Double The Stripes

Mom and kiddo wearing matching socks with green, blue, and black stripes.

I’m been struggling to figure out what to say about these socks. They’re both great pairs, but everything I write about them sounds hollow. All this not writing/blogging business is taking its toll, and making it harder to find my voice. So I’m going to let the socks, all four of them, get things started.

Matching adult socks and toddler socks with matching green, blue, and black stripes.

I was out wandering the yarn aisles one day and came across a few balls of Patons Kroy Sock in a new to me color, Turquoise Stripes. This yarn is a staple of my sock stash and I’ve made so many comfy socks with it. Of course I had to get a few balls because I do love green sock yarn. Then I had a fun idea. Sure I could knit socks for me, but also the Kiddo, and the Bearded One. We could all have matching socks until Kiddo outgrows hers. Sounded like a great idea to me, and enough yarn came home to make it happen.

Hand knit adult socks with blue, green, and black stripes laying on concrete.

The first pair I started was for me because both of my most recent finished sock projects were for them. I stuck with my usual toe-up sock pattern. The only change was making the leg and cuff longer because I had the yarn.

I’ve knit this pattern dozens of times, but they were no means a quick project. They were the thing I knit when I had a few minutes of downtime at the playground, or riding in the car, or when I didn’t want to stare at my phone. So these took me about two months to finish. Then I got started on the Kiddo’s pair.

Small kiddo wearing handknit striped socks outside.

You’d think that these small socks would fly off the needles. I certainly hoped they would. But, nope. This pair took me two months to finish too. I also used my default sock pattern for these, just a sized down version. Of course, I made these with room to grow because she’s almost outgrown the last pair I made her at the beginning of the year. Maybe this pair will fit through to next winter. Maybe.

As cute as this pair is, making them was bittersweet. This was the first pair of her socks that needed more than a single 50g ball of sock yarn. It’s a good thing, but I can’t help but be a little sad about it. Probably won’t be long before she can wear my shoes.

Kiddo and mom wearing matching hand knit socks.

After making these two pairs, I decided to knit the Bearded One socks with different yarn. I still love the color and the stripes, but I don’t think they’d look as nice at a larger stitch count. 64 - 70 stitches around seems to be the limit before the stripes turn to static. And I definitely need more than 70 stitches per round to make him a pair of socks. Think I’m going to use the extra yarn to make the kid another pair of socks when she eventually outgrows her current pair. Until then, I’m going to tackle all that gift knitting that’s piling up. Cute unicorns don’t knit themselves.

A Sock Duo

One adult and one toddler sized pair of hand knit socks laying on concrete.

One of my crafty resolutions for last year, was to spend the year making socks. I’ve got plenty, but the Bearded One and the kiddo could definitely use a few more pairs. Add in a few more pairs here and there for friends and I’d be set for a year’s worth of portable knitting. So, how many pairs did I make in 2020? Three (2 of which were small kid socks) and 2 pairs in progress. Not exactly the year of socks I was hoping for. While I’m not bothering with resolutions this year, I still want to make socks. Now that 2021 is 5 months in, I’ve been able to add a few more pairs to a few different sock drawers.

Hand knit socks with a reverse stockinette toe and sole.

The Bearded One has been asking for more house socks and I had 2 skeins of worsted weight yarn set aside that would do the job nicely. I was in the mood for a quick, simple project so these went fast. The pattern is my basic default sock pattern that I’ve figured out how to flip inside out to make a princess sole without the purling. He reports that the socks are warm and comfy, and that he would happily fill up his sock drawer with a few more pairs.

The Kiddo and the Bearded One wearing their socks. The toddler made a run for it shortly after this photo was taken.

Since the cuffs on these socks were on the shorter side, I was going to have a decent chunk of yarn leftover. Enough to, say, make the kiddo a matching pair. She repeatedly wanted to try on the first pair, so I made her a pair too with plenty of room to grow. It makes me so happy to see her pick this pair to wear to bed or just sticking up past the tops of her yellow rain boots. It’s hard to withstand the onslaught of cuteness sometimes.

There wasn’t enough yarn to eek out anything close to a matching pair for me too. But that’s okay when I’m making socks for two people who absolutely love wearing them. Means I have yarn leftover to darn any holes that pop up. And that I can go dig out stash yarn to make matching socks for me and the kiddo. Hey, I didn’t say I wasn’t going to knit any socks for myself this year.

The Bearded One showing off the princess soles of his new socks.

The Specs:

Yarn: 2 skeins Patons North America Classic Wool Worsted - Lotus

Needles: 3.25 mm circulars

Dates: Jan 7 - 21, 2021

FO: Kiddo's New Mittens

Kiddo has a cute blue snowsuit with pink trim and it’s just a bit too long for her which makes outfit extra cute. The arms have little flaps that can be folded over her hands to keep her fingers warm. Know what she hates with a burning tantrum inducing passion? Those flaps because they keep her from driving her fingers straight into the snow. Warm fingers are just not a priority for her. Keeping her fingers warm is, however, a priority for me and the yarn stash.

I made her the Beloved Bonnet by Tin Can Knits last winter. The hat was big at the time - still a bit oversized now - but she likes wearing it. That’s more than I can say for most of her hats that I pick up off the floor 10 seconds after putting them on her noggin. When I went looking for a mitten pattern a few weeks ago, there was just enough yarn left over to make a pair of The World’s Simplest Mittens, also by Tin Can Knits. The pair was an exceedingly quick knit even with the few extra rounds I tacked on to make the mittens longer. There’s still yarn leftover too so who knows what the last 33 yards will turn into.

