random threads

Here’s the last sets of photos for the Honeycomb beret pattern I designed, which I finished yesterday.  I knit this one in Rowan Colourscapes Chunky in the color called ‘Cherry’ which is really red, rust, and purple/violet.



To recap, the pattern is available for free download from my patterns page or from within Ravelry as the Honeycomb Beret.

I’ve finished writing up the sock pattern for my Dad’s Birthday socks, and it is now available for free download here on the random threads website, or from within Ravelry.

This sock is designed for knitting from the toe up, using Magic Loop method on one circular needle, and includes a traditional heel flap and gusset. The ribbed stitch pattern, with its wrapped stitches that zig and zag across the rib, add textured interest and allow for ease in fitting. Written for fingering-weight yarn, the pattern is offered in two sizes, Women’s Medium and Men’s Large.

Techniques used include Judy Becker‟s Magic Cast On, Cat Bordhi‟s LaLink and LaRink increases, a traditional gusset and heel flap and a stretchy bind off for the cuff. Recommended for adventurous beginners.

You can download the pattern from the random threads’ Pattern page here or see it on Ravelry’s pattern pages (the second link only works if you are a Ravelry member, and if you aren’t yet, get yourself on the invite list, STAT!)

With about ten days to spare, I finished the socks I am knitting for my Dad’s 85th birthday. The yarn is Knit Picks Felici, and while it feels soft (75% superwash merino) and has 25% nylon content for durability, I ran into two issues with it.

First, there are spots in the yarn without any dye–bits of white showing through the red or grey at the color changes. Not many, but a bit of white really catches your eye when you are expecting grey or black or red.

Second, I detected early signs of pilling on the toes. Just from the wear while knitting the sock? Not good.

At least the yarn is machine washable and tumble dry low. My mom washes my dad’s hand-knit socks in the washer, although she usually line dries them.

The pattern is one I designed myself, for a striped yarn to add some textural interest to the pattern. I like using ribbing to get a flexible fit, but wanted something more than just a 5×1 or 6×2 rib. The stitch pattern came from Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns and is called ‘Zig Zag Wraps.’ I plan to offer the pattern for download here and on Ravelry once I finish writing up the pattern.

The socks are knit from the toe up but include a traditional padded heel-flap and gusseted heel.

What’s next? I’m winding up a nice fat cake of Schaefer Anne for the Annetrelac socks from Interweave.

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!