This is the kind of knitting that makes me absolutely, positively blissed out. Simple top-down socks in the most basic pattern ever, knit in plain old stockinette on 2.25 mm circular needles. I’ve been knitting this in one of our new yarns for fall, the BFL Sock. It’s a blend of superwash bluefaced leicester and nylon in a 3-ply sock yarn… pretty much what I consider ideal in sock yarns. Sturdy, wooly, warm, elastic… and takes dye oh so vibrantly.
I do love these Dutch heels too, as a reinforced heel stitch. Right now on the needles, I’m knitting a toe-up sock with a real heel flap… very new for me, since I’ve always knit short-row heels and then been disappointed when they wear through. If these socks are a success, I might permanently switch to toe-up & heel flap sock knitting!
While knitting these, I realized how much I love the fine gauge of this sock fabric… it’s about 8.5 sts per inch (nearly 9). If I had swatched ahead of time, I might have considered adding more stitches to my sock (which I’ll probably do next time). After washing and wearing these socks a few times, I really love how the yarn blooms and fills in. I’ve stashed a few skeins of this at home so that I can knit simple socks all winter.
And speaking of socks, have you seen the new Sockupied? I haven’t downloaded/purchased it yet. I hear knitters are sad it won’t work on the iPad or iPhone. Has anyone read it? What do you think?
Lovely color and pretty socks.
@ChristyH Thanks so much Christy!
Lovely color and pretty socks.
@ChristyH Thanks so much Christy!
I have downloaded and read Sockupied. I liked it but don’t know if it is worth the price–maybe $10 or so would be better as it’s a magazine and not a book, and only a few patterns, unlike most knitting magazine. The interactives are good, but once your’ve looked at them—well. And many would also be available on Interweave or other websites and Utube, etc. So, overall good, but am not sure I would download another issue.
@JaneH Yeah, I know Interweave has a sale going on right now… and in my cart I have the downloadable videos for Respect the Spindle and a Doubleweave primer. Unfortunately, Sockupied is not on sale :) I know I want to read the articles, but once I read them… I might not look at them again. And although I love intricate sock designs and often buy the patterns, I hardly ever knit them… the pattern buying only serves to make me feel guilty about not knitting them. Are you knitting any of the patterns?
I have downloaded and read Sockupied. I liked it but don’t know if it is worth the price–maybe $10 or so would be better as it’s a magazine and not a book, and only a few patterns, unlike most knitting magazine. The interactives are good, but once your’ve looked at them—well. And many would also be available on Interweave or other websites and Utube, etc. So, overall good, but am not sure I would download another issue.
@JaneH Yeah, I know Interweave has a sale going on right now… and in my cart I have the downloadable videos for Respect the Spindle and a Doubleweave primer. Unfortunately, Sockupied is not on sale :) I know I want to read the articles, but once I read them… I might not look at them again. And although I love intricate sock designs and often buy the patterns, I hardly ever knit them… the pattern buying only serves to make me feel guilty about not knitting them. Are you knitting any of the patterns?
I feel very fortunate that I got to visit your studio last October. I live in Ontario but my sister lives in Van. Your colours are all fabulous in my eyes.
I love the Autumn Flame. Gorgeous. I love the Pomegranate as well. Your colours are exquisite.
I’m on the pro side of Sockupied. To me it was worth the $14.99 or whatever the price tag was. I know I’ll be going back to it again and again, particularly for the variations on the long-tail cast-on.
I’m also a diehard heel flap & gusset knitter. I just don’t ever seem to get the short row heels to look right and then they fit a little funny. Maybe I’ll try a pair of stockinette socks using Fondant or Honey Fig (or Hard Candy or Snapdragon)… The colours are so gorgeous they don’t need to be obscured by pattern.
Happy knitting!
@Jennifer and @Jen The new format does sound very exciting, and I suppose $15 isn’t going to break the bank. It’s good that you mention that they have lots of technique references in there… that might be worth it. Something I’d look at over and over again. As it is, I keep referring back to technical articles on Knitty.com for everything from magic loop cast-ons to kitchener for garter stitch… it’s good to have those step-by-step references.
@Laura Michelle Ohh, yes! I like the look of short row heels and I do like how easy they are to knit… but I just found, for me personally, that the heels didn’t wear well.
