Pinwheel Moccasin Socks 01/21/2010

Pinwheel Moccasin Socks

My pair of Pinwheel Moccasin Socks is completed. I really enjoyed this version of the moccasin socks. I thought the first version would be easier but I really didn’t like all that weaving to do at the end. The Pinwheel version is entirely devoid of weaving. LOVED IT.

Two projects down and lots more to go. But I already feel a bit “freed”. Don’t you just love the way Elizabeth Zimmermann thinks outside the box? This is a completely different way of making socks.

January is drawing to a slow and quiet close. It’s been a good month to rest from all the hubbub of Christmas. But it’s been rather gray here in our flatlands. Our snow has melted and everything is a bit of a mush. I’ve been stuck inside — knitting away on lots of projects — due to the fact that my old car decided to have another “winter fit” and is not drivable until the DH is able to figure out whether we should fix the car or junk it. I don’t think he’ll have the time to think about that until his semester (which just started) is over (at the end of April). Ah, well. The forecast has called for 50 F weather on Saturday — I’m planning a long walk with Lil John. Perhaps a walk to our local Starbucks for a sit & knit Saturday AM.

Breakdown of the Pinwheel Moccasin Sock 01/14/2010

Ah, the pinwheel variation. I had great hopes for this variation as I cast on the necessary stitches. I had hated the long line of Kitchener stitch that was mandatory to finish the Moccasin Socks and was looking forward to avoiding it with this variation.

As I cast on for the cuff, I turned to the page in Knitting Around that describes the pinwheel variation. “Work around on all stitches…” it calmly states. I stared at the page. Right. Um. At what point to do I ‘work around on all stitches?’ Where does the pinwheel variation begin? AHHHHHHH….

Did any of you fellow knitters suffer from this blank moment?

‘Calm down. Think it through.” I told myself. Then it hit me like a wave. The pinwheel variation picks up after the cuff, top of foot, toe and heel are worked. At that point you can jump into “Work around on all stitches….” I breathed a sigh of relief, shut the book, and worked away until I got to that point.

So, here is a breakdown of the Pinwheel Variation — I am assuming you have worked the cuff, top of foot, toe and heel according to the instructions given for the Moccasin Sock.

Ready to begin the Pinwheel Variation

Here we are, ready to work the Pinwheel variation. The toe has been worked, the heel has been worked and I have picked up the necessary stitches down the sides of the top of the sock.

Center 12 - 14 stitches marked

Step 1: Work around on all stitches (toe, heel & sides stitches) for 5 – 6 rounds. I worked 6 rounds.

Step 2: Mark 12 to 14 stitches centered below the heel. I marked 14.

Working down to the toe

Step 3: Slip 1, work to last marked stitch ssk with next stitch on needle. Turn. Slip 1, purl to last marked stitch, p2 tog with next stitch on needle. Repeat until you have worked your way up the sock and are 4″ away from the toe.

The Pinwheel

Step 4: The Pinwheel — ah, isn’t it lovely? No Kitchener stitch at all! I loved working the pinwheel. Follow the directions as written in Knitting Around. Although, I will say this: EZ says to decrease in each segment every 2nd round. I did that and found I had a pointed tent for the ball of my food. I ripped and decreased every 2nd round 5 times and then decreased every round. It came out much flatter.

I have begun to make pencil notes in my book. Keeping track of the slight modifications I make.

I’ve cast on for the second pinwheel sock. I feel like I’ve hit smooth headwinds and am sailing on through. But…. the Woodsman’s Thick Socks are around the corner and they’re different!

The Pinwheel Moccasin Sock 01/13/2010

Beginnings of the Pinwheel Moccasin Sock

I’ve begun the Pinwheel version of the Moccasin socks, although it’s been slow. I’ve had some design deadlines I’ve been knitting for in the last week, in my spare time. Baby John is also teething — what an experience! He’s a bit early — 4 months but that’s not unheard of for babies in my family.

