Spiral Rib

I needed a spiral rib for socks with 30 stitches on each of 2 circular needles so I charted it in Excel.  Click to enlarge.

Waffle Rib Socks are Done!

I actually finished these socks in time for show and tell on August 21.  My SIL and I had fun sharing our sock knitting progress.  I love her soft wool socks made from Knit Picks' Stroll yarn.  And guess what I just discovered at Knit Picks?  Yarn suitable for dying!  Yes, I am itching to try dying my own sock yarn.  I'll be stocking up on Kool Aid and Wilton's food coloring gels.  Keep you all posted on the results.

Purple Passion

The second pair of socks came off the needles on Wednesday night. They aren't perfect but they are very wearable, never-the-less, because the fit is great. I love the feel of the cotton blend yarn from Knit Picks. The socks are so soft and silky to the touch.

If I had them to do over, I would put in more lifelines. I forgot to put one in before I started the heel turn. I must have purled two stitches together because the slip stitch heel didn't line up in the sock underneath. Also, I wouldn't have changed the type of ribbing for the last inch of the cuff. The knit 4, purl 2 was stretchy enough and the density of the cotton keeps the socks up even though the second part of the cuff flares out due to the change in ribbing and the Aloha Cast-off. I will try the sewn bind-off, next time. Hopefully it will not flare the cuff of the sock.

Despite the fact that the yarn was labeled worsted weight, it easily knit up on US 2 needles, 7.5-8 stitches per inch, the gauge for DK weight. With sock yarn, I am going to have to move down to US 0 circulars. They are in the mail and since I have 4-H quilting camp next week, my attention is conveniently re-focused. ;) Guess I have to go back to knitting tawashis.

Another Stretchy Bind-Off Technique

If you tried my little bag pattern, you may have used the Stretch Armstrong sewn bind-off technique. The above video shows a stretchy knit bind-off demonstrated by Cat Bordhi, a famous sock knitter and novelist. This one provides incredible stretch.