Grace Ennis Graphic Knitting Patterns Pipe Dream Socks, #7262 from 1953

This is just the leg portion of Sock #1 of Grace Ennis' Pipe Dreams but wanted to show some progress.

 This is knit using Knit Picks Palette yarn in Camel Heather as the Main Color, Black, Oyster Heather, Bison and Serrano.  The smoke is knit in Trendsetter Yarns 100% Angora yarn.  SO soft and fuzzy!

See!!

That fuzzy little stuff is EVERYWHERE!!  This is the front of my shirt.  Looks like I've been holding a CAT!  WOW!

Grace Ennis #7217 Triangle Overlay Socks

I cast on the Triangle Overlay Socks back in the summer and got so far, put them down and didn't think about them again.  I picked them back up last week and completed them.  They are really easy, large blocks of color, no floating.  The instep is another story.  I didn't do them as written.  Decided to knit this in the round after creating the heel and gusset, like any other top down sock.  Then I proceeded to pull too tightly and have a huge mess on sock 1.  RIPPED it out, said some not-so-nice words and made sure to leave a long span of yarn over the orange area.  TA DA!  Now, there are a million little ends to weave in this way rather than, say NONE, the other way, but oh well!

These were knit in Knit Picks Palette yarn using Corn Flower Blue, Oyster Heather, Cornmeal and Orange.

Grace Ennis Hawaiian Girl #7256 from 1953

This is the pattern that most people go GAGA over.  What could be more 1950's than a Hula Girl?  Kitchy, Tiki, etc.  These are great!!!  And very scary!  There are so many color changes in small areas, but this is the pair you want in your collection!  I obtained this pattern early on in my collecting but just couldn't bring myself to try it.  A Ravelry group member of For The Love of Grace Ennis was willing to try it and her's looked SO good that I got the same yarn and tried it too!  THANKS ItsGretchen for your inspiration!

The yarn of choice here is Hikoo by Skacel CoBaSi (COtton, BAmboo, SIlk).  It is a little stretchy.  Has some nice texture to it and is SO soft!  Iris Blue, Chocolate Milk, Forest, Ripe Raspberry and Black.

See my wonderful Yarn Bell in the background?  You know, the one that isn't holding my yarn, duh! This is my dog Chico and was created by Pots With Personality .  I sent a picture of Chico and she did the rest!  I LOVE him!!

AND, these are backwards.  Geez, you had one job!!  See the little black tip of land in front of the Hawaiian Girl?  That's the tip of Diamond Head on the other sock and the two should line up.....

SNEAK PEEK:

I've been working on WhoDunnit #7270, from 1954 and Western #7261, from 1953.  More progress pics. blah, blah...

Again, Grace Ennis suggested Angora Yarn for the smoke.  Didn't do it!  This yarn is an acrylic yarn, Sateen by Cascade Yarns.

Knit Picks again.  Bison, Almond, and Celestial.

Grace Ennis Jet Airplane Socks #7231

About a month ago now, I finally completed the Jet Airplane Socks.  I didn't get many pics of this pair in progress but I used my usual Knit Picks yarn in White, Black, Royal Blue, Serrano and Semolina.  I used a size 1 needle and my purl rows are usually knitted more loosely than my knit rows but on this pair I used a size 1 circular needle and found that not to be an issue.  Can't explain why that is though.

Grace Ennis suggests Angora yarn be used for the contrail or smoke but I didn't have any and used plain white wool.  It works and is MUCH less expensive.

Since all of Grace Ennis' Graphic Knitting Patterns socks are knit flat on two needles (or 1 circular as I did here) this is what the "leg" looks like before stitching up the back using the mattress stitch and starting on the heel flap.  

I didn't knit the instep according to the pattern.  If the design runs down into the instep, Grace wrote that you were to knit the instep flat as well and then stitch it to a gusset that was created without working in the round.  I did it this way on 1 pair and didn't like that I could see the stitching on the foot.  So, from then on, if a pattern extended into the instep I have been doing it in the round.  This means TONS of little ends to weave in later and you also have to be very careful that there is no pulling or puckering.  I may give the written pattern another go, who knows.

