Finally…

…a finished pair of socks!

Dumbledore’s Blueberry Smoothie Christmas Stockings are off the needles and ready to wear.

The pattern was easy to knit with the included charts. Just knits and purls. No slipped stitches (other than the heel flap). No crossover stitches.

I used 64 grams of Knit Picks Stroll Bare that I dyed myself and 10 grams of Stroll in Dutchess Heather for the toes. If a toe gets a hole, it’s easier to rip out the contrast yarn and reknit for repairs. The leftovers include 41 grams of the Blueberry Smoothie and 5 grams of the Duchess Heather. Maybe enough for a pair of shortie socks??

The texture would work well for any dye lots that might pool, however, that was not an issue. In fact, I like the plain stockinette stitches just as much as the texture stitches.

I showed these to my neighbor and she asked who I made them for. Don’t know. Perhaps mine. Then she said that they were too pretty to wear. They might be colorful but that doesn’t bother me anymore. The last picture is closest to the true colors.

Two more things…. 1. Mr. Aitch’s brother is home and doing well. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. 2. Pepper is six months old and starts school on Friday. Fingers crossed that she is a good student. And that I’m a good student, too.

Blueberry socks

I managed to wind this hank of hand-dyed yarn (named Blueberry Smoothie) before Pepper came home with us. Since I was having knitting-needle-sock withdrawal, I cast on for a pair of socks: Dumbledore’s Christmas Stockings by Erica Lueder.

I liked the texture and thought it would help avoid any pooling that sometimes occurs with hand-dyed yarn.

In fact, I’m not seeing any pooling.

The bottom of the foot looks so great in plain old stockinette stitch that I’m thinking I’d rather have a basic vanilla sock to show off the fabulous dye job! I really don’t want to rip this back since I’ve already knit past the heel.

Decisions, decisions….

Karate Kid Syncopation Socks

I may have mentioned in my last post how much I 💕💝 these socks. It is my favorite all-time pair of socks that I’ve knit so far!

The Syncopation pattern is toe-up but I prefer to knit top-down. The textured pattern works quite well either way. I’ve used this particular pattern three times, toe-up once and top-down twice.

My Karate Kid grandson dyed the yarn in June and I overdyed it in August for a deeper, richer green and blue colorway. Some of the original light green is still visible in spots which gives the yarn such depth.

Eye of Partridge heel

I knit these in nine days, quick for me, as I was under self-imposed pressure to get these in the mail before Christmas.

And to add a surprise…

..red toes! That will make it easier (I hope) to lengthen and/or repair in the future.

My focus has turned away from knitting socks for a while but I do have some other projects to share later.

Mr. Aitch and I do wish you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. 🎄

After the untangling

After untangling the yarn, spending a few more days helping my sister, seeing our grandkids one more time*, and getting my ankle working right**, I finally got back to my knitting.

One November sock finished and the second sock started.

This pattern isn’t hard at all but does require some fine motor skills when doing the Honeycomb Knit stitch. Fortunately, it’s only once every six rows.

I’m really liking the stitch definition on the leg portion and will try to get this second sock finished soon. The depth of color is awesome!

My grandson’s redyed socks are next up…and I can choose the pattern myself!!

*********

*Our two grandkids that only live an hour and a half away are moving. Today. To Michigan. That’s about a 7-8 hour drive.

**I started physical therapy on my left ankle/foot to get some relief from the Achilles Tendonitis that has been plaguing me for several months. It’s a slow process but seems to be working.