Another Noro sock

That manages to make mine look rather simple and plain (but that's okay):

My socks are happy with their simplicity, I'm sure. Shown above is Sarah, one of our Sock Knitters Night regulars, showing off her latest finished sock - knit with Noro Kureyon Sock S185. She plugged in a very pretty stitch pattern, courtesy of Barbara Walker, and tried out one of Cat Bordhi's mind-blowing heels and toes from New Pathways for Sock Knitters.

Seriously, if you want to challenge yourself and destroy any preconceptions you had about sock knitting, check out this book. Ms Bordhi must be some sort of super genius, or something.

What were the rest of us knitting? you ask. We-ell, I'm afraid we were mostly the vanilla or ribbed sock knitters last night. Maybe I should bring in Pomatomus or Firestarter next time...

Gratis Knits: Winter 2008

Intended for incipient designers, Gratis Knits will be a platform for knitters to submit original and unpublished patterns (featuring a yarns and products available for sale at Knit Purl). A selected pattern will be featured in the next season's newsletter and the designer will receive a $50 gift card to the store. The deadline for the Spring 2008 Newsletter will be March 1, 2008. Please submit patterns to info (AT) knit-purl (DOT) com.

Snowdrops Socks

By Sara Morris

SIZES
Women’s XS (S, M, L, XL)

MEASUREMENTS
6.5 (7, 7.5, 8, 8.5)” foot circumference

MATERIALS

• 1 ball Noro Kureyon Sock (shown in color S180)
• set of 5 US 1.5/ 2.5mm 6” DPNs
• tapestry needle
• tape measurer
• 2 stitch markers

GAUGE
8 sts & 12 rows/ 1” in stockinette

NOTES:
This sock is knit from the toe-up.

SNOWDROP LACE INSERT: (worked over 11 sts)

• Row 1: YO, SL2K, YO, K5, YO, SL2K, YO

• Row 2 & all even rows: K11
• Row 3: YO, SL2K, YO, K5, YO, SL2K, YO
• Row 5: K3, YO, SSK, K1, K2TOG, YO, K3
• Row 7: YO, SL2K, YO, K1, YO, SL2K, YO, K1, YO, SL2K, YO
• Row 8: K11

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCK

Toe:

Using Turkish CO method; CO 22 sts over 2 DPNS (11 sts per needle) and knit one round. Redistribute stitches as follows: 5 sts on N1, 6 on N2, 5 on N3, and 6 on N4.

• Row 1: *K1, YO, K9, YO, K1* twice

• Row 2: *K1, K1 tbl, K9, K1 tbl, K1* twice
• Row 3: *K1, YO, K11, YO, K1* twice
• Row 4: *K1, K1 tbl, K11, K1 tbl, K1* twice

Continue increasing in this manner (4 sts every other row) until there are 34 sts TOTAL (17 on instep, 17 on sole). On next increase round (odd #’d row):

• K1, YO, K2, PM, work ‘Row 7’ of Snowdrop Lace insert, PM, K2, YO, K2, YO, K15, YO, K1.

On all even rows to follow: *K1, K1 tbl, K to last 2 sts on instep/ sole, K1 tbl, K1* twice. After this row start with Row 1 of Snowdrop Lace insert between the stitch markers.

Continue increasing the toe while working the Snowdrop Lace insert between stitch markers, until there are 50 (54, 58, 62, 66) stitches TOTAL.

Foot:

Work the stitches as established: K7 (8, 9, 10, 11), SM, work Snowdrop Lace insert, SM, K to end of round. Continue in this manner until sock measures 2” less than total foot length OR 7 (7.25, 7.5, 7.75, 8)” from the CO edge. End with an even row.

Heel:

Work across the instep, keeping the Snowdrop Lace insert in pattern. The directions below are for the 25 (27, 29, 31, 33) heel sts on N3 & N4:

• Row 1: K 24 (26, 28, 30, 32), W&T
• Row 2: P 23 (25, 27, 29, 31), W&T
• Row 3: K to next unwrapped st, W&K
• Row 4: P to next unwrapped st, W&T.

