sock porn for knitting voyeurs.

Monday, July 31, 2006

Toddler socks, finished and in progress

Ah, love the toddler socks. (Hate taking pics of said toddler without a flash!) :)

toddleropal1

Toe up toddler k2 p2 socks
(Thanks to Simple Socks: Plain and Fancy!)
Started: July 26, 2006
Finished: July 29, 2006
Opal Krokodil colorway #31
US 2.5 (3.0mm) dpns, 4
24 grams total

This was the leftover yarn from my "recent" Yarrow ribbed socks... I knit them toe up using Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' book Simple Socks: Plain & Fancy to make sure I used all of the yarn. My bumblebee's foot is 5.5" long and 6" around (blocksocks!), and I used the Susanne's ebony US 2.5 (3.0mm) 4" double pointed glove needles and got 8 sts/inch. I ended up w/ 48 sts total for the foot & leg, knit the instep with k2 p2 ribbing for 5" and started the heel (which made a foot of 6" in length... I usually make the toddler socks without negative ease but with ribbing on the instep, and a little longer in the foot for my ease in getting them on a squirmbot and making them last a little longer on ever-growing toes), then a k2 p2 cuff til the yarn ran out.

I'm awfully pleased at how quick they were. I haven't knit a pair of toddler socks in a long time, since I like to use dpns for them but the 7" ones just feel gigantic on the tiny socks and I've been avoiding it-- so the 4" are awesome. I am now wanting a pair of Susanne's ebony double points in US 1.5 (2.5mm) 4" length. I liked the sharper tip of the Susanne's, too... I didn't hurt myself with it (finger pushing knitter!) but I found it helpful when doing the somewhat awkward p3tog tbl for the short row heel & toes.

toddleropal2

I also really liked the dpn length since the socks were so portable, more than any others ever. I put the tiny ball of yarn in my back pocket and could even slip the little sock on needles back there (and I didn't really worry about snapping the solid ebony needles either, but I didn't sit down or anything!)... I took it to Ikea (Ikea + Sat afternoon crush of bodies = panic attack time for me, the sock got worked on a lot as I avoided the crowds as much as I could), and to a park while little man played and I was bowled over. Smells like victory! :)

I liked this pair so much I started another...

koiguwyvern

Wyvern (toddler sized!) sock
Started: July 29, 2006
Koigu (kpppm), color P323 101
(not sure about the colorway #/dyelot)
US 0's (2.0mm) dpns, 4

Like I said, I was trying to ride the "glove length" needle wave and tried swatching the koigu on the US 2.5's, but the fabric was too open for my taste. My next choice were my US 0 Brittany in 5", nice length.

Note: "were."

brittanybroken

2 needles bit the dust. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I mean, should I really be trying to knit with 2mm wood needles in the first place? Incidentally, I knit the foot of my left leaning cloverleaf sock on these needles, they were bendy but I didn't break them then. I wasn't doing anything weird or anything, thry both broke during the knit plain rounds of the instep pattern... too much decrease action makes britt a brittle needle. I've already emailed Brittany to have them replaced... though I don't see myself using them much in the future if they are.

I used the 48 st CO again, toe up with the same PGR method, and am using Marnie's "S" sized directions for the instep (26 st repeat), with 22 stockinette sole sts. Since I'm using such smaller needles and was getting 8 sts/inch in stockinette in the brittanys, the difference will fit the little one's tiny feeties. I did have a change in gauge when I switched out the needles though-- the metals are resulting in 8.5 sts/inch. Shouldn't be a problem though, its at the heel where I switched out. I will have to try this one on him when its done and see if I need to change the CO for the 2nd sock though, adding a few sts to the sole or something.

The pattern also pulls in so the fit should be good across the top. I am using a new (to me!) m1 increase I read about on Knitter's Review Forums-- lift up the st below the live st on the left hand needle and place on the L hand needle, knit this new st thru the back loop. No holes, and it results in an interesting "line" of sts when worked on top of each other in succession/EOR (I'll take a pic of this later). The KR link discusses places where it can be used appropriately, as it affects the subsequent fabric.

