I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the ACT, the Ngunnawal people. I acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Soft shoe shuffle


Socks for Mr C's 9th birthday

When one of my aunt's was asked to be a godmother for the first time she wanted to know what her ongoing duties would be. "New shoes every birthday", was the canny parents' response.

I can't come at shoes for Mr C. this year, but my 9 tomorrow nephew and godson can have new socks. These are specially constructed, slipping about on the tiles socks - we're just not telling his mother that.

The pattern is Melissa Deutsch Scott's Bushwalkers from Yarn issue 3.

I knitted the smallest size on 3mm needles rather than 3.75mm for a denser, hopefully more longer wearing fabric and also because Mr C. is only 9, and the smallest women's size still looked a bit big. Also didn't use a contrast yarn like the originals, because this colourway was so gorgeous it really didn't need the lift. The pattern features a garter stitch heel flap for cushioning and a star shaped toe.

The yarn is a Happy Spider special dye job in colourway "Camouflage". The 8ply was part of a huge lot of yarn donated by Margit before she left Canberra. Much of it went for felting, but some of it was soft enough for garments. This yarn has responded to a tight gauge very well.

Having succumbed to a bout of startitis, I also used up 17g of scrap sock yarn (Moda Vera Adore, colour tangerine) to make these little sweeties. Based on Jenny Occleshaw’s Little Roll Top Sock from an old copy of Creative Knitting. Unfortunately CK didn’t publish heel and gusset details and Ms Occleshaw's promised amendments never showed up, so I’ve improvised them. Also went down from a 2.75 to a 2.5mm needle to make them a little smaller.


Tiger, tiger socks

Not to be outdone, Mum continues with the bedsock output. Still using up the Jet, the solid colour is the original Jet colour, the variegated is the camel colour overdyed by Spidey.

The colours are not true but they are bright and cheery.

6 comments:

Donna Lee said...

The bedsocks will keep someone's feet warm this winter! I love the little pink socks. They are really cute.

Kate said...

I love those wee little socks. But, dammit, I've just realised that I've lost my copy of the 2004 CK annual. This is a real loss as it had all the patterns that I most love of that first year of CK. Bugger, bugger, bum.

Bron said...

Aaah the little socks are so gorgeous!!!!
The Spidey dye-job on that Jet is AMAZING!

Anonymous said...

Sock-omania!! What delicious socks, good enough to eat!!!!!

DrK said...

good lord youve turned into a crazy sock producing machine! well done!

Five Ferns Fibreholic said...

It's a regular sock factory at your place. Do you think that it's too late for me to get a godparent? Preferably one that will knit me socks on my birthday.