Friday 14 January 2011

FO Friday- A socks and squares

Not a grammatical error, these are the socks for my A in the A-Z knitting challenge.
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Pattern- Ampersand by Kirsten Kapur
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Needles- 2.5mm dpns
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Yarn- Mini mochi in rainbow (Crystal Palace yarns) and Regia 4 ply in black
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New skills- Eye of partridge heel
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Mods- Altered the ribbing on both sides to add extra stitches. Heel and toe in different yarn. Deeper heel flap for fit and to keep the tougher yarn in the high wear areas.
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Side detail:
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Top of foot/front and back of leg detail:
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I really liked this pattern once I had got over my temporary inability to read the chart and worked an inch or so. I usually can't decide if I really like a pattern until I have a bit of it worked up, and often decide I don't in the first few rows only to change my mind once it is more established.
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It is a very simple two row pattern, easy to work and remember and nice and quick to knit. I am not too fussed about the eye of partridge heel, will probably go back to a standard slip stitch heel flap- I kept forgetting which row I was working!
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The yarn is lovely, so soft and squooshy and the colours are just gorgeous. I did have to rewind the ball to get matching socks, and even then the feet are a little off. It is a loosely spun single, so I am not sure how it will stand up to wear, I changed yarn to super tough Regia for the high wear bits in the hope of having long lasting socks. The loose nature means it can be a little splitty and there are a few thicker and thinner spots but it is not too much of an issue and worth it for the colours (I really love the colours, can you tell?). It is also a little fluffy so there is a risk of tickle factor, but they seem ok so far today.

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If I was naming these they would be "The colour of magic", partly because I have just finished reading the book (The colour of magic by Terry Pratchett) and mostly because of the colours. Technically the colour of magic is octarine, but it is described as being a greeny blue by Rincewind, so that odd bit on one foot counts for me. (For those who think I have gone insane, read any or all of the Discworld books, they rock!). Anyway, I can't call them that as they would not start with A, so A socks they shall stay.
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In between challenge socks I am working on my WIPs; casting on is banned, which is a shame, because there is something I REALLY want to start. I have been working on a few squares of sock yarn blanket instead.
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Yarn from a dye colourway experiment:
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Leftovers from the A socks. This yarn is great for the blanket because there are loads of colours it has the potential to make a different square each time.
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Some handspun 2 ply.
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More A sock leftovers.
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18 comments:

  1. I love the sock yarn blanket. Now I'm starting to knit socks again I may have to start one myself. I need to do something with my left over scraps.

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  2. I like the socks. I love that it's only a two row repeat. Great colors too.

    Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

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  3. Wow, gorgeous! Thank you for sharing, your socks are beautiful and I really love the pattern. I want to knit some for myself. And I have to say, the name is perfect, plus I have added that book to my must read list. Great post!!!

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  4. I love, love, love your socks! The colors are beautiful!!! And I love the black accents as well. Great work!

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  5. The blanket is delish. Inspiring me to want to do the same.
    Man, I wish I could just knit all day!

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  6. Beautiful socks! And now you've got me off scouring Ravelry for sock yarn blanket patterns...

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  7. Those socks are really cool! I like the way they came out matched and the colors are so neat.

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  8. The Mochi socks are beautiful! I have a skein of mochi in a different colorway and can't wait to figure out what to do with it!

    The sock blanket is coming along amazing. I love all of the colors.

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  9. I've been drooling over everyone's sock yarn blankets this week! Yours looks lovely. I, too, wasn't hugely impressed by the eye of partridge heel the one time I worked it. I'll probably try it again (if a pattern calls for it) before writing it off, but yeah. From the once, it seemed like more work for not much benefit.

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  10. I really like how those black heels happen to divide the brightest stripe of the socks. Well done!

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  11. I agree with Affiknitty about the black heels -- interrupting the color like that makes the socks even more eye-catching. Nice work! I like making socks but am very slow at it, so I am impressed by the challenge you've taken on -- good luck!

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  12. I love those socks. The black really makes those colors pop.

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  13. Those Socks Are Awesome!
    Happy Fiber arts Friday

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  14. I love the blanket! I decided to knit mini socks out of my own handpainted sock yarn leftovers and use them as garland, then I'm going to knit a Simple YO Shawl from my phatfiber sock yarn sample skeins. I had intended a blanket originally but I gave up, ha! Yours is looking really awesome, and I loooooove those socks!

    Jess

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  15. Thanks to everyone for all your lovely comments about the socks and blanket.
    Today is cast on day for the B socks, so hopefully will have them to show as a FO in a couple of weeks

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  16. Awesome socks! And the blanket is one of my favorite things, I only wish I could get myself to focus long enough to learn how to make those little squares. Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

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  17. The A-Z project sounds like fun-- and what a great way to use up your leftovers!

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  18. Fab vibrant socks! Seriously gorgeous!

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