Ironwork Socks
Stick a fork in them! The pair looks much like the single sock photos, so let’s mix it up a bit with some shoes:
My normally nicely purple shoes look downright dull compared to the BLUE!
Pattern: My own, based off of a stitch pattern from a Japanese craft book
Yarn: Tess Super Sock and Baby
So this is my contribution to Sockpalooza 4. These socks were a bit of a collaborative effort – Stacey suggested the name, and the yarn was from Jess’s blog contest. Yay for the internets!
The sock pattern morphed a bit from the original swatch and I’m very pleased with the results. The pattern is forthcoming, I’m in the midst of font-editing to create the charts. I’m a novice chart creator, and I’ve realized that it’s quite a bit of work. I found a few knitting fonts online – a couple on the knittingsoftware yahoo group (which require conversion to macify them), and one from Knitter’s magazine which is very good.
I do need to add a couple of symbols that aren’t in the fonts, and I’ve downloaded Font Forge to help me out. The program is, um, hideous, but works on the mac. The general plan is to use Excel (well, Openoffice) to create the charts, following the instructions on Fleegle’s blog. Fingers crossed that this jumble of free resources will work!
Update: The pattern is finally available!
Since my camera wants desperately to wash out the blue, here’s a better photo of the texture:
The Tess yarn was really nice to work with, reasonably soft and smells delicious. It definitely has good springy sproing to it, just like my other fave socks yarns (Koigu!). There was some bleeding in the brief soak these socks got (the real blocking is to come once I replenish my wool wash), but nothing like the great Red Laceweight Bleed of ‘07. I would use this stuff again and I’m looking forward to digging into other Tess yarn I’ve got in my stash.
I still love the heels!
This is my second year participating in Sockpalooza, and I wasn’t as into it this year. I like reading about people’s progress on their blogs but I never really followed the digg-like pligg. I partially blame the interface (I’m not much of a digg follower, either), and partially on Ravelry, which surfaced around the same time and has all the pretty photos that the pligg lacks. Regardless, hopefully my sockpal digs these, and I can’t wait to see what I receive in the mail!
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Those are spectacular! I can’t believe you aren’t even keeping them for yourself. That’s one seriously lucky pal. Are you planning to write up the pattern?
Amazing, just amazing. I wasn’t that into Sockapalooza this year either (just too big and unwieldy now, maybe?) but if by some miracle these socks show up in my mailbox I will be the happiest little paloozer in town.
Hey, _are_ you planning to write up the pattern? I was thinking maybe you could, and you could download a bunch of software to do it and stuff ;)
WOW! They are sooo beautiful – and I am loving those shoes with them. Thanks for all of the fantastic chart links. I usually just muddle my way through on word, but it is never easy.
Glad to hear you are working on the pattern.
gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! your pal is quite possibly the luckiest of the group. they are *so* beautiful.
btw, if you need a hand making the charts i have charting software and might be able to help if it has the all the symbols you need. let me know!
They are sooo awesome! Love them. The pointy purple shoes are just too cute.
*LOVE* these! Can’t wait to try out the pattern. And I will!
The pattern is so intricate, they are truly stunning!!
i love the heels too! these are gorgeous!!
The name is perfect! Very pretty–if I knit socks I would make them. ;)
Gorgeous! Props to you for designing your own pattern for Sockapalooza.
oh man, i love those heels, too! beautiful!
Looks really purty! Love those heels. Looking forward to trying out the pattern.
Oooh I officially have sock envy! Especially since I can never have or knit those socks!
wow – seriously gorgeous socks. Good luck with putting the pattern together – I’d love to have a go at these myself.
Amazing socks, such a great pattern!
Just amazing! Well done, and good luck with the pattern!
I still love the heels too.
Would it be too silly to say you’ve knocked my socks off? This definitely demands a pattern. The color is fabulous, and that photo will give those infamous Flickr Foot Fetishists something to smile about!
Kelly – those socks are amazing. I love the detail you put into them, especially the heel and the little circle where the two lines cross. What a work of art!
