Fox in Socks

October 12, 2020March 7, 2021 annbh3562 Comments

Fox Socks Box Knox Knox in box. Fox in socks.

After my toe-up Ruisseau Socks, I swore off knitting this particular clothes item. Too fussy. All that work to complete just one and, of course, one is not enough so you are done but not done. Then the September Knit Camp project was (you guessed it) SOCKS. So, ever the practical person (after all why pay for classes and then skip them) I tackled another pair. Designed by Marie Greene and dubbed Milkshake Socks because this is “An old-fashion recipe for plain socks that you can shake up with your choice of colorful yarns. … Think of your yarn choice like adding flavor to your milkshake.”

Gauge for Ruisseau required US #1 needles. My first time working with something that small and my sock learning experience was to continue as Milkshake necessitated a #0 based on my tension and this yarn. To get a sense of size – pull out a ruler with metric measurements. A #1 needle is 2.25mm in diameter and the #0 a fraction smaller at 2mm.

New socks. Two socks. Whose socks? Sue’s socks. Who sews whose socks? Sue sews Sue’s socks.

No new yarn was purchased for this project as I did a stash dive for this orange-turquoise-gray self-striping skein called Enceladus (one of Saturn’s ice moons). The color combo was unique to Northfield Yarns and purchased during the 2015 YarnVenture shop hop. At the time I had yet to knit a pair of socks or even add them to my project queue. I picked up the exclusive hand dyed skein solely because as it was featured by what I now dub my local yarn store (LYS).

With my Milkshake Socks complete, I think I may really be done with socks – – – Thank you Dr. Suess and Fox in Socks [or not!]

Knitting

Stitches out of order

August 11, 2020March 7, 2021 annbh356Leave a comment

A recent review of my Ravelry project page confirms what I already knew – – I like cables. River Cowl was finished just today and features a subtle cable pattern that draws the eye from top to bottom.

While 1/1 cables usually are not my favorite construction element (I prefer a more robust design), I was intrigued by the subtle shifting of just one stitch either to the front or the back used to create the River Cowl. I discovered pattern designer, Tamara Moot, and I share a love of Dr. Who and River Song (the inspiration of this design) is a favorite character for both of us. Moot shares:

These elegant yet simple cables evoke River Song with the added bonus that the stitch pattern closely resembles the symbol for water or river found in the Southwest desert petroglyphs.

Cables are created by knitting groups of stitches out of order. Stitches held in the back result in a right leaning twisted column and, if held to the front, the twist will lean to the left. The larger the number of stitches shifted, the larger the fold in the resulting fabric.

Each of my three Building Block Shawls (2013-2014) had at least two squares or panels with cables. Churchmouse’s Following Seas Cabled Scarf and Reversible Cable Scarf have been go-to patterns for me. Between these two, I have gifted a combo of seven scarves. All the while knitting a creative collection of cabled cowls, hats, fingerless mitts, two sweaters and even a pair of mystery knit-a-long socks.

My project queue holds an intricate Celtic Cable scarf and a shawl that incorporates a beautiful Irish Saxon Braid border. So many patterns, much yarn, so little time…