Gusset Heel Socks

Inspired by a knit-along for the Socks From The Toe Up book at Ravelry, I combined a recently Kool-Aid dyed yarn with a basic toe-up pattern. The yarn is Kirjo-Pirkka from Pirkanmaan Kotityö Oy, originally white, dyed with six bags of Grape and one bag of Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade flavored Kool-Aid. I was originally going for a more solid color, but it didn't turn out that way, and I'm actually quite happy with how it turned out. I didn't want to combine it with a complicated sock pattern, though, so I thought this Gusset Heel Basic Socks pattern would be a good match. The needles were 2.0 mm. The socks are a pretty good fit, but due to the wider than usual toe cast on for me, the toe is a but too roomy.

This post wraps up year 2009 for my blog. I'm looking forward to 2010 as a productive knitting year! Thanks to everyone who has commented on my posts during this first year. I don't always reply to the comments, but I read and am thankful for every one of them.

The Ravelry project page

Simple Coriolis Socks

These socks were a Christmas gift to my sister, so I can safely blog about them now that the gifts have been given out. Knit with Fleece Artist Sea Wool I got from a craft fair in November, and size 2.25 mm needles, these were a fun knit and something I will want to knit again. These were based on the Simple Master Coriolis pattern in New Pathways For Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi. It was also my first time using Sea Wool, as I've been experimenting with different sock yarns lately. I wouldn't mind using this yarn again. The socks were such a good fit for me I would not have minded keeping them myself!

The Ravelry project page

Riverbed Socks

Continuing with the comfort knitting theme, here's another pair of (mostly) easy socks that I actually finished a week ago. Based on the Riverbed Master Pattern from New Pathways For Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi, knit with Handmaiden Fine Yarn Casbah Sock and 2.5 mm needles. It was the first pattern I finished from the book that I've had for a while now, and the heel turned out a bit too roomy. Setting up the heel had me confused and frustrated for a while, but, in any case, I prefer doing the flap heel this way, toe up, and not having to pick up stitches. I predict there will be several more pairs knit based on the patterns in this book in the near future. All the required math is a bit aggravating in the beginning, but once you figure it out, it gets much easier.

The Ravelry project page