
Last night I finally grafted the toe on the second of Maddie's socks. I really shouldn't say *finally* since I just started these sometime around the end of June or beginning of July. You have to love little feet which require equally little socks that knit up so quickly! These were knit with Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the color Uptown using US size 1 dp's and my usual sock pattern. I have to say though that I recently started using the heel turn from Lucy Neatby's book Cool Socks Warm Feet and it's now part of the "standard sock" pattern I use. Yeah, someday I'll try that new-fangled short-row heel thingy. Maybe :)
Maddie even consented to model the socks:

And then she didn't want to take them off! It's still a bit warm for wool socks though, so I got her to remove them by promising to make her a second pair.
But first I'm knitting Pete a pair out of heavyweight STR -- yes, my first pair of Socks that Rock. The heavyweight is throwing me for a loop though! I've decided to use size 4 needles (recommended needle is 5-6, but I just can't imagine knitting socks on needles that big!) I cast on 56 stitches after much calculation, knit a good part of the ribbing and it just looked too big, so I ripped it out. ARGH! I'm going to try 52, but according to the mathematics, I really can't go smaller. The yarn is very tightly spun and isn't really like any other sock yarn I've worked with weight-wise. I'm a bit confounded. Anyone reading this knit a pair with the heavyweight before?
The socks are so cute! And what a good mommy to promise more :)
Posted by: Vicki | Friday, August 11, 2006 at 01:05 PM
Great socks! Your daughter looks so cute in them!
Posted by: The Purloined Letter | Friday, August 11, 2006 at 02:22 PM
I haven't used the heavyweight STR but I knit my Nature Spun worsted socks on 48 sts with a size 3 needle.
Posted by: Joan Hamer | Friday, August 11, 2006 at 02:49 PM
I started a pair of STR in heavyweight several months back on size 3 US needles, 52 stitches, and 2x2 rib. I have large-ish feet so that mix when it comes to a heavier yarn works well for me. I ended up ripping back the socks tho because I couldn't see myself knitting socks that heavy in June.
Posted by: Spring | Friday, August 11, 2006 at 03:41 PM
Love the socks!
Posted by: Kelly | Friday, August 11, 2006 at 04:20 PM
Hi Julie,
Those litte legs and those little socks are adorable!
I was wondering if you could explain what it is about the new heel turn that you like.
Posted by: Vickie | Friday, August 11, 2006 at 04:57 PM
Not sure how thick the STR are, but I have knit Knitty's Thuja with Lornas' Laces Worsted - only 44 stitches
Posted by: Kate | Friday, August 11, 2006 at 06:02 PM
They look great!
Posted by: michellelmf | Saturday, August 12, 2006 at 04:51 PM