Jun 14 2007
Take a Hike!
My my, it feels nice to get these socks off of the needles and onto my feet! I cast on for these socks during last year’s Socktoberfest – and I just finished them! Of course, they hibernated for most of the winter (when I could have worn them!), and I considered ripping them out. However, I knew they would be cozy and pretty useful, so I picked them up again a few weeks ago as I tried to clear out my knitting basket.
Canyon Hiking Socks
Pattern Source: Hiking Socks from Greetings from Knit Café
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease, for the main color;
recycled wool from thrift store cardigan for contrast
Needles: Size US 6 DPNs
These socks were fun, simple, and a great stashbusting project. I used about 2.5 balls of Wool Ease and about 40 yards of recycled wool for these socks. Once I devoted some time to them, I finished them pretty quickly. However, I did make a mistake on sock two and didn’t watch my gauge, and I got more of a legwarmer than a sock – I ripped that out and re-knit the gusset, and foot and the fit was much better the second time around. I have some other worsted weight yarns in the stash that could use a fun and functional pattern like this!
The pattern was easy to follow, and would be a good project for a beginning sock knitter. The knitting goes so much faster when you use bigger needles – size 6s almost feel like turbo rockets compared to my usual size 1 fare!
…and they are quite comfortable too! a little warm for this summer heat, but they will be perfect for hikes in the woods or to snuggle in next winter. The wool content will help “wick” away moisture, and they may even come in handy for my Peru trip this summer!
PS–who knew that knitters were such lushes!?! (takes one to know one!) I have a very long shopping list for the next trip(s) to the wine shop! Thanks for all of your feedback and recommendations 
The socks look great!
Very cool (I mean warm) socks. I love the shaping. Very flattering.
Yay, they’re done! What a great color!
Lovely knee socks! Hurray for finishing up lingering projects into wearable objects! Great job!
I’d love to know how the Wool-Ease holds up. I have some in the sport weight hanging around in this stash and might like some basic boot socks…
Those look great. I too would love to know how they hold up for hiking. Please post an update after a couple of tests!
Fabulous hose! I never thought of using Wool-Ease for socks.
Those socks look fab!! I’ve been looking at doing those for a while now… I just may need to copy you.
Great job on those, very cute!
Those socks are TOO CUTE!!! I have been thinking of knitting some knee-highs myself.
Yay! I love how your socks turned out!
Oh…they are so beautiful! I love how perfectly they fit your shapely legs. Excellent work.
very cool. I love the location of the stripes. really kicks it up a notch.
those are lovely!!
So cozy! Great stripes.
And like Liz, I’d love to know how the Wool Ease does over time.
Clearing your knitting basket? Oh, how good must that feel! Lovely socks and photos. The colors are gorgeous together.
Those socks are beautiful!!!!
they look great! in a few months you’ll be thrilled that you made them.
i’m curious about the thickness. do you think you’ll have to lace up your boots a little looser? i have some woolease and encore in the stash and they would work up really nicely in this pattern!
Adorable!
I love the socks! Those will be so nice and cozy come winter. And about the wine… ahem… are you really that surprised? After all, there a reason we have to tell each other that friends don’t let friends knit under the influence! =)
Beautiful color! Definately too warm for now, but you’ll love them once the cold kicks in again.
Lovely job on the walking socks, and the colours go really well together. My drink of choice is normally fruit juice – unfermented!
i fell in love with that book when it came out and bought it immediately. now i know why – your socks are perfect!!
they look great, love the color! i think they will be so cute come fall with a little skirt!
Let’s hear it for socks on size 6 needles!!!
I was looking at that pattern the other day. I love yours!
Yay for getting rid of lingering projects. This just might motivate me to finish up my lingering project, too!
Cute socks!
What goes better with knitting than wine? Tea and coffee are morning critters and beer is for when you want to party, but wine is for sipping and savouring along with a good pattern and better friends or a fab partner.
Awesome knee socks Lolly! I bet you’ll wear them a lot!
omg they’re beautiful! and so retro too!
You could say we’re lushes…or you could just say we enjoy the good things in life — like fabulous socks!
They’re so simple, yet so fabulous!!
yes. do bring warm clothing to peru. they are quite simple and beautiful.
yep, supercute! mmm comfy kneehighs …
Those socks are beauties!
Love, LOVE the colors. I just received Knit Cafe in the mail yesterday, and now that you’ve shown how awesome these socks look in Wool Ease, I don’t think I’ll be able to resist. They’ll be perfect for biking to work in the fall.
Great Socks! And you’re right, the perfect stashbusting project. I foresee many members of my family getting socks from this pattern for Christmas!!
i bet you could be wearing them today with this little “cool” spell we’re having
i have some wool ease socks in sport wt, and they are very comfortable. i too like the idea of knitting socks on a bigger needle … they go so much faster!
Very cute! I have some of that yarn too, and I think it has just found its purpose in life!
Those are really great socks!!
[oh, and I'm not that surprised about the "lushes" heh]
Very cute – and sexy Lolly!
They look awesome!
Very very cute Lolly!
So cute! I have been wanting to make kneesocks and I have that book.
Lolly, I love these! When I first ever thought of knitting socks, I imagined myself making thick delicious hiking socks. So how is that all I ever make are dainty little confections?
You’ve inspired me to think again about thick socks. Maybe making some would even get me back out on the trail this fall!
They look fantastic! I didn’t realize they were made with worsted weight…hmmm. Must be a faster knit than I realized. Might add these back to my To-Knit list.
Great job – excellent fit.
Adorable, Lolly! I want to make those!
Those are FANTASTIC socks, lolly!! I love the stripes and the fit – perfect for stashbusting!
Oh Lolly those are just fabulous!!!!
Awesome socks, Lolly! I am such a sucker for knee highs, and those are just too darling. I LURVE the pink combo.
Super cute! Oh, and the knitters being lushes…yeah, so knew that. LOL
very pretty!
I love the socks! I love them so much that I looked up the pattern because now I hafta make um. The pattern calls for size 3 needles and you used size 6. Did you get the gauge with 6′s? Did you have to adjust the pattern at all? Just curious. I have a lot of wool ease laying around. Also the good thing about wool ease is it is machine washable! YAY!
The look great lolly!
Those socks are great!! If I actually had free time right now, I might just make some for myself.