Penny's Pom Poms

Knitted especially for my fantastic friend Penny ~

~ Taken from the pattern Peppermint Pompoms in Knitted Sock Sensations

On Ravelry here

Choice of Cable Cuffs

So, I started knitting the Celtic Cable socks (from Knitted Sock Sensations)...
I finished the cuff of the first one and have started on the top of the sock...

 ...Then saw a similar pattern I had forgotten about, in the last issue of Simply Knitting, so for some reason couldn't help but start those too...

These ones are knitted with 4 ply yarn, the first pair with DK  (I picked it up at the Stitch & Craft show last month and was so happy I had something to knit that pattern with!)

However, the second pair are only ankle high, not knee highs like the first ones; my theory was that they'd be a nice quick little project before I sign my next couple of weeks away to knitting knee highs....

(Although the shorter socks also use yarn & needles that are half as fine, meaning the knitting won't 'grow' as fast...) 

I think eagerness may be out bidding ability (and time!) here, but we'll see how long it takes me to get both done, hey...

Bobbles + Bright

One of the several pairs of 'Easy Knit Socks' I've made up from my Textured Knits book (Julia Cooper)

I've also made myself some sparkly purple ones & a green pair, with alternate coloured bobbles; as a present. They went down a treat.

A classic case of 'runnning-out-of-yarn-at-the-end-of-the-second-sock' scenario that sometimes occurs when knitting socks from the top down.

Oh well.

Lacy Summer Socks

I knitted these over a year ago... You may be able to see they have been well-worn if you look closely at the photos, so thought I'd better post them already:

 These were the first socks I knitted from the toe-up and was so happy with the sleeker result.

 The top edge is cast-off loosely and due to the nature of the pattern they create this charming, flowing cuff:

I think they're one of my favourite pairs of socks and definitely ones that get the most compliments!

The pattern comes from Knitting Lingerie Style (Joan MGowan-Michael), I'm also in the midst of finishing a knitted bra from the same publication.

Van Dyke Socks

My second pair of socks knitted from my new favourite book Socks From the Toe Up (Wendy D. Johnson)

 These were a really quick knit; partly because they use a sportweight yarn (bulkier than most sock patterns require) and partly because the chevron pattern is so easy to remember. 

After a couple of pattern repeats you don't need to keep referencing back to the pattern chart. 

 I am loving knitting socks from the toe up, as you can try them on as you go to see if they fit. 

This particular pair require dpns (double pointed needles) which also means they are knitted in one continuous round and therefore eliminates annoying (and possibly untidy) side seams once you're done. 

 I topped mine off with a contrasting rib; using leftover yarn from my miser mittens project. 

Nice and neat toes and heels are created when you knit socks from the toe up....

Much nicer to look at and probably one of the best fitting pairs of socks I've ever made myself!

Going Loopy Socks

I have just completed my first pair of sock from my new book 'Knitted Sock Sensations' (Louise Butt & Kirstie McLeod). There's lots of great patterns in there and I couldn't wait to make a pair of the 'Going Loopy Socks'
Unfortunately I ran out of yarn towards the end of the second sock... I did see it coming but couldn't help but keep on knitting anyways! People won't see the toes when I'm wearing shoes anyway... Right?

The cuff is created using loop stitch, which I found quite time consuming (possibly as it is the first time I have ever used it) but definitely worth the patience as the result is fantastic

Here you can see the basic sock method and how the heel and toe decreases knit up.

Buy the book here:

I'll keep posting up more sock sensations as I knit them; there's so many great patterns in there, I'm not too sure which ones I'm going to start next...