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FO: Canyon Flower Socks

Consider the subtitle to this post "Ode to Elizabeth Bishop." Or maybe just "One Art: Part 1." The hardest part about moving cross country is that there's always people and places left behind. Let's just say I was especially missing the splendid colors of a New Mexico sunset when I knit these socks for the TFA Holiday KAL.

Pattern: Fair Isle Flower Sock by Candice DeWitt

Yarn: TFA Blue Label OOAKs (Canyon & Blue Iris)

They've been finished for nearly two weeks now and even worn and laundered. Just took awhile to document them here. Slowed, no doubt, by my scramble to finish up a pair of KAL mitts by this Friday and some covert holiday knitting.

Don't get me wrong: Minnesota is home and always will be... Yet, January is sure to be good sock knitting weather and I have a pair of Maryland socks in mind. Albuquerque and Baltimore — two lovely cities.

FO: Second Socks for Izzy

Let the kiddo pick out her own sock yarn at Michaels — the right price-point for a growing teen with a tendency to be extra tough on her clothes. I'll give it to her: Izzy located a skein with cashmere in it.

Pattern: Yarn Harlot's Sock Recipe

Yarn: Loops & Threads Luxury Sock (Ocean)

These socks also mark a first: major surgery. When both pairs were done, Izzy tried them on...only to discover that I'd made the foot too short. So I snipped apart the toes, ripped back to the start of the toe decreases, added a good 1/2", and then finished them up again. Can't tell you how clever it made me feel.

FO: Primavera Socks

It's Friday night and I have a new FO — what better way to kick off the weekend?

No chance of my new love affair with socks waning after this pair. These are now hands-down (feet-down?) my new favorite socks. To start, there's the yarn — isn't it lovely? Not sure how she manages it, but that Tanis continues to outdo herself with each Etsy update.

Yarn: TFA Blue Label in Yellow Tartan (OOAK)

Pattern:  Primavera Socks by natalja 

Then, the pattern: Easy to memorize and with a six-row repeat, it's the definition of potato-chippy. (Just one more repeat...) I also really like the look of the heel flap with the 2-stitch garter edging; tidy and makes picking up stitches easy-peasy.

Since this is a knitting blog, guess I should mention the two mods I made: Changed the p3tog to Sl1, P2 tog, psso (much easier on my hands) and added slip stitches between the garter ridges to make the heel sturdier.

FO Parade: Blue Iris Rivercats

So that sock pattern that wasn't quite right for the If a Tree Falls colorway I got at Yarnover? It was perfect for this OOAK lovely from Tanis Fiber Arts.

Pattern: Rivercat Sock by Brenda Patipa

Yarn: TFA Blue Label (Blue Iris)

So success on that front, but I should have gone down a needle size. They're a bit big inside shoes, but they will keep my feet toasty at home. Or be great layered over another pair for January outings. As you can see, they're too pretty not to wear.

And this brings our FO Parade to a close. Hoping to keep up better in October.

FO Parade: Spiced Cotton Reels

Why, yes. You are correct. I did already knit another pair of fingerless mitts this year. But in my defense, I live in Minnesota.

Plus, I used fingering-weight scraps to create these. So I'm feeling all “virtuous” in a waste-not, want-not way. (What's that, you say? My fingers are in my ears, so no, I can't hear you laughing.)

Pattern: Cotton Reel Mittens by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: TFA Blue Label (Plum and Spice)

What do you do with your yarn scraps? I've got lots more itching to become something...

FO Parade: If a Nutkin Falls...

Nothing like washing away the taste of an FO Fail with a great pairing of yarn and pattern, is there?

I got this lovely skein at Yarnover last April. My first choice didn't work so well, but I knew to cut my losses early and frog before the heel flap. Love, love, LOVE how these turned out. The pattern is that perfect combination of interesting knitting but easy to memorize. Also, they're clearly too big for Izzy, who's modeling in the photos. Phew, that should keep them safe from sticky fingers.

Pattern: Nutkin by Beth LaPensee

Yarn: Vice Paradigm (If a Tree Falls)

My current favorite socks. Sure another pair of these is in my future...