Popcorn Mitts

Well loved how the Popcorn or Bobble socks came out and decided to knit up a pair of fingerless mitts with the same pattern and with a thumb. It was a bit of a challenge but I love how they came out. The basic popcorn stitch that I did is below and I am thinking of writing this pattern up but have to knit another pair to make sure it all works out correctly. What do you think?

Every 8th stitch of the sock was where I created a popcorn stitch. So, 

1. in the 8th stitch, K2 stitches (K1 in back and K1 in front)

2. Turn:P2 in each of the 2 stitches you just did

3. Turn K4  stitches you have created

4. Turn: S1 , P1, P1, S1

5. Turn: K2 tog, K2 tog and slip stitch over K stitch.

That's it!

Criss Cross Sock

Something from my very early days of patterns....at the time I was investigating Intarsia Knitting and developed this pattern. I liked the entire pattern as when taking a look at the inside of the sock there were no floats and it was as if the pattern was just woven into the sock. Perfect...and thought I would knit another pair. Lots of patience in this one.

Beginning of the sock

Sock inside out.

 

Sports Sock with Strong Heel

This is a test sock...I have been reading about Sports or Athletic Socks and the pros and cons of cotton versus Merino Wool. I thought I would knit a pair of Merino Wool socks using a heel that was created by Gerdine Crawford-Strong...called the Strong Heel after the creator of the pattern. It is an interesting pattern as it is knitted on a continuous round with not picking up stitches on the sides as in a Flap type of heel...or picking up stitches in the After thought heel. I found it to be really easy to do and the results were great. This may be the go to heel for me. So I have worn this sock on 3 mile walks and on a couple of rounds of golf. The days I wore them the weather was in the low 90's so very warm. I didn't feel uncomfortable wearing them and my feet were no warmer than wearing cotton socks. My understanding is that wool wicks water and doesn't soak it in as cotton does. 

 

It's been awhile since I have posted....but thought I would get my blog up to date. This past year has been a very tough year for many of us and I am making an effort to get back into life as it was. Knitting has been my solace and meditation and I have been knitting every day although haven't posted for a while. My FB page got deleted and had to start a new page...but that is another story.  So....this is a new pair of socks that I was going to post on Etsy but thought they would make a terrific gift for my daughter who loves colorful socks. Using Knit Picks Stroll and knitting TAAT it was a fun project and helped me practice colorwork. I think the results came out pretty well.

 

Another Gingham Pattern Sock

Decided to  knit up another Gingham Pattern Sock. This time using Stroll Merino Fingering weight. Started casting on with 84 stitches Actually used circular needle. Pattern is in repeats of 6 stitches by 8 Rows. Pattern is easy to remember so knitting is fairly fast and I am getting better at knitting with 2 colors. Pattern from Helle Hansen on Addicted to Sock Knitting.

Blue Scrappy Socks

So looking in my scraps again and got to say it is amazing how much I have in bits and pieces....some bits of stash that I used and then forgot about. Came up with an array of blue. Didn't think I knitted so many blue socks but I have and I have to say that using the scraps for socks is great with so many patterns that you can create. I do scrappy socks not as just stripes but with 2 color fair isle type stripes. So the result is these that I really got into. So much fun to knit I can't tell you and put them in my Etsy shop to sell...we will see.

Cotton Gingham Anklet Socks

Started knitting a pair of cotton socks using a gingham like pattern…I saw in a photo. Love cotton socks…with the added thread of nylon on the cuff for more stretch these will be a favorite. Fun to knit and if they come out right should be nice for the summer months ahead. Stay tuned.

Scrappy Fair Isle Ribbon Socks

Got to a point that I was frustrated at the bins of bits and pieces of leftover yarns from my sock knitting. So this past weekend had to start cleaning out and get rid of lengths that really were too short to do much knitting....although amazing what you can do with just 2 yards of a strand of yarn. Fair Isle is the answer and hopefully these will be something that I can do for the next months and put good use to the yarns that I would have tossed. Just never know where your next sock will come from!!!!

UPDATE! And then finished the socks that I think came our great…only to deal with those bits of tail. I show a picture of the sock inside out as actually thought after I wove all those tails it looked pretty interesting on the wrong side! So the only thing I think I was challenged by was those darn tails! anyone have a solution to weaving the tails.

https://www.pinterest.com/byhandbyjean/creative-socks/

For the Holidays...The advent Calendar of yarns from my daughter Leslie. It is hanging and today is day 11 ...Thought I would knit up a scrappy sock using the yarns that are in my calendar. So starting knitting yesterday using day 1,2,and 3. Just a basic rib tube and will do an afterthought heel. Hope I can get it done by Christmas! Happy Holidays.

