Glossary of Heels

Different Types of Heels for Hand Knit Socks

I just found a blog post which has a great list of heels and you can see it HERE.  It looks as if the blog post is full of links where you can find instructions for how to complete each type of heel.

What a great find.  I hope you find this helpful.  I was excited to find this. 

Cascade Colours Socks: Complete

Yipee!  Another pair of socks done.

I made short socks this time. They are so cozy and the fit is great!

The yarn is Patons Kroy Socks FX in "cascade colours". I knit these two at a time, from the toe up, on 2.75 mm needles, with 52 stitches per round. I used the Fleegle Heel and Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off; I love both techniques. 

On to the next pair of socks!

Cascade Socks

I'm in my knitting nest and I am flanked by Labradoodle love. Sandy on the left; Brutus on the right. 

A little sock knitting today.  I am knitting this pair two at a time from the toe up, on one 40 inch circular needle (2.75 mm). There are 52 stitches per round. 

Judy's Magic Cast On, Fleegle Heel, and I'll use Jeny's Suprisingly Stretchy Bind Off when I get there. I am working on the heel increases now. I hope I started the heel at the right time. I am still struggling with that. 

The yarn is Patons Kroy Socks FX and the colorway is called "cascade colours". Notice the "u" in "colours"? Patons yarn must be from Canada, eh?

This yarn is from my mom's stash of yarn. Thanks Mom!!!!

The Cascades are mountains in the Pacific Northwest where I grew up and that's what I think of when I look at this yarn called cascade colours. 

Happy Knitting!

Norah's Vintage Afghan: Beginning Block #2

This is the beginning of Norah's Vintage Afghan Block #2. For this block, I am using Berroco Vintage worsted weight yarn in the "black currant" colorway. I love it!

I was so excited to finish up block #1 last night that I cast on block #2 this morning.  I've finished one pattern repeat so far.  What great texture in this block, don't you think?  One of the fun things about this project is that the pattern does NOT include a photo of each block nor can you see every block in the pattern photos (in the pattern, there is a photo of a woman with the blanket wrapped around her).  So each time you cast on a block, you are not quite sure what the block will look like.  It's almost like 20 small mystery-knit-alongs which is kind of fun!  I did find a photo of an entire completed afghan on line but I am trying to not look at it.  I like the surprise each time.

Here is one of the photos from the pattern. www.berroco.com

Norah's Vintage Afghan: Block #1

Norah's Vintage Afghan

Block #1 is complete. This block is knit in Berroco Vintage worsted weight yarn in the "mochi" colorway.  I haven't blocked this yet but wanted to share some snapshots.  This was fun to do.  I was kind of worried the pattern instructions had me buy too much yarn; there are 20 blocks in the afghan and I purchased 20 skeins of yarn.  It turns out I used all but 19 grams of a 100 gram skein of yarn for this one block, so it appears I'll have leftover yarn but not a ton.  I am sure the leftovers will be great for some striped scarves, cowls, or hats. 

Just 19 grams of yarn left after completing block #1. 

On to the next block...

Girasole

Girasole is the Italian word for sunflower. 

Girasole is also the name of a knitting pattern by Jared Flood. 

It starts in the center and it grows and grows as one knits around and around. 

It's addictive and hard to put down. 

I think Girasole is the perfect name for this pattern. 

I'll keep you posted...

Building Blocks: Big Reveal

Building Blocks Afghan

What a fun sense of accomplishment to finish up this project.  This past summer, Ann, the owner of my local yarn shop asked me to teach an afghan class in 2016, knowing I was planning to retire from my job.  I was so glad Ann suggested this pattern by Michelle Hunter (www.knitpurlhunter.com).  The pattern is called "Building Blocks". 

I started my afghan at the very end of July 2015, according to my project notes in Ravelry.  You can really knit a block in a few evenings, but I've had a lot of other projects going on since July.  I was anxious to finally get this done so I finished two blocks in two days this week.  I had sewn the first six blocks together several months ago so they could be on display at the yarn shop.  Yesterday, I sewed the final six blocks together at home and then brought the second half in to sew it all together.

Harriet was nice enough to snap some photos for me. Thanks, Harriet!

For this project I used Cascade Pacific yarn.  I think the color way is called "Latte".  The entire afghan was completed with just six skeins of yarn. The afghan is a really nice size.  There are 12 blocks and each block is unique.  The blocks start out easy and get a little more difficult as you go. In each block, you focus on at least one new skill.  The pattern booklet is really excellent and the designer has amazing video support on her blog to demonstrate various techniques.  I really enjoyed knitting this project and think it would be a fun knit for all knitters from beginners to very experienced. 

If you'd like to see all of my posts about this project and see a close up of each block, you can click HERE.

On to the next project...

Building Blocks: Block #12

Woo hoo!  Last block!

This block was a blast. My afghan is done! Big reveal tomorrow. 

Building Blocks: Block #11

This is Block #11. Only one more block remains in my Building Blocks afghan project. 

This block went rather quickly. The skills learned in this block include M1 (make 1) increases and p3tog (purl three together). I am hoping to finish up the final block soon so I can sew together the second half of the afghan before the end of the week. It will be nice to finally complete this project. I was just looking at some completed afghans in Ravelry and I would like to add an applied i-cord to the perimeter of the afghan. I'll have to find a video on YouTube to learn that. 

