Grace Ennis Sailfish Socks #7241 from 1951

My son Mike decided to model for me so I could show you just how CUTE!!

UPDATE!!: Here are new pics of SailFish Sock #1 Complete and on my foot!! For those unfamiliar with Grace Ennis designs, she used fingering weight wool and angora yarns, silk blends, etc for her socks thus making the fish (in this case) smaller. These were novelty socks but advertised at Men's Trouser/Dress Socks. I used a cotton/elastic yarn here which is a littler thicker than Sport Weight/DK so my fishy is large. I like it that way but one day I will break down and buy some really nice yarns to knit my Grace Ennis socks!

I know, I know, FINISH one project before moving on Right? LOL I started these Grace Ennis SailFish socks the other night. I always have several projects cast on at once but I find that when I'm working on the Foot of a sock or a sock in the round that I get tired of going around and around and do better if I can set it down, knit something flat for a little while then pick up my round item again, and since I only knit socks, well....

These are being knit in Cascade Fixation cotton/elastic yarn. There is a texture to the yarn which is creating a wonderful effect on these socks. I usually don't like a cotton yarn but these are soft yet stretchy enough to hold a shape. I purchased the colors to also use this same yarn for the Red Devil Grace Ennis sock and think the final product will be fantastic!!

Carrots and Beets by SpillyJane!!

APRIL 29, 2011: UPDATE!! I didn't try these guys on until it was time for the toe decreases (Duh!!) only to find that the heel flap feels really thin to me. They are also just a wee bit snug on the carrot leaves so these will be ripped out and started again at just under the first row of beet leaves! =( Sigh...They were really a lot of fun and pretty quick so I will just count this experience as colorwork practice that Lord knows I need anyway! =)

How CUTE are these? This pattern is called Carrots and Beets Socks by Jane Dubois AKA SpillyJane (on FB and Ravelry) I LOVE LOVE LOVE her stuff but have never attempted a project. So far so good although the gusset instructions have me a bit dazed. I may not be able to figure it out but I am not afraid to rip it out and start again!!

If you knit look her up! She has cupcakes, flamingos, gnomes, beer pints, cheeseburgers, etc. in both socks and mittens!!!

YAY!!! Spring Sock for Yahoo! Group is DONE!!!

April 1, 2011: This sock was a challenge for me to say the least! I'd never done "Lace" before and actually had never gotten a Yarn Over (YO) to work for me before so I knew from just looking at the pattern that this was going to be tough. The Picot edge is created using YOs too so 7 rows in I already needed help! I ripped out and ripped out but finally is "clicked" and I really enjoyed working on the second sock. This did require much more attention than I'm use to giving a project so no watching TV and knitting this sock!

I was on my way to work mid April and had my knitting bag with me, all packed in case I had an opportunity to knit at lunch but when I got to work I realized that my bag was not with me. Checked my car after work, checked home then and it was just gone! I was really confused! What had I done with this bag? I refused to re-cast on in a different yarn (plus buy more needles) and decided that I was just not going to participate in this round on my Six Socks Knitting group when my phone rang. This guy had my bag of "strings" and my dog collar (with all my contact info.) and wanted to get it back to me. I guess I set it on the roof of my car? Oh well, I got my socks back (albeit terribly dirty), finished the foot on the second sock and Ta Da!! all before the deadline! Whew!!!

Grace Ennis!!!

I just found 6 Grace Ennis sock patterns that I do not have from Vintageknits.com! YAY!! There were several Out of Stock that I didn't have but...I didn't get the necktie patterns and I maybe sorry later but I will use the socks and I don't wear ties! Can't wait for them to come it!

Grace Ennis - Graphic Knitting Patterns

I just adore all of Grace Ennis' charted men's sock patterns from the 1940s - 1960s. I have a handful but my small collection doesn't put a dent in what was once available! I stalk Ebay and Etsy to try to find more but sadly, it has been a long while since I've seen anything posted. Here is the 8-Point Star Clock socks #7220 that I started Sunday night. I LOVE knitting socks but sometimes do get tired of the round and round and round....these guys are knit flat until the heel flap so. I chose this pattern simply because of the stash yarn on hand at the time.

YAY!! I have FOUND my camera!!

I took my camera to work in September after returning from my 2 week cruise and vacation in Puerto Rico to download photos then, "POOF" it was gone! Haven't seen it since. My iPhone takes pictures just not good ones but I've been making due. Well, we are moving to a new building and packing has begun here. I found my camera in a file drawer under the hanging files? Don't know how it got there but hopefully it will help me show off my knit creations better!!! =)

Baby Hug Me Socks

So, I've been away for a very long time!! I've been KNITTING!! Not much paper crafting going on here but LOTS and LOTS of socks! I joined a yahoo group that knits 6 pair of socks a year and my first KAL (that's Knit A Long) was a pair of TOO CUTE socks, Hug ME that can be found on Ravelry.com. I designed a Baby Hug Me Sock and can't figure out how to "publish" it as per thier requirements so here it is! Baby Hug Me Socks

Dee Cochran

Supplies: Baby Yarn, Bernat Baby Jacquards Orange Blossom used in example 4 size 1 dpns Tapestry needle Small crochet hook

Cast On: 36 stitches divided evenly between 3 needles (18 stitches per needle) Cuff: Work 10 rows of K2P2 ribbing.

Rows 11-12: Knit around.

Rows 13-14: K2P2 around.

Rows 15-16: Knit around.

Rows 17-18: K2P2 around.

Rows 19-20: Knit around.

Rows 21-22: K2P2 around.

Rows 23-24: Knit around.

Rows 25-26: K2P2 around.

Rows 27-28: Knit around.

Rows 29-30: K2P2 around.

Rows 31-32: Knit around.

Knit 18 stitches onto needle 1. Divide remaining 18 stitches (9 each) onto needles 2 and 3, these are your instep stitches and will be left alone while knitting the heel flap. Work 18 heel flap stitches in K2P2 ribbing always slipping the first stitch of each row. Knit for 10 Rows ending on Purl row.

Turning Heel:

Row 1: K11, K2tog, K1, turn.

Row 2: P6, P2tog, P1, turn.

Row 3: K7, K2tog, K1, turn.

Row 4: P8, P2tog, P1, turn.

Row 5: K9, K2tog, K1, turn.

Row 6: P10, P2tog, P1, turn.

Pick up 7 stitches on side of heel flap with needle 1. Knit across instep putting all 18 stitches onto needle 2. On Needle 3 pick up 7 stitches on side of heel flap and across 6 heel stitches. Knit next 6 heel stitches onto Needle 1 and knit to last 3 stitches on same needle. K2tog, K1. Knit in pattern across instep. K1, SSK, knit to end of row on Needle 3.

Next Row: Knit needle 1, knit in pattern needle 2, knit needle 3.

Next Row: Needle 1-knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1. Needle 2-knit in pattern across. Needle 3, K1, SSK, knit to end. Repeat these rows until you have 9 stitches on Needle 1, 18 stitches on Needle 2 and 9 stitches on Needle 3.

Continue to knit needle 1, Knit needle 2 in pattern and knit needle 3 until your sock is the desired length (I did 13 rows).

Shape Toe:

Needle 1: knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1.

Needle 2: K1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1.

Needle 3: K1, SSK, knit to end. This is ROW 1.

Row 2: knit around.

Repeat these 2 rows until there are 4 stitches on Needle 1, 8 stitches on Needle 2 and 4 stitches on Needle 3. Graft toe.

Ta Da! Mommy and Me Hug Me Socks.