Oct 05 2006
I Knit Too!
Lest you think that I only write posts about Socktoberfest, I wanted to prove that I am actually making socks this month too! Sock knitting comes slower for me than other garment and accessory knitting. I have whipped up a sweater in ten days, but socks take me weeks upon weeks. However, this has not squelched my love of socks - it just takes me longer to get a product!
Festive, no? 
This sock has taken so long, it feels like I should count it as a finished object by itself!
This detail (blocking on a wine bottle, I might add) is a great representation of the natural color of the yarn, which is Three Waters Farm Handpainted Merino from Maryland Sheep and Wool festival. These socks have been notoriously difficult to photograph throughout the process. The lace panel is quite fun to work through, and I find myself looking forward to sock 2. I started this sock at the end of July (right before Project Spectrum's neutral month). At this speed, is sock 2 a possibility before 2007? I hope Socktoberfest can help me with that! 
Just as a reminder, this sock was originally planned to be a knee high, as seen here in the Winter 2004 Interweave Knits magazine. They were inspired by a mid-90s Vivienne Westwood design[seen here at Anna's site], and adapted and changed by knitwear designer, Kristin Spurkland. However, it became clear that with the lace panel and no calf-shaping built into the pattern, it was not going to be a knee high. I am very happy with the length, however, and they will be worn frequently, because brown is my obsession. I am already planning outfits around the socks!
Now… to move on to the second one!
However, with the premiere of LOST last night, I could not get bogged down in the lace chart of that sock. I had not planned on starting these, but it just kind of happened… (was anyone else slightly disappointed with the premiere? I hope they pick it up)
I bought the lovely Greetings from Knit Café book over the summer with a gift certificate (I won *bingo* at the company picnic!) and there are many patterns that I like in the book, but I knew I had to have these socks (see the theme here? I can't seem to get knee socks outta my mind!)
CANYON HIKING SOCKS from Knit Café
My version:
Dark Rose Heather colorway of Lion Brand Wool Ease - It's been in my stash for ages, and I played around a little with the needles and got a nice gauge swatch. I am also planning a dark pink/purple stripe around the calf section, like the model photograph above, except in one color. Working these on size 5 (3.75mm) needles might actually give me some quick(er) results too - But, no promises!
those will go quick on #5’s! That is what I knit my dad’s socks on and I couldn’t belive how fast they went! The stripes will look really great with that pink heather color - valentines socks!
The leaf not knee highs are so pretty. I’m such a brown lover….
I think they will knit up really quick on 5’s!
I love the leaf socks. What a great pattern!
Just in case you haven’t had a chance to check out the corrections since there are some for the sock you’re working on:
http://www.knitcafe.com/bookcorrections.html
Your color combination sounds lovely!
Ooh, I love that color of Wool Ease!
Lovely leaf socks! That is my kind of sock blocker
I don’t know why I never thought of this with all the wine bottles we have…
Premier of Lost? We have just finished series 2 in the UK..is that series 3? Sorry, I am as obsessed with Lost as I am knitting!
I love the purple sock.
So glad I’m not the only one who takes a long time on socks (though you’re much quicker than me, like everyone else, LOL). This is my first Socktoberfest & it seems like such a good time. I can’t wait to see those Wool-Ease socks because my 2nd pair were knit with that.
Beautiful hand painted yarn!! nice work of the complicated looking pattern! The thicker yarn does make for a faster knit!
Enjoy your knitting as well as ours this month!
socks take me forever to knit too! i don’t know why that is. you would think that because they’re smaller, they would knit up faster. huh. so strange
oooh…socks! They take me a long time too…but when they’re done…so rewarding!
Haha, this post is really funny to read and scroll down (last pic), I’m in the same state of mind, about kneehigh’s.
Just can’t get the right amount of stitches. Will cast on my third attempt this evening…
The lace sock is just beautiful, looks so intricate. And I never would have thought of using a wine bottle to block, ingenious!
Glad it’s not just me that thought Lost was a bit underwhelming last night, I mean, Downtown?!?
Ooooohhh nice socks.
