If you are visiting Peterborough, Ontario, please do check out Needles in the Hay yarn shop. So, as you can imagine, I bought just a bit of new yarn on my first visit. I confess that I am a bit of a yarn hoarder, but I just can’t resist it when I put my hand on a wonderful sock yarn that feels so soft and it is just calling to me to knit it up.

This year I have set myself the challenge of designing at least one new pair of socks per month. My first pair is in the works.

This is such a nice sock yarn. It is the new Ultra Alpaca Fine from Berroco in Redwood colour. It has such a nice heather quality that is very rich looking and so soft to the touch. My feet are just itching for them to be finished. I am designing a basic toe-up sock pattern in a variation of the garter rib stitch. Stay tuned for the pattern to be posted soon.

Also on my needles is a new baby knitted t-shirt and beanie.

I am using the Vestee baby pattern from knitty.com but using a finer yarn and making adjustments for a smaller size. The wool I am using is Louet 100% merino superwash in the Lilypad colour.

I adore knitting for babies and am so happy I now have a new grand baby coming to knit for (not that I particularly need an excuse to knit LOL)

Are you a sockaholic too? Care to share you favorite sock patterns? Leave a comment with a link to your most-loved socks.

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Knit Toe Up Socks Pattern

For anyone who would like to try to knit the toe-up style of sock this is a good pattern to test out. The biggest advantage of knitting a sock from the toe up is a perfect fit. You can try the sock on as you go and make adjustments to the pattern to make the sock a custom fit.

Materials

Worsted weight yarn, about 200 yards
Set of 5 double-pointed needles, size 5 or 6 (US). If you use 4 dp’s, you’ll have to be very careful on the increases, which are described in terms of needle numbers.
Gauge: about 5 1/2 stitches per inch, which is tighter than is usual for this weight yarn.

Note: I use a lifted increase for the toe and gusset increases, because I like the control over which way the new stitches slant away from the old ones. This is made by lifting the loop from the back of a stitch one row below the row you are knitting. You may substitute your favorite inconspicuous increase, such as lifting the bar between the two stitches below, twisting and knitting through it (often called “make 1″).

Figure-Eight Cast-on (phony grafted toe)

Based on the method used in Anna Zilboorg’s Fancy Feet. For a nice, clear explanation of how this is done, see Kim Salazar’s Simple Toe-Up Socks.

Click here for the free toe-up socks pattern.

Copyright ©Judy Gibson, 1996

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Purl When Ready Sock Pattern

This is a rather unusual sock pattern that uses a unique technique and variegated yarn to create a special pattern. Get the best results from your lovely hand dyed sock yarns using this pattern.

Materials:

• 1 ball Opal Tiger sock yarn
• Set of 5 double pointed needles size 1.5 or size needed to attain gauge.

Size:
Woman’s large (9 – 10 shoe size)

Gauge:
15 stitches = 2″ in stocking stitch.

Pattern Stitch: “Purl When Ready” Ribbing

Knit 2, Purl 2 BUT if you find yourself purling into a stitch of a different color in the row below, knit it instead of purling it. In other words, your normal pattern sequence is Knit 2, Purl 2, but on some rounds you may have to substitute knits for purls until you arrive at a point when you’re purling into a stitch of the same color in the row below.

There may be times when you need to knit one or two needles without purling. Don’t fret. Just return to the normal K2, P2, sequence when you can. You will note that “Purl When You Can” ribbing using Opal Tiger yarn produces wider stripes.

Click here for free Purl When Ready sock pattern.

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