Wednesday, December 31, 2008

FO: Gentleman's Plain Winter Socks

It's the last finished project of the year: socks for Bill, from a Nancy Bush pattern, in (surprise) Patons Kroy 4-ply sock yarn (colour "Gentry Grey").


As you can see, 2 balls of yarn was not quite enough; I finished the toes with leftover Regia 4-ply. (FYI, the Regia is a little thinner than the Kroy.)


They fit me perfectly. (I'm modelling them because Bill is out playing poker and I wanted photos today.) If I were to make this pattern again for Bill, I'd do it with more stitches around the foot. Weirdly, the pattern is 70 stitches around the leg and only 62 around the foot. I probably should've stopped decreasing at 68 for Bill's feet.


These socks have a Dutch heel, which really cups your heel. It looks odd in the photos, but that's because I didn't block the socks; they actually are flat and comfortable under your foot. In fact, when I had Bill try on the first sock when I was about halfway through knitting the foot, he remarked that the heel was very comfortable. This morning, before I grafted the toes closed, I had him try one on again, and he actually said, "Love that heel."


Happy new year, dear readers. If you are celebrating tonight, have fun and be safe. xo

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the red toe. They add pizazz.

claudia said...

Happy New Year Alison! Best wishes for a great 2009.

shannon said...

happy new year to you all, too!

sadly, i will have no last fo for 2008. ah well. such is life.

socks are great.

Jodi said...

Lucky Bill! Great socks, esp. with the red contrast toe. Happy New Year right back at you. We're having a cozy evening at home with homemade risotto and perhaps some pomegranate champagne cocktails.

Anonymous said...

It was serendipity that you needed to use the Regia. The toes are a fun surprise, hidden away in the shoes. Proper, conservative socks in public, wow with the shoes off.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

stringplay said...

What a lovely pair of socks. I always like your socks and enjoy your blog. Happy New Year.

Nadia said...

Happy New Year to you too!

Sarah A. said...

It is quite the smashing heel. Love that purl seamage too.

Anonymous said...

oooh, i like them a lot! p.s. you were SO totally holding out on me pattern-wise! those socks you knit for your mom are exactly what I was looking for! i'm totally going to copy you.

Knitopia said...

I love the toes. I've been scared of that heel, but that is quite some praise from Bill! Maybe I'll give it a go sometime.

Anonymous said...

Happy 2009!

Knitting Linguist said...

Happy new year to you, too! (And that heel does look good - may have to try that one...)

April Klich said...

Those red toes look really nice. I'm going to have to keep that in mind for later projects of mine.

I wonder if I could convert the dutch heel to work toe-up.

Linda said...

Lovely socks. Have a happy new year!

spajonas said...

happy new year!

Unknown said...

Happy New Year!!! I really love the maroon toe. It looks like a design feature not a happy accident.

Lorraine said...

I find that Kroy always has short yardage. It's enough for a woman's sock, but I plan for contrast toes and maybe heels for the bigger feet.

Anonymous said...

Who took the picture? Did you use any stand for the camera?

La Cabeza Grande said...

Rocking those socks, lady! Maybe you can make some for yourself in the same way, with the surprise pop of toe colour?