Celebrating my heterosexuality* with socks

*To all of my gay friends, I know you don't mind as long as we don't make out in public.

I know most of you prefer your socks to match--probably almost all of you do. If you love the symmetry of twin socks, I support that. Most of my handknit socks are heterosexual. Two socks give me two chances to making something unique and special.

I used to wonder why I think of socks as individuals. I think it comes down to two reasons. The first reason came from my second stepfather. He referred to sock mates as "brothers." I really hated that guy. Everyone knows that socks have mates. They pair bond like humans.

The second reason is probably that my dad is an identical twin. I was raised with the attitude that the more two people look alike, the more they are really exactly the opposite. I guess I've always thought that being exactly like something else is somehow bad or boring.

Maybe I'm just thinking about my marriage too much these days. I have to start a new life with my husband after being single for a year. How am I supposed to pick up the pieces of our old life? The thought of living together again is frightening.

I knit this sock couple from Knit Picks Risatta. It's probably the best elastic yarn I've used, but I don't really like elastic yarn--it splits and feels weird. One is knit from toe up, one cuff down. I made up the cable patterns as I went along.

Whatever their differences, these socks are mated.

Shortening a toe-up sock

I finished my entrelac vacation socks. They are gorgeous, but too long. It's pretty easy to adjust sock length on cuff-down socks, but toe-ups and afterthought heels are a bit of a challenge. I'm never willing to unravel a whole sock to shorten it 2 cm and I'm not afraid of grafting, so I do surgery on my socks to get them just right.

I had a camera handy, so I decided to document my process.

The first step is to mark the sock where you want to shorten it. A locking stitch marker works great. Then you start picking up the entire row by putting the right leg of each stitch onto spare sock needles.

Lookin' good!

The you pick up a stitch one row above the picked up row and pull it until it's about an inch long. Cut this stitch. Now unravel the clipped row. I used a crochet hook to pull out the stitches. (It won't unravel the same way as regular knitting because you're working in the opposite direction. You'll need to pull the end though each stitch.)

Ah, that's better!


Now you graft the toe shut. You could use the tail you just unraveled, but I didn't want to deal with kinky yarn. I cut a new length of fresh yarn and wove in the ends.

Brand new toes! They fit.

I knit some socks

I knit three pairs of socks when my husband was home on leave. We were on the road a lot and I don't like to leave home without a sock to knit. The weird thing is that all three pairs match. I guess I didn't get bored because my mind was far from my knitting.

The light pink pair were knit with Patons Kroy Stretch Sock. The colorway is "Sugar." I'll send them to my friend Angela as a random surprise.

I played tennis in high school and never got over the joy of peds. Now that I have a bold tattoo, I'll be knitting quite a few more pairs to show off my ink. They are a great way to get rid of leftovers.

The purple pair are my favorite. I've always like short row heels, but I have never liked the fit. I decided to increase 10 stitches before the short row heel, then decreased them away. The fit is closer to a traditional heel flap, with a deep heel cup that helps the socks stay up. The yarn is a barfy handpaint-gone-bad, so I'll keep them. I plan to knit more socks with this type of heel.

I plan to knit some tabi socks next. The weather here in Montana is wacky. Socks and sandals make sense around here. (I can wear them with my shorts and parka ensemble.)

I knit something. Srsly.

I finished a pair of socks for Sgt. Husband that I started before Thanksgiving. They are boring, but I love having plain socks to work on in those little moments here and there. The yarn is Patons Kroy Stripes. I tried Kroy a few years ago and thought it was scratchy and lacked elasticity. I don't know what changed, but this yarn is bouncy, smooshy, and happy. I hope he likes them.

I also got my spinning wheel out for the first time since my husband left for Korea. The wool is a handpaint I did this summer. The colorway is "Bedtime Story." I dig it. I can't decide if I'm going to ply it on itself or spin another bump of inky, midnight blue. I'm thinking.
I hope you had a great V-Day. I ate an unladylike amount of chocolate and went to bed early.

Dazed and Confused

Our animal shelter mutt came home today. She's so sweet, but drugged out of her little doggy mind. Poor thing. At least she won't have another litter of pups. Sgt. Husband was just as cranky when he got fixed. (Even though it was 10 years before I met him, I still hear about it.)