SNEAK PEEK:  I have also been working on #7217 Triangle Overlay Socks and will post progress pics as they are available.

Knit Picks, Corn Flower Blue, Cornmeal, Oyster Heather and Pumpkin.

Cookie A Cauchy Socks!! Cookie A Sunshine Socks!! Water to Sky, OK, LOTS of Socks!!

I found a sock pattern book at Half Price Books and couldn't resist.  These are NOT Grace Ennis and there is no colorwork involved.  Lots of exciting texture though!  I do NOT like the way the colors of this variegated yarn pooled but I do like the design and they are nice and stretchy!  The yarn is TLC Baby Multi in Snookie.  Size 1 needles.

These are Cauchy Socks by Cookie A.  All of her sock patterns are interesting!  They look all complicated and intimidating but are actually LOTS of fun!   Here's a link to the Ravelry site but this is not a free pattern.  You can purchase it individually or (cheaper) just get the book!!  =)  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cauchy

These are called Sunshine and only one sock decided to make the trip into the office with me!!  I hope I didn't actually drop it somewhere between home and office to tell you the truth!!  LOL  Again, these are Cookie A from Sock Innovation.  The yarn here is Caron Simply Soft in Mango on size 1 needles.  Link:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunshine-11

These little ankle socks were an experiment at Toe Up construction.  I don't have any issues with the Toe Up part, or even the foot or leg but the toe up heel is totally beyond me.  There is Wrapping and Turning and blowing my mind!!  These are called Toe Up Socks with a Difference and I thought "what the heck?"  Still some wrapping and turning but I muddled through.  Don't look very closely at the heel because I'm sure I didn't do it right!!! http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/toe-up-socks-with-a-difference.  These are a FREE Ravelry download.  If you've never attempted a Toe Up sock then do so sometime.  The really great part about it is you can try your sock on without trying to squeeze your little fat foot between 3 pokey needles, oh wait, MY little fat foot, sorry...

The yarn here is Bernat Baby Jacquards Florals in Pansy on size 1 needles.

These are a lacy patterned "hidden" or "invisible" sock.  I made them using Hobby Lobby's Yarn Bee Snowflake Wool blend in Apple Blossom.  I wish you could see the pattern better because they are really pretty.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/water-to-sky-anklets  These are a FREE Ravelry download as well!  ENJOY!

And last but not least my Grace Ennis Graphic Knitting Patterns Hot Rod #7251 Socks for the Grace Ennis Group on Ravelry's KAL.  SLOW going but there is light at the end of the tunnel!!!  These are FUN!!  And Oh So CUTE!!  

This is where I stand to date.  But below is what the image looks like in case you were wondering!

Grace Ennis Argyle Chevron Clock Socks #72-109 from 1957

I admit that I will often get bored with a pair of socks long before they are completed.  I have found that if I start another pair, that I can go back and forth without getting too bored.  Since the Interlocking Diamonds socks below are so detailed I decided to start a super simple pair.  I must see/need progress and the Argyle Chevron Clock socks will be SUPER fast!

The actual pattern area on these is relatively small and not very detailed.  I'm only using one skein of the Main Color (MC) or sock body color which is Knit Picks Almond because the pattern is easily floated or carried.  I am using bobbins of Edamame and Sweet Potato.  Simple, fast, easy colorwork in nice warm Autumn colors. 

Close up of the little bitty argyles on either side of the leg. 

Since this sock's detail or pattern ends well before the heel flap starts I can cheat (shhh) and start knitting in the round after turning the heel.  Even though the pattern dictates knitting the instep flat I have found these move along much faster in the round.  Not authentic but the end result looks the same in 1/3 the time.

Also, I found a pattern on Ebay this weekend that I needed for my collection.  YAY!  Only 12 more to go to have them ALL!!  This one looks very wrinkled with some deep fold creases but hopefully all is good when it arrives!! 

