Studio Strategos

Challenge!

Where did July go? Anyone know?
There's less then a week until August and this month's socks are nowhere near finished. So, I'm putting the rush on. I've got 5 days to knit 2 gussets, turn 2 heels, knit 2 heel flaps, and work a bit of 2x2 rib. Let's not even mention binding off or weaving in ends. Blarg.

Will I make it? Only time will tell.

Tags » knit SAM2010 sock WIP (2 Comments)
- 26 July 2010
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50%

Harris Tweed Socks by Ali Green (Ravelry)
Patons Kroy FX - Clover Colors
US 1 (2.25mm) needles
June 1 - July 2, 2010
@ravelry

At the end of last year, I took stock of of my yarn - specifically my sock yarn. The grand total: 36 pairs worth. I knew I had a lot but the number was still a bit shocking. So, in order to shrink the stash, I decided to knit a pair of socks each month in my own personal Sock-a-Month KAL. January saw a completed pair of socks and so did February, March, April, and May. The Harris Tweed socks, or Hairy as I like to call them, are my pair for June.
The pattern and the yarn turned out to be a perfect combination for the summer. My toe-up version of the Harris Tweed pattern was simple enough to knit while either enjoying air conditioning or venturing out to Vulcan for World Wide Knit in Public Day. The yarn also added enough interest to keep the 4 row repeat from getting boring. Even having to buy a third skein wasn't that bad since I could just make taller socks.

So far, my Sock-a-Month plan has been going pretty well. I've knit 6 pairs of socks and pruned the stash a bit. Maybe, come the end of July, I'll even have a seventh pair to show off.

Tags » FO SAM2010 sock (7 Comments)
- 24 July 2010
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Summer of Socks...or not

Harris Tweed Socks by Ali Green (Ravelry)

The Summer of Socks Knit-Along started up today. During previous years, this was a day that deserved a count down. This year though...meh. After all what is a summer of socks compared to a year of socks? I've been having my own private sock knit along since January and it's been going rather well. By the end of June, I'll have 5.5 pairs of socks. Maybe I'll tackle that other .5 in July. Pair number 7 is still undecided but I have a few ideas plus a few prior obligations. All the same, anyone have a suggestion or two to tempt me?

Tags » knit SAM2010 sock (7 Comments)
- 21 June 2010
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Second Sock Syndrome

Have you ever knit a project that was just wonderful? The yarn is a joy. The pattern is spectacular. It's a perfect match; however, the whole thing is so boring that you can't be bothered to pick up the needles and actually finish the thing. For me it was a pair of socks, a toe up version of the Little Child's Sock, knit with Ultra Alpaca Fine. The first sock is finished but I haven't even cast on for the second sock. Shame on me. Anyway, in hopes of getting my second sock mojo back, I decided to knit a new pair.

Diamond Gansey Socks by Wendy Johnson (Ravelry)

Just like the other pair, the yarn and pattern are great but I've actually managed to finish both of them. It was almost an obsession really. They were so quick to knit too. I had hoped that the break these socks provided would give me a rediscovered love for my single sock. That didn't work so well since I've already cast on for another, different pair of socks. Maybe after this pair?

Tags » FO knit SAM2010 sock (2 Comments)
- 7 June 2010
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Not Knitting

For once, I don't feel like knitting. The reason: I've been doing it all day long. It was a perfect storm of a twisted ankle and the many hours spent waiting for my car to be fixed. The sock I'm working on saw a lot of progress but now I'd rather do anything - even laundry - rather than knit. I want to walk and move around but the ankle and a raging storm put a stop to that. Guess I'll just have to catch up on my reading instead.

Tags » knit SAM2010 sock WIP (4 Comments)
- 20 May 2010
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Pretty Things

I like pretty things, beautiful things, and elegant things; however, I also like useful things. A useful object doesn't have to be pretty but a pretty object does has to be useful. So when I realized these socks were too small, they were turned back into yarn (pretty and useful). After all, pretty socks won't do you much good if you can't wear them.
Tags » knit SAM2010 sock (2 Comments)
- 2 May 2010
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Leftovers

