Project 14: Patriotic Socks (for [complainy] Pants)

SWTC's Karaoke, with it's renowned felting properties, is a dodgy choice for a sock yarn.

This is why I was making these footies for myself. I know they'll felt like the dickens, so I'll take care of them and only wear them around the house.

However, as I was knitting along, having just turned the heels, watching My Name is Earl, Pants started kvetching about the two single (sadly, unmatching) socks that I've knit him and bitching about the fact that I'm making these for myself while his giant (size 11!) feet go shiveringly naked.

They were turning out a bit loose for me, so when he grabbed them and forced his feet into them, they fit him, slightly stretched , but for being rather too short.

So I put the knitting away and the next day, on the train, ripped out the painstakingly crafted (ok, not really) heels, added a few inches to the foot length and reheeled them.

The following day, we set off for Newcastle to visit with friends and I finished them, but for the sewn cast-off, on the road. Hence the charmingly art directed (by pants, no less) photograph of an almost completed sock, artfully arranged upon manly foot, delicately nestled against Land Rover steering wheel (taken outside the Newcastle Ent Cent).

We had slept in the back of the truck at the beach the previous night, two fatties spooning on a single blow up mattress, nuzzled between hard steel wheel arches, so we were, shall we say, not in the greatest mood the next morning when we awoke.

I waited until I'd done something stupid (I can't remember what, but it's an unfortunate habit of mine, and one of the differences that keep our relationship strong, to have a logic that is truly my own and not necessarily reflected in the greater world's logic) before I told him to shut up, because I'd been knitting away on a PAIR!!! of socks for him all weekend.

It was a good ploy, and one that I must remember for when he has his cranky pants on in the future. I believe this is sometimes called bribery.




Pattern: toe up, two at once with a reverse heel flap

Yarn: South West Trading Company Karaoke in Gator, 2 skeins

Needles: 3.75mm circ

Made for: Pants

Ravelry Link

Why patriotic? Imagine (as I choose to) that the blue isn't there, which isn't too difficult when they're covered by giant (did I mention size 11!?!) cons, and you've got a green and gold sock that i knit 'Oi' into each ankle of. As in, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi! Oi! Oi!

Project 13: Tiny socks for Milly

A quick knitting interlude in the turbulent weeks just past, a pair of tiny socks for a tiny arrival in the family, my cousin's brand new babe.

Very simply constructed, wedge toes, heel flap, stockinette foot, ribbed legs. Nice, brainless knitting.

Pattern: made up

Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Miami in Miami Red

Needles: 2mm circ

Made for: Milly

Ravelry Link

Bumblebee

Hand-dyed merino/nylon sock.
Spiraling Bumblebee.

GAH!!!

I've developed a bad habit of pronouncing Edinburgh as though it were spelled phonetically. I'll admit it, it irks my hairy Scot, and that's generally a motivating factor, but yesterday I did it in front of his Glaswegian parents and felt like a tool.

It seems I'm incapable of posting without a photo, so here are some fuzzy feet that have been sitting in my 'to be felted' box for a few weeks. I've a few projects in there, I think I'm scared of ruining them.

Soaps in Socks

I love these little soaps, they're made of a 100% wool single that is really drifty and felts really nicely. I used Sean Sheep Armytage for these, but it's very much like Brown Sheep Lambs's Pride Worsted in feeling (not in content, though).

I cranked these out on my little vintage toy knitting machine. Pants say that it's vintage because it's more than 30 years old, it's been banging around for ages, it's lost the tensioner and I'm not sure where the book is (hence, not knowing exactly how old it is).

Anyway, a few years ago, I moved and couldn't find the book and it was IMPOSSIBLE to find directions online, so hopefully this will help anyone googling vintage toy circular knitting machine instructions.

So, what follows is my pattern for soaps in socks. I sell these, so please only use this pattern and tutorial for personal use, charity crafting and gifts. It is not for commercial use.


This is my machine, which I believe is from the early 70s (I need to find that book!). To start a tube, all you do is thread a few inches of yarn through the centre of the machine, then, starting with the coloured needle (which is really kind of a hook, but they're called needles) wrap the yarn under the first needle and behind the second, continuing until you're back before the coloured needle.

It's really important that you do this first step loosely, because otherwise, the machine will get stuck and make a terrible grinding noise.

Now, with the yarn threaded under the hook of each needle, crank 20 rounds of the machine. The handle turns more than once for each revolution of the barrel, so count the number of times the coloured needle passes.

Once you have gone around 20 times, stop and cut the yarn tail to about six inches (more or less, depending on your preference and your adeptness with a darning needle).

Thread your darning needle with the yarn tail and use it to catch each loop as it comes off each needle, as you crank slowly around. Once they are all on the darning needle, slip them onto the yarn tail and tighten the loop as far as you can, then secure it. Because these are being felted and will lose some of the stitch definition, I thread the yarn through the knitting and tie a knot, weave the end for an inch or so and then clip.