I finished my crazy socks and had the crazy idea to overdye them green to make the colors less eye-searing. I totally forgot that one of the yarns was corn fiber. One sock is striped and the other isn't. Still, I consider this an improvement. I've got to work on more artful mismatching. Right now I still look like voices from outer space tell me what to knit. I need to take it down a notch.

I just spent 20 minutes petting Isabel. She was jealous because I was petting Fable and I had to rub her back until she quit crying. Spoiled.

Here is a link to Fable before we adopted her. She's been hit by a car. She's five years old. She's been at the shelter since October. She was the best damn dog in the whole place. Welcome home, sweetie

Goodbye, Debbie Downer

2009 represents hope and growth to me. It's kind of like when you're in bed with the flu for a week and you wake up one morning, not feeling 100%, not like you could run a marathon, but for the first time in a while you fee like you won't die, that you will recover and feel good and maybe even eat again.

This is the year my husband comes home!

I'm branching out to other fiber arts. I'm going to learn to weave this year. I'm crocheting more than I used to. I even busted out the sewing machine last night.

I started a pair of socks for David while waiting in a long line at the Starbuck's drivethrough. (There is only one Starbucks in town--the line is always long.) I declared the socks my "waiting for coffee socks" and all progress so far has been in my car. Even though I'm not one to make resolutions, I need to cut back on fancy, sugary coffee, so I'm bringing the socks to my sofa perch to make some serious progress.

I promise progress and growth this year. Goodbye, Debbie Downer!

Attn: Naysayers

For those of you who didn't think I could knit vomit, I present my first Stashbusher Spiral Socks. After years of working in hospitals and clinics, I can honestly say that I've seen prettier vomit.

Holy crap, huh? In a strange way I really love them, though.

I also crocheted some thrummed slippers for my grandmother. I used my handspun Targhee two ply in worsted weight and roving remnants. I used a size F hook for a tight gauge. I wish I had shaped a heel instead of fudging my way without a pattern. This pair looks like a pair of kayaks, but my grandmother has long, skinny feet. I hope they fit okay.

You should try knitting or crocheting some thrummed slippers. It's like walking around with your feet in fluffy warm clouds.

I really want to crochet some thrummed mittens. I have been to four stores looking for the Winter 2008 Interweave Crochet, but I can't find it here. I guess I'll have to order online somewhere. Marly's pattern is genius.

Inside out and outside in.

These slippers are every bit as warm and comfy as they look. Now if I could just get my lazy self to the post office, life would be great.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis--a comfy sock with a padded heel knit in garter stitch.

If you don't know what plantar fasciitis is, be thankful. Without droning on about my health problems (again), let me just say that it's heel pain and the inspiration for these heel-first socks.

I used one hank of Bare Sock Yarn from Knit Picks. I dyed it without changing the size or shape of the hank. I dyed 1/3 Turquoise, 1/3 Sapphire, and 1/3 Violet. (All Jacquard Acid Dyes)

Gauge is 7 stitches per inch.

I used a size 1 40" circular from Knit Picks. I knit Continental style and very loosely. Some of you may need to go up to a size 2. There is a lot of room for error with these socks. The garter heels and toes stretch. This would be a good pattern for a growing teenager, some one with with a health problem like edema or diabetes, or pregnant mommy. They fit a lot of people.

Special stitches:

BYO-backwards yarn over. Wrap yarn over right hand needle from back to front, creating a twisted loop.

K3tog-Knit three together. Knit two backwards yarn overs and next stitch to the left together as one.

Broken Garter Stitch--Round one: [K4, P4], repeat to end. Round two: [P4, K4] repeat to end.

2 by 2 Rib--[K2, P2] repeat to end. All rounds are the same.

Knit Heel and Gussets (one piece)


You begin at the tip of one gusset, increase to heel, then decrease for other gusset.

Cast on 3 stitches.

Set up row: K1, place marker, K1, place marker, K1.

1st Increase Row: K across

2nd Increase Row: K to marker, Make 1, slip marker, K1, slip marker, Make 1, K to end. (Two stitches increased.

Repeat these two rows until you have 37 stitches.

