Kathleen's KAL

Re: Sock Knitting Master Class Knit-Along: Rose Rib Socks

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:39:20 GMT

Hi Yarngirl,

I think what I'd do is weigh the sock and the yarn (a kitchen scale will do) and divide the weight in half. Unravel the completed sock until it weighs a little less than half, then finish it again. You should have the correct amount of yarn left to make a matching sock.

Hope this helps.

Kathleen

Re: Sock Knitting Master Class Knit-Along: Rose Rib Socks

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:35:47 GMT

From Ann Budd:

Rose Ribs Completed!

I had hoped to finish the second Rose Ribs sock (page 80 of Sock Knitting Master Class) at the Knitter's Review Retreat, but there was just too much going on. Instead, I finished it on the plane home on Monday. I love the yarn I used for these sock—Plucky Knitter Primo in Sticky Toffee. It's a nice round yarn with plenty of stretch. And in a fiber combination of 75% extra-fine merino, 25% cashmere, 5% nylon, it's a dream to knit with and should be heaven to wear.

Those of you with eagle eyes might notice the slightly darker toe on one of the socks. That's because I didn't remember to take my gauge swatch with me and I needed that yarn to complete the second sock. Fortunately, I found a few yards of a similar yarn at the Retreat.

Next up are Meg Swansen's Twisted Rib Stockings.

Re: Sock Knitting Master Class Knit-Along: Rose Rib Socks

yarngirl52 — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:29:31 GMT

Kathleen,

I have the book and started Nancy Bush's Knot Socks and have run into a problem. I am using a skein of standard sock yarn. I think it is 100 grams, but the tag is long gone I have the first sock done and I only have what looks not enough to complete the second sock. Apart from frogging the whole sock ( I know I have to go back to the bottom of the leg and shorten it by at least 2"), how can I estimate what I will need to complete a pair? I cannot get more yarn.

Sock Knitting Master Class Knit-Along: Rose Rib Socks

Kathleen Cubley — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:52:49 GMT

Getting Started

You probably think that I've abandoned knitting my way through Sock Knitting Master Class. Not true!

But I did get sidetracked for a few weeks. I'm back at it now and have started Evelyn Clarke's Rose Rib Socks, pictured below and on page 80 of the book.

Evelyn used two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock (80% superwash wool, 20% nylon; 215 yd [197 m]/2 oz) in blackberry.

According to Clara Parkes, these socks have best stitch definition if worked in a well-rounded yarn (Shepherd Sock is 4-ply), but a springy two-ply yarn would give equally attractive results. She mentions that the 20% nylon provides welcome reinforcement to the openwork pattern and bottom of the foot and toe, and that this simple pattern allows for a bit of color variation, although the stitch pattern will look best in a solid or semisolid.

I looked through my stash for something suitable and found a gorgeous skein of Primo (75% extra fine merino, 20% cashmere, 5% nylon; 385 yd/100 g) that Plucky Knitter (www.thepluckyknitter.com) donated to the Sock Summit teacher's bags. This yarn is a round, tight 4-ply with subtle color variation, so even though the nylon content is a bit on the low side, it promises to work beautifully. The rusty color I have is called Sticky Toffee. Yum.

I get the suggested gauge on my size U.S. 1.5 (2.5 mm) Signature needles. To ensure that the upper leg will fit my calf (which doesn't have a well-developed muscle), I cast on with size U.S 2 (2.75 mm) needles and plan to switch to the smaller size when the leg is half done. I'm following the size for the larger socks with a foot circumference of 8 3/4"