Welcome to Week 4 of the Bella Cash Socktober Mystery Knitalong! We’re getting so close to the final stretch now that the cuff and leg are complete! Watching your projects come to life has been so inspiring. We’ve seen some lovely peeks at your Sweet Dumplin’ Socks progress, and we can’t wait to see more!
Use this graphic on Ravelry and on social media to share about the knitalong.
Just like my last post, I want to give a refresher about the knitalong for those who might be joining in late. Don’t worry – if you haven’t started, newcomers are more than welcome. To play a little catch-up, here is where you can find my previous blog posts:
Each week in October I’ll be revealing a different portion of the pattern. The pattern is updated on our website every Wednesday and you can find it here (link). Grab your colors of beautiful merino/cashmere/nylon Bella Cash here (link).
This is a mystery knitalong, but if you don’t want to commit without seeing the socks first you can find spoiler images here (link).
If you join, we’d love for you to spread the love and share your progress on social media using the hashtag #UYSocktoberMKAL and tagging us on Instagram (link) and Facebook (link). Join in with chatter here on the blog and in our Ravelry forum (link).
Please add your project to Ravelry, too! You can find the Ravelry listing here (link). You can use the graphic above and on the Ravelry listing for your project page, too.
If you finished Week Three, your socks should look like this.
If you’ve been following along, whether by knitting or knitting vicariously, you’ll have seen the colorwork portion of the pattern, pictured above. The bold vine motif worked in the main color really pops against the contrast colors. For this week, though, you’ll return to working with a single color and have the opportunity to play with a fun textural pattern that is every bit as addicting as the leg and cuff.
This week you’ll be working on the foot. What’s that? Did you think I skipped the heel? Fear not – the heel is not forgotten! But, these socks feature an afterthought heel. Sorry for the small spoiler, but you were bound to find out in the first few rows of this portion! This is one of my favorite methods for knitting socks because I simply love the look of them, plus I feel like they make the knitting fly by. I’m not going to get into the how-to of that now, because that’s for another day.
Today I want to talk a bit about foot length to help ensure your socks fit well. Keeping the after-though heel in mind, it’s important to note that the heel will add to the final length of the foot. So will the toe. So, how long should you knit the “Foot” portion from this week? To answer that you need to know what the total length of the Foot should be, measuring from the back of the heel to the tip of the toes.
The Craft Yarn Council’s Foot Size Charts
If you aren’t sure, there are various sources available that tell you the average lengths for various shoe sizes. The Craft Yarn Council has handy sizing charts for standard body measurements, including foot sizes. The chart above suggests foot lengths based on shoe sizes. The Craft Yarn Council chart is pretty general, but more specific charts are available. I found this shoe size chart to be extremely helpful because it gives precise measurements for each shoe size in inches, centimeters, and includes conversions to sizing in different geographic locations. Sizing charts are especially helpful if you’re knitting for somebody else.
Measuring your own foot length is simple. Simply place a sheet of paper on a flat surface, then stand on it and trace your foot as closely as possible. Using a tape measure, measure your foot from the back of the heel to the longest toe. After you know your foot length, knitting the foot of the sock is a breeze. Simply work the foot pattern as long as the pattern instructs (this is different for each size). This pattern takes into account the total length the heel and the toe add to the sock, so the length of this portion will be different from your actual foot length. That’s all there is to it, so you can get cracking on the Foot portion of the pattern!
Remember, you can share your progress on social media using the hashtag #UYSocktoberMKAL and tagging us on Instagram (link) and Facebook (link). Join in with chatter here on the blog and in our Ravelry forum (link).
Welcome to Week 3 of the Bella Cash Socktober Mystery Knitalong! Time is flying, but hopefully, you’ve had time to finish up the first portion of the pattern. We’ve seen some lovely peeks at your Sweet Dumplin’ Socks progress, and we can’t wait to see more!
Use this graphic on Ravelry and on social media to share about the knitalong.
Just like my last post, I want to give a refresher about the knitalong for those who might be joining in late. Don’t worry – if you haven’t started, there is plenty of time and all are welcome.
Each week in October I’ll be revealing a different portion of the pattern. The pattern is updated on our website every Wednesday and you can find it here (link).
