Unripe Bananas that is

~ Project Details ~

Pattern: Nanner Socks. I have always wanted to do these socks ever since they came out last summer.

And come on! You know I did these toe-up 2AAT! ;o)

Size: Small (7.5) and only did quarter length socks this time for a few reasons.

1. My mind was starting to play tricks on me and was concerned I would run out of yarn (with my 20/20 hindsight vision this thought became "false" as I could have put in 2 more repeats on the leg)

2. My time was running real short to the 31st 11:59pm deadline

3. My patience was waning with working on this pattern ;op

So 1/4 length they became!! Hey that is my favorite length socks anyway (and thigh-high socks..go figure one extreme to another!)

Time: I kicked everything to the side in July re: Wrestle WIPmania just to cram these in at the very end of the month to finish just in time! ;o)

It took me 10 days with on & off events/waning mojo/numb fingers/life in general. LOL

Needles: US1 (2.25) was initially done on a 32" cord which I knew would be too tight (esp. when it was time for gusset increases/turning the heel) so I "just" so happened to order another pair of needles in a 40" cord to have on hand.

And I "just" so happened to get the new pair of needles in the mail when I needed them!

The 32" set literally snapped in my hand!!! UGH! (yes those are erasers trying to keep my stitches in place Hahaha) SO very happy my intuition told me to order the needles as I was on a freakin' deadline! ;op And thankfully my needles were at home already waiting on me just when I needed them in this mini emergency! ;o)

Yarn/Cost: Last year when I switched jobs my old co-workers gave me a gift certificate to my fav LYS where I picked up some Fleece Artist Nova Wool in Rainforest.

This yarn knits up like BUTTA!!! Thank you again ladies! :)

I have actually switched out this particular yarn for so many projects and surprised it didn't go schizo on me ;op

The last project I was working on with this yarn was frogged for these socks ;o) It was a good decision as this yarn colorway is so bold and vibrant and busy, therefore patterns are hard to "show up" on it.

Modifications: I didn't learn anything new on this project, which is why I didn't have a specific section for that; and my modifications really weren't anything to bring attention.

For my increases on the toe I did (kfb) rather than a M1L/M1R (didn't see a big difference) and other than that I did everything as normal. Knitted until leg was 3" and cuff about a .5"

Now looking forward to my next pair of socks!!

~ Project Details ~

Pattern: Lacy Ribs Socks by Wendy D. Johnson from the Socks from the Toe Up book.

I joined the Ravelry Socks from the Toe Up KAL where each month the group will knit a pattern out of the book (for a prize of course)! Hope I get some more sock fiber goodness from the KAL's random drawing!!

Size: Small

And they are my best fitting socks thus far!! Not to mention my first pair that is full length!! (I typically get antsy and stop at the ankle lol)

Time: Started these the day I took the class with WendyKnits herself and finished up yesterday! So a little over a week (10 days)

The pattern repeats are easy and makes it a fast knit and grows quickly!

Needles: 2US & 1US (on ankles and cuffs) on 40" cord as you know I magic looped 2AAT (2 at a time)

I could have used a US1 on the entire sock but didn't want it to take me forever ;op

Yarn/Cost: I can't believe I received this yarn 2 years ago from one of my swap angels! Boy time really flies!!

Extreme Yarn in the colorway of Sherbert Delight. Actually reminds me of Pink Lemonade...hence "Sock"ade!!

Modifications: They were very minor as I followed this pattern to a tee.

I knitted the toe to a full 2" so that the lace wouldn't reveal my little toes wigglin' all the way home ;o) Haha Didn't realize a lot of knitters prefer that in sock making and now so do I!

On the ankles I switched my needles to US1 as I was concerned of slouching with the stretch of the lace pattern and it worked out just fine (plus I think the ribbing in the entire pattern truly helps with the anti-sag factor).

I also used the same size needle on my cuffs as my ribbing for some reason always gets loose; and they were extended to 1.5" as I wanted to make sure they really hugged my lower calves.

I did a variation of the Russian BO stated in the book called a Stretchy BO (that I picked up a long time ago along the way), which to me is pretty much exactly the same if not the twin version.
So glad my BO was "just right" as they are not strangling me or too loose! Yay!

What I learned: The Judy Magic CO (JMCO - video link) .....well this knitting skill I already knew how to do from making the better bucket hats but never did it on socks before without using another needle as a "provisional" hold so that was different for me.

I truly don't see much difference between the JMCO and my handy dandy Turkish CO. I could argue that learning the Turkish CO is much easier than JMCO (as you gotta remember and figure out which fingers/yarn wrap where). So I still favor the Turkish CO since they pretty much look the same IMO.

I was thrilled to finally do a slip stitch heel from the toe up!! That was my first try at it and I just love the look without having to actually do it top down!! Score!!

Also learned something that it seems like No one ever talks about!!! Picking up those darn W/T (wrap/turns) SEAMLESSLY.

My pick ups were looking great on the "left" side of the heel (showing publicly) but on the "right" side looked a mess!! My wonderful Purl friend Heather helped me solve it by how the stitches were being positioned and then knit both together in the back (Thank You!!!). Mystery Solved!!

Verdict: Really enjoyed knitting the socks and it was great doing this sock as a KAL because it helped me push thru at the very end when I was getting tired of doing the leg (dang you gotta do the pattern all the way around Haha) ;op

Pennie (Extreme Yarn) told me to make something wonderful and I think I got some wonderful "Sock"ade!