It's always good to have options!

Just a few tips on this month's pattern...

If you're used to top-down socks and don't want to stray from the norm, no matter! Cast on 60 stitches and dive right into the "sock cuff" pattern! Then, when your cuff is of a length you like, decrease one stitch on the instep of your sock (so the instep has 29 stitches and the back of the leg has 30) and continue on with the "Twisted Trellis" pattern on the instep and the ribbing pattern on the top of page 4 at the back of the leg. Use your usual heel, continue the instep pattern over the top of your foot and presto chango -- Trellis is a top-down sock!

Also, about the picot edge. It's completely optional. I think the sock works completely fine without it! If you find it a bit fiddly, leave it out -- or, if you want the picot edge but want it easier to work and sew down, knit 6 rows before the turning row and 5 rows after the turning row.

If you don't want a fancy cuff at all... use the ribbing pattern on the top of page 4 for the whole cuff (you'll need a multiple of 15 stitches to make it work, so don't forget to add that extra stitch on the instep when getting ready to start your cuff!).

Last -- this sock loves a good blocking. Pin out those picots on a flat surface for maximum effect. The cuff pattern naturally waves, so it makes those picots a little stubborn in falling into place!

Last for real this time -- to convert this sock to a smaller (or larger foot)... the cuff just needs to be a multiple of 15 stitches and the instep needs to be an odd number of stitches. So, find your favourite kid's sock pattern that starts off with, say, 30 stitches (15 instep and 15 back of leg stitches), and you can go from there, using the stitch patterns given for Trellis instead of stockinette. To make it even easier to work on just about any number of stitches, omit the cuff, use a K1, P1 ribbing at the back of the leg, and just add the Twisted Trellis pattern on the instep. This way you could use virtually ANY pattern with a stitch substitution on the instep. I'm not sure about sizing for a child specifically (especially going toe-up)... so using a generic pattern and substituting the stitches is probably the best way to go! I'll do some investigating to see if I can come up with more info... but I've got the May sock to finish too (which is coming along very, very well at this point!) -- and this pesky full-time job!

Happy Knitting!

Converting for little feets?

Gotta say, my first club delivery is a sweet sweet sweet yarn and pattern. While I love it aesthetically - my feets usually don't do sweets, I'm more of a bright-brights or muted-darks type, nothing in between. BUT! says me, I have two adorable neices, one of whom is nuts for pinks and pastels and the other... well, she's just turned one so hasn't told me her favourite colours yet. I'm wondering if I can get two pair of little-girl sockies out of this.

I have not yet made the attempt to convert anything other than a plain old stocking-stitch sock to a vastly different size, and am wondering if either:

1) our designer is on-line and could provide advice on converting for this stitch pattern?

2) does anyone else have a knack for turning full-size patterns into little-size patterns who could at least give me some pointers in the right way?

I must admit, I haven't even had a chance to start a swatch and it might be a couple of weeks yet, so no hurry to reply but I'll certainly take any hints I can get.

Johanna b (pandaovtoes@gmail.com in blog-land... jlb889@gmail.com in online shopping land)

Oh My!!

I was just feeling sad and forlorn this morning, waiting for my package to come....and ta-da! It's here. The yarn is gorgeous and the pattern I love love! I'm going to need my thinking cap on though, I've never done toe-up (like a few of us here, it seems) nor a picot edge. Both I've wanted to try but was afraid of failure!! Perfect opportunity to try this out now, with a good support system we have here. Yippee!

YAY I got my yarn !!! Can't wait to start !! 8)

I love it!

I just received my first sock club shipment, and I'm so pleased with it. The yarn is beautiful! I'm among those who've never done toe-up socks, and I'm going to try.

It's Here

I received my first kit two days ago as well and it is gorgeous. Mine looks a lot like Andrea's on her blog, but has almost no blue in it. I guess there is some variation in the batch. I haven't done toe up socks yet, either, but am very eager to try them. This is a great excuse to start.

April In The House!

My postman just met me at the door and handed me the April kit. Wow! Pretty, pretty yarn, great pattern, has me feeling "Springy" all over :)!

I got it two days ago

I received my parcel 2 days ago. Wow, shippping from Aurora-Ontario to Montreal-Quebec is fast! Colors are gorgeous, no pics sorry. One problem, I dont know how to knit a toe-up sock.

Spring Kit Arrived!

My April sock kit arrived! It's my first month, so I'm very excited. Love the colours! Pics on my blog if you're interested.

And they're off!

4 bags just like these two, full of boxes for my Sock Clubbers! Being picked up tomorrow! Boy am I glad Canada Post does pick ups for me now?!! How many post offices would I have had to gone to, to get these out?

April Sock Club on the Way......

Monday, April 21, 2007! Meghan just dropped off the patterns to me and the yarn arrived on Friday so tomorrow my sister and I are going to pack up the boxes! There are lots of new members this month and we now top 100! How fun is that?!

Happy Knitting!

Get Your Needles Ready!

I'm talking about the April Sock here...

We're hoping for Spring around here soon, and the April sock will be going out very soon to bring a little springtime into your lives and onto your feet, so get your needles ready -- and by needles, I mean nice, strong pointy ones (but that's the only hint you're getting)! I used KnitPicks 2.5mm DPNs for this one, and for this sock they were perfect. I love my Pony Pearls, but not for this sock!

Are you curious yet?

Happy Knitting!

I got Marches sock package last week. It takes a while to get thing in South Korea. I absolutely love, love, love the yarn and the pattern! Now I have to finish my current socks so I can start my new ones.

Whoo hoo !!

Got my kit today !!

OMG LOVE IT !!

Like I need another project to side line me, but SO casting on for this today !!