Place your soap into the soap sock and tighten the beginning tail of the yarn to snug, and secure as for the other end. Lovely Zephyrama suggested that you crochet the yarn end into a chain to make a handle. Nice!

Your soap is now ready to use. Because you've used a feltable wool, the sock will tighten with use and create a nice, scrubby surface.

Enjoy!

It should possibly be noted that there are modern toy knitting machines on the market, I believe there is a Barbie branded one. I haven't used one of these, but my research has indicated that they're pretty crap, the tension is impossible and they break after a few revolutions. I guess they don't make them like they used to.

If you ever see one of these old machines around, pick it up, there are some fun things to be made, from toys to knit suffolk puffs (yoyos) and scarves. I'll try to find the book and scan some photos of the tremendously retro suggestions.

I should probably add, if you don't have a machine, or couldn't be bothered making your own, I'm selling these in various colours for $5 US plus postage ($7AU, inc postage within Aus).

Autumnal!

Autumnal Detail
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

Autumnal is finished, bringing my Christmas gift knitting total to... one.

*cough*

Pattern: Autumnal, designed by me

Yarn: Tactile Fibre Arts sport

Needles: 2.5mm Addi Lace

Made for: Mumsie

Dodgy

Dodgy
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

One of the good things about the rediculously well-stocked garage Pants maintains is that you can pretty much always dodgy yourself up a darning needle out of a coil of wire shoved on a shelf out the very back.

It's not ideal, I went and bought six real ones today, but it does in a pinch.

Gorgeous yarn

tactile
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

This is the yarn I'm using for my autumnal sock and it's GORGEOUS.

Hand dyed using natural dyes (leaves and insects, which is awesome) but the very talented Maia, I won this skein in a competition on her blog.

This is seriously amazing wool, 100% superwash and the colours! My goodness. Plus, you know, I've unravelled the heel three times and it's still in perfect condition.

Maia doen't have anything up on her website, Tactile Fibre Arts, at the moment, but I'm watching like a hawk, because I must have more.

My mum is going to love these socks, she caught a glimpse yesterday afternoon. I hid them quickly, but she looked rather smug.

Where is my mind?

Autumnal progress
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

This is the second sock of Autumnal, the first time I attempted the heel.

Yeah, first time, I've just started on the leg after my fourth attempt was finally successful.

I don't know what my problem is. The first attempt ended up really narrow after I somehow managed to get my stitches divided unevenly somewhere in the foot. The second attempt I just wasn't paying attention and I botched it.

The third attempt was at the Tapestry Craft S&B tonight, where I was talking too much and not watching enough and missed a decrease. Moron.

Now, however, it's done, as is one of the 11 pattern repeats, which makes me a very happy girl.

I'm secretly hoping to finish and cast on Pants' mum's socks tomorrow. This time I'm doing both at the same time, which will hopefully be less confusing.

Autumnal foot

Autumnal foot
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

I started designing this sock on October 31.
I call it autumnal, in honour of the gorgeous Tactile Fibre Arts yarn. It's for my mother for Christmas and as soon as I've made it and another pair for Pants' mama for Chirstmas, I'll be publishing the pattern.

Firestarters!

multi blue louet
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

On my flight to Brisbane yesterday (yes, traveling for business again) I cast on a firestarters.

Well, I cast on a toe using Judy's magic toe and then stalled until I could get to my hotel room and find an appropriate toe-up patten.

I'm only on my second repeat (busy up here, too busy) but I messed up the first one.

Oh well, turns out I'm the kind of knitter who lives with her mistakes.

Grasshopper

Grasshopper
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

This grasshopper rode the train to work on my foot on Monday morning.

He crawled around on there for 30 minutes or so before I moved him onto my book and then onto the floor.

A few years ago, I was riding my motorcycle when a grasshopper crawled up my trouser leg and bit me.

Sumo Sock

Spiraling Sumo Sock Peach Schnapps & Cranberry
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

Hand-dyed Sumo Sock in Peach Schnapps & Cranberry, my drink of choice. Sometimes.

This stuff knits up into socks in no time, but I think I'm going to cast on a bainbridge scarf.

Pants Sock

Pants Sock
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

Aparently, no one has ever knit anything for Pants, which makes me (and his mum, frankly) terribly remiss.

To whit, I've started a pair of socks. I cast on last weekend around the campfire at Bendalong.

Since this photo was taken yesterday, I've caught two flights, so the heel is done and about an inch of foot.

I'm away on business for four days, so I'll have to stop before I get to the toe so he can try it on.

I'm really happy with the yarn, though, it's Opal Prisma.

Nephling Sock

nephling sock
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

Teeny, tiny sock, just perfect for my teeny, tiny soon-to-be-nephew.

Now I just have to make the other one...

simple sock

simple sock
Originally uploaded by wearespiraling

Socks! Oh, how I love socks. They're so quick and mindless, especially a simple cuff-down stocking stitch number like this, with a basic hourglass heel.

This badboy is all mine, made from Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solids in Hot Pink and Turquoise.

Perfect road trip knitting.