Tuesday 27 May 2014

Nearly A Match

I love self patterning or self striping yarn, it takes all the hassle out of changing colours when knitting and I love to watch the pattern emerge as I'm working with it.

This is Regia World College Color in Bachelor, a yarn which is now discontinued. I usually knit socks in 4 ply but this is thicker, perfect for wearing inside boots in winter. The ribbed Thuja pattern also gives the socks a bit more bulk and pads them out.


When I use a self striping yarn for socks, I try to match each sock. As you can see, I nearly managed it, there's just a little more red on one toe than the other.


It's been quite a while between knitting my last pair of socks and these, but I'm back in the swing of sock knitting again so I don't think it'll be long before I'm casting on my next pair.

36 comments:

  1. They look very warm & toasty. I have some self striping sock yarn but have never made a pair of socks before. I might make it my next project.

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    1. Hand knitted socks are a luxury, once you've made some you'll want all your socks to be hand knitted. Definitely give socks a go, but be warned, once you start it becomes an addiction. Plus, there's some gorgeous sock yarn out there, another shopping addiction.

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  2. I would count those as a match. :-) I have used that Thuja pattern for thicker yarn as well and always been happy with the finished product. Well done!

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    1. I'm happy with them, no one will notice the toes when I'm wearing them. This is the second time I've used this pattern and it's come out well both times.

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  3. I remember mum knitting plain wellie socks that were really warm and lasted years. Flighty xx

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    1. Hand knitted socks are really warm, I don't think you can beat them.

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  4. Do you knit them on 2 or 4 needles Jo? I have a pattern for two needles, too scared to use four! They certainly look good to me. I have some self patterning wool somewhere! I must look it out x

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    1. These are knit on four needles. When I started knitting socks, I used two needles. If you look down my sidebar you'll see the Crofter socks, they were the first socks I knit and they were done on two needles. Do have a go at socks which use four needles, they're really not as hard as you might think.

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  5. You are so clever.
    I have admiration for anyone who can make something out of a ball of wool.
    My only attempts have been cardigans for the children when they were tiny. I havn't knitted since then, not even for the Grandchildren.

    Love those socks.........

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    1. I'm really not. Socks really aren't as hard as some people might think, I wouldn't be able to knit them if they were. I used to knit when I was in my teens and then I didn't knit anything for over twenty years. I'm really sad that I didn't knit anything for my children when they were babies, especially as I love knitting baby clothes and I now don't have anyone to knit them for.

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  6. It's so close, I think they're awesome. I'm so in awe of this kind of knitting, well, any knitting, really. My knitting is so rudimentary. :)

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    1. Thank you. I'm not a brilliant knitter, but I can get by. I find knitting quite relaxing, crochet too.

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  7. They look great, well done. As you say - noone will notice the toes once you're wearing them :)

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    1. I'm sure they won't. I think the rest of them match up pretty well.

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  8. I'm madly jealous.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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    1. Don't be. You're doing brilliantly with yours, it's just a case of getting the cast on right, and we've all been there.

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  9. Love the colours. Are they not a tad warm for this time of year?
    Susan x

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    1. Definitely too warm for this time of year, but there's nothing like being prepared. I love the colours of this yarn too.

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  10. They look fabulous! I have never knitted any socks, they look far too complicated. I have a few sets of inherited needles and some interchangeable circular ones but havent used either yet, maybe one day... Xx

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    1. They're lovely and warm. I always thought that socks would be too complicated, but they're really not. I started off with a pattern which uses two needles, it's then easy to make the transition to four needles.

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  11. The socks look great...you are very clever to have them matching.

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    1. It's just a matter of starting each sock at the same point in the colour pattern, though I suppose you have to keep your tension the same too. These are a bit out, but not too bad.

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  12. They look so lovely and cosy, and would have been just right to wear here today as it has been very cold it seems! I think that the matching is really good!! xx

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    1. They're really squishy, so lovely when you put your feet in them. They're perfect for cold days, they keep your toes very cosy.

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  13. The socks look great, Jo. I don't think anyone will notice the extra red bit - especially if you have boots on! LOL

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    1. I don't think the extra red is as noticable when they're being worn, and definitely not when they're inside boots.

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  14. They look great and I still find it hard to believe that you can have self striping wool. Should be good for next winter . Take care.

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    1. The self striping yarn is very clever. Hand knitted socks are perfect for winter, they definitely keep your feet very warm and cosy.

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  15. You will have a real stash of warm socks by next winter at this rate Jo!

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    1. I hope so, I'd like all my socks to be hand knitted, they're so much warmer, and comfier.

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  16. Your socks are lovely. I did go through a phase when the Opal Wool first appeared on the scene. Haven't made any for a long time now. Might have to consider making some more before too long.

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    1. Opal is a brand I've never used. I'm really sorry that this Regia World College Color isn't available any longer as I really like it, though there's some gorgeous hand dyed yarns out there. I think knitting socks is addictive so once you start again, you won't be able to stop.

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  17. I'm not always keen on the colours of sock yarn but this is pretty, what a pity it's been discontinued. Lovely job Jo :)

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    1. I love this colourway, one of my favourites. It is a pity it's been discontinued, I liked the yarn as well as the colours it was available in.

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  18. They look great, lovely job and I like the colors. Hope you are feeling better now! :)

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    1. I'm feeling much better, thank you. I love the colours in these socks, I think they all go so well together.

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