The BOB Sock KAL starts here

When casting on for a cuff down sock I prefer to work 1 row flat before joining to work in the round - to reduce the risk of accidental twisting. Using long tailed cast on, cast on 64 st onto your circular needle.

Set-up: k1tbl, p1 to end.

Join to work in round, being careful not to twist and place marker to indicate beginning of round. Work in twisted rib (K1tbl, p1) to end, until cuff measures 1.5” from cast on edge.

For the original Bob sock I knit the first and last 4 stitches of each needle in twisted rib - for this second version I chose to work them in garter stitch - you can of course just knit these plain if you prefer.

Leg: Ribbed panel option

N1: (k1tbl, p1) x 2, k24, (k1tbl, p1) x 2 N2: repeat as for N1

Work each rnd exactly the same until cuff measures 7” (or desired length) from cast on edge/

Leg: Garter panel option

Rnd 1 N1: p4, k24, p4 N2: repeat as for N1

Rnd 2 N1: k all st N2: repeat as for N1

Repeat these two rounds until cuff measures 7" from cast on edge.

Introducing BOB - a basic sock for beginners

Meet BOB - short for "Build on the Basics".

This is a sock which is ideal for a beginner but also offers something a little different from the standard basic sock. If you want to try a cuff down sock without a heel flap and that doesn’t require Kitchener stitch to graft the toe - then you are in the right place.

This pattern is for a 64st sock - sized to fit a foot circumference of 9” 

Eventually this pattern, with expanded sizes and design options will become a paid pattern on Ravelry but just for now, I’m offering the basic version in weekly installments for your knitting pleasure. There is a pattern page there however for those of you that like to track your projects. The purpose of this post is to let you know what materials you need so that you can get started when the first installment comes out on Monday (June 19th, 2017).

Installments will be posted here and also on my Instagram account . If you want to save the installments to your Instagram 'collections' just click on the little bookmark symbol to the bottom left of your screen.

For these socks you will need:

Yarn: 100g sockweight yarn (4ply) of your choice -  Speckles or self stripe make the knitting more fun. 

Needles: I use 2.25mm Hiya Hiya sharp interchangables with an 80cm cable. We are aiming for a gauge of 32st and 44 rows to 4”. Please adjust your needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Skills: if you can knit, purl and knit 2 together you can knit these socks. There is a different type of stitch - the wrap and turn - at the heel but I’ll talk you through this.

 Technique: throughout the knitting of these socks I will be using the magic loop technique with 32 stitches on one needle and 32 stitches on the other. You are of course welcome to use your preferred method of small circumference knitting and I will give the directions for needle 1 (N1) which covers the 1st 32st, and needle 2 (N2) which covers the 2nd 32st.

I'm really excited to run this KAL in a slightly different format to my usual ones and I hope you are too. I'll be back on Monday with the first installment but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

How to work a rounded toe

A few people asked about the rounded toe on my latest sock - specifically about the fit. This is the best photo I have to show it but it is really comfortable. A little roomier than a standard toe but so far no complaints at all. And of course, the added advantage is that there is no need for Kitchener stitch. To work the toe was super simple too. On 64st:

K6, k2tog to end

K6 rnds

K5, k2tog to end

K5 rnds

K4, k2tog to end

K4 rnds

K3, k2tog to end

K3 rnds

K2, k2tog to end

K2 rnds

K1, k2tog to end

K1 rnd

K2tog to end

Break yarn and thread back through rem 8st using a tapestry needle. Pull tight and weave in end.

The power of 3

The power of 3 is a strange and mystical thing - beloved of marketers and writers alike. It is a well known fact that the human brain is wired to group things naturally into 3's. We talk about levels of achievement being gold, silver and bronze (or 1st, 2nd and 3rd places). The Golden Ratio which forms the basis of so many elements of design and composition essentially breaks an image down into thirds to create something which the human eye is naturally drawn to.

As a knitter I'm pleased to see that this theory also holds true when it comes to yarn. A quick glance at the Ravelry 'Hot Right Now' page will usually yield a fair number of wildly popular 3 colour shawls. When browsing in a yarn store it feels entirely natural to pick up a skein of yarn, admire it and then start browsing for complimentary colours and shades. Sometimes you have a specific project in mind but other times you find yourself doing it for the sheer joy of playing with colour. Holding colours against each other and marvelling as each new pairing somehow manages to bring something else to the party.

Sure, one skein by itself is pretty but look how a complimentary skein next to it makes those little pops of blue really stand out. Doesn't it really make the whole thing sing?

And so it was on a recent trip to Loop, London. A skein of very pretty Madelaine Tosh jumped out at me from the shelves and before I knew it I was merrily selecting a few more to keep it company on the way home.

As to what they will become I have no idea yet. Knowing my track record I think it's a safe bet that stripes and garter stitch might feature heavily but other than that I have no idea. For now I'm quite happy to welcome them onto my 'yarn pet' shelf and let them rest for a while.

Half a sock and a hangover

Not a hangover in the alcoholic sense I hasten to add, but rather the kind of good hangover that you get from a really good, really intense and learning packed day. I spent yesterday at my first (not certainly not my last) Blogtacular and today I find myself in full-on introvert recovery mode. Yesterday was amazing on so many levels. Not only did I get to spend time with a most excellent bunch of knitting friends - and as we all know - knitters always manage to have a brilliant time. But I also met some amazing people in the online crafting community, listened to some inspiring and motivational speakers and made some great connections.

Not only that but we managed to also take part in Worldwide Knit in Public Day (not hard, as we do this every day) and also National Gin Day - total win!

There is so much to take in and to process and over the next few days I will certainly be doing just that - in my own, quiet, introverted way.

But for now I'm happy to knit on my half-finished sock which I started yesterday and which kept me company as I listened, chatted and generally soaked up the fabulous Blogtacular vibes. It's genuinely the first and only conference or networking event that I was sorry to see end - normally I am edging for the door after a few hours.

I just know that my brain is buzzing with ideas and things I want to implement but today isn't the day for that. Today is for cuddling with my boys, knitting on my sock and quietly planning world domination through the medium of knitting.

Happy Sunday

xx

Colour choices

Of all the decisions to be made in knitting colour choice is something that I find particularly difficult. Given to chronic indecision and procrastination at the best of times I can spend hours and maybe even days trying to decide on the perfect colour combination.

This particular pattern (a test knit for a friend) is for a striped shawl which relies on relatively high contrast between the striped sequences for a dramatic visual effect. Pick yarns that are too close in shade or tone and the effect will be watered down and bland. On the other hand I want to create a shawl that is wearable and that works with other clothes in my wardrobe. I love a neon Stephen West shawl as much as the next person but my own wardrobe choices tend to be a little more conservative.

Colour theory is always something that I've been aware of from afar - my normal tried and tested method for colour selection is to pile all of the potntial skeins onto the bed and randomly match them up to potential partners. But recently I have been doing a little more reading into the subject and I found this fabulous article from Knitty which really explains the detail of colour theory in a way that I had never really 'got' before.

I also came across this book: Colour by Victoria Finlay which looks absolutely fascinating and was in my Amazon shopping cart faster than you could say Yarn!

I can't wait to read it and will be sure to report back.