Normally, this is where I’d show you a cute photo of the matching hat and mittens. I would love to take that photo too, but the hat is currently having an adventure. We don’t know where it is or when it plans to return. I’m hoping soon because there’s 4” of snow on the ground, and kiddo should have her favorite hat back for her adventures. The giant octopus hat is a close second though.

I can show you the mitts in action though! They got their first wearing out to go play in the snow. She didn’t immediately hate them! They got wet, caked in snow, frequently put back on (really need to get some mitten clips), and pulled around in a sled. It was a good day for all involved.

Then, the next day when the mitts were dry again, Kiddo pulled them off the shelf and put one on all by herself. I helped with the second. Yay, knitting win! The first pair of hand knit socks I made for her were also well received and well-worn. I’m trying not to get my hopes up that she’ll love the next thing I make for her too. Optimistic? Sure. Also prepared for kiddo to never want to wear the next thing I knit for her? Yeah, that too.

The Specs:
Pattern: The World’s Simplest Mittens by Tin Can Knits
Yarn: 64 yds Jojoland Splatter Dash - color 36
Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) and US 6 (4 mm) circular needles
Dates: January 25 - 29, 2020
@Ravelry

FO: Kiddo's Socks

The Kiddo does not like wearing socks. If she has any choice in the matter, she’ll pull them off at her earliest convenience and leave them behind/under the nearest piece of furniture. When we’re short socks on laundry day I go check under the crib with a flashlight. Usually turns up at least a pair or two. This wouldn’t be much of a problem if not for cold toddler toes which should really be warm toddler toes. So I finally decided to knit kiddo a pair of wool socks.

I got started and kept right on knitting with the expectation that I’d be pulling these out from under the furniture just like all her other socks. Then she tried them on and surprised the hell out of me by actually liking them! She didn’t pull them off or chuck them under the coffee table. She wore them, walked around in them, and motioned for me to put them on again the next day. When I asked if she wanted mom to make her more socks, she nodded yes and I was positively verklempt. I hadn’t dared hope that she’d like these socks, but she did, and it felt like my heart was going to burst out of chest from happiness. Kiddo can have all the hand knit socks she wants.

She’s also a natural, if wiggly, sock model.

I made these socks long and oversized, which is probably why she likes them. Her feet have plenty of room to grow, and there’s time enough for me to eventually make another pair. The pattern is one of my own making and it uses lots of ribbing to stretch and fit wiggly growing feet.

While I am very happy with how this pair turned out, the pattern is definitely in need of some tweaks. Good thing I have at least one more pair to knit soon, and plenty of stashed leftover sock yarn to work with. This pair only took about 65 yards (60 m, 14g). Then it’ll be time to figure out how to write it for multiple sizes and lengths in a way that’s clear and easy to follow. It’s going to be awhile before the finished pattern sees the light of day, but that’s okay because it gives me more time to work on getting things right.

New Pattern: The Old Friend Hat

It all started with a hat I knit for the Bearded One nine years ago. He saw a hat he liked on an old British tv show from the 70’s*, and said he would totally wear a hat like that. I, a knitter with a little too much time on her hands, said I could make that happen. After taking a few screen caps, I got to work. The hat wasn’t an exact recreation since I had to guess at some of the details, but it was close and a big success. He wore that hat everywhere and usually kept it in his back pocket just in case he’d need it.

Well, after nine years of constant wear, the hat was an old friend but also showing it’s age. So it was time to knit him another one. While I worked on the new hat, I couldn’t help but imagine a longer slouchier version for me. And how could I not whip up a matching hat for the kiddo too. So I took the opportunity to clean up and expand the pattern to fit small baby heads all the way up to big adult noggins. There’s both a snug fitted version and a long slouchy version. And how could I not name the pattern “Old Friend”. The hat has been with us for 9 years already, and I’ve got the yarn to knit several more. Sounds like this hat is going to be sticking around for a long time.

While I’ve only been wearing my Old Friend hat for a few months, I am absolutely in love. The cables look great with pretty much everything. I wear it slouchy most of the time, but am really glad of the extra ribbing when I want an extra layer over my ears. Even the kiddo, who won’t wear most hats for more than five seconds at a time, wears her Old Friend hat when it’s cold. Though our hats are all different colors and lengths, they still match without having to be exactly the same.

Oh, and after nine years, I am so happy to finally share the pattern with you! Whether you choose to knit it short and fitted or long and slouchy, this cabled hat is sure to become an old friend that’s always by your side.

To celebrate the release of Old Friend, the pattern will be on sale October 13 - 20th, 2019 MST . Use code FRIENDLY when you check out to get 20% off the pattern!

Sizes:

Baby/Toddler: (16 - 18”) [41 - 46 cm]

Child: (18 - 20”) [46 - 51 cm]

Adult S/M: (20 - 22”) [51 - 56 cm]

Adult L: (22 - 24”) [56 - 61 cm]

Gauge: 4 sts and 6 rows = 1” in pattern

Yarn:

For Fitted Hat: 60 (85, 120, 140) yds / 55 [78, 104, 119] m worsted weight yarn

• Shown in Knit Picks Swish Worsted - Allspice, and Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool Worsted - Garnet

For Slouchy Hat: 70 (100, 140, 172) yds / 64 [91, 128, 157] m worsted weight yarn

• Shown in Knit Picks Swish Worsted - Dove Heather

Needles and Notions:

• US 7 (4.5mm) 32” circular needles OR 16” circular needles/DPN’s

• Tapestry Needle

• Regular and Locking Stitch Markers (Optional)

*Said show is “Last of the Summer Wine”, and I’m totally guessing that the episodes I was watching were from the 70’s.