Continue in garter stitch for 24 rows (12 garter ridges.)

1st Decrease Row: K to 2 stitches before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K1, slip marker, SSK, K to end.

2nd Decrease Row: K across.

Repeat these two rows until 3 stitches remain.

Next Row: Slip 1, K2tog, Pass slipped stitch over.

Break yarn and fasten off remaining stitch.

Knit Instep

Picking up stitches

Using the provisional cast on of your choice*, cast on 16 stitches. Pick up and knit 48 stitches along one edge of heel. Join for working in the round. Knit the 16 cast on stitches, knit 8 of the picked up stitches, then mark for beginning of round. (64 stitches total) Rearrange stitches so there are 32 instep stitches--those that include the provisionally cast on stitches--and 32 heel stitches on each side of your magic loops. (16 each needle if you are working on dpns.)

Work in stockinette stitch until piece measures 1.5 inches short of desired length.

* (I crocheted a 20 stitch chain with a size C hook. I picked up and knit 16 stitches from the purl bumps.)

Knit Short Row Toe

Backwards Yarn Over

Work across 32 heel stitches.

K 31, turn, BYO.

K 30, turn, BYO.

K 29, turn, BYO.

K 28, turn, BYO.

K 27, turn, BYO.

K 26, turn, BYO.

K 25, turn, BYO.

K 24, turn BYO.

K 23, turn, BYO.

K 22, turn, BYO.

K 21, turn, BYO.

K 20, turn, BYO.

K 19, turn BYO.

K 18, turn, BYO.

K 17, turn, BYO.

K 16, turn, BYO.

K 16, turn, BYO. (From now on, you will make a second backwards yarn overs next to this stitch.)

Two wraps, about to knit 16

K 16, turn, BYO. (Again, you'll have two backwards yarn overs on the end.)

K 16, K3tog (two backwards yarn overs and 1 regular stitch knit together), turn, BYO.

The two purple stitcches and aqua stitch below will be K3tog.

K 17, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 18, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 19, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 20, K3tog, turn BYO.

K 21, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 22, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 23, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 24, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 25, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 26, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 27, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 28, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K 29, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K30, K3tog, turn, BYO.

K31, K3tog. Do not turn. Knit across all 32 instep stitches.

When you get to the first heel stitch, SSSK--slip that first stitch as if to knit, slip both backwards yarn overs as if to knit, then knit all three together through the back. Then K31 to get back to beginning of round.

3 needle bind off, purlwise.

Either graft 32 toe stitches to 32 instep stitches or bind off with a purlwise 3 needle bind off.

Knit Leg

Pick up 16 stitches from provisional cast on and remove waste yarn. Pick up and knit 48 stitches along edge of heel. Join for working in the round. K 16 new stitches and 8 of the picked up stitches. Mark the next stitch as the beginning of round.

Begin broken garter stitch pattern. Work for 1 inch (or desired length.) You could omit this step and work in stockinette or rib.

Begin 2 by 2 rib. Continue for 4 inches, or desired length. Bind off loosely.

Weave in all ends, using yarn tails from heel to sew closed any gaps at the tips of the gussets. Block as desired.

Lizard Lady

They're still a bit damp, but I had to put them on. These socks are squishy and comfy. I can't wait to spend a snowy Saturday wearing them.

The new love in my life is the afterthought star heel. I am the strange kind of person who actually looks forward to grafting toes, but I wanted to try something new. I did one sock with K2tog and one with SSK for funsies.

The effect of the short rows is much more subtle with the Noro yarn, but you can still see it if you look. The rhythm of the knitting is addictive. The "bubbles" pushed me through each pattern repeat, kind of like entrelac. Just one more...

I wish my husband was here to take great photos of my finished projects. I'm not a photographer and neither are the kids.

Green and Purple Nurple

Today I convinced all three kids to eat Brussels sprouts. Then I made this yarn.

I finished a pair of Lizard Ridge Socks (Ravelry link) this weekend and they are blocking. I will always think of them as Purple Nurple socks because of the color and the short rows. They got much softer and smoother after a bath. It's been one of the most exciting blocking experiences of my knitting career. (I live a very quiet life.) I can't wait to wear them and get some modeled photos.