It was a day like any other day when I noticed the boyfriend's socks were wearing thin. Before the problem could get any worse, they were off his feet and and waiting for repair. Thankfully, there wasn't a hole - yet - and I still had a bit of yarn leftover. I did eventually fix them with a bit of duplicate stitch. Plus, from all reports, the socks are good as new and, to a casual glance, look that way too.
So, that story had a happy ending but what happens to that next pair of well loved but holey socks? It depends. On leftovers. I sit quite firmly in the camp of toe-up socks which means that I can use up every last little bit of yarn. I've taken advantage of that little gem too. After that darning incident, though, I began to wonder about my socks that don't have a bit of backup waiting in the wings. I'm still going to wear them and, when they get a hole, I'll just have to mend them with different yarn. After all, there's no way I'm going to trash a pair of hand knit socks because of one hole (or even two). Maybe using up every bit of yarn just to use every bit of yarn isn't so great.
I was thinking about leftovers during my last pair of socks and made sure to leave several grams for repairs. I've also revised my thoughts about toe-up socks. They're not about using up every yard but using every yard wisely. If that means leaving a bit for later, I'm all for it.

Tags » SAM2010 sock stash (2 Comments)
- 30 April 2010
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Alternates
Alternates (Ravelry)

Sometimes simple, mindless knits are the best and these socks are no exception. Originally, my yellow and gray yarn was going to become a pair of these. I spent a day knitting and frogging only to discover that what I really liked about the pattern were the stripes on the bottom of the foot. After that, I didn't waste any time and the socks just seemed to fly off the needles. By the time I bound off I had tall, cozy socks with plenty of calf increases.

The scary thing about these wonderful socks is that I want to make so many more in so many different colors. Blue and white, green and orange, purple and blue... Plus, with a little more yarn, I could make knee highs. Now that's a good idea. Anyway, it seemed a shame to keep the pattern to myself so I'm posting it here. These sport weight socks are toe up with a gusset and heel flap and calf increases to get the most out of the yarn. Have fun knitting your own pair.

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Tags » FO free knit pattern SAM2010 sock (6 Comments)
- 25 April 2010
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Fancy

Pattern: Gentleman's Fancy Sock by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Socks that Rock Mediumweight - Tlingit
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
Date: Feb 21 - March 8, 2010
@Ravelry
I like to knit lots of different things but every now and then I get stuck on something: socks, washcloths, toys, whatever. The last overriding object of my attention was socks (it's washcloths now but I'll save that for later). I'm not always sure what throws me over the edge but this particular sock knitting binge started when I was looking for the perfect pattern to go with a souvenir skein of Socks that Rock. Eventually, I picked Gentleman's Fancy Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks and I'd like to say it's a good pattern but, really, I have no idea since I modified it so much. Toe up with a reinforced heel flap and my own set of calf increases. Basically, I only kept the stitch pattern and what a glorious stitch pattern it is.
It wasn't just the stitch pattern that had me enthralled. The Socks that Rock did actually live up to the hype. The colors were beautiful (even if they did turn my needles and hands black), the yarn had a nice, tight twist, and the yardage was quite generous. I can't speak for its durability though because I managed to finish them right as Winter and the chance to wear tall, wool socks was fading out. I have high hopes for next Winter though.

Tags » FO knit SAM2010 sock (2 Comments)
- 19 April 2010
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Play

Pattern: Konnichiwa by Judy Summer (ravelry)
Yarn: Cascade 220 - Ruby
Needles: US 6 (4mm) DPN’s
Date: Feb 1-13, 2010
@rav
March’s socks, Konnichiwa, were so much fun that I finished them in less than two weeks. They’re a combination of a good pattern, a good yarn, and a good technique. Those things aside, what made them really fun was that I didn’t hold myself to the pattern. My version is toe-up, a larger size, and has alternating cable crossings. In other words, I let myself play.

I know play doesn’t seem like much. After all, shouldn’t I be working and productive? Shouldn’t I be doing something important? What I’ve come to realize, through knitting and architecture, is that play is very important. Play is the driving force behind serious work and focus. It is the motivator behind great work and great feats because it pushes people to keep experimenting and pushing limits. Without play, work (or anything else) becomes something to finish so you can get onto something you like. People can tell difference. So, don’t be afraid to play. You never know where it will take you.

Tags » knit SAM2010 sock (3 Comments)
- 2 March 2010
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April's Posterous

I like to make things. Knitting is my current medium of choice and I want to share it through photos, stories, and patterns.

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Challenge!

50%

Summer of Socks...or not

Second Sock Syndrome

Not Knitting

Pretty Things

Leftovers

Alternates

Fancy

Play

April's Posterous

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