random threads

I’m please to announce that my first Random Threads Design pattern is now available (for FREE), called ‘Twisted Ovals Socks’. This is knit from the toe-up, written for the magic loop technique, and for sport-weight yarns. The stitch pattern was inspired by one in the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF KNITTING: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide, With an Inspirational Gallery of Finished Works by Leslie Stanfield and Melody Griffiths, and uses slip stitches and twisted stitches to make the graceful ovals on the foot and leg of the sock.

This pattern also uses Judy Becker’s Magic Cast-on, Cat Bordhi’s style of increases, a short-row heel, and a Russian bind-off for a stretchy cast-off at the cuff. I consider it suitable for an intermediate knitter (or maybe an adventurous advanced beginner). Charts are used to illustrate the stitch pattern.

My sample sock was knit in Fixation Solid, but do check out the Gallery and you’ll see other knitters used Crystal Palace Merino 5, Fixations Spray-Dyed and Dream in Color Classy.

The pattern available as a .pdf download from Ravelry (Ravely users can save it in their library using this link), or as a direct download for non-Ravelry users here from my website–click on the Patterns tab at the top of this page, where you will see my available patterns (this is the first!) and the download button.  Be sure to click on the Twisted Ovals Gallery to see the photos of socks knit by my test knitters. You can see how the socks look knit up in a variety of solid or variegated yarns.

I hope you enjoy the pattern!

Yes! The Rushing Rivulets Socks from Cat Bordhi’s new book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One, are done! I finished these up last night while listening to knitting podcasts (I have over 24 days, yes, I said days, of podcasts to listen to. I like to listen to each podcast from its beginning to current episode before I move onto the next one. Currently, I’m over half-way through Guido’s It’s a Purl, Man episodes.)

Back to the FO, however. While I found the new ‘architecture’ interesting, and in itself, well-fitting, there were a few points about this sock I would do differently. The heel seems a bit loose, lumpy at the turn. I think I would use a different heel turn, although the flap turned out nice. Also, I would shorten the foot length by about 1/2 inch, as I don’t think Cat’s patterns include negative ease and I like a tight fitting foot.

I finished the cuff with 4 rows of stockinette, 1 picot row (k2tog, yo, repeat around) and 4 rows of stockinette, then stitched each loop  down inside the sock, while folding at the picot row. No cast off/bind off was done to make sure they are loose enough to go over the foot (they are, but just).

The yarn was Colinette Jitterbug in Lagoon, and yes, I used every bit of the 267 meters. Recently I have seen two complaints about Jitterbug in online forums–yardage leads to shorter socks than desired, and colors running. I was glad I was doing these socks toe-up, but since I had to start the picot hem 9 rows before the end of yarn, I had to estimate when to start the cuff. I ended up finishing one sock, then using its leftovers to hem the cuff on the second sock. I had originally split the 100 gm skein into 2 balls based on weight using my not-so-precise postal scale. I ended up with about 24″ inches of yarn remaining after completing the socks. Better not need much darning on these!

As far as my thoughts on the pattern/book, the flipping from section to section to follow directions (toe in one place, gusset in another, heel in two sections on another section, etc) drove me nuts. If I were to do again, I think I would copy the pertinent sections on my copier, then cut and paste them into a unified pattern. I also found the maneuvering of stitches to different positions while doing the heel to be challenging while knitting two-at-a-time on Magic Loop.

I haven’t decided what my next sock project will be or whether I’ll pick up one of my sock UFOs.  I’m thinking maybe larger size needles than the 0’s I just finished with for a break. Meanwhile, I’m furiously knitting on the Silver Froth Shawl, with a deadline of November 1st. The Chameleon Clapotis is resting for now.

I did finish my Maizy Cobblestone second sock, but haven’t gotten a picture taken yet–I want to show them both on the feet this time. Soon.

Meanwhile, of course, another sock is on the needles. Since I had knit up the two pair of sample socks in Cat Bordhi’s new book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One, I now picked what I think is my favorite design in the book, Rushing Rivulets in the Riverbed architecture. This is knit toe-up and positions the gusset increases under the foot in the arch, leaving most of the sides of the sock for pretty patterns.

This is a simple k2tog, yo, k2 repeat pattern over six rows. I had a bit of trouble with the pattern and ripped back both socks, then had trouble figuring out where I was but that was just me, not the pattern, as I was thinking the yo’s would line up vertically in the pattern, but they don’t , they are one stitch offset every 6th row. Eventually, one will line up, but not after six rows. Now that I understand that, I am making progress, but it is being knit at 8 st per inch on size 0’s (KnitPicks nickel plated circular needles). This is my first time knitting with the KnitPicks circular needles, and I am liking them a lot–the join is smooth, the cable is flexible and the points are pretty sharp. I did have the cable come loose at the join on one end, but KnitPicks customer service is shipping me out a replacement.

The yarn for these socks is Colinette Jitterbug in Colorway Lagoon. I was a bit surprised that these are stripy instead of flecks of color or pools. Most of the other Jitterbug colorways are not regular striping, based on pictures of socks in progress or completed that I browsed through in Ravelry (link only works if you are beta member, sorry–they are adding more people all the time). Amazing that there are 231 projects for socks using Colinette Jitterbug in Ravelry–I just love it.

