FotM Socks Done!

I finished the Fire on the Mountain socks (finally!) on Saturday evening. While I was in the hospital I finished up the Chapman Springs mittens.

Here's a photo of my knitting on the mittens while in pre-op!

Swag Socks and other tales

Knitty.com didn't take the title pattern, but Blue Moon Fiber Arts is interested in taking a look, so I'm not posting a photo of them yet. They've been done for a while; I was just waiting to see whether Knitty was interested.

In the meantime, I'm working on the Prodigal Socks (the ones for my pastor that are done in Cherry Tree Hill's java colorway and in a waffle pattern). These socks were lost for a few weeks, then returned home. I have one done and the other is just a few rows away from the heel flap. I'll post a photo when they're done.

The commissioned Christmas socks are close to done. Sock #1 is completely finished. Sock #2 is done except for a hang tab. I waiting for Sock #3 to be finished (I've got just a few more stitches to put in the second Santa face before I move on with it) to see whether I have to get another skein of Red Heart bright red yarn to finish up these as well as the hang tab for #2.

I've gotten two skeins of Lisa Souza's "hard twist" yarn. The sock weight (Hard Twist Merino Petite) looks like it will take either a US 0 or US 1.0 needle (suggested sizes are US 1.0 or 2.0); the regular Hard Twist Merino knits up beautifully on US 1.0 and 2.0 (suggested sizes are US 4.0 to 5.0) for socks. I got a skein in the slate colorway that I'll knit up for my husband.

I've had a few starts and stops with other sock projects. I have a heavier Lisa Souza wool (in Mars Quake and Electra) that will be perfect for socks if knit on US 3.0 or 4.0, but I'm trying to decide on which pattern I like for them. The Mars Quake is for me; the Electra is for Ed.

Last night I started a pair with Blue Moon's "Socks that Rock" in Hooflefoofle and Great Adirondack's "Soxie" (find it at Ewe Need Yarn) in PlumLoco. I'm just doing a simple two-color sock but it's very pretty and lots of fun!

New to the Stash

Three new skeins from
Blue Moon Fiber Arts

Mesa (left), Backstabber,
and HoofleFoofle

All in Medium Weight.

Euroflax Linen in Neptune colorway.

Waffle Socks Pattern

Here's the basics of the pattern I'm using for my waffle socks:

Materials:
1 skein Socks That Rock medium weight (from Blue Moon Fiber Arts)
1 set US 1.0 dpns or 2 circulars
markers as desired

NOTE: Directions are given for dpns (even though I worked mine on 2 circulars). If you want to see directions for working on 2 circulars, see the pattern for Dishcloth Socks.

Gauge/Tension: 8 sts = 1"

Pattern Stitch:
Rnds 1 - 3: K all sts
Rnds 4 - 6: *P2, K2*

NOTE: I prefer to work Rnds 4-6 as K1, *P2,K2* to the last 3 stitches, then end P2, K1. This makes sure that the first and last stitch on the needles is a knit stitch and therefore ensures the pattern will be balanced over the instep.


Cuff
CO 64 sts
Work 2 x 2 ribbing (K2, P2) for 12 rnds. (Make sure you work the ribbing the same way as you'll work rnds 4 - 6 of the pattern stitch.)

Leg
Rnd 13: Begin pattern stitch; work for 10 iterations (1 pattern with 9 repeats), then K all sts for 3 more rnds.

Heel Flap
With Right Side facing, work heel flap across first 32 sts as follows:

Row 1: Sl 1, *P2, Sl 2 (purlwise, with yarn in back)* to last 3 stitches, end with P2, K1. Turn work.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1, P to the end. Turn work.

Work these 2 rows 16 times (32 rows total) so that there are 16 slipped stitches on each side of the heel flap.

Heel Turn
With Right Side facing, K 18, SSK, K1, turn work.
Next row: sl 1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn work.

Continue as follows:
Right side: sl 1, K to 1 st before the gap, SSK (one from each side of the gap), K1, turn work.
Wrong side: sl 1, P to 1 st before gap, P2tog (one from each side of the gap), P1, turn work.

NOTE: On the last two rows, you will end with SSK and P2tog (respectively). That's how it should be.

18 sts total remain of the heel flap/turn sts.

Gussett

RS facing and using Needle 1, K across the heel flap sts. Pick up 16 sts on the right side of the heel flap (one in each of the slipped stitches along the side).

Change to Needle 2 and work pattern across the 32 instep sts (K1, *P2, K2* across, end K1).

Change to Needle 3 and pick up 16 sts on the left side of the heel flap. K the first 9 of the heel flap sts.

Work Gusset as follows:

Rnd 1 (decrease round)
Needle 1 — K to 3 sts before the end, K2tog, K1
Needle 2 — work pattern as established
Needle 3 — K1, SSK, the K to end

Rnd 2 (regular round)
Needle 1 — K all sts
Needle 2 — work pattern as established
Needle 3 — K all sts

Continue working rounds 1 and 2 until there are 64 sts on all needles.

Foot
Work all as Rnd 2 (above) until sock measures 1.5" from end of your foot. If you're working rounds 4-6, end after rnd 6.

Toe Decreases:
Decrease Round (4 sts decr):
Needle 1 — K to last 3 sts, K2 tog, K1
Needle 2 — K1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2 tog, K1
Needle 3 — K1, SSK, K to end

Non-Decrease Round:
K all sts

Work alternating Decrease and Non-Decrease rounds until 32 sts rem, work one more Non-Decrease round, then work only Decrease rounds until 8 - 12 sts remain. Graft toe closed. Work in ends.

The Latest Stuff on Needles

I'm finishing up a second pair of socks in a pattern I've submitted to Knitty. If they take it, I'll publish a link (as I did the Quill Lace Socks). If they don't, I'll send it off to Blue Moon Fiber Arts since I knit it originally in their Sunstone colorway.

At home I've got the Blue Moon StR Fire on the Mountain yarn being worked into a pair of waffle-stitch socks. I'm doing it in sets of 3 rounds but still K2, P2 in the pattern. It comes out more like a square that way. I'll post photos when I have them.

I'm at the heel flap on DH's second sock. I worked it the other night when we were at an Indian food restaurant. Knitting and vegetable samosas! Cool!