The colorway may be too dark for this pattern... something to think about as I choose a yarn for Theresa's Here There Be Dragons socks... Yahaira sez dragon skin socks are hott and all and seeing these Wyverns work up again, I'm closer to making a pair of the HTBDs for myself with that superman heel and toe. (I also bought Eunny's Chuck's Cabled Socks pattern, I'm still debating the colors though, that one will be on the back burner of the brain a bit.)

Back to the metal dpn grind :)


(bradyphrenia said in my flickr comments that she thinks I knit a lot of socks... where I bow to Alyssa's 6 PAIR she knit in JULY!!) :)

23 comments:

lexa said...

He's such a little cutie! Love the toddler socks in the baby Cons!

Toddler socks are a nice break when you want a quick FO.

Alyssa said...

Ahh, you make me blush:)

Sorry your poor needles bit the dust...time to treat yourself to some new ones...maybe some of those new shiny KnitPicks ones that don't break. hehe

Jennifer Wathen said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jennifer Wathen said...

His Socks are so cute. I love quick knits.... Now you have a "minnie me" with matching socks...

adrienne said...

Cute socks! (and I'm jealous of his shoes!)
Seeing all the broken DPNs makes me feel sad that I should never bother trying wood or bamboo needles, considering I bent my 2.5mm addis on the first socks I knit with them!

Annie said...

Love the socks with the converse! Very cool little man. And yes, you did knit socks at teh speed of lightning. BTW, I am so inspired by your recent pomo's that I am thinking about using that pattern with some Trekking I have...yay!

soapy said...

he's so cute.. he looks very proud to have matching socks like you! ;o)

Anonymous said...

those teeny socks are so cute!
and the new dragon ones are going to be adorable in that size....scales are definintely hott!
I would be breaking my dpns all the time, you should see how bent my addis 2mm and 2.5mm are

Dave said...

Cute kidlet, cute socklets! Not so cute about the broken Britts, though :-(

Jennifer said...

What a cute little guy and great socks!

Chris said...

Oh, how cute he is! And the toddler socks are wonderful indeed.

I gotta say, I'm happy using Addi Turbos on those smaller sizes - they bend, but they do not break.

HPNY KNITS said...

He is soooooooooo adorable, and it looks like he loves the socks. you inspire me to knit for my little munchkin.
I love the idea of matching...
:-)

Stacey said...

That stinks about the needles - I can't knit with wood DPN's - I hold them too tight!

The toddler socks look great - and fast!

I am planning on getting Eunny's pattern also - I looooooove the cables in a different color! The dragon socks are great too - so many good patterns that it makes it hard to choose!

Melissa said...

The socks look great, and especially on such a cute model.
I need to make LittleMan some socks. Maybe I'll do it with leftover yarn from my dad's birthday socks so that they can match.
Those new Knitpicks dpns rock, you should try them.

Anonymous said...

He looks so happy about his new socks, great job!

And I broke the same Brittany needles on my very first sock, so don't feel bad, it seems to be pretty common.

Rachel said...

Baby Chucks! That is one cool kid with one cool mama.

That stinks about the needles.

sheep#100 said...

You'd be better off calling them - they don't check email too frequently.

Anonymous said...

i've been eyeing my sock leftovers and my littlest niece and nephew's feet, too. i'm thinking, what aunt anne can't use could be fun for them!

Zonda said...

Cute kiddie, socks and chucks!!

EEk, I better beware, I just got new Brittany's in that size.

Jenny Raye said...

Cute socks for a cute boy!!!

Charles said...

HE IS REALLY CUTIE!!!
TOO CUTE TO WATCH!!!HEHE..ALSO SOCKS TOOO!!

Anonymous said...

Those look like Brittany needles. Did you know that Brittany will replace broken needles free of charge? Just go to brittanyneedles.com and click on "Our Guarantee" to get the details. They replaced a size seven straight for me that had started to split at the tip.

Anonymous said...

These knee-high grip socks will work perfectly for the design of babies’ foot. The shape is great for little fit, and the fun cartoon additions to the tops of the knee high design are great for making sure a toddler can put the proper kind of focus together in style and comfort. wholesalesocksbulk.com/wholesale/knee-high-toddler-grip-socks/

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