This is a mystery knitalong, but if you don’t want to commit without seeing the socks first you can find spoiler images here (link).
If you join, we’d love for you to spread the love and share your progress on social media using the hashtag #UYSocktoberMKAL and tagging us on Instagram (link) and Facebook (link). Join in with chatter here on the blog and in our Ravelry forum (link).
Please add your project to Ravelry, too! You can find the Ravelry listing here (link). You can use the graphic above and on the Ravelry listing for your project page, too.
The cuff features a twisted stitch rib pattern, bordered by a purl row at the bottom. Ready for the next step?
Last week was all about casting on and working the cuff of your socks. If you’ve completed this portion of the pattern, it should like the image above. The cuffs are worked in a contrast color and feature a decorative rib pattern with twisted stitches. Midway through the cuff, the twisted stitches reverse directions. This detail echoes the motif you’ll be working this week on the leg of the pattern (hint, hint!).
Heather made great progress on her cuff this week, and it looks gorgeous in Bella Cash #121 Cabernet.
It has been so exciting to see your progress photos on social media! Some beautiful socks are being born right now in a variety of fun colors. Here in the office, everyone is chipping away at their patterns, too. Heather, our social media maven, shared the picture above of her cuff. Aubrey, designer and Instagram superstar, got a bit of a late start, but it’s coming along, too.
Left: Yonca’s correct cuffs using 118 Orchid (CC1). Right: Yonca’s mistake cuff using #122 Amethyst (MC)
Yonca, our wonderful managing director, hit a bit of a bump in the road. Earlier this week she proudly stopped by to show me her progress. Her stitching looked fantastic – but one thing was off – the color! She accidentally used her main color for the cuff. It would have been totally fine, except that there isn’t enough contrast between her contrast colors to make the next section shine. Determined and always optimistic, she simply ripped back her work and cast on with the right color. I actually ripped out my cuff three times before settling on the stitch pattern and making a mistake or two. Mistakes happen in knitting, folks, it’s part of the process!
I couldn’t resist sharing this cute photo that 4Laurel shared on Ravelry of Bella Cash with pumpkins for the Sweet Dumplin’ Socks. Do you see the color inspiration?
This week you’ll see the work you put into picking your colors really come through because you’ll be doing stranded knitting! If you’re new to stranded colorwork, fear not! The pattern repeat is small and can quickly be memorized. It’s just a four stitch repeat with floats no more than three stitches. Let me warn you…this section is downright addicting. It’s longer than the last section, but it works up so quickly.
Although last week I provided a tutorial as part of my post, this week I want to direct you to a post I wrote in 2018 that includes useful tips and tricks for stranded knitting. You can find that post here (link). In that post, I talked about working with charts, managing your yarn, and ensuring your tension is just right. It’s relevant to this week’s portion of the pattern, so I encourage you to take a look.
That’s it for this week. I am looking forward to seeing more of your progress! Remember, you can share your progress on social media using the hashtag #UYSocktoberMKAL and tagging us on Instagram (link) and Facebook (link). Join in with chatter here on the blog and in our Ravelry forum (link).
Welcome to Week 2 of the Bella Cash Socktober Mystery Knitalong! It has been a week since we shared about color choices and how to select your colors for the project. We hope you’ve selected your colors, received your Bella Cash yarn, and are ready to get to the best part: knitting!
Use this graphic on Ravelry and on social media to share about the knitalong.
Before we dive in, I just want to give a quick refresher about the knitalong, especially for those who might have missed my last post.
Each week in October I’ll be revealing a different portion of the pattern. The pattern is updated on our website every Wednesday and you can find it here (link).
This is a mystery knitalong, but if you don’t want to commit without seeing the socks first you can find spoiler images here (link).
If you join, we’d love for you to spread the love and share your progress on social media using the hashtag #UYSocktoberMKAL and tagging us on Instagram (link) and Facebook (link). Join in with chatter here on the blog and in our Ravelry forum (link).
Please add your project to Ravelry, too! You can find the Ravelry listing here (link). You can use the graphic above and on the Ravelry listing for your project page, too.
