Saturday, December 30, 2006

Z is for Zokni

Which, according to Pepperknit, means "socks" in Hungarian. So, behold my latest pair of socks. DSCF0684 Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks from Winter 2005 Interweave Knits. Yarn: Trekking XXL Color #109 Needles: US 2 Addi Turbo Modification: Did a long tail cast-on rather than the tubular cast on. (I'd already started the 1x1 twisted rib for the Monkey socks from Winter 2006 Knitty when it was suggested that we needed a sample knit up from the '05 issue because the shop has extra issues on hand, otherwise I would have tried this cast-on.) Said "screw that!" to the cutting of the yarn after the heel turn. Oh, what's that behind the socks you ask? Let's zoom out a bit. DSCF0683 Custom-made by Dad Sock Blockers! My mom saw my plastic ones from Fibertrends and decided she wanted a pair for herself. I tried offering her those, but she suggested that Dad could make some for her. So we got the wood at Home Depot (don't ask me the dimensions of the board. All I know is that it was Oak) and carted it home to the downstairs workshop. My Dad really got into it. First, we traced the plastic blocker's shape onto the the wood. We left the cut outs in the first pair for quick drying. Those went to my mom. DSCF0670 Then we made a set with my oldest sister's feet in mind. She of the size 11 foot. DSCF0672 The next day we got more ambitious and made a pair for men's feet (a bit wider and a bit longer) and a pair with a longer leg for future knee highs. These are the ones that came home with me. DSCF0689 And the flip side. DSCF0692 I did a total of like 5 coats of polyurethane on them. Only because the first 3 were a satin finish and that just wasn't working out. On the one man blocker you see it's a darker shade. That's because we first tried a poly spray with a darker stain in it. That didn't work so well. For the final 2 coats I went with a brush on high gloss poly. I love my new blockers. Dad is so awesome for making these. He really enjoyed it too. He traced an extra pair to have a template on hand should I call and say I want some more. Heh. He even got me the pieces to put together a pvc niddy noddy. Bezzie, you'd be proud of him. The pieces cost only $4.37. I haven't taken pics of it yet though. Ok, continuing with showing off the sock, check out the details. The heel with the garter stitch edging. Brilliant way to carry down the purl ridge separating the leaf columns. DSCF0687 The star toe that completes the last leaf (Again, brilliant. And I really like the way the round toe fits me too): DSCF0686 A close up of the way the striping of the Trekking worked with the leaf pattern: DSCF0688 So yes folks, you can use a self-striping yarn to make a patterned sock! I took a chance using this yarn for the pattern, but it worked out fabulously!

24 comments:

Leanne said...

Great sock blockers, and awesome socks!

Bezzie said...

Woo! Great Z, great socks, great sock blockers! Your dad's pretty talented!!! I like all the dimensions and sizes he made for you. (and for cheap! Double woo!)

Alyson said...

Those are great!!! The round toe is my favorite too....and how awesome is dad??? Now I gotta find somebody with a jigsaw and a strong affection for me....

Anonymous said...

Your dad rocks, Turtlegirl! Great socks, great Z, great blockers.

Anonymous said...

Woohoooo! Your Dad is so cool. He could totally start up a sock blocker business. I'd place an order today!!

And your socks really are nice. The pattern is great, and the yarn looks so pretty!

Knittypants said...

Oh, pretty, pretty socks! I have been eyeing some trekking, good to know how lovely it works up.

Your dad is amazing!! What a fun family project.

Anonymous said...

Those socks came out beautifully! Great color combo, too.

You realize that now I have to con Kris into making me sock blockers, right? :D

Anonymous said...

Good lord woman you come from ONE TALENTED FAMILY!! Everything looks WONDERFUL! GEESH! Go you with your fancy sock blockers!

(PS: Funny you posted this...watch your mailbox....LMAO!)

cpurl17 said...

Those socks are gorgeous!

And I love the sock blockers. the others are right, you have a talented family!!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Love the sock blockers! Wanna sell me some? ;)

And nice work on the socks too, they look great.

knitting-cat said...

It is nice ti see a family that works well together. That is really awesome.

The colors in those socks are some of my favorite. They look super.

Hope you enjoyed your vacation.

Zonda said...

Those zokni's are awesome! Lovely job on them! (yes I know they are Embossed leaves hehe, was just using the lingo! ;)

The blockers are too cool!! All those sizes even! You and your dad did a great job!

How did you adjust for the sizes?

Tvini said...

The socks and the blockers are awesome. Your dad could totally start a business making and selling those. They look great.

Stefaneener said...

Those socks ALMOST make me want to try a pair. Your dad is great! Those are wonderful. Enjoy, enjoy. Does he like handknit socks?

Jessica said...

way to be resourceful and make your own sock blockers!! Your socks are beautiful as well!

SarahJanet said...

Wow, I love those socks. I might have to make myself a pair of those.

Man, my dad doesn't even OWN any power tools. Sigh.

ZantiMissKnit said...

OOoh, those socks are beautiful! I need to figure out how to size them down to make them for me.

I'm really impressed with those sock blockers! My dad is really good with woodworking, so maybe I can convince him to help me make some.

D said...

Love the socks and the blockers. He should sell those!

Anonymous said...

Is your dad taking requests? :) I bet he'd make a ton of money....

Love the socks! Trekking is my favorite....mmmmm!

weezalana said...

HOly crap, you whipped those out fast! Great job!

Sorry to go all Spicoli here, but duuuuuude, those sock blockers ROCK! Love those!

sgeddes said...

Love the socks! Great job.

I'm jealous for thoose blockers! They look like they came out great!

Anonymous said...

DAGNABIT! I'm TRYING not to go buy yarn and here you are with your fancy trekking that looks so fine knit up into the embossed leaves which is a pattern I have been eyeing for awhile.

and I think you should start a sock blocking business FOR REAL! The world needs nice sock blockers like those you have.

Babygirl, you have done a FANTASTIC job with these socks! As usual, you're the BOMBDIGGITY! ;)

Rain said...

The socks are incredibly pretty, the yarn and pattern work so well together. I love them.

What a great idea to make your own sock blockers, they look great.

Mona Schmidt said...

Hi there,

after being invited to have a peek at your socks, I had to come by and check them out. They look great - if I may say so myself. ;-)

With these sock blockers at hand you just have to knit lots and lots more socks!

Greetings from Montreal and happy New Year,

Mona