[knit] Socks of My In-Laws

[lwood]

countgeiger took pictures of the socks I made for his dad and stepmother--more details for the fiber-inclined behind the cut.

Both pictures can be clicked to enlarge--sorry they're blurry, but they'd be hard to retake now!

For his dad, a variant of Knitty's Diamond Waffle Socks, where this simple stitch pattern is combined with Cat Bordhi's Riverbed Architecture (from New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Volume One). This allows the diamonds to go not just along the top of the foot, but also along the sides, as the expansion gusset for the heel is created along the centerline of the sole. Toe is of my own devising, adapted in part from the toe for this sock: CO 1/3 of total (plus/minus a bit as needed) with Judy's Magic Cast-On, then increase at each end of both needles as per Diamond Waffle Socks every row until you have 2/3 of desired total, then every other row until desired total is reached (like the DW toe, but different). This lends a shape closer to semicircular than otherwise.



The yarn is Mountain Colors Bearfoot, (60% Superwash Wool, 25% Mohair, 15% Nylon) colors Grey Wolf and just plain Gray--his feet are HUGE, it took a skein and a half of yarn to cover them with Bearfoot, when a skein alone will do for most feet. Addi Turbo Size 1 needles, 2x24" circs, 36 sts/48 rows/4"/10cm



For his stepmother:



Yarn is Yarn Daze Yucatan (80% superwash merino, 20% cashmere), color Cerulean. Addi Turbo Size 2 needles, 2x24" circs. 28 sts/40 rows/4 in/10 cm.

Pattern is my own mashup: Cat Bordhi's Moccasin Toe, her Upstream Sock Architecture. This is the Riverbed upside-down, with the heel gusset formed as a gore at center instep. As you can see, I have filled in the gusset with 1x1 rib, with two knit stitches together during the instep to suit my fancy. After the heel is complete, I made one between those two knits to separate them with a purl column. The overall intended effect is supposed to be of socks that look like shoes with socks coming out of them.

Enjoy!

-- Lorrie