Monday, August 18, 2014

Knitting RX


I have knit a lot of socks, I love my socks, they are the best thing I have learned to knit. I have the ma th down pat and can knit a sock that fits my foot or any other person's foot extremely well. I still get a bit sad when a sock is just plain worn out and gets tossed.  However sometimes I can prolong the life of a sock and squeeze a few more years of wear out of them. I knit this sock 12 years ago (can you believe it) and this pair is still one of my favs. Let me tell you a well knit well fitting sock can last for many years, Once you have worn hand knit socks you don't look back. They are awesome! ( I am off on a tangent here so back to the sock at hand).

 This sock is in good shape other than the hole in the toe.It is fact of life that holes happen in socks sometimes.I will be honest I really don't know how to darn a sock that well. Usually I say darn and throw it in the garbage can! (sorry, old corny joke). I think I have a psychological aversion to darning. Do you remember those old beige leotards we used to have to wear? The ones your older sister or cousin wore before you? The ones where the elastic was shot in the waist, causing them to creep and fall down your backside all day long so the crotch was mid thigh and you were constantly pulling them up? The ones where as soon as you put them on the knees sagged and they wrinkled in folds around your ankles? And the ones your mother darned at the knees and at the back of the heel and the toes so they created hard lumps in your shoes and caused blisters on your feet? They were beauties! So here is my alternative method to darning.


Most knitters get really really nervous when scissors are brandished about their knitting .And for good reason!


Riii Riii Riiiii


Some of you who are faint of heart might want to close your eyes about now


Just take your scissors and whack off the part of the toe with the hole in it. I mean carefully choose where the offending hole is and trim accordingly.



Unravel the yarn back a few rows  to the point where all the stitches are intact and are on the same row


Load up your stitches on your needles, find some sock yarn and you are ready to go. Can you believe I still had the original leftover ball from 12 years ago? You see I knew I might need it one day.  (That's the most feeble excuse Chris) I need to do some decluttering.


Toe knit and ready to graft


 And Bob's your uncle! A rehabilitated sock!!

I have cut off toes of socks, cuffs of sleeves and ribbing of sweaters to readjust the size or to fix holes or worn out bits. With your knitting you have to be fearless sometimes. Remind yourself that you are the boss of your knitting. Take courage and be a ballsy knitter or a ballsy gardener or quilter or crocheter or whatever your passion is. Its good to try something that pushes you a bit and gets you out of your particular comfort zone. Sometimes I over think my projects too much and I remind myself enough already, just do it, just go for it. Be Fearless!!

I had a few more thoughts but I think I have said enough for today.

Keep smiling

Chris

16 comments:

  1. I feel just like you about handknit socks! I love it when the weather gets cool again and I can bring them back out to wear. I always have a few new pairs in the pile to look forward to as well. Great idea for fixing holes!

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  2. Hand knit socks are the best. My husband wears his almost all year round. There is nothing better than putting on a new pair of hand knits, it feels wonderful! I am thinking I should cast on a new pair soon, I love knitting them!

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  3. One of my dogs loves to eat holes in my cheapo socks so I just buy new ones. She proudly carries them around like vanquished prey because you know you're a badass when you capture a sock.

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    1. It takes cunning and practice to nab an unsuspecting sock, smart puppy! I was just fixing another sock that Archie had a moment with, good thing he is so cute, good thing he is over 300 miles away! So what's with all that hanky panky good going on in your flower beds? Hahaha!!!

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  4. I love the ballsy attitude you take to your knitting! You cracked me up with this one Chris!!! Your work is always inspiring to me!! I am currently crocheting because I need some serious help with my knitting...wish you were closer and could teach me a thing or two!! Well done with the hole repair! I have never seen this done before! Your socks are a work of art to me! A lovely week to you! Nicole xo

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    1. Hey Nicole, you just have get ballsy with some stuff in your life sometimes! If you need some help with your knitting please pm me, send some pictures too. I would be happy to help you if I can. I love knitting and spreading some knitterly love! I would love to be able to pop over and help you out and sit in that beautiful garden of yours! Have a good one! Chris

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  5. Nicely done m'dear! I was forced by my grandmother to learn to darn knitted socks ... put me off knitting them for life. If only she'd taught me this neat trick instead!

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    1. Thanks! I am thinking learning to darn properly is probably a good skill to have. I always end up with big lumps. I can see why all that darning would put you off socks, it would put me off knitting! Maybe this is an area for personal growth.......nah. Thanks for dropping by. Chris

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  6. Woah!!! That really is fearless!!! What a brilliant idea and a great fix for your socks, especially as you still had some of the original yarn left! I do not knit socks - or knit at all! - but I do have socks that I love and hate it when they wear out, you just cant seem to get cute socks these days, so I understand your attachment! xx

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  7. Hey Amy, isn't that the truth, it is hard to find socks that are a little different or cute or funky. They all look the same! I was with a bunch of knitters awhile ago and one woman remarked she thought her dad was weird as he liked to match his socks to his sweater he would be wearing that day. I said so what's strange about that? Kinda the way I roll. I have never looked at her the same Hmmmfff!! Some people got no class. Sheesh! Nice to hear from you Chris

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  8. You are freaking amazing. First you actually cut your toe off, then you fix it with the exact yarn you used to make it. Well done. You are much braver than me.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  9. Thanks Meredith, taking scissors to knitting is not we usually plan or want to do! But it works! Have a good one! Chris

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  10. I did cringe when I saw the scissors, Chris, but offer my praises for your skill in fixing the sock! With those colours, it must make you smile just to wear them.

    Karen

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  11. Haha I know wave scissors around some knitters and they think you have gone mad and should be restrained! I love bright colourful cheerful socks, makes my feet feel great! Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have good weather back east this weekend Chris

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  12. That is very scary indeed! But I'm not a good knitter so I can't make socks to begin with! lol It does make since that this is possible though to add a new toe. I thought for a minute you were going to have a fingerless mitten or something else! lol Great job! I have a couple of pairs of hand knit socks and they are my favs! Sweet hugs!

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  13. Thanks , i sure do like my knit socks! Hey thats a great idea make them fingerless mitts! Or something else, we could start a discussion on that topic. Have a great week Chris

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