A few people have asked me how long I make the cuffs on my socks, and whether or not a certain skein of yarn will make 2 socks. Here is my first String Theory sock, folded over (not yet washed or blocked. Just in case you’re looking that closely). I wear a size 11 shoe, so my socks are always a good test of yardage. That’s one positive, I guess. I like my cuffs to be the same length as the foot of the sock, when folded in half. Once in awhile I’ll make them a little longer if I’m having fun with the pattern and there is still plenty of yarn left, but normally, I double them. When knitting socks, I split the skein into 2 equal balls using a winder and a scale to measure the weight, and then I knit toe up. This way, I never have to worry about running out down by the toe, from having knit cuff down. You can see the little bit of yarn I had left from this first String Theory sock. Actually, I screwed up the two balls a little and I used the smaller ball first. So I can say with great confidence that there is PLENTY in that skein to make a pair of socks. I knit this one on size 1 needles with 60 stitches. I can also say with great confidence that whenever we wrap up a set of small sock blockers, I am totally jealous of that person with the small feet.

I also knit up a Spirit Trail Fiberworks sock out here. I love the colors (this one is Turkish Stone) and I used my default no-brainer pattern – the Baby Cable Rib. That’s the pattern I use when I don’t want to have to think while I knit. (3 rows of K2, P2, then one row of K2tog but leave on the left needle, knit the first stitch again and pop it both stitches off, then P2). It’s a very stretchy, comfortable sock. We’ll have a Spirit Trail re-stock again soon. I had a lot of fun meeting Jennifer in person at Maryland Sheep & Wool in May, and picking out colors for our next order in person.

So, are you mostly a toe-up sock knitter or a cuff-down sock knitter?  And how long do you like your cuffs?

Sheri enjoyingthealmostdailyafternoonthunderstormsthatlastabout20minutes

We’re working our way through two seasons of Numb3rs while we’re out here. Does anyone else watch that show? I want to move right in to Charlie’s Craftsman house. (Um, not for Charlie. Just for the decor. I’m a Craftsman/Mission Oak kind of person.) When the guys aren’t around, Knitting Daughter and I are knitting our way through the seasons of Seventh Heaven, this summer, too. Great show and it’s the longest running “family” show ever. It was on longer than The Waltons or Little House on the Prairie. I like to watch movies or series when I knit. Right now I’m working on something that takes a little more concentration (my Challenge Socks) so I’m kind of in and out of what is going on. It doesn’t matter too much with Seventh Heaven, but it does matter when you miss sections of a Numb3rs episode. Oh, well. I keep thinking that I’ll listen to books on tape sometime while I knit (or knitting podcasts), but that never seems to happen. Do you prefer to just sit and knit, or listen and knit, or watch and knit, or none of the above?

Back to the Challenge Socks, the challenge was technically over yesterday (June 30th), but until I make a “last call” on photos for the Challenge Gallery, keep knitting. Photos will probably be due by 7/15. It has been really fun to see the incredible socks you all are coming up with.

Have you heard about Knit Grafitti? Check out this website. My favorite is the abandoned gas station. The bus they ride around in is not very subtle, is it?

Sheri HappyCanadaDaytoallofourLoopyCanadians!

P.S. Namaste’s new Hermosa Bags, Mini Clutches, and XL/XXL Pouches are up – check them out!