Let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him. (Oswalt Chambers)

Saturday, January 01, 2005

Socks, Socks, and Socks

Dorothy's Old Shale Two Yarn SocksDorothy over at Missouri Star is knitting this pair of Old Shale Two Yarn Socks. Aren't they pretty?

On her blog post for December 29 she humorously explains how she learned about the Eye of Partridge (EOP) heel. She didn't use the EOP on these socks, but I wouldn't be surprised if she gives it a try in the future.

Dorothy is a very accomplished knitter. Be sure to take a look at Dorothy's December 20 post to admire the beautiful Aran she knit for her husband and the Tilt she knit for her sister.


Blue Beads socks completedThe December/January Pink (actually blue) Beads socks for the Six Sock Knitalong are done.

The vivid blue yarn is Opal Uni-Solid 26. The socks were knit on US #1 Addi Turbo 24" circulars.

I have a strong personal preference toward some variation of ribbing in all my socks to help them hold their shape on the foot. These socks have a k5, p1 ribbing. The purl row goes between the two beads that are side by side on the pattern sheet.

If I were to knit this pattern again, I would put an extra knit row between the bead rows. The pattern didn't call for the extra row, however many of the Six Sock Knitalong members used one and their bead pattern looks cleaner than mine.

The slip stitch bead application is another reason my bead pattern looks muddled. Slip stitching is OK for a sparkly beaded effect, but when the beads are supposedly making a geometric pattern, the crochet hook method is more precise. (I say this based on the pictures I'm seeing in the knitalong album. I have no first hand knowledge of using a crochet hook to attach beads.)

Mom, the recipient, thinks the socks are perfect. Moms are like that. She'll be wearing them to senior exercise dance class. Her feet will be moving so fast that noone will notice the beads aren't attached with perfect precision.


CIC socks using the blue beads pattern in purl stitchesDuring the holiday hussle and bussle I needed something easy to knit, so I cast on a pair of CIC socks.

The little diamond pattern on the cuff is the pattern you're supposed to be able to see in the beads on the sock above.

These socks were knit with Cascade 220 on US #5 needles and 30 stitches around. They turned out a small child size and will be counted as my first CIC socks for 2005.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lovely socks! How do you use a crochet hook with beads? I have just finished my first beaded sock from the KAL and although I didn't have too much trouble with it, I do have a few beads that do not want to stay on the outside.

Anonymous said...

Marguerite - thanks for the nice press! I really am enjoying knitting your socks. Your beaded socks are lovely and I love the toddler socks. Inspired by you, one of my New Year's resolutions that I didn't post is to knit one pair of socks a month for CIC. I've got some Cascade 220 for the first pair and will cast on as soon as I finish my second Old Shale Two. Have a Happy New Year! Dorothy (Missouri Star)

Marsha said...

I think the beaded socks turned out lovely. Dorothy's socks look great too. I really want to start doing some projects for CIC too.

Marguerite said...

Yikes Jan! At that postage rate you could make a nice monetary donation to CIC and just forget the knitting.

Marguerite said...

I've never used a crochet hook to attach beads, but some of the posts on the Six Sox KAL have explained how to do it.

They use a tiny crochet hook and stick it right down the hole in the bead to pick up yarn which they then knit.

I'm having a hard time imagining a crochet hook that small, but I'm not a crocheter - yet. Someday I'm going to master it.