of my nails! They are growing!
Ok, back to the yarn............
The very best thing about buying a ball of daffodil inspired yarn is this - with EVERY ball sold, a whopping £2 will be donated to Marie Curie. You can find this yarn exclusively online at CityKnits if you wish to knit up your very own daffie socks whilst supporting a really worthy cause.
I am sooooo excited to cast these on - the closing date for receiving socks for the Yarndale charity sockline is Saturday 26th August. All details (including labels to print and address to send) is {HERE}.
Right.......where're my needles?
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ps part 3 of my Summer Harmony blanket will be here in the next few days for those who are joining me x
I love your man socks! I think the second pair are totally manly enough but my hubby would absolutely wear colourful stripes so my view may be skewed a little lol
Posted by: Sophie | July 05, 2017 at 09:58 PM
Hi: I've used Regia, Opal, Plymouth, Paton's Kroy, Knit One crochet too's Ty-Dy, and Cascade's printed. All of these are sock yarns. My least favourite was Plymouth's for it was like knitting with jute, very stiff. The softest has been Ty-Dy's. The most durable are Regia's and Opal's. Have knitted over a dozen socks for DH, and for sons; only one pair of women's. Husband has 11 pairs and rotates them daily. Had been washing them in Woolite laundry detergent until I read the label and it contains enzymes--silly, because enzymes eat protein and wool is protein. I've switched to shampoo which is awesome. I always air dry them. Husband is now wearing the wool socks this summer and says they are more comfortable than cotton.
Love your page! Blessings, ^__^
Posted by: Bunches of Yarn | July 05, 2017 at 09:18 PM
I'm in awe of your cable socks and your man socks! I have some sock yarn but have not attained the necessary OOMPH to begin them. But each time I see yours I get close.. lol! I just posted our 4th of July parade photos.. you're invited to come see! Enjoy your summer! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | July 05, 2017 at 09:16 PM
Lots of socks made for my lovely husband who wears only handmade socks. Have written about them on my blog https://pixiemumblog.wordpress.com/ and recorded details on my Ravelry page Knellergal.
At present I'm working with RICO Superba Tweed, on first sock, have to decrease for toes and do left handed Kitchener stitch. Not so keen on greys and black but yarn was a donation and DH likes it.
Posted by: PixieMum | July 05, 2017 at 08:30 PM
Oops, forgot to say Yay for your pretty shiny nails! Plus your foray into cables and that different heel flap. I'm with you I don't want to get too complicated when knitting a sock, I like nice smooth stockinette on my feet. Since you're open to forays, have you thought of trying toe up socks, or Magic Loop? Both very fast and easy.
Posted by: Peita | July 05, 2017 at 05:26 PM
Congratulations on beginning your knitted Man Sock travels. Soon your husband will have his own knitted Sock Drawer. I've been knitting socks for myself for about 15 years, mostly using Fleece Artist and Handmaiden yarn because of the colors and the BFL yarn base. Then went on to Opal and Regia. Both of those are so hardwearing and that's what Man Socks need. Somewhere during that time my husband wanted me to knit socks for him. I just checked his sock drawer and he has 16 pairs of knitted socks and they are striped, tonal colored, or solid and each has either predominately blue, or green or autumn colors. These colors, he said, go with clothes. All these are still looking good, mostly because of the hardwearing yarn. The only failure was a pair of pretty socks I knit with Hand Maiden Casbah, which has a bit of cashmere in it, and must be washed in cold water. Somehow they didn't get to me to add to my handwash pile of socks and instead went into his clothes basket and washed on warm and put in the dryer. Yikes! Child size, felted socks resulted. Now that we both have so many knitted socks I wash them in the machine on delicate with gentle soap and hang them to dry.
Posted by: Peita | July 05, 2017 at 05:15 PM
Such lovely socks you knitted, Lucy. My man will only wear a very specific (super thick) sock that is store bought. In fact, he buys his shoes a half size too large so that he can wear 2 pair of these socks at the same time. I do the same when hiking, and it does make one feel as though they are walking on air.
I knit socks for myself and relatives. I've also participated in sock charities through my employer. Last year we donated backpacks and lunch bags for school kids instead. I crocheted 3 different ones which was fun. I'm more of a knitter, but every time I get out my hooks, I tell myself, "You should do this more often!" Crochet projects do seem to be finished MUCH sooner than the knitted ones. Thanks for sharing your lovely creations with us. Hugs from Kimmy ♥♥♥
Posted by: Kimmy | July 05, 2017 at 05:02 PM
I've knit quite a few pairs of socks for my husband and he takes part in triathlons in bright (think highlighter pen) green socks that he chose for me to knit for him
Posted by: Liz | July 05, 2017 at 04:46 PM
My brother surprised me earlier in the year when he took a pair i was knitting for myself (we have the same shoe size). They were made with Sirdar Heart and Sole and had a bright fucshia stripe in them! I was teasing him, saying 'do you want them?'...he surprised me by saying yes...apparently, fucshia 'isn't pink'? :-) West Yorkshire Spinners do some lovely 'manly' colours in their Signature 4 ply 'birds' range? And...your hubby might surprise you Lucy...wave the occasional stripy yarn under his nose...I think men secretly yearn for some colour! :-)
Posted by: Catherine | July 05, 2017 at 04:04 PM
I started a pair of socks for one of my sons with size 10 feet. As it was supposed to be a surprise, I didn't ask him about colours, and chose a dark grey lang yarn, as I was worried he might not like bright socks. I gave up when I got to the heel, as it was just so difficult to see what I was doing and I kept making mistakes. When I told him about it he said he would much prefer bright stripy socks (!), so will give it another go sometime...