These are the suggested colors for the Sweet Dumplin’ Socks: #126 Forest (MC), #116 Sage (CC1), & #124 Mustard (CC2).
This week is exciting because it means you’re finally able to cast on your socks! It’s all about the cuffs. You’re sure to knock this portion out in no time at all. Without spoiling too much, I will say that the left and right socks in this pattern are the same. With that in mind, you may choose to start both of your socks this week. There are a couple ways to do this. One method would be knitting two-at-a-time (TAAT) socks – and you can find a great tutorial by Very Pink Knits for that method here (link). Personally, I’m not a fan of the method because I find it to be a bit fiddly and annoying to keep my yarn organized, but I know many knitters who swear by it. Another option is to knit them concurrently, but separately. Work the cuff for one sock, then set it aside and work the second sock cuff. You can either use two sets of needles for this method or place stitches on holders. Of course, you can absolutely knit these socks one at a time. That’s how I’ll be knitting my pair. The choice is yours!
Speaking of choices, knitters have many options for knitting small circumferences in the round. Many knitters are loyal and true to double-pointed needles. Some are fans of 9″ circular needles. Other knitters, myself included, love the Magic Loop method. It’s my go-to method whether I’m knitting socks, mitts, sleeves, or hats. If you haven’t tried the Magic Loop method, you’re in luck because I’ve created a tutorial to show you how to get started.
Learn how to knit small circumferences using the Magic Loop method.
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and find it helpful. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Remember, you can share your progress on social media using the hashtag #UYSocktoberMKAL and tagging us on Instagram (link) and Facebook (link). Join in with chatter here on the blog and in our Ravelry forum (link).
Happy Socktober! This year we’ve decided to celebrate with a mystery sock knitalong! I’m so excited about this month-long event and hope you’ll join in on the fun. We’re using the unsung hero of sock yarns, Bella Cash. Bella Cash is a yarn that blends extra fine merino, cashmere, and nylon for projects that are luxurious, soft, and durable.
Use this graphic on Ravelry and on social media to share about the knitalong.
Let’s start with the knitty-gritty. Each week in October I’ll be revealing a different portion of the pattern with you in the following order:
9/30/20: Week 1 – Colors
10/7/20: Week 2 – The Cuff
10/14/20: Week 3 – The Leg
10/21/20: Week 4 – The Foot
10/28/20: Week 5 – The Toe & Heel
11/4/20: Week 6 – Wrap-up
If you join, we’d love for you to spread the love and share your progress on social media using the hashtag #UYSocktoberMKAL and tagging us on Instagram (link) and Facebook (link). Join in with chatter here on the blog and in our Ravelry forum (link).
Please add your project to Ravelry, too! You can find the Ravelry listing here (link). You can use the graphic above and on the Ravelry listing for your project page, too.
Does the thought of knitting something without knowing what it will look like first scare you? Not to worry – you can find spoiler images here (link).
Now that we’ve covered the details, let’s dive into the first week!
This week is all about preparing to knit your socks. The first thing you’ll need to do is choose your colors. The first segment of the pattern is available now (link) and it includes a bunch of information about choosing colors that make your heart sing. Everyone in the office is joining, and I’m going to share our color choices with you today.
I’ll start with my own color choices. Put simply, I wanted my socks to exude all of the autumn vibes. I chose two colors with subtle contrast and one color to pop among them. I looked to colorful autumn squash, pumpkins, and gourds for inspiration. That’s actually why I’ve named these the Sweet Dumplin’ Socks. They’re named after the delicious and colorful variety of squash (bonus recipe ideas here!).
You can’t have a knitalong solo, so I was thrilled when Aubrey, Heather, and Yonca told me they wanted to join. I asked each of them to tell me a little bit about their color selections.
Fellow designer and Instagram maven, Aubrey, chose colors that remind me of Valentine’s Day. Here is what she had to say:
“I’m a die-hard romantic, and I love nature. I chose to pick a trio that expressed the contrast between softness and harshness found in nature. In this case roses – my favorite (very romantic) flowers, and marble. I’ve always loved gemstones and geology. I’m so looking forward to wearing my socks while I indulge in some favorite movies and warm tea during the cold months coming up!“
Her selection is so beautiful, and it’s lovely to see the vibrant pink hue paired with two neutrals. It makes me picture a vase of beautiful pink roses on a gorgeous marble countertop.