The new format does sound very exciting, and I suppose $15 isn’t going to break the bank. It’s good that you mention that they have lots of technique references in there… that might be worth it. Something I’d look at over and over again. As it is, I keep referring back to technical articles on Knitty.com for everything from magic loop cast-ons to kitchener for garter stitch… it’s good to have those step-by-step references.
I love the Autumn Flame. Gorgeous. I love the Pomegranate as well. Your colours are exquisite.
I’m on the pro side of Sockupied. To me it was worth the $14.99 or whatever the price tag was. I know I’ll be going back to it again and again, particularly for the variations on the long-tail cast-on.
I’m also a diehard heel flap & gusset knitter. I just don’t ever seem to get the short row heels to look right and then they fit a little funny. Maybe I’ll try a pair of stockinette socks using Fondant or Honey Fig (or Hard Candy or Snapdragon)… The colours are so gorgeous they don’t need to be obscured by pattern.
Happy knitting!
@Jennifer and @Jen The new format does sound very exciting, and I suppose $15 isn’t going to break the bank. It’s good that you mention that they have lots of technique references in there… that might be worth it. Something I’d look at over and over again. As it is, I keep referring back to technical articles on Knitty.com for everything from magic loop cast-ons to kitchener for garter stitch… it’s good to have those step-by-step references.
@Laura Michelle Ohh, yes! I like the look of short row heels and I do like how easy they are to knit… but I just found, for me personally, that the heels didn’t wear well.
I’ll be honest about Sockupied–when I first heard about it I was pretty excited since it was billed as an eMag, and I figured the $14.95 was the subscription price…but it appears that’s just for ONE issue. At least, I think so; it’s hard to tell. It talks about this being the premiere issue, so I assume there will be others, but this doesn’t appear to be a subscription option, at least not at this time. I think I’ll wait and see. (And as someone knitting her very first pair of socks right now, there’s no rush!)
I LOVE Autumn Flame–the color alone would keep my feet warm, I think, even if I just draped the unknit skein over them!
Yes! It will be interesting to see if they continue along with this format… I think the portability issue (re: iPads or iPhones) will be important… I prefer not to be tied to my computer while I knit, so having it available while I’m on the go is absolutely a must.
And thanks for your comment on the Autumn Flame! I love fall colours too, even though I can’t wear them around my face. :P
I’ll be honest about Sockupied–when I first heard about it I was pretty excited since it was billed as an eMag, and I figured the $14.95 was the subscription price…but it appears that’s just for ONE issue. At least, I think so; it’s hard to tell. It talks about this being the premiere issue, so I assume there will be others, but this doesn’t appear to be a subscription option, at least not at this time. I think I’ll wait and see. (And as someone knitting her very first pair of socks right now, there’s no rush!)
I LOVE Autumn Flame–the color alone would keep my feet warm, I think, even if I just draped the unknit skein over them!
Gorgeous colour!
Gorgeous colour!
Love the socks and the color. I love short row heels! Why would you ever switch?
Ohh, yes! I like the look of short row heels and I do like how easy they are to knit… but I just found, for me personally, that the heels didn’t wear well.
Love the socks and the color. I love short row heels! Why would you ever switch?
I’m with you on the heel flap + gusset – my short row heels just don’t fit as well. That dutch heel looks interesting – I’ll have to try it.
I’m with you on the heel flap + gusset – my short row heels just don’t fit as well. That dutch heel looks interesting – I’ll have to try it.
Ohh, yes! I like the look of short row heels and I do like how easy they are to knit… but I just found, for me personally, that the heels didn’t wear well.
The new format does sound very exciting, and I suppose $15 isn’t going to break the bank. It’s good that you mention that they have lots of technique references in there… that might be worth it. Something I’d look at over and over again. As it is, I keep referring back to technical articles on Knitty.com for everything from magic loop cast-ons to kitchener for garter stitch… it’s good to have those step-by-step references.
Yes! It will be interesting to see if they continue along with this format… I think the portability issue (re: iPads or iPhones) will be important… I prefer not to be tied to my computer while I knit, so having it available while I’m on the go is absolutely a must.
And thanks for your comment on the Autumn Flame! I love fall colours too, even though I can’t wear them around my face. :P