Repeat Rows 3 & 4 until there are 11 sts that have not been wrapped. On the next row:

• K11, PU&K the wrap and stitch together, W&T (next st)
• P12, PU&P the wrap and stitch together, W&T
• RS: K to next wrapped st, PU&K the 2 wraps and stitch together, W&T
• WS: P to next wrapped st, PU&P the 2 wraps and stitch together, W&T

Continue in this manner until all stitches and their wraps have been worked. End with a WS row. Turn. K across 25 (27, 29, 31, 33) heel sts. New row starts here.

Leg:

Resume pattern as established in the foot:

• K7 (8, 9, 10, 11), SM, work Snowdrop Lace insert, SM, K to end of round.

Continue in this manner until piece measures approximately 9 (8.75, 8.5, 8.25, 8)" from the base of the heel. By this point the second repeat of the colorway should be close.

Cuff:

Rows 1 - 12: *K1, P1* across.

BO loosely. Work second sock as for first, starting it at the same point in the color repeats as the first if desired. Weave in ends and block.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABBREVIATIONS:

CO	Cast on
K	Knit
YO	Yarn over
K tbl	Knit stitch through the back of the loop
SSK	Slip, slip, knit
SL2K	Slip one stitch, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over
K2TOG	Knit 2 together
ST	Stitch
W&T	Wrap the next stitch and turn work
PU & K	Pick up and knit

True Plies: The Set-up

After some lengthy plotting brainstorming, the Blogger and I have decided to organize the blog. From now on, once a week every week (note to self), I shall present to you a very special review column, "True Plies".

About?, you ask. Knitting. Books, yarns, needles, and patterns. And now, without further "adieu", let's get started...

True Plies: New Kureyon Steps Up

by Sara Morris

Like many sock knitters before me, I had vowed not to knit with the Kureyon sock yarn. Previous encounters with Noro had left me a little disappointed. Until I saw the yarn in person, that is. You may recall that the yarn arrived on the day of the very first meeting of Knit/ Purl's Sock Knitters. The stars must have aligned or the Knitting Muse simply has a wicked sense of humor.

While receiving and displaying the new yarn, the prospect of Kureyon-colored socks wore me down. I snuck over to the display and quickly sqooshed it, the yarn didn't feel too scratchy. Thus defeated, I took home a ball that night and CO a swatch a couple of days later. The swatch went quickly and soon I was looking for a pattern and a recipient - handwash ONLY socks don't fit within my lifestyle, unfortunately. But both were found and a new pair of socks was started.

My review? I can't tell you yet how well the yarn will wear, but I have my suspicions. 30% nylon sounds promising. In many ways Kureyon sock reminds me of our old friend, Trekking. Durable, vibrant, and a little rough. I don't mind the slight roughness too much, but some knitters or wearers might. The fact that the yarn is single-ply doesn't worry me either. This yarn, like other Noro yarns, has been fulled a bit to keep it in shape. It shouldn't cause any problems on that account.

And, of course, the colorways are enough to make most knitters drool. The color repeats are a little longer than Trekking, but maybe about the same length as some Opal or Regal sock yarns. Just as you're about to get bored with one color, another one starts.

All in all, I'm quite pleasantly surprised by the yarn. My only, minor, complaint would be the occasional VM (vegetable matter) spun in with the ply. But that's common with in many brands of yarn and, well, it tells you that there was actually a sheep involved in the making of this yarn at some point in time. As much as it annoyed me at first, I have to admit that it is comforting in a way. And I can tug the rare twig or leaf out as I go, in any case.

Sooo, in this humble sock knitter's opinion, Noro Kureyon Sock gets 8 out of 10 happy toes. Not bad for a yarn I refused to touch at first!