When Heather, our social media connoisseur, agreed to join, my initial hunch was that she’d choose some blissful blues for her socks. She surprised me, though, with this earthy color combination.
“When I heard about Rachel’s concept for fall socks, I decided to lean into it. Normally I go for blue tones, but this time I decided to embrace the season. I’m calling mine Hot Choco Sockos, and am looking forward to sipping some marshmallow-topped hot chocolate while wearing my completed socks. Rachel actually shared a really great spicy hot cocoa recipe last winter that I’m going to use. You can find it here.”
As an autumn-colors gal, I’m smitten with this combination! They are aptly named, and I’m pretty sure a nice mug of Mexican hot chocolate would be perfect for sipping between rows while knitting.
Last, but certainly not least is Yonca, our fabulous managing director. I love her combination of a beautiful jewel tone with a pretty pastel and snowy white. When I asked her about her colors, here is what she said:
“I’ve always loved shades of pink and purple, but for some reason, I haven’t worn those colors in years. This knitalong seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce a little more color to my wardrobe.”
I love how different all of our colors are. There is nearly no overlap between our color choices. With 26 colors of Bella Cash to choose from, there is a virtual cornucopia of color combinations. The color wheel is a useful tool for understanding how colors interact with one another.
In this week’s portion of the pattern, I chat a little bit about how you can use the color wheel as a tool for helping you choose colors. You’re probably already familiar with the primary colors: red, yellow, and blue, as well as the secondary colors: orange, green, purple. However, have you thought about how to use these colors together?
Looking at the color wheel I’ve created above, you can see arrows that point to colors that are complementary to one another. Complementary colors are opposite hues on the color wheel, for example, red and green. These colors create a strong contrast when placed next to one another. Choosing opposite colors would be a great starting point when selecting the main or contrast color for your socks. Take a look at the combination below for a great example of how you could combine complementary colors in your socks.
Left to Right: #102 Blush, #120 Pistachio, #101 Apple
You could also choose to use analogous colors. Analogous colors are colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. One example of this would be the colors between red and purple. Purple, pink, and red are analogous colors, which are shown in Bella Cash colors below.
Left to Right: #103 Violet, #117 Tulip, #118 Orchid
Monochromatic colors are all colors of the same hue. You might also refer to this as a gradient of colors – think of a greyscale, but all the same hue.
Left to Right: 120 Pistachio, 125 Emerald, & 126 Forest
Speaking of a greyscale, another factor to consider when selecting your colors is their value. Value is the relative lightness or darkness of a color. A greyscale is a great way to think about value of a color.
Like I mentioned earlier, I chose two colors with subtle contrast and one very dark color to pop among them. You could also choose colors that have a dark, medium, and light value so that each color pops even more. Aubrey’s palette is a great example of dark-medium-light. Notice how there is a clear distinction in the darkness and lightness between each of her colors. If you aren’t sure how your colors will look together, you can take a quick snapshot with your phone using black and white mode.
Need more inspiration? Take a look at the first part of the pattern. I highlight more color combinations and chat a bit about the color wheel, much like I’ve done in this post. Whatever colors you choose, I’m sure you’re going to create a beautiful pair of socks! What colors do you have in mind? Let us know in the comments below!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Lemon Drop Socks in Bella Cash (pattern link here).
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Bella Cash is the unsung hero of socks. I’ve knit myself several pairs in Bella Cash, and they’re still soft and good-looking even though I just toss ’em in the washer and dryer. Which is why I’m so happy to see a brand new pattern using Bella Cash today!
The Lemon Drop Socks are knit in the round, cuff-down. Colorwork is Fair Isle stranded.
They feature an afterthought heel, so-named because you’ll be putting the stitches on either side of the heel on waste yarn, then knitting the rest of the sock, then coming back to work the heel as an afterthought. Amy Gunderson shared a tutorial on this technique on our blog a while back – you can find it here.
This pattern is sized from toddler on up to adults, so it’s easy to make sets for anyone in the family! Matching tootsies, anyone?