Norah's Vintage Afghan

Photo above from www.berroco.com

Norah's Vintage Afghan

Photo above from www.berrroco.com

Pattern Link:  http://www.berroco.com/patterns/norahs-vintage-afghan

I saw this pattern on Facebook a month or two ago and pointed it out to my friend, Belinda.  I had no intention of making this project since I just started teaching a year long class using a different pattern (Building Blocks Afghan). 

Belinda suggested we should make this afghan along with the Building Blocks Afghan.  Next thing I knew, we were picking out colors and ordering yarn.   The colors we selected are Mochi (off white), Smoke (light grey), Cracked Pepper (dark grey with pale grey specks), Cast Iron (black), and Black Currant (a heathery dark purple-red with black undertones).  We will make 20 blocks total (4 of each color).  The pattern is by Norah Gaughan and is available on the Berroco Yarn website (www.berroco.com).  The yarn recommended is Berroco Comfort or Berroco Vintage (both of which are worsted weight). We are using Berroco Vintage.

Here is a sneak peek of Block #1 (terrible photo... just me curled up on the couch in my craft room with my knitting on my lap).  The funny thing about the pattern is that the only photos in the pattern are the two photos above so you don't exactly know what each block is supposed to look like. It's almost like a Mystery Knit Along. There is very little written instruction for each block; the instructions are the charts.  I look forward to sharing my progress on this project. I think it's going to be a really beautiful afghan. 

This Pair of Socks is DONE!

I got this yarn at the Interweave Yarnfest in Loveland, Colorado, last year. It's called "Summer Sprinkle" and its from Western Sky Knits in Lennep, Montana. 

At first I was calling these my Cupcake or Funfetti Socks. The yarn reminded me of of the Funfetti Cake shown above. 

But as I knit these socks, the blue became more dominant and the socks reminded me of the artwork in the children's book titled "The Rainbow Fish". The yarn has sparkly silver stellina threads running through it, just like the book illustrations feature lots of metallic silver in the fish scales. 

I just started a REALLY BIG knitting project. I'll share more about that soon. I am also trying to focus on finishing some other WIPS that have been lingering. It feels good to finish things. 

Chicago Socks

Chicago Socks

Just in time. These socks are done!

These socks are for my baby boy who will be 19 years old tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be the first time I've not seen Zach on his birthday.  I went up to visit Zach at college last September, but Ron has not visited the campus yet.  So tomorrow Ron is driving up to college for a visit and will bring a little care package, including these socks.

Below, I am trying to take various measurements to know how long socks need to be for Zach.  His feet are Size 12. The measurement here is 6 1/2 inches from the edge of the heel flap to the beginning of the toe decreases.  After the last gusset decrease, I knit about 52 rounds before starting the toe decreases.

I sent Zach off to college with a similar looking pair of socks.  That pair was made in Wisdom Yarns "Seattle" (primarily dark teal green with lots of decorative stripes and designs in varying colors).  Those socks were knit two at a time, from the cuff down, on size 2.25 mm needles.  I definitely struggled to get the fit just right. I knew I had this other ball of Wisdom Yarns in my stash, so I figured I could adjust a few things and hopefully finish a pair of socks for Zach while he is away and they will fit a bit better this time around.

This color way is called "Chicago".  I cast on 68 stitches for this pair (the Seattle pair was knit with 64 stitches).  I still used the size 2.25 mm needles (40 inch long cable) and also knit these two at a time, from the cuff down.  I do have a confession to make though.  When I got to the heel, I took the socks off the long circular needle, and knit the heel flap, did the heel turn, and did all the gusset decreases on double pointed needles. These socks were languishing in my UFO pile because I DO NOT LIKE TO KNIT HEELS TWO AT A TIME FROM THE CUFF DOWN ON ONE LONG CIRCULAR NEEDLE.

When I knit this kind of heel on one circular needle, I find that I really struggle with the heel.  You just end up with so many stitches on the heel side of the circular needle after you pick up and knit stitches on both sides of the heel flap.  I find myself wrestling with it all too much as I work on the gusset decreases.  No fun!  Otherwise, I am a huge fan of knitting socks two at a time on one circular needle.

Recently I've heard about a heel called a Strong Heel.  It sounds as if it is very similar to the Fleegle Heel that I've used in TOE UP socks and you do not have to pick up and knit stitches. The Fleegle Heel is great when knitting socks two at a time on one circular needle from the TOE UP so I need to try a pair of socks from the CUFF DOWN, two at a time, using the Strong Heel. 

I'll keep you posted.

Snow Day Knitting

It's a very snowy day in Southern Colorado. Great knitting weather. We got new windows installed in the house last week. Good timing before the snow. 

My craft room is no longer cold and drafty thanks to this beautiful new window. I have a futon in front of the window and I sit with my back to the window. 

But the puppies sure enjoy the view. 

Today we went for a great snowy walk down at the river. Here are a few photos. 

Now that we are warm and cozy I am madly knitting these socks. Ron is going to visit Zach up at college later this week and I'd like for these to be done by then. Knit, knit, knit. I am racing toward the toes.