10 February 2010 · 7 Comments
As promised – Graupel. Just in time for your Olympic knitting pleasure!
I’m sure it’s terribly conceited of me to say it, but I’m awfully pleased with these. I know, I like them all (I’m hardly going to put out a pattern I don’t like, now am I?), but these are really rather special.
They start out with a lovely crisp ribbing. It’s a ridiculously simple 4 row repeat that you’ll have memorized in no time at all. Once you’re done with that, you make a nice neat heel flap with a tiny little decoration down each side to keep things interesting. A basic gusset is next. Then comes my favorite part – the nifty arch shaping. I promise it’s easier than it looks, and it produces a really marvelous effect. After all that excitement you’re due for a quiet spell, so after the shaping you just knit straight until you’re ready for the toes.
These work for men or women (really, if you do them in a dark color, they look textured not lacy and will pass muster with most guys). They’re written for 2 sizes, and by using either thick or thin sock yarn, you can create them in most any size from a women’s small through a men’s large. The pattern also includes instructions for continuing the ribbing straight down the foot without the arch shaping, just in case you want some more conservative socks.
If you need to make some yourself, just click here!
8 February 2010 · No Comments
It seems you all did an excellent job of sending the sun my way this weekend. While the coast was getting their exciting wee blizzard, we got 2 inches on Saturday and lovely bright sunshine on Sunday. See? I’m overly amused by how well the socks and the fence match. I’m sure this speaks poorly of my character, but that’s just the way it is.
4 February 2010 · No Comments
You want Graupel, Graupel you shall have. I will release it later this month and then release Caprice in March. A few people have mentioned that they’d like to have the pattern for some of the various Olympic themed knitting events they’re participating in. The pattern is done, so I can totally do that. I’ll plan to put it up Thursday the eleventh. Of course this does mean I absolutely positively must get pictures taken this weekend. If you see the sun, send it this way.
For any of you dedicated athletes out there who want to start training (ie swatching) now, I should offer a note about size and gauge. This sock is stretchy – astonishingly stretchy. It’s also written in 2 sizes. There are also a whole lot of sock yarn thicknesses floating around out there. Stretchy design + 2 sizes + variety of sock yarns means you can likely get these to fit just about anyone. In general, I suggest that you aim for a gauge of about 8.5 stitches per inch in thin sock yarn and about 7.5 stitches per inch in thick sock yarn. At those gauges, the small size in a thin sock yarn will fit a small woman’s foot, the small size in a thick sock yarn will fit a medium/large woman’s foot, the large size in a thin sock yarn will fit a large/extra large woman’s or medium man’s foot, and the large size in a thick sock yarn will fit a large/extra large man’s foot. I’m pretty darn confident you can make this fit.
Now go find a fetching track suit and don’t forget to stretch.
31 January 2010 · 10 Comments
I am a child of the 80s. As such, “Choose Your Own Adventure” books play an alarming role my memories of my distant youth. The writing was contrived, the illustrations dreadful, and yet they still filled me with an unreasonable fascination. In honor of their (doubtless unsavory) influence, I’m letting you choose your next knitting adventure.
I have two patterns ready to go, Graupel (on the left) and Caprice (on the right). Click on either to see gigantic versions if you’re so inclined. One will be released in February and the other in March. You pick. I will take it as a given that they are both lovely and eagerly anticipated. I promise I won’t feel slighted on behalf of the one that doesn’t win. Leave a comment saying which you prefer, and the one with the most votes by Friday or so will be the next pattern I release.
26 January 2010 · 2 Comments
So the weekend bit didn’t work out. It was cold and rainy. I am valiant enough to hang about in the snow to get pictures, but not the rain. The snow came back today, so I dashed out for a quick snap, just to prove that they really are done. Alas, this is not a pattern-worthy photo, so I still have to wait a bit before I can start wearing them full time. It is, however, enough to tease you with. See?
23 January 2010 · 2 Comments
Graupel are done, and they are taunting me. There they lay…finished…blocked…totally ready to go. And yet, they are not on my feet. That’s because I don’t have good pictures of them, and the rule is ‘no wearing the socks till they’re photographed.’ At least it’s a weekend, which increases the number of people around during daylight hours, and thus dramatically increases the chances of getting photos. With any luck at all I’ll be wearing them tomorrow and I’ll have finished sock photos to post some time shortly after that.