#7204  Diamond Overlay Socks from 1949

Grace Ennis Graphic Knitting Patterns Interlocking Diamonds Socks, #7268 from 1954

I've been working SO hard on my HexiPuff quilt and popping those little puffs out 1 about every 35 minutes or so but I really needed to get back to my socks.  I looked at my stash of sock yarn to see what colors/color combos I could come up with (I CANNOT buy any more yarn!) and decided I would Cast On the Interlocking Diamonds socks.

I have all the colors listed in the pattern albeit my yellow is Semolina and not bright yellow but I like the colors together and that's all that matters.  I cast on while watching The Lost Room in my little craft area last night and got just past the ribbing before calling it a night.  More to come, these really do knit up quickly, it's the second sock that takes so long!  I suffer from Second Sock Syndrome for sure!! 

Leg complete as well as instep.  Now to stitch up the back leg seam, work the reinforced heel, gusset and foot so I can then stitch up the foot and the instep.  The toe will be worked in the round.

It is even Bee-utiful on the back because no stitches were carried but done using bobbins of color.

Since the design on this particular sock travels down the instep, you have to knit the instep and heel/sole areas separately then join the two using the mattress stitch. 

New Grace Ennis Patterns!!! YAY! Well, not new...

I went to my Ebay account Saturday morning to check and see if a customer had left feedback because I honestly took longer to mail her item than I should have and decided to see if there were any Grace Ennis patterns out there.  There were 13 or so and several I didn't have!  Score!  They are all Buy It Now so no fighting, GOOD!  I purchase the ones I need, send the seller an email requesting combined shipping and tell her THNX she had filled some holes in my collection. 

She responds that she has 40-50 more to post along with the original GE Binder.  I didn't even know there was such a thing!  COOL!!  I ask if she would be willing to tell me just what she had left because I was still missing several and she said to just check back on Sunday, she was a slow typer!?!  She's KILLING me!! Not only did she NOT list anything new on Sunday, she went up a dollar in price!  Lesson?  Keep your mouth shut and lurk!!  Oh well, my new awesome finds.....

#7216 Outline Diamond-Overlay which appears to have a monogram so there will be an alphbet chart on the back, I can sort of see it through the paper.  I've never seen this one listed before.

#7288 German Shepherd or Police Dog Socks and Necktie.  I've been looking for this one, I knew it existed just had never seen it listed before.  As with all the dog series the necktie pattern comes with.

#7287 Boston Terrier Socks and Necktie.  This completes the dog series!  I now have them ALL!!  YAY!

#7292 Football Player Socks, Necktie and Car Charm.  This the second Football themed sock in Grace's line that I know of.  I have the other titled TouchDown which is a ball and the endzone thingy.  SO 1940-50s with the car charms!  I've heard rumor there is a Fuzzy Dice pattern but have never seen it!  LOL

Wish me luck on my furture Ebay purchases!  I really can't wait to see what this seller has, I just wish she was faster at listing.  In her defense, she does have 8 listed right now, I just have them all already!  Fingers crossed.....

Grace Ennis Graphic Knitting Patterns 8 Point Star Clock Socks from 1949

These took a while longer than I had anticipated.  Not because they were difficult but because I am easily distracted and I found other things to entertain me while these sat unfinished in a tote bag.  Finally decided that they needed to be done and worked on them last night.

Nancy Aldredge, at my LYS explained what "Clock" meant and I can't really remember. Something about the position on the sock and the direction, like clock hands. She went on to explain that way back when the men who knit (because women didn't) where tested to become Master Knitters and one of the test items was knitting a "Clock". Interesting, I'll need to look into that further.
 

"Leg" portion still on the needles.  You can sorta see the bobbins to the left.  This sock required 3 Ivory Bobbins, 2 Blue Bobbins and 2 Brown Bobbins.  I'm getting better at not getting myself all tangled!!

Decided to knit the heel and toe in the same baby blue as used in the design.  I think it turned out cute!  Change of pace!

Sort of remindes me of a Nordic Snowflake, like these should be winter ski socks!!