the blue blog archives: socks?!

Wait, are those socks?? Why yes, they are. But aren't you always saying that you hate knitting socks?? Why yes, I am. Let me 'splain. These socks were a surprise anniversary gift for my husband, pretty much the only person I'd be willing to pick up those annoying double-pointed needles for. Luckily, he likes really warm, bulky socks so I got to use US6s and (here's the best part) Rowan Magpie yarn! I knit the socks in secret for a couple of weeks at Knitsmiths (see Dava's post about my socks-in-progress) and the whole way on our recent knitbloggers' trip to Halcyon in Maine.

In another moment of double-pointed madness, I let Sandy talk me into knitting a pair of mittens. Give me a free ball of yarn, and I'll do anything!

I couldn't find a pattern in my books that matched the large gauge of the Rowan Plaid, so I altered the basic mitten pattern from Ann Budd's book to suit my needs. Got some bulky yarn and want to make mittens? Here you go! Got any other gauged yarn and want to make mittens, gloves, hats, socks, a vest, a sweater? Get her book!

posted by alison at 8:03 am | in accessories , free patterns

Comments

Such lovely warm socks and mittens. What could be more a gesture of love than socks for your husband. Another good source for large guage mittens - Best of Lopi - or any Lopi pattern book. They always have a variety of hats and mittens which you can personalize.

Posted by: Mary Beth at January 30, 2004 8:30 AM

Yay - plaid mitterns. Watch this space, I need mittens and have a skein of plaid sitting doing nothing. Warm hands here we come!

Posted by: kerrie at January 30, 2004 8:33 AM

Thanks for posting the pattern Alison!
I now have my weekend knitting project set to go!
The Plaid looks great!

Posted by: Karen at January 30, 2004 8:57 AM

Those Plaid mittens are verrry tempting, Alison. I still have at least a baby sweaters worth of Plaid from my poncho. Dare I knit mittens?!

Posted by: sharlyn at January 30, 2004 9:17 AM

is knitsmiths still happening this weekend in spite of the super bowl?

Posted by: chelsea at January 30, 2004 9:17 AM

Beautiful mittens and socks, Alison!

Is there any change you could make a similar pattern-webpage for the double-knit ski cap? That's a really lovely design and I've referred more than one person to it. (Really, I think you could sell that pattern...)

Posted by: Becky S. at January 30, 2004 9:48 AM

Thanks, Becky! The doubleknitski is at http://alison.hansels.net/pattern_double_knit_cap.html. You can check out my free patterns archive page for links to all the patterns I've posted. I'm working on reorganizing my links so they'll be easier to find. Soon there will be a free patterns link in the sidebar on the left. Soon...

Posted by: alison at January 30, 2004 9:52 AM

Oh, come on, aren't you going to give us patterns for all of our gauge issues? Love the socks! My DH just finally started wearing his lone pair of socks recently while at home. I had sworn off making him anymore because he never wore them. Now I might make him another pair, or not!
Love the mitts and isn't Sandy the best... enabler!!

Posted by: Chris at January 30, 2004 9:57 AM

Love the socks. I really want to make a pair this year so I can say whether or not I like it!

The mittens are great too. I also used Ann Budd's book for the mittens I just finished for my son. I love that book. It is such a great jumping off point for whatever project one wants to try.

Posted by: Nancy Mathews at January 30, 2004 10:13 AM

(sigh) Another book to buy.

The socks just look so cozy

Posted by: michelle at January 30, 2004 10:20 AM

I'm sure you already know that you can give up your double points for circs to do socks -- if I had to use DPs I'd never have made my first sock, on the circs it just sails along.. and I've heard the magic loop thing works pretty well too, tho I haven't tried it yet.

I have a hubster who is very into the warm happy sock thing, too. He doesn't want anything else knitted but he does like his socks!

Posted by: Theresa at January 30, 2004 10:52 AM

Hey Alison,
Sign me up for the Banff-Along :) Yup ... I started another project :) will blog about it today.
Thank you!!!

Posted by: Carissa at January 30, 2004 12:05 PM

NICE MITTENS! I'm thinking that I need to add a bit more ribbing on the end of mine as they got a bit stretchy and feel as if they will fall off! What do you think? Pick up stitches and knit more? Or cut and knit? Decisions decisions!
I just ordered a skein of Rowan Polar! Maybe another pair of mittens? Possibly!
Hubsocks came out great! Cute feet he has too! I'm sure he was surprised and "warm" all over!
S.

Posted by: sandy at January 30, 2004 3:14 PM

I HATE dpn's, but knit socks for the hubby for Christmas....but using 2 circs. *Almost* enough to make me want to make socks all the time. But not quite...the little needle thing. But try the 2 circs. I use that when I need to knit sleeves in the round now too!

Posted by: Kristine at February 1, 2004 12:04 PM

Your husband's socks are great. What a wonderful anniversary gift!

Posted by: Becky at February 1, 2004 3:25 PM