I’ll have the breakdown of the Pinwheel “thockie” soon.

Happy Knitting!

A Cuppa and A Thockie 01/12/2010

Saturday Afternoon Tea

This past Saturday a few of my friends came to my house for afternoon tea, knitting and a good chat. Oh, it was fun.

Enjoying the "yummies"

Pots of tea were made and consumed. Lots of ideas and laughter was shared.

"Thockies"

And some “thockies” appeared! It was so much fun to see another pair of  thockies. Loved it! We chatted about our ideas and improvements. We also chatted about the things we LOVED about the thockies. Although I think that will be very apparent when the sole of our sock gets a hole in it! It’s going to be so easy to knit another sole!

So… put on a pot of coffee or tea, grab some goodies and invite fellow knitters in your area for a good old “sit & knit.”

Moccasin Socks Completed 01/12/2010

Moccasin Socks "Thockies"

I completed my Moccasin Socks about a week ago. The knit up so fast. I think socks in worsted weight yarn are the way to go! But then you would have to wear boots all the time — my boots are the only shoe my “thockies” fit in.

The construction is fascinating. It really made me think and got the wheels turning in my head. However, I really didn’t like doing the bottom of the sock. I hated how tight my stitches were on the 16″ circular needle.  And I absolutely loathed all those stitches to “kitchner stitch” together. Ugh! But they were very interesting to knit.

I have my pinwheel variation on my needles and am approaching the point where I start the bottom. I will take pictures and let you know any tips and tricks I find while working through the pinwheel!

How are you all doing with your socks?

Breakdown of the Thockies 01/05/2010

How are you all doing? A little confused? Let’s see if I can help by breaking down the “Thockie” or Moccasin Sock step by step.(Again, this is EZ’s wonderful refootable sock in Knitting Around.)

Step 1: Cast on your stitches, using your DPs, and knit in 2×2 rib for your wanted length. You can knit the cuff as short as as long as you want. Keep in mind that if you are going to make the cuff longer than mid calf (knee high for example) you will need to cast on more stitches than EZ calls for, do some calf shaping and finally get down to the original number of sts called for. Remember to insert some jaunty stripes if you want to!

"Heel" sts

Step 2: Place first 3 and last 3 sts of round on a piece of wool. I choose to bind off my heel sts due to the fact that I didn’t want to have to deal with any live stitches if I ever needed to reshod the sole of my Thockie!

Decreasing for the top of foot

Step 3: Now you begin working back in forth (in rows not rounds) on the remaining sts, decreasing at the beginning of the row and end of the row only on the right sides until you have 22 sts. Note – you will maintain the 2×2 rib. Looking lovely, isn’t it?

Top of the foot

Step 4: Maintaining the 2×2 rib, knit until 2.5″ shy of the total length of your foot. Measure your piece of work from the 6 heel sts on a piece of wool ( or bound off) to your needles. Measure your foot from your heel to your toe.

Top of toe shaping

Step 5: Working in stockinette, shape the top of the toe.

Step 6: Using the yarn you want to use for the sole of your sock and the strengthening material, pick up 1 st in each of the slipped stitch along the edge of the “foot topper”, knit across the 6 “heel” stitches, pick up 1 st for each of the slipped stitch along other side of “foot topper, knit across 8 toe stitches. Congratulations! You now have the beginning of the refootable sole!

The heel

Step 7: Now that you have all the sole stitches on your 16″ circular needle, you will work back and forth on the heel stitches. EZ gives you grand instructions at this point – do exactly as she says!

The Sole

Step 7: Knit the sole, working the toe shaping as EZ prescribes.

Step 8: Gather and graft sole stitches together down the center. Yep! Lots of Kitchener stitching. I didn’t like this part very well. I’m looking forward to trying the pinwheel version!

The Thockie

And now, dear knitters, the result is a perfectly rustic sock that is completely refootable! Isn’t it lovely?

