Now that we’ve headed back into the chilly season, I’m once again treasuring the small arsenal of knit socks I’ve begun to accumulate for myself. I work in a fantastic converted mill with glorious exposed brick and beams and big windows, and all the challenges you might assume that come with evenly heating a building like that to “office” temperatures.
Along with hats (okay, and sweaters, and scarves), knit socks are my favourite weapons against the low temps. What I’ve discovered is that not all sock patterns knit up the same for all sock yarns. I should probably swatch, I realize, but I almost never do. Instead, when it comes to socks, I tend to stick with patterns that are developed with the specific yarn I’m using in mind.
The full-length pair is knit in Biscotte Yarns Bis-sock, a yarn I cannot get enough of, in the colourway Mon pays c'est l'hiver.* I used Biscotte's Basic Toes-up Heel-flap Socks by Louise Robert as the pattern (it’s available free, what a deal), and c’est parfait!
This next pair uses Biscotte Yarns Bis-sock as well, this time in the Lighthouse colourway. I didn’t have enough yarn for a full-length pair, so I decided to see if I enjoyed an ankle length. I followed the same Biscotte's Basic Toes-up Heel-flap Socks pattern until all the heel stitches were picked up, then knit two rounds and finished with 5 rounds of k1p1 rib. Turns out I liked the ankle length so much I decided to make another pair.
Now, I very much like the look of this Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball Crazy yarn in the Charisma colourway, and I wanted to use it for socks, but it has been a problem child. I’ve had the yarn for over three years and this would be the third time trying to use it. I first tried using the Hermione's Everyday Socks pattern. As I recall, the intricacy of the pattern was not suited for such a dark yarn when knitting in less-than-blindingly bright rooms. Mistakes ahoy! Then the previously reliable Basic Dress Socks pattern created a sock with regular size front foot and a massive ankle. It would have been perfect for someone with terribly swollen ankles - it might have even fit over a plaster cast! So frogged it I did.
Third time was the charm with the – you guessed it! – Biscotte's Basic Toes-up Heel-flap Socks pattern. I shortened up the cuff to just two rows of k1p1 rib. I’m so pleased with how the colour pooled. Cute, right?
Of course, sock yarn isn’t just for socks. Here’s what I did with some of the Bis-sock Lighthouse – a little, tiny toque for a sweet little newborn. I adapted the free, simple Sock Topper pattern to get what I was looking for. Here’s what I did:
I cast on 96 stitches for a wee little newborn size. I added a K1P1 ribbing for about 1 inch so the band wouldn’t roll up (thinking of helping the hat stay on a sleepy little melon in a car seat). And I knit until the total length was 3.5 inches or so before starting the decrease. I had to adjust the decreases to account for the difference in the number of stitches cast on as follows:
Work one round even.
(k2tog, k13) six times. 84 stitches remaining.
Work one round even.
(k2tog, k12) six times. 78 stitches remaining.
Work one round even.
(k2tog, k11) six times. 72 stitches remaining.
Work one round even.
(k2tog, k10) six times. 66 stitches remaining.
Work one round even.
(k2tog, k9) six times. 60 stitches remaining.
Work one round even.
(k2tog, k8) six times. 54 stitches remaining.
Work one round even
(k2tog, k7) six times. 48 stitches remaining.
Work one round even.
(k2tog, k6) six times. 42 stitches remaining.
Work one round even.
(k2tog, k5) six times. 36 stitches remaining.
Work the decreases in every row until there are 6 stitches remaining. Break the yarn leaving a tail.Run the yarn through the 6 stitches and pull to tighten, then secure. Weave in the ends.
Then I added a cute knitted flower in scrap of leftover white worsted using the instructions in this video, except where says to cast on 46 stitches I cast on 45 so it would divide evenly into 5. (I don't really understand how 46 stitches would work out properly.)
Look at this little muggins. SO ADORABLE, RIGHT? This was her coming-home-from-the-hospital outfit. What an honour for the toque!
*A digression, if you’re interested. Mon Pays c'est l'hiver evokes the iconic Quebecois unofficial anthem, Mon Pays by Gilles Vigneault. The opening line, and repeated phrase throughout, is “Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver” – “My country is not a country, it’s winter.” It’s an uplifting song that celebrates the beauty, cultural and physical isolation, and hospitality of Northern Quebec.
