Swedish Fish socks

I (finally!) finished my Swedish Fish socks (by spillyjane knits)!  After a summer of sewing and the arrival of fall, I'm back knitting, starting with some unfinished projects. 

This pattern is so adorable!  This project was a big learning curve for me.  In addition to learning color blocking and getting more used to picking up stitches and turning the heel, it was also my first time using 100% cotton yarn.  I wish I had known how little stretch cotton yarn has (or doesn't have) and how little stretch color blocking has.  I got half-way through my first sock and realized I couldn't get the sock on my foot.  I frogged the whole thing and started again with size 3 needles instead of the size 2 the pattern recommends (and with which I had gauge!).  I tried the socks on obsessively and ended up not needing to have to decrease until the toe (I have a very high arch).  On the plus side I can get the socks on my feet; on the down side they're a little baggy everywhere except when I get them on over my heel.  They'll be great for wearing around the house, wearing to bed and wearing in winter boots. 

Not to steal the thunder from these awesome socks but I've already got another pair of socks on the needles . . .  And I am determined to finish a pair of two-at-a-time leg warmers I started last year before the first snowfall!  Fall is such a great time for knitting :-)

In progress: Swedish Fish Socks

I don't know what it is about socks, I have fallen in love with knitting them!  I started these awesome fish socks over a month ago.  I would be further along had I not failed to adjust my needle size for my non-stretchy 100% cotton yarn.  Lesson learned.  It was a little tricky at first to get the hang of  managing so many darn yarn pieces but since I had to rip out the first version of the sock (which was too small), I'm starting to feel like a pro.  I'm just about to turn the heel so I'm hoping to have the first sock done by the end of the month. 

 I can't stand how cute these fish are!!!

Pattern: spillyjane Knits - Swedish Fish Socks
Needles: size 3 circular
Yarn:  Knit Picks Comfy Fingering in Lilac and Semolina

I heart you striped socks!

Is is wrong to say that you're in love with a pair of socks? I have fallen head over heels with these socks! I took a class on Judy's magic cast-on in February and just finished the second sock last night. I was really intimidated with this technique at first but once I figured out the cast-on and the toe, the rest was well, just knitting. I used self-striping yarn so the socks are fraternal twins rather than identical twins but their mis-match-ness makes me love them even more. These socks make me so happy!

knitting socks

For my second-ever knitting project I knit a pair of socks. I took a class in September or October and it took me three months to finish them. These socks are a HOT MESS. Dropped stitches, extra stitches, knots, wrong stitches - you name the error and these socks have it. On the plus side, this was the perfect project to really learn how to knit. This pattern had it all and I learned how to increase, decrease, and use double pointed needles. I also learned how to read a knitting pattern and "read" my knitting. I even took them to pints 'n purls where I confidently was able to chat and knit at the same time (a huge step for me!). I feel a lot more confident about knitting after making these socks!
I used worsted weight acrylic yarn and size 7 double pointed needles.
They might not be pretty but they are very cozy and I'm looking forward to wearing them around the house, to bed and inside my winter boots.