A big “thank you” to our Design Lead Rachel Brockman for being willing to stand on her toes and model these for us. She’s talented in so many ways. 🙂
PS – if you like these, check out the free Bunny Got Back socks. Super fun!
This is part 11 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.
It’s Day 11 in the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. We can’t believe how quickly time seems to be going. Before we dive into today’s kit and post, I’d like to take a moment to highlight that today is Small Business Saturday. We’re right in the midst of what is arguably the biggest shopping period of the year. As you gear up for the holiday season, don’t forget to support your local small businesses. For those of us who love all things yarny, it’s the perfect day to show some support to your local yarn stores. Without them, we wouldn’t be a business at all! Local yarn stores are front and center of the fiber community – offering a space to learn, socialize, and of course, purchase some yummy yarn.
And now, onto today’s kit (which you can find at your local yarn store).
Today we’re excited to introduce the Trinket Socks, knit up in deliciously soft, yet strong, Bella Cash. This is a great all-around yarn, but here in the office, it has become a favorite for knitting socks. Thanks to the superwash merino, they’re machine-washable and easy to care for. Cashmere adds a touch of luxury, and nylon ensures these socks will be strong enough to last for ages. These socks feature a lace and twisted stitch pattern that is addictive to knit, and quick to work up.
Speaking of twisted stitches – we have a tutorial to share today. If you can recall from Day 7 of Winter (the Mountain Pines Cowl), we shared a tutorial on Right and Left Purl Twists. Today, we’ll be showing you how to knit a regular Right and Left Twist – no purling necessary. Note that for today’s tutorial, we’re using Deluxe Chunky so that it’s easier for you to see.
Right TwistStart by making a swatch. Swatches are not only crucial for getting the finished item you want but are also great for practicing new stitches. Work in your pattern until you’ve reached the two stitches you need to twist. I’ve highlighted these stitches in purple so it’s easier to see. We want to change the position of these two stitches by moving the left stitch over the top of the right stitch.Begin by knitting two stitches together, but do not drop the stitches from your needle. As you can see, the two stitches remain on the left needle, but there is now a new stitch on the right needle. Next, knit the first stitch on the left needle. Drop both of the stitches from the left needle. You now have completed the Right Twist, and have two new stitches on the right needle. Easy, right?Left TwistWork in your pattern until you’ve reached the two stitches you need to twist. I’ve highlighted these stitches in purple so it’s easier to see. We want to change the position of these two stitches by moving the right stitch over the top of the left stitch.The first step is to knit only the second stitch on the left needle. This stitch is highlighted in purple. As you can see, the first stitch on the left needle remains in place. After knitting the second stitch, do not drop the stitches off the left needle. Next, knit the first stitch on the left needle. Drop both of the stitches from the left needle. You now have completed the Left Twist, and have two new stitches on the right needle.Here is what each set of twisted stitches will look like. Notice that the Left Twist leans to the left, and the Right Twist leans to the right. In the Trinket Socks, Right Twists and Left Twists are alternated to create an undulating panel.
The Right and Left Twists are a great addition to your knitting toolbox. You’ll find that they’re quite fun to work, and they can really make a stitch pattern interesting. I hope you’ve found this tutorial to be useful.
Notice those panels of twisted stitches – pretty!
Remember, you can find the Trinket Socks kit, as well as the rest of the 12 Days of Winter Kits at your local yarn store. Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Channel Socks in Wacki Saki (pattern link here).
We love Wacki Saki for its bold patterning. Here, Rachel Brockman wisely went with a simple pattern that lets the yarn colors do the heavy lifting.
Worked cuff down, these socks feature a heel flap and gusset.
The twisted stitch ribbing flows right onto the heel.
The stockinette feet are comfy, while the twisted stitches on the leg create a snug fit. These beauties will stay up!
Super fun colors to match your personality. Have happy feet all day!
Saying “happy feet” gives me an excuse to share this video, which brings me joy because it’s a puppet tap-dancing, so of course you never actually see him below the waist. I choose to believe that he’s wearing crazy socks on those webbed flippers.
We hope you dance your way through this weekend.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Garden Wall Socks in Angora Lace (pattern link).
This one’s a bit of a rare find!