I’m almost done with my second Thockie, thus completely my first pair. However, laundry, house cleaning, and a lovely visit from my sister and mom prevented me from working on the second Thockie. So, I shall now sign off and go knit! Hope all is well with you!

Happy Knitting!

Moccasin Socks 01/02/2010

Working the Sole of Thockie #1

I cannot believe how fast these Moccasin Socks go! Perhaps it is because I usually make socks that are 7 to 8 sts to the 1″. Hmm…I could get addicted to this instant sock.

Yesterday afternoon, I was happily knitting my way around my sock in 2×2 rib when I remembered, “Oh, EZ said to ‘throw in a jaunty stripe.’” I looked at my sock and I was quite a ways down the cuff. I wasn’t sure what to do. EZ had thrown her “jaunty stripes” in at the top of her cuff. I was way past that. I didn’t feel like ripping back but also couldn’t resist the appeal of a “jaunty stripe.” So, I have two “jaunty stripes” around my ankle now. I think I’ll start a new fad! =)

Heel of Moc Sock #1

Modifications:

Cuff: My gauge matched EZ’s and I wanted to make a medium sized sock. So I cast on the prescribed number of sts in “Knitting Around.” I forgot the “jaunty stripes” at the top so thus added them around the ankle. I made the cuff the prescribed length – 8″ (mid calf)- knowing that if I wanted to make a knee sock I would have needed to start my cuff wider and then shaped it.

Heel: Instead of putting 6 sts on a piece of wool for the top of the heel and leaving the 8 toe stitches live, I decided to cast them all off. Why? Well, my thinking was, if this sock is indeed supposed to be “retreadable” I want to be able to take out the sole (sounds heartless) and not have any live sts to deal with when I have ripped the sole out. This also enabled me to begin straight away at the top of the heel with the heel yarn and strengthening thread. Also, instead of slipping the first stitch of every row as you worked the heel, I chose to do a traditional short row with a  wrap and turn to as to ensure no holes or tight stitches.

Well, I’m off to do the day’s work. Tonight I’ll be back at my first Moc Sock. Perhaps I can finish and start on the next one.

How are you all doing?

At last… 01/01/2010

Well, dear knitters, JK and I headed off to a New Year’s Eve party at 8 PM with our little fellow in tow. By 10 PM Baby John was screaming for peace and quiet and we took that as our cue to return home and get ready for the “cast on.” On a side note, the New Year’s Eve party was noisey, as any good party should be, and Baby John was adding to the noise. As soon as we stepped out into the cold silence of the night Baby John was quiet. JK and I laughed all the way to the car. What is with our baby? He hates noise. I suppose it is because he lives in a very quiet house. I mean really, a knitter and a journalist? They really don’t make that much noise.

But back to business. At 10 PM I was REALLY tired and tempted to just cast on. But my dear husband, JK, helped me stay true to my word. He made a BIG pot of hot tea for me and gathered my heater while I put my coat back on (I was freezing. Our house drops down to 65 F at night and for some reason I find that bone chilling). Armed with warmth and hot liquid we went down to the basement to watch the ball drop and cast on.

So, my friends, my first project of Knitting Around is finally on my needles. I’ve been so eager to start, it is almost strange that the moment is here. I can’t wait to hear how you all started your “Thockies.” Do leave a note and let me know…

In the meantime, here’s to our project, Knitting Zimmermann and 2010. May you all enjoy the adventure ahead of us and may the year be a blessing to you and your loved ones!

Happy Knitting to all…. and now off to bed!

Moc Sock Individual Pattern 12/29/2009

I heard from Meg Swansen (EZ’s daughter) right before Christmas but was unable to post due to the whirlwind swirling around Christmas week. Meg said that they (Schoolhouse Press) do have leaflet patterns for the Moccasin Socks. They are $3 a piece and can be purchased through Schoolhouse Press. Hopefully that will help a few of you who would like to make the socks but do not have the book yet. Hope that information helps a few of you!

Happy Knitting!