I adore that stitch pattern!
Wow! Simply WOW! Incredible socks!!
Those are seriously some socks to be proud of. Great job!
Here’s hoping I’m your pal!! Those socks seriously rock the house!
gooooorgeous…don’t you just love those japanese knit books? you’re pal is one lucky duck. i hope i’m a lucky duck.
Gorgeous socks. You should sell that pattern. I know I would buy it! Your pal is lucky. I understand your reasons for not being into the pligg. I have trouble with it too.
Those are beautiful! I love the heel too, what a neat detail.
Those are completely amazing! Love, love, love…
holy moly, these are FANTASTIC! they’re actually, literally breath-taking. man, oh man, is your sock pal the luckiest thing ever!!
Those are lusciousness incarnate!
oooooh, those are gorgeous and that blue is stunning!
These socks are beautiful! I hope I am you sockpal!
Ohhh, how beautiful. The most beautiful pair of Sockapalooza socks I have seen so far. By far. How lucky your sock pal is.
these are freakin’ awesome. AWESOME!!!
Those are amazing – love love love the heel – I’ll be watching for the pattern. Hope everything works out with OO and the other free resources – it’s great to see them out there.
I’m crossing my fingers that your assortment of resources works, too. Because, WHOA. Those are so stunning. Your pal is very lucky!
I also love Tess yarns. Somehow, they manage to keep their delicious scent years later. I don’t know how they do it, but I approve.
Those socks are absolutely amazing! I’ll be watching eagerly for the pattern. Incredible. I’m awestruck.
Gorgeous! So absolutely friggin gorgeous. Your sock pal is going to psyched.
wow. those came out truly amazing. your sockpal is one lucky duck!!!!!!!!
Your sock pal = lucky. They are amazing, truly!
Oh, they are fantastic!
Wow, those are truly gorgeous socks! That heel is amazing! Your pal is going to be really happy to get those!
I love them!
Wow – they’re awesome! Wish you were my pal! But I’m never that lucky. Oh well – I’m sure your pal will LOVE them. :)
Seriously, WOW! Those are amazing! Your sock pal has got to be the luckiest sock pal ever. I am in awe. Gorgeous!
I really do have lust for those socks, but I will wait patiently for the pattern to emerge. It is emerging, right? They are beyond splendid. I just love them.
Oh my goodness! those are absolutely gorgeous. I know what my new sock will look like!!! Your sock pal is one very lucky person.
I just reread my comment and I meant that I will buy the pattern and then I would make them!!!
Those are amazing and gorgeous and all other kinds of good things. I agree with you about the Pligg thing, just not my gig either. I do love surfing the completed socks from the participants page on the Blue Blog though.
[...] Kelly from Kelp! Knits. Check out these socks, and this shawl and this cat bed. Beautiful [...]
Wow, those are pretty socks. I love the way the pattern starts again at the back of the heel. Just lovely. I’ve seen them already on your pal’s blog (sorry, forgot name). Lucky pal!
i would buy the pattern
Fantastic socks! I can’t wait for the pattern.
[...] one this time. It’s a pretty good one, too. Lots of interesting links, but I think those Ironwork socks are my favorite. I have got to get one of those Japanese stitch [...]
Those are gorgeous! I really love the way the pattern morphs into the heels. Your sock pal is so-o-o lucky!
These are so, so beautiful, K! I cannot wait for the pattern — I have the perfect yarn and everything. & if you need a hand with Mac-friendly charting, please let me know!
I adore these socks! Please say that you’ll be offing the pattern up for the rest of us to knit, and soon! (for fun or profit; I just want to knit them!) That heel is truly spectacular.
They are gorgeous. I covet them with the fire of a thousand suns, and will attack your pattern with gusto when you release it! Beautiful job. ^_^
I love these socks – have you written the pattern yet? No pressure, I just don’t want to miss it if/when you offer it for sale!
Just gorgeous! Can’t wait to see your pattern.
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