The Garden Wall Socks were previously only available in a long out-of-print publication. What a delight to be able to share them now for free!
Designed by Carol J. Sulcoski, these are knit cuff down, with a heel flap and gusset. We love the trellis effect of the purl stitches in the leg.
Oh, that heel!
Angora Lace is a beautiful choice for this design. Honestly, it was after feeling how soft these socks were that I decided to design the Contented Socks (pattern link) for myself. There are so many beautiful colors, and they’re all cloud-soft. And you deserve something warm and wonderful, don’t you?
Yes. Yes you do.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Towanda Socks in Deluxe DK Superwash (pattern link here).
I’ve written before about making socks for my dad, but I’m not sure I’ve mentioned my mother. So, everybody say hi to my mom!
Hi, Mom!
Yes, the baby is me. There aren’t enough good adjectives to describe my mom, so we’re just going to go with “amazing.” In writing this, I backspaced over at least 20 astounding things that she’s done that demonstrate her incredible character, but none of those really capture it, so let’s just go with “amazing” and move on. I could wax rhapsodic about my mom all day, and we have socks to talk about!
I knitted my very first pair of socks for my mother, over a decade ago. She treasures them, and takes excellent care of them and everything else I’ve knitted her. So to the list of her good qualities, we’ll add “knitworthy.”
When Mom asked for a pair of basic warm house socks, I knew the perfect yarn. This isn’t the first pair I’ve made in Deluxe DK Superwash, and it won’t be the last. She also requested blue – her favorite color – so I went with 856 Teal Rustic. The rustic colors in the Deluxe Superwash yarns have great depth of color – an almost (but not quite) tweedy look.
A lovely blend of aqua, violet, and navy. Perfect.
Now, I know she asked for “plain” but I felt like an eye-of-partridge heel wouldn’t be too distracting. It’s also my favorite heel, so that settled it.
Toe up, around the heel, then on to the leg!
Because these were done on US Size 4 (3.5mm) needles, they went very fast! And there’s plenty left over. Perhaps I could use that for coordinating colorwork in my own pair? Hmm…
I named these socks Towanda after her hometown in Pennsylvania, a spot we’ve visited in many happy trips. I think it’s time to go back again, for a hike in some homemade socks.
I leave you with one more picture of my mother and me, from many years ago. We were just grabbing breakfast after working on a Habitat for Humanity house, on their first all women-built home. Like I say, a very knitworthy person.
We wish you a joyous weekend, full of connections to the people you care about.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Contented Socks in Angora Lace (pattern link here).
Recently we shared an article called “The Modern Trap of Turning Hobbies into Hustles.” It struck home with a lot of people. The pressure to turn our joy into dollar signs is real, and people were glad to have the reassurance that it’s not just them, and that your craft can be just for you to enjoy, with no pressure to make it “useful” in the monetary sense.
Angora Lace color 105 Paradise
I’ve had this experience many times, and I’ll bet you’ve had a similar one: I was making socks while waiting for my deli order to be ready, and the person behind the counter said, “hey, could you make me a pair, too?”
My stock answer now is, “No, but I can teach you how!” So far, there have been no takers.
Enter: the Contented Socks.
I do love a good heel flap.
I tend to make socks for other people – my spouse, my child, my parents… but it’s been a while since I made a pair just for myself. When I felt a ball of Angora Lace and realized how soft it was, I knew it was meant for me. I am every bit as knitworthy as the people dearest to me.
With that in mind, I decided on my favorite construction – toe-up, heel flap, but with a slip-stitch heel instead of my usual eye-of-partridge. I like the way the columns look with the stripes in the yarn.
For the leg, a simple four-row lace repeat. I will say – this lace pattern is stretchy, so in coming back around from the foot to the leg, if you have small ankles you might want to drop down by a multiple of 4 stitches. Either way, in knitting these, I had about 1/3 of a ball left over – probably enough to get a pair of ankle socks out of.
There are plenty of multi colors to choose from, as well as solids. And I really do recommend this yarn – it’s like holding a cloud.
I hope you find time to take joy in the things you do, not because someone else gives you permission to do so, but because you know your worth.
May you find both the small joys and big happiness.
