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 
Hi Nicole – they are some Fancy Fair Isle socks youve made!!
not sure if Ive commented on here before – so thought Id de lurk and say HI 🙂
Woh the socks are so nice!! I like the colours!