I knit 4 socks for them. And since I'm in Cookie A's sock club I have another skein in stash that I will knit up soon. Not only did I get to knit the new sock yarn but I debuted it in 4 new colors. I will be getting more of this yarn and more of these colors.
Pattern: Side Swipe Sock by Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Solemate in the "L"
needles: 2.25mm
Started: May 2
Finished: May 5
This is a very basic sock pattern. I believe its one of Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter's very first patterns. It's like a plain jane pattern with a little twisted extra running down the sides. Its a simple quick knit.
Pattern:Down and Up Lace Socks by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Solemate in Buckingham Fountain
needles:2.25mm
started: May 6
finsihed: May 9
This is a very interesting pattern. It has the best of both worlds of sock knitting. Toe up and top down. A lot of complaints about toe up socks is that the ankle/heel doesn't fit as well as top down. The complaints about top down is the risk of running out of yarn. So this sock starts at the ankle. you work the heel flap, pick up gusset stitches and work down the foot and finish the toe. Then you go back and pick up around the ankle and knit up the leg. Making it very easy to customize fit and you can knit up until you run out of yarn.
Pattern: Everybody Wants Sox! by Catherine Wingate and Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Solemate in Grant Park
needles: 2.25mm
started: May 15
finished: May 17
Originally written for sport weight yarn, but works up just as lovely in sock weight. Knit per pattern. If I were to knit it again (which is likely) I'd probably carry the design down the top of the foot.
Pattern: Oh So Beautiful Socks by Judy Sumner
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Solemate in outer drive
needles: 2.25mm
started: May 9
finished: May 13
This was my favorite of the 4 new colors I got to work with. I absolutely love it and think this was the perfect pattern to show case it. The pattern is very easy to memorize. Once you do the repeats go pretty quickly. I think I should have made the heel flap a little longer on this one. You can see it curve a little funny on my sock blocker.
The great thing about sample knitting is that I follow the pattern. Now this is a good thing and a bad thing. In some of the patterns I struggle knitting because there are things I would love to change to make it (what I would consider) better. But the fun part is that it forces me to try things that I might otherwise avoided. All 4 of these socks have a different heel. Yep they are all traditional heel flaps but the pattern down the heel is different on all of them. I often stick with classic heel flap and gusset turns. If doing a sock for myself I generally do a slip stitch heel flap. So its fun to try out new things and see them work. I wont say that I'd do some of the them again. I think I'd opt for a sturdier heel flap than say the plain stockinette one. But its nice that I've at least knit some different ones and can see how they are.
Since I knit these and sent them back to Lorna's Laces to use at TNNA I can't vouch for how the socks wear. The yarn is nice to knit with. Like I mentioned it is beefier than shepherd sock. I like shepherd sock on 2.0mm and I knit Solemate up on 2.25mm. So not a big difference but it is noticeable. Its soft and pleasant to knit with. A nice smooth yarn. Not sticky or to fuzzy. Just pleasant knitting. It does feel like it will hold up very nicely. You know how you knit some yarns and you can just tell that they wont hold up well? Well this one just feels very sturdy and that it will last.
