From Rolags to Socks

I got a clear pair of UGG boots for my birthday.... and that's where it began!!!! The need to become a sock knitter... (again)... because I've tried before and to be honest I don't like to wear socks, I never have since I was little (it's a sensory thing).... but I've made two pairs that I actually love and have three pairs I hate... the key for me is to knit on the smallest needles because if I can feel stitches under my feet or any pattern I'm OUT...

Who wouldn't want to show off hand knit socks in these beauties? Am I right?

So I thought about the kind of hand knit socks I really like... tight knit, warm, not slippery. Ok I put together a myriad of fibers, BFL natural brown with some silk in it to add strength since there will be zero nylon in these babies. Now BFL in itself is a long stapled wool, so many believe that you can use a long stapled wool by itself to make long lasting durable socks, but I myself haven't had any socks long enough to make that testament. Next I went with a little dark gray Alpaca just to add some depth and I love alpaca... so warm and soft. I added merino which is one of my favs in a deep reddish/ orange, white and green that is bright, sort of inside of a lime meets a granny smith apple, because who doesn't need some grinch shade in their life!

Next I got out the blending board and went to making rolags. Which I'm not by any means good at but just tried to keep it somewhat consistent. The key I have found to good rolags is trying to layer everything kind of even because you are drafting it out, rolling, drafting it out, I found with mine the less I have the better they seemed and the easier they spun up... like I said... NOVICE over here!

Onto spinning! Which for anyone that knows me, spinning is my go to relaxation place. These spun up like a dream, thin enough to be a 3-ply Navajo chain ply. It was going to be a sport/fingering, but I'm going to knit it on 0's or 1's so it will be a warm, dense fabric regardless, so I'm very happy!

Spun on my Schacht's Matchless, you can see it's pretty thin, short forward draw, spun worsted so it should be some good strong yarn, perfect for socks!

Now I've decided that I'm just going to knit one long tube, where I can then add the heels toes and cuffs. I'm doing this for several reasons: first, so that I can utilize all my beautiful handspun and not have to break it into two balls, I also can just keep going and really use it all and make the longest pair I can. I'm never afraid to cut my knitting if I'm not happy... but it's not for everyone! I also went straight to knitting and did not wash, thwack, full, finish or dry this yarn first... it's something I only do with MY sock yarn I'm going to knit with right away... because I want to do that AFTER my socks are done... I like that finish for MYSELF, it helps shrink that knit even tighter and sort of LIGHtLY felts the knit to almost be a fabric which my feet are MUCH happier with! Like I've said before... NOT for everyone, you need to do what makes you happy and isn't that why some of us hand make our own things... so we can make them what WE want, so you do you!

As you can see it's at 14", it should be long enough for one sock! So 1 down, 1 to go!!!! I do have to still spin the yarn for the Heels, Toes and Cuffs, which is another reason I like to do it this way... I can pick a really hearty fiber good for harder wear or I can pick some fiber that is blended with nylon or silk (nature's nylon). When you think about it, heels and toes are the areas that need mending on socks more often than not. Picking something hard wearing for those two areas is another reason to just knit a tube and add those areas on later!

I can post the cutting of the tube and adding the heels, toes and cuffs if any are interested in that sort of thing.... but honestly I don't know if anyone reads this blog!

Happy Knitting... Spinning, Sewing, Crocheting, Weaving.... well whatever your into I would love to hear!

Stacey

RiverRatYarn