Getting ready for winter...

Once I started knitting again in early August, I couldn't stop. When I am knitting socks, I am obsessed. When I stop, I seem to forget how much I love it. I started this pair back in Feb or March. Finished one sock then moved on to other non-knitterly things. I'm glad to have them done as winter will be here before I know it. Yarn: ONline Supersocke 100 Spot Color
Color: Pink
Knit magic loop on 2.5mm needles. Smaller would have been better.
Stitch: Alternating Slip Stitch from Charted Knitting Designs, A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns. By Barbara G. Walker. Page 13.

Fun checkerboards

I got "stuck" on slip-stitch knitting for a while. This was my third slip-stitch pair in a row. No doubt there will be more. This design was just so easy and intuitive. Once the first repeat was done, the pattern wasn't even needed. Pattern: Karo Socken by Susan Moskwa (free on Ravelry)
Yarn: Heritage by Cascade
Magic loop, toe up. Altered to use the fleelge heel.
Needles: 2.25mm.
My second pair of socks with this brand yarn. I really like it.

Current favorite socks

As is typical, 'favorite' changes every time there is a new pair of socks off the needles. They just look so happy and fresh! Pattern: binsenkorbchen socks by Stephanie van der Linden (available free on Ravelry)
Yarn: Heritage yarn by Cascade
Magic loop, toe up
Needles: Toe 2.5mm, then switched to 2.75mm.
It needed smaller needles. I got 8spi with the 2.75mm but I prefer a denser fabric.

Slip stitch patterns are so wonderful. You get the fun of an interesting design but the simplicity of a fast and easy knit. Also, none of that 'ack they won't go over my heel' issues that come with fair isle (which I also adore).

Imagine....

this sock only the toe and two inches complete...

Amazing what a difference in patterns make for speed. Oddly, this sock is just flying. I've hardly put any time into knitting on it, yet I am already 3.5 inches into it. I better hurry and decide on a new to-go sock, because this one isn't going to last. Still debating....thick plain boot sock or fingering weight sock for the next.

Shocking...

but I have actually knit 2 days in a row! When I am not knitting, I forget how much I enjoy it.

Thankfully it is the second sock of the pair, otherwise I could forget wearing them in this decade. I absolutely love hand-knit wool socks. However I seem to go in spurts with them.....totally obsessed, can't stop knitting.... to not even touching the needles.

My goal back in January was another 8-10 pair before winter. I can forget that! I've completed 2 pair this year and have 1 sock each of 2 more pair done. New goal is just to finish the work in progress ones before winter. Wool sock weather doesn't start until around December here so that should be do-able. I bet I can throw a couple pairs of vanilla socks in at some point but will play it by ear.

Right now the braiding and weaving bug has a hold of me.

Done...

Well not really, just with the second bobbin. Plying is up next.

This is the first sock of a pair, my tote-along project. It is an easy knit so ideal for carrying along yet still end up with some texture.

Knit Faster...

Ever wish you could knit faster just so you can get finished and move on? That's where I am at. There is nothing actually wrong with the tote-along sock I am working on. It is just not holding my interest. I caught myself, early this morning, hunched over those needles, pushing my hands as fast as they could go. I don't think I actually knit faster though. The final result is my hands ache the rest of the day.

Temptation keeps raising its head...order more needles! It always seems my current projects all use the same size needles. That's not intentional, it just happens somehow. I promised myself last year, two active projects only. Some minor exceptions are allowed but 'not holding my interest' isn't one of those exceptions. So I keep knitting and telling myself, its only 3-4 more days!

When this sock is to the ribbing, I can switch to smaller needles. Then these needles can be casting on the sock I want to knit...the match to the purple and white slip-stitch one from below.

Psst...tote-along sock is just a sock I keep in a small tote that goes along(ha!) with me anytime I leave the house. Ideally it wouldn't be worked on at home but there is that pesky, not enough needles, issue happening. My spare needles in this size broke, a few weeks back.

One down....

First sock of the pair finished. Perfect fit. I love it. I did decide to continue on up the leg with the stripes on the back. Since I prefer short socks, there isn't that much leg anyway.

I am working on my tote-along sock for now or at least until I can free up the right size needles to start the toe on the second sock.

Oops...

I goofed. I'm ready to start the ribbing on the sock. I've just realized I completely forgot to do the design on the back of the leg! I've been striping it, just like I did the foot. Now to decided whether to tink back or just leave it alone.

Sock in progress...

I am loving this pattern. My first go at slip-stitch patterns. It is very easy and fun.

The heel is finished and I am headed up the leg.

Details:
Yarn is Cascade Heritage. I am really enjoying this yarn.
Pattern is Binsenkorbchen socks by Stephanie van der Linden (available free on Ravelry)
Fleegle heel