So, I finished my fair isle socks! Hellz yea I did. I’m so proud of them too! This was trophy knitting at it’s most satisfying. I had to learn 2 stranded knitting, short row heels and I did it.
Pattern: Simple Stripes Fair Isle Socks from Knitpicks
Yarn: Knitpicks Essential in Grass and Knitpicks Simple Stripes in a color that I can’t find the name for. (Note: The pattern calls for 1 ball of the Stripes and 2 balls of the Essential. I used at least 1/4 less than one ball of the stripes and around 15 yards short of one ball of the Green)
Needles: US 2 (bamboo) for the Cuff, Heel and Toe. US 3 Brittany Birch for the stranded parts.
Size: Fits me (US 8 shoe size). The cast on is a bit tight, but by no means constricting.
Time: Began in Mid- October, finished Mid-December
Mods: I kept the patterning at one color band with as little of the next color as possible. In some cases, I shortened the chart from that of the pattern and in some cases, I legthened the repeats. With the second sock, striving for perfect symetry, I tried to keep the same number of rows in each section. This meant that if I ran out of a color early, I had to pull from the other end of the ball to finish the repeat in the same number of rows. Yea. I’m only a little anal. Also, I just kind of did my own version of a star toe. ‘Cause I felt like it.
Pattern notes: I like this pattern, but some of the charted color bands don’t look as good 
as the others. In particular, I feel this way about the 3×3 blocks on the foot and the last brown section before the toe.
General thoughts – I’ll probably never knit these exact pair of socks again. I will DEFINETLY knit another pair of fair isle socks though. Next time, I’ll probably chart my own or use this pattern as a skeleton and change some of the charted bands.
And like she was reading my mind, my secret pal delivered the perfect reward for such tasking knitting. Another package! Another one! She’s spoiling me like crazy and I don’t deserve it! But I love it! Anyway, look what she sent me…
Tea (my favorite flavors!), super yummy cookies, and sock yarn (Claudia Hand Painted Yarns)! I’m so excited about the sock yarn – and since I just finished a pair of socks, that means I get to cast on for a new pair right? Of course that’s right! In fact, since I didn’t just finish a sock, but a pair of socks, I should really be allowed to cast on 2 socks… but I think I’ll restrain myself.
I do still have some christmas knitting to finish. Oh. And finals.
Who can resist these colors? I love you secret pal!
All Buttoned Up 