the blue blog archives: rah, rah, rah!

Just in time for Memorial Day and the unofficial beginning of summer here in the US, pompom ankle socks!

They are so cute, I can hardly stand it. I will have to make more of these. Many. Many. Many. More. You can see that they aren't true ankle socks. As I was knitting, I was a little worried about them being too short and slipping into my shoes, so I first worked 10 rows and then started the heel. I think next time (I've already got some Koigu for the next pair!), I'll only do 4 or 5 rows, so they're just above the shoe.

I wore my new pompom socks to work this weekend and they were super comfy. The Cashsoft 4ply (on US3's) is a pretty good weight for socks, feels wonderful on, and held up quite well to its first wearing. Here's how the toes and the heels looked after the day. And just in case you're not convinced, here's Knitter's Review's recent article on Cashsoft. I'm sold!

posted by alison at 8:18 am | in people who make socks...

Comments

Love 'em!! They look super comfy.

Posted by: Jackie at May 30, 2005 8:33 AM

I like the demi-ankle length--shows off those perfect pom-poms!

Posted by: Dava at May 30, 2005 8:37 AM

i love me a good ankle sock.
hot.

Posted by: corine at May 30, 2005 9:03 AM

those ankle socks really are adorable. i just bought some lovely pink & green jawoll sock yarn from your LYS, a good yarn, and i may just have to use it to make a pair of these!

Posted by: parikha at May 30, 2005 9:10 AM

Your socks look great! You actually inspired me to start my own ankle socks this weekend - so far, so good. I also love Priscilla G-R's short row socks. In one of your previous posts you mentioned finishing the toe with a three needle bind-off. I can't see it in the picture, so I was wondering if you do it on the inside. If so, is it comfortable that way? I have been doing the zig zag bind off, and I like the way it looks. I find it a bit awkward though, so I was thinking of trying the three needle bind-off, but on the outside - just not sure if I would like the look. Thanks in advance for your help!

Posted by: Allison at May 30, 2005 9:28 AM

Parikha, I have been so tempted by that Jawoll! Only the teeny tiny gauge (like on US1's!) has stopped me from picking up some to make ankle socks with. If I get some, will you do an ankle-sock along with me??

Allison, I haven't ever done a three-needle bind off for a sock - I'm using a normal kitchener stitch to close the toe along the top - but I think a three-needle bind off (on the inside though) would look great. Valentina used it to close her sockapalooza socks (they weren't short row toes, but it's the same principle). Maybe her pics will help you decide if you'd like it.

Posted by: alison at May 30, 2005 9:53 AM

So cute! I hardly ever make full length socks, but I don't usually go for true ankle socks either. I like it to go a little over my shoes. The cashsoft looks so cushy and comfy. And they don't show much wear either! Nearly the perfect socks :)

Posted by: Vicki at May 30, 2005 10:55 AM

They look great! I love them! You already inspired me to make some ankle socks. All of my commerical socks are ankle socks, yet I keep making taller knit/crochet socks!!

Posted by: jess at May 30, 2005 11:56 AM

I've only ever used a heel flap for my socks, and I just love the heel on your anklets. Can you point me to which heel you used?

Posted by: Jane at May 30, 2005 12:00 PM

Love them!! Oh where did you find this pattern! :D I'm desperate to knit some ankle socks!

Posted by: korin at May 30, 2005 12:48 PM

What pattern did you use for these pom pom anklets? I just knit the pom squad footies from MagKnits and had a very hard time with the heel, plus they were from the toe up. I would love to try this pattern for a change -- and I like the detail at the cuff. Thanks.

Posted by: Shawna at May 30, 2005 1:49 PM

I'm already planning a Hello Kitty version of these with a pink and white pom pom. hehehe.

Luxury for your feet. :-)

Posted by: paula at May 30, 2005 2:38 PM

too cute! I think you just started a new trend ;0)
btw did you make the pom pom?

Posted by: cara at May 30, 2005 5:18 PM

cuteness!

Posted by: jo at May 30, 2005 5:55 PM

Alison, how many balls of cashsoft did your lovely pom pom socks take? I see many of these in my future as well. :)

Posted by: Liz at May 30, 2005 7:04 PM

Those are super cute! I bought some cashsoft a while back for something... I can't remember what I was planning on making with it, but at least now I know that it could turn into some good sock yarn! :)

It was good meeting you this weekend at the store. I still can't get over how the Nothing But a T-shirt looked on you! I want to make that at some point this summer, but I already have so many projects in the works. Thanks also for helping me pick out my Azkaban yarn... I cast on for that last night with 80 stitches!

Posted by: Dani at May 30, 2005 7:15 PM

I've never made ankle socks, but I LOVE yours and MUST knit a pair soon! Too cute.

Posted by: jenny at May 30, 2005 9:06 PM

Alison

How did you do the cute little green edge? I have to have these. Your socks rock.

Posted by: kathy b. at May 30, 2005 9:06 PM

If you make a mini heel flap in addition to the short-row heel, the socks won't bunch down in your shoes. Just do the ribbing, a couple rows of st. st., then the heel flap (8 rows max), then the short-row heel. You knit a mini gusset after you pick up the sts on the side of the heel flap and decrease back down. I knit ankle socks this way all the time for my DD.

Posted by: Susan at May 30, 2005 11:13 PM

Alison, Those are the cutest socks...I am dying to make some for this summer...I love tennis shoes with shorty cute socks!

Lovely! Truly lovely!

Posted by: heather at May 31, 2005 8:46 AM

Very cute! I usually make full length socks and buy anklets to wear with sneakers. These I can see making. Nice to have the review. How many balls did you need for these?

Posted by: Julia at May 31, 2005 10:50 AM

Too cute! I might have to make myself a pair.

Posted by: beth at May 31, 2005 12:04 PM

I love them! Too cute! And here I was just the other day thinking about making myself some pompom socks... ;) I may have to do it now! :)

Posted by: Lisa P at May 31, 2005 12:49 PM

Write a pattern....
We will buy it! :o)

I have some tip-top that needs to be knit into those socks!

Just darling.

Posted by: Miz Booshay at May 31, 2005 2:11 PM

Okay, Miz Booshay, I'll put together my notes and write out my pattern. Then we can all make some together, right? ;0)

Posted by: alison at May 31, 2005 2:33 PM

those are *perfect*...exactly what i'd like in a sock. i'm such a newbie, but i've wanted to try socks and those are so perfect. i will check back frequently and see if you've posted a pattern. (hopefully one someone without a lot of confidence in her knitting can at least attempt!)

Posted by: lynki at May 31, 2005 2:53 PM

Thank you Alison! I do not want this pattern for free. You deserve to make a little profit for your designing talents!

I am so excited! Those are just the cutest socks I have ever seen.

Thank you!

Posted by: Miz Booshay at May 31, 2005 7:16 PM

I'll post a pattern soon, but for those of you interested in the yardage, I can let you know that to make these I used one ball of Cashsoft 4ply in the main color and just a tiny bit of a second ball in the contrast color for the trim and pompom. So that's about 175 meters of MC working on US2's. I'll let you know the exact gauge in the pattern. I didn't check!

Posted by: alison at June 3, 2005 10:19 AM

I see I wasn't fast enough to join the sockapalooza two...I never made socks but love to try and those socks look like a good place
to start. My Sister Inlaw's birthday in August and i'm thinking of making her socks as a gift
...where did you get this pattern from? these
seems like a reletivly short project to do, so
I don't need to plan to much ahead.

Posted by: Orli at June 5, 2005 2:17 PM