Knit Progress: Socks & gloves

Summer is time for me to start looking forward to end of year presents and our local arts festival. After finishing up my new sock patterns, I decided to make two more pairs of the Twists and Braids socks with some newly acquired Madelinetosh Tosh Sock yarn. I love the vibrancy of the yarns and it was fun to see how the pattern looks in Flashdance versus Antique Lace.

The sock patterns translate nicely into simple fingerless gloves, my most popular item at the Cherokee Heights Arts Festival in November. I have a bunch of stashed yarn, so I’ll be working through some of it to create items for the fall. I enjoy working within the constraints of the yarn colors and textures I have available to create combinations I wouldn’t have paired otherwise. Look for lots of glove updates soon!

Prints: Untitled (Corporate Identity)

It’s finally here! My latest four-color print is now complete. Actually, it’s been done for a while but I’ve been wrestling with the decision of which way to orient it for quite some time. You see, these are the types of decisions that really occupy my time in the studio. You know, the really, truly heavy ones. Like, whether it’s the bright orange and purple on top or the magenta and metallic gold.

Bright, saturated color was what I was after with this guy—and pursuing something a little more complex than my typical two-color editions. I’m looking forward to exploring this route further. Two-color art—and even one-color work—can be beautiful, but why put a limit on it? One of my favorite things about this process is getting to work with rich colors, so let’s see where things go. Gaudy? Possibly. Ugly? Never. Why not see how far I can push it.

Experience has proven that I have no trouble limiting myself, so I know I’ll be back to some nice, safe and oh so sublime minimal aesthetics before long. Mark my words, but enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Going public in the shop.

 

 

Knit Pattern: Twists & Braids Socks

These highly textured socks use slip-stitch cabling to create flat twists and braids that are mirrored on front and back of the sock from the center. When worn the sock stretches to reveal the beautiful detail of the ribs.

Size: Women’s 5-9.

Pattern repeat: 31 sts and 12 rows.

Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) double pointed needles, set of 4.

Gauge: 15 stitches and 22 rows = 2 inches (5 cm) stockinette worked in the round (unblocked).

Yarn: Sock weight yarn. Approximately 296 yards. Sample knit in a fingering 4-ply – 175yds/50g

Instructions include full written directions, charts and unstretched sock measurements.

Available on Etsy for $3.50
Available on Craftsy for $3.50

Knit Pattern: His Simple Socks

This is a simple ribbed sock pattern knit from the top down and is designed to easily keep count of rows without becoming too monotonous. The ribs have a twisted knit stitch in the middle to help define the line of the ribs in the sock.

Size: Men’s Size 8-10.
Pattern repeat is 5 stitches and can be easily adjusted by increasing or decreasing repeats or rows.

Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm) double pointed needles, set of 4.

Gauge: 8 stitches and 11 rows = 1 inch (2.5 cm) stockinette worked in the round (unblocked).

Yarn: Sock weight yarn. Approximately 325 yards. Sample knit in a fine sock weight – 230yds/50g

Pattern includes written instructions, pattern chart and finished measurements.

Available on Etsy for $3.50

Available on Craftsy for $3.50

Knit Progress: New Sock Patterns in Development

Its been a while since I posted new knitting, but that is because work has been super busy and I am putting the finishing touches on two knit patterns that I will be releasing on Etsy in the next few weeks.

I was planning to move on from sock knitting, but my husband enjoyed his Christmas socks so much that I decided to make him a few more pairs to add to the rotation. I wanted to make him a pair with a simple ribbed pattern that was still interesting to knit, but easy to keep track of rows so I didn’t have to use a stitch counter. The result is pictured above. I like the subtle detailing, it almost looks like a cable.

Since I had designed a pair of socks for my husband, I had to make a pair for myself! I wanted something that would have pretty details, ideal for a solid or mostly solid color sock yarn. I liked the idea of cabling, but didn’t want to have the sock get too bulky. I used a slip stitch cabling technique I learned in earlier patterns and really like how it creates cables but still retains the stretchy lightness of the ribbing.

Still a bit more proofing to do, but these should be ready soon!