Posted by: Trish Annie Stevens | July 05, 2017 at 03:52 PM
I've made the same grey striped socks as you for my husband, after his work made grey socks only part of his dress code (he's a district nurse!). I also made him a couple of pairs in Countess Ablaze greys. I also gave him the run of my West Yorkshire Spinners stash, and he surprised me by picking out the Wood Pigeon. I had to smile through gritted teeth, as I had that one earmarked for myself! The first pair I made for him were with a Zauberball 6-ply. Gorgeous yarn, but he plumped for dark blue and brown :( They're immortalised on Ravelry as 'Dull as Ditchwater Socks' ;)
Posted by: Shelagh | July 05, 2017 at 03:27 PM
I was spurred on by your earlier posts, and a link to Christine's blog, and I decided to knit a pair of socks each for my son and d-i-l as part of their Christmas prezzies last year. I chose Regia Pairfect yarn, it is beautifully soft and has a foolproof answer for matching the stripes. I'm a knitter/crocheter of many years but, strangely, had never bothered with adult socks before. It is so cathartic. The socks were brilliant and very well received, and I crafted personalised boxes to put them in. I love the sock colours you choose - if J wants any more you might point him towards Regia Pairfect colour "Gentleman", I can promise it looks lovely when knitted up.
Posted by: Mema | July 05, 2017 at 03:18 PM
Man-socks would crush my will to live not because of the blah colors (or not only because of that) but also because I am constantly shocked at just how damn big men's feet are. I mean, you look at them and they don't look like Little Tich too obviously, right? Then you start making a sock and realize it's a half-mile to the end of the toe, and you start eyeballing that bottle of vodka with wistfulness ...
You have far greater sitzfleisch than I would in your shoes.
Posted by: Janis | July 05, 2017 at 03:10 PM
Knitting socks is my obsession. Knitting cables and fancy stitches is not for me cuz some people do not appreciate the time and determination it takes to make a pair like that. They tell me they mistakenly put bleach on them; lost one; the dog got them, etc. Little do they know how it hurts me to the core when they don't take care of them. I hate knitting a pair in black!! So boring and hard to see stitches in the evening. I made one pair, and no more. Enough ranting!! Your socks are wonderful.
Posted by: Linda from Boston | July 05, 2017 at 02:44 PM
So many wonderful things in this post, firstly congratulations on the super duper finger nails well done you, secondly the socks are fab-u-lous and I'm sure that you are underplaying your cabling ability, thirdly whoever designed the Marie Curie colourway was inspired. Take care of yourself and those fingernails Lucy. Hugs from Hampshire xox
Posted by: Sarah. Hampshire, UK | July 05, 2017 at 02:43 PM
Amazing! The charity i am part of has been accepted as one of the charities to benefit from Christines wonderful sock line this year. We are all so excited and i will be trying my hardest to donate a pair of socks as well. Thank you for donating.
Posted by: Holly | July 05, 2017 at 02:24 PM
Love all the socks, well done on the cables AND the man socks! I just started my eighth pair for the year and the next pair will be man socks, sadly in grey (wish me luck).Love Christie's tutorial! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | July 05, 2017 at 02:19 PM
I made my hubby a pair of socks in King Cole Zig-Zag. Can't remember the name but they're bluey, purpley gorgeousness. Bought the yarn for me but he bagsied it! He's usually a black or even blacker sock man so I was surprised he went for this.
Well done on the nail front - they look good. Two pairs of socks for the sock line sent off the other day. Now a pair for me...
Posted by: Kath | July 05, 2017 at 01:31 PM
The socks look lovely and how nice is it that your husband requested a pair! My man isn't very interested in my yarny activities either, but he requested that I crochet him a little monkey that he can hang on his motorcycle. Of course I'm making him one - dutyful wife that I am! ;)
I'm sorry that I can't knit, otherwise I would donate a pair as well! :)
Posted by: fadenspiele | July 05, 2017 at 01:06 PM
Oh my, those nails! Wow, you did it! My brothers loved the stripy denim coloured sheep wool sock yarn. I didn't made it to the end if it was grey. They had those huge feet so it would let me die of boredom if it was plain.
Oh,part 3. Love it.
Posted by: Tinke | July 05, 2017 at 12:40 PM
I saw your nails straight away. Well done
Posted by: Annette Schuiling | July 05, 2017 at 12:30 PM
I've made Man Socks in dusty denimy blue and in browny-green colours. Both have gone down well with my father who is not an ostentatious dresser AT ALL.
Posted by: Ros | July 05, 2017 at 12:30 PM