I’m behind in posting some FO’s, imagine that! First up, I finished the Bunny Hop socks for me, using Crystal Palace Yarns free pattern, Softy Socks or Speckled Rib by Cathy Campbell, for their Bunny Hop yarn. My yarn is called CODE PINK, not the Rosewater I originally thought it was. The yarn is a worsted weight, and its fiber content is 50 % micro Acrylic, 42% micro Nylon, 8% rabbit angora, so it knit up quickly and it is soft (and still machine washable). However, it did not have enough resiliance in the yarn/pattern combination to fit the leg well, as after some hours of wearing, the cuffs were very loose-fitting. The rib pattern was k3, p2 alternated with k1p1k1,p2, so maybe than didn’t help matters any. I’ll still get use in wearing them around the house, but I’m not sure my other Bunny Hop yarn will become socks as well (2 skeins of Fall Herbs colorway–green, brown, tan).

So what happens with leftovers? well, you knit socks, of course! Baby socks…using Cat Bordhi’s new book, New Pathways for Knitters, I knit two “Little Sky” socks. One on DPNs, the second on single circular (magic loop). Knitting the little socks (twice) really helped me understand the technique, I can hardly wait to do a full size sock, but I am trying to finish some other things first. (Note, the color is more true in the first sock picture than with these baby socks, more pink, less orange).

More in the next post… (how’s that for leaving you hanging?)

I have gotten Cat Bordhi’s new book New Pathways for Sock Knitters Book One, and find it well-written and inspirational for its new ideas. Even for a traditional sock knitter she offers a number of tips with easy-to-remember explanations, for example, when knitting socks on circs which needles go where and how to read your knitting to see if the stitches are mounted on the needles correctly. Judy Gibson’s Becker’s Magic Cast-On for toe-up socks, (my apologies for attributing this neat caston to the wrong Judy), originally posted on Knitty here is explained well with many clear diagrams. Even better yet, Cat has posted many videos on YouTube, demonstrating Judy’s Magic Cast-On, several concepts she uses in New Pathways, such as LaLinc and LaRinc increases, and even has videos on making the Little Sky Sock sample. I haven’t watched them all, but as a visual learner, I’m sure they will add to my knowledge.

I know her new book is ‘bound’ to be an indispensable addition to my knitting library, so I made a trip to Kinko’s on Saturday and got my three favorite sock books re-bound with spiral bindings so they will lay flat. Only cost me $4.28 per book. I plan to start on the Little Sky learning socks and Little Coriolis socks as Cat recommends to learn the new “sock-itectures” once I finish the second Bunny Hop sock. I think I will have enough Bunny Hop left over for at least two baby socks. Meanwhile, I’m joining the Ravelry group and a KAL for socks from New Pathways.

You may ask, Bunny Hop socks, what Bunny Hop socks? I’m behind in posting pic’s of my latest FO, the Spartan Socks for Dad, and my current WIP, socks from this free pattern from Crystal Palace in their Bunny Hop yarn. I’m using color 9801, Code Pink, scroll down in the Bunny Hop page to see a knitted sample. I hope to get photos by the weekend–its the end of the month and my busy time at work, plus I had a business trip Sunday to yesterday to Raleigh (no time for yarn shopping ) so am still getting caught up.

Between a bit of vacation, traveling to visit my parents in Michigan and my Ravelry invite arriving (yes, I have been sucked into the time-consuming, wonderful vortex that is Ravelry, see me there as randomthreads if you are a beta member).

While in Michigan, I visited a number of yarn shops, so in review, my favorite was ThreadBear Fiber Arts Studios in Lansing Michigan. I drove an hour out of my way to visit this shop, and it was worth it. Sorry I have no pictures, but the interior was large, spacious with numerous stuffed chairs and couches with knitted throws casually tossed over them. Two dogs in residence, toenails clicking on the gorgeous wood flooring. Neat wire mesh cubbies for the yarn. Sweater samples galore hanging overhead, kits from Vivian Hoxbro, Hanne Falkenberg and Philosophers’ Wool to name a few.
So, I can share some pictures of what came home with me. First some stitch markers especially for use with Cat Bordhi’s new book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One. The book was waiting for me when I got home and it looks fabulous. Such an innovative mind to design new ways of knitting socks. I do have to try some of the patterns.

Sock yarn, of course. Gorgeous Colinette Jitterbug in Lagoon. Dream in Color Gaia (which has evidently been renamed to Smooshy) in a fuschia color.
And since I was right ‘next door’ to my alma mater, Michigan State, how could I resist the custom-dyed Lorna’s Laces Shepard Sock in colorway MSU? (Go Green! Go White!)
Lastly, I picked up some colorful yarn from Ornaghi Filati called Luna Park. They had a sample sock knit up and it was super fun-looking with these bright colors. It is a DK/Sport weight, so should be a quick knit.

That’s it for today, but I’ll continue my Michigan yarn shopping adventures next time.