Cable Rib Socks

Started a new sock using Lorna Laces Sock Yarn. 4 st cable with 3p between. Lots of stretch and different look for a rib sock. Heal and toe are partridge stitch. 

Baby Argyle Vest

And Amanda had a baby boy. Wanted to knit a nice little something for him. Came across a great pattern for Baby Argyle Vest and knitted it with a monogram. A really fun knit. The Pattern is Baby Argyle Sweater Vest by Sherrie Kibler available on Raverly. 

      

Scrappy Socks or Stash socks

Today will be finishing up another pair of Scrappy Socks or Stash Socks as I like to call them. The pair of warm colors was the one I knitted from the Opal Yarns that my daughter sent me as a gift. The current ones I am knitting are from a combination of yarns she sent me as well as the many little scraps of yarns that I have from too many socks to count. All are Merino and Nylon blend. I decided to knit cool colors

Cuffed Twisted Cable Mitts

Again I receive orders for this mitt. Mind you I love to knit this one up but have to knit 3 pairs for a lady requesting different colors. After you knit one pair it starts to get difficult to knit the next pairs but I am up to the challenge. They take about 4 days on and off knitting to finish. Probably could do these in 2 days of knitting but I do like knitting at my leisure....
I remind myself that this is a hobby and not a full blown business

I do love how the cable pattern makes the mitt snug up to your hand and the cuff is
great on chilly days to cover the fingers.

 

Fair Isle Short Anklet Sock

Thought I would start some Fair Isle work. Haven't done fair isle pattern work for a while but wanted a change from cables. Found this pattern in a book of Fair Isle patterns and incorporated it into this sock. Simple pattern with added "dots". Actually a pretty fast knit and think will do more.

CYBER SALE WEEK

It's Cyber Sale Week in my Etsy shop so "Gobble" up the savings. All of my knitted socks are 15% Off with Free Shipping for one week. Sale ends November 26, 2018. Happy Shopping to all my friends.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/byhandbyjean

It's been Quite the Year.....

Haven't posted for a long while as were many personal issues and losses that seemed to happen all at once earlier this year....but thought I should post a couple of projects that have helped me through these months.

I knitted a pair of basket weave socks that I just wanted to do for a while. Using Cascade Heritage Superwash, so soft, in gray. They came out great although took some time to do...and yet another pair of Scrunch Socks in white, a custom order for a lady in California. This sock seems to be my best seller on Etsy and love knitting them for all the cables on the sock pattern. I really have memorized this pattern for all of the pairs I have knitted! Amazing.

Chevron Lace Socks The process.......

This is a process....I have knitted this style many times now and working with a customer who wants it just the way the sample she sent me was. This pair was knitted using DMC 100% Cotton. Actually cotton thread used in crocheting....never thought of using it. However they do not have the small percentage of nylon in the cotton that I had used in the past. They seem a bit stiffer and not as soft but maybe through wear and wash they may become softer. Also tweaked the edging of the cuff more to give it a flatter appearance. Hoping that these are the perfect fit and style am sending them off to my customer. Really has been a process.....

Put Joy in Knitting Socks

It has been a while since I last posted on this blog....many personal sad events have happened. My Sister Grace passed away last year, my father in law Paul, passed away in February and I had a hip replacement in January. It has been quite difficult to even knit and not think of those who I cared about leaving our family. During that time I did have some solace in my comfort by knitting. Why knitting is so comforting I don't know but it gives me that time to think and reminisce about my lost ones and my life. It took me quite awhile to knit this pair but they really helped me through this time.

Love the spring colors and they just ended up looking like so much joy. A fitting reminder of the wonderful smiles of those lost and the new days ahead. 

Slip Stitch Sock using Knit Picks Felici yarn.

Detail of Slip Stitch

And started a new pair of socks using two cakes of Knit Picks Gradient "Beach House". This yarn is dyed in wide color sections. Each cake is enough to knit a pair of socks...so for matching you must buy 2 cakes and you will have enough for 2 pairs of matching socks. I am knitting these as short anklet socks as that is is new section in my Etsy shop that I want to work on.

The pattern for this sock is first of all a Latvian twist on the cuff comprised of 2 rows of knitting and then the twist over 4 stitches.

The pattern is a slip stitch vertical lines worked over 2 rows. hoping that I will be able to finish these fast.

And a Merry Christmas! My very creative daughter made me an Advent Calendar!

She participated in an Opal Yarn Swap and collected 25 samples of Opal Yarns! Wow...then put them in little packets she made and labeled them with numbers from 1-25. Ingenious I thought as as I opened the packets I thought of her and her thoughtfulness. This truly was a gift I will remember for ever. The yarn looks to be enough to make up a pair of socks with the addition of a nice solid color will make great stripes. 

Wishing you all a very special Holiday....I certainly had a special one.

Half way thru...looking beautiful

Dec 25 All opened up!