I don’t know how the Wool Ease wears for you, but I knit my 6′6″ husband some over the knee socks with a neutral color and after the 3rd time wearing them both had a hole in the bottom of the heel. I was so disapointed. He was so sad as well because he knew that I worked so hard on them and he loved them. (we do Rev. War re-enactments - hence the long socks). I wouldn’t want that to happen to you. I was told after the fact that it was completely the wrong yarn to use. But that is what I have experienced and was told, it might not happen to everyone and my hubby might be hard on hand knit socks. I know that he can only get a year out of the store bought socks.
Good luck - I can’t wait to see them as you progress.
The socks are beautiful!
Nice socks!
I have some of that wool ease in my stash.. Now I really dont feel so bad it taking em a while to make one sock.
10 days to make a sweater?? You are my hero
Lost was a little lost last nite!! Maybe next week will get more intense.
Both pair are just lovely, Lolly! Rose colored socks are a particular favorite of mine, as would be evident if I was bold enough to photograph my sock yarn stash.
Beautiful!! I like the rose colored also…
Knee sock party at Lolly’s house, woo! I like those socks in the Knit Cafe book and I think the idea of making htem in wool cotton, a great yarn, is a good one. I’m sure yours will look lovely in that pretty shade of wool ease. The leaf ones are so pretty, you should get a move on so you can sport them this fall.
I love how the sock came out! It’s gorgeous! I’m so excited for the Taos Wool festival. Is there anything special you are looking for that I can keep an eye out for?
I love your new lace sock, and I definately think each individual sock counts as an FO…thats why I hardly ever knit 2 socks from the same pair in a row! Knee sock love must be in the air, or the Maryland water: I just promised my sister a pair of sparkly pink ones in the new year. I really like the shade of wool-esae you are using to do yours, I have made 2 beaded purses as gifts out of it, and think it knits up GREAT. Enjoy and good luck making it all the way to the knee this time.
Your sock is beautiful L! It doesn’t matter how long it takes to make them…as long as you love the end result. Your newest socks should work up really fast on 5’s. Sometimes we need fast and fun projects.
Great, so your personal challenge for socktoberfest are knee highs also
I have some Wool Ease on the needles as well (in off-white) but for a baby blanket for one of my sisters. I guess I picked it up at W*l-Mart while we still lived in the US.
Best wishes
Petra
The sock looks great! The knee highs are going to be fabulous in those colors!
I LOOOOVE the knee highs. I may run out and buy the book now.
Amy
knee highs are the IT thing this fall, for sure! these look like fun.
LOST - I hope they find a direction… they seem lost in where they want the plot to go
I’m with you on the knee socks obsession. Fall is the perfect time for knee socks. I’m almost finished with some thigh highs and have an outfit already planned out to wear with them.
Beautiful socks! I love the color and the pattern.
I agree, the new episode of Lost was a bit disappointing. It left so very many questions unanswered, questions hanging from season 1 and especially from the last episode of season 2!
beautiful socks!. I too have had a thing for knee highs lately…. but since I haven’t figured out what to wear with them, they have been started (yet) - although I have definately begun my socks for this month - and I plan on knitting all the ‘mates’ to the ones I’ve knit thus far this year.
Knee highs sound very appealing this time of year.
That sock is AWESOME - and I actually got inspired via the wine bottle blocking. I would love to make knee highs, but somehow, can’t get myself started - and can’t figure out how to wear them. I always loved the knee high as a teen, but…..they always fell down.
On the Lost tip - loved the first three minutes, couldn’t stand the Jackback.
Love the sock Lolly! The wine bottle is a great touch! Did you drink the wine first??
Gorgeous socks! A wine bottle as a blocking device… Does that work?
I love the knee highs too.
That book does have gorgeous patterns in it doesnt it. I love your new sock, and I hope it doesnt take too long to knit the next one.
I’ve been wanting to knit a pair of knee socks for the longest, so I hope you get those done!
I’m still posting about Socktoberfest. I think this is a great way to motivate me to post everyday, well almost everyday. Thanks Lolly, for setting up such an amazing event.
Love the socks! It really is a gorgeous color.
I’m also planning some knee highs using Wool Ease. I’m looking forward to being able to wear them on a cold fall/winter night - depending on how long it takes me to whip them up.
What was UP with Lost last night? It’s like a different show!
I know what you mean about Lost - I only managed one row of my shawl, since I could only knit during the commercials! Great looking sock, btw! And, I’m excited to see your progress on Julia’s hiking socks - they’re so cute!
USE REINFORCEMENT!! I have made lots of stash socks out of woolease and it doesn’t last long. But with a strand of wooly nylon in the heel and toe you’ll get a couple of year out of it. I’m wearing a pair right now that might be that same color.
Hey, Lolly, nice looking socks! I can see why it would take so long, those are some complicated looking patterns! But really beautiful…I’m totally obsessed with LOST, too. This episode just wasn’t as exciting as last season. I found that I could cook while watching, where as usually I just sit in front of the tv with my mouth hanging open.
About the woolease, I use it to knit afghans (which hold up awesome!) but I knit a pair of socks for the hubby. Guess I’ll have to watch the heels on those this winter.
By the way, what’s good cheap stash yarn to use for socks? I can’t stand red heart - too stiff - what about Caron Simply Soft? Anybody? I’m trying to make some really warm, thick socks for Dulaan, and of course, I want them to last.
Purly Girl - I just knit a hat for my dad out of CSS, and I don’t know if I’d recomend it for socks, because its kind of…floppy? His had was very soft and comfy, but it was also VERRRY fall overy - I can envision the socks kind of sagging.
I *love* those canyon socks, too! I almost want to buy the book just for that pattern! We don’t have it at the library :). Maybe I should talk someone into ordering it for us! LOL! I can’t wait to see your progress on them.
Wool Ease! I just found some gray in my stash (from a long time ago). I was wondering what I’d do with it and I love the idea of socks. Maybe I’ll make some nice thick ones for my sister for Christmas. I’m obsessed with knee highs right now too.
Love the finished lace sock…sooo pretty! I too was slightly disappointed with the LOST premiere. I mean, it was good, but nothing really happened. I think this season will be awesome though.
I wish it got cold enough here to warrant knitting worsted weight socks. They sure work up faster than those sock weight ones!
Yay! I’m so happy to see you like the socks I designed. Little did we know when we were working on GFKC that knee-highs would be such a craze. I want to knit a pair for myself as well (which will spend most of their time under boots), but with teal as the main color. When you finish them, I’d love to get a final FO photo. It’s so fun to see what people do with my patterns. I think the wool-ease will be quite nice!
I really like the sock. You did a great job. I was disappointed in the LOST premier also. Hopefully it will get better, otherwise I’ll just have to watch something else. Have a good weekend.
Love your leaf socks! They have great texture. Your knee highs are going to go super quick, love the color you picked out!
You are doing what I am doing today, knitting up sock swatches! I am trying to learn how knit a pair of socks in a different pattern other than plain for Socktoberfest. I have had a heck of a time learning, frogging and starting over but I will succeed! I hope…..:)
Love the color of that Wool-Ease. Ya know, i’ve yet to work with Wool-Ease, don’t even have any in my dwindling stash.
The only yarn i bought at MS&W, i made into a scarf, “Wavy” from Knitty. The yarn was from Thorne Farms, friends of ours from our local UU Church. I wish i’d bought a third hank to make the scarf a bit longer…it’s a lovely shade of “Spring Green” to remind me of the Spring to come when were piled in with snow. :::grin:::
I never doubted that you knit socks!
~Suz~
Festive, yes! Can’t wait to see the new knee highs too.
Gorgeous sockies, Lolly! So glad you have a minute to knit some
for yourself while sharing all this Socktoberfest goodness with the
rest of us mere mortals! Cheers! - janis
What amuses me is that the first picture looks remarkably like the colorway of the socks I’m working on now (even if it’s not the actual color of your yarn, as you note).
And the wool-ease … I think I have a skein of that. As I recall, my mom gave it to me while she was destashing.
Coincidence? You decide.
I love wearing knee high socks in the winter. But they can be hard to find in stores. I am going to try them, eventually. Need to finish my first pair first! The leaf sock is so beautiful.
Your sock is so gorgeous, and looks VERY complicated, no wonder it’s taken you so long… juts beautiful!
xx
[...] Yarn: Three Waters Farm Merino in "Etudes in Brown" colorway Source: Maryland Sheep and Wool 2006 purchase Pattern: "Lace Knee Highs" from Interweave Knits, Winter 2004 Needles: Inox size 2.5mm (US 1.5) metal Notes: Features and inspiration noted here [...]