scrappy chevron socks

Finished up my latest project today - a pair of scrappy chevron patterned socks.

grey footies

Finished up a pair of footies (or no-shows as he likes to call them) for my husband today.

over-dying

before dyeing

Looking through my sock drawer the other day I realized that I had to pairs of socks knit in almost identical yarns.  I decided to try to remedy that by over dying one pair.  I used Kool-Aid as my dye because it is non-toxic, super easy to use, cheap and readily available where I live.  The color is also surprisingly very durable.  To get a moderately intense green I used 3 packages of Lemon Lime.  Now I have a sweet "new" pair of Spartan green socks :)

after dyeing

How to dye with Kool-Aid

The Basic Recipe:

One package of unsweetened Kool-Aid per  1 cup water (about 4 pkgs per 50 grams for fairly intense color)

How to Dye Your Fiber using a Microwave

1. Soak fiber in warm  water  with 2 ounces of vinegar per 1 cup water
2. While it is soaking, make your Kool-Aid solution(s). For each package of Kool-Aid use 3 parts water to one part vinegar.
3. Remove your fiber from the hot water soak. Squeeze out excess water.

4.       Place in the pyrex container.  Pour dye over fiber slowly, being sure that you cover as much of the fiber as possible.

5.       Place container (with fiber) in the microwave and microwave for 2 minutes

6. Let rest for two minutes. If necessary, during this period, you may squish the liquid around again to ensure adequate dye coverage.
7. Check to see if the solution is colorless.
8. If the solution is not colorless, repeat steps 5 & 6 until the solution is colorless.
9. Rinse the fiber thoroughly in water the same temperature as the dye bath. At this point you may want to wash the fiber with liquid dishwashing detergent and rinse thoroughly using the procedure that you normally use for washing yarn.
10. Hang the fiber and let it air dry.

Finished up my latest socks - stranded striped socks.  I like how the self-striping yarn works with the stranded pattern.

sock knitting

Today I worked on my latest socks - stranded striped socks.

stranded striping socks

Started a new pair of socks - stranded with striping yarn.  I like how this yarn looks with a simple stripe pattern however I might change up the pattern a bit once I get to the cuffs.

snazzy argyles Christmas stocking

Finished up my stocking today.  I like how it turned out. I have to say it is bigger than I had envisioned, I may end up felting it down a bit.

Turned the heel and my stocking.  The argyle pattern is a little slow going but I do like how it is looking so far.

Christmas stocking

Every Christmas I get to thinking that I should make a couple of Christmas stockings for me and my husband and that is about as far as I get.  This year I am actually going to make them.  I cast on this morning and have about 4" knit on the first one.  I am following the Snazzy Argyles pattern by Linda Daniels from the book  Knit Christmas Stockings! 19 Patterns for Stockings & Ornaments.

sock knitting

Finished my first pair of socks for the new year.  I like how they turned out, however if I hadn't run out of black yarn I would have made the cuffs longer.

first socks of 2013

Started my fist pair of socks for 2013 - in a  "goat's eye" stitch pattern following Wendy Johnson's basic gusset heel sock pattern.

I decided to start the new year by finishing up some projects that have been languishing for awhile.  First up is a pair of socks that I started for my sister about 1 1/2 years ago.  I am knitting them out of bamboo yarn.  This yarn is not exactly enjoyable to work with - it is splity, slippery and has no give to it.  Ugg.  I have since restarting on them, turned the heels and knit about 3" of the cuffs.  Tomorrow I'll decide if 3" cuffs are good enough or if they need to be a little longer.  Tonight 3" looks good enough but that may be because I'm ready to just be done with them.

sock knitting 2012 goal met :)

Finished my 30th pair of socks for 2012.  I know it was a completely arbitrary goal but it feels good to have met it.

The heels have been turned and I've started on the cuffs of  my current socks(blue/green stranded zig-zag socks).

Started my latest and last pair of socks for the year.  They are blue/green stranded zig-zag socks.

Finished up my stranded stripey socks today.

stranded stripey socks

Started a new pair of socks - a pair of stranded striping socks.

upside down monkey socks

It was a good day.  I finished up my upside down monkey socks.  They are pair number 28 for the year.

Made some progress on my upside down monkey socks.

upside down monkey socks

Started my latest pair of socks.  These are a toe-up version of Cookie A's monkey socks.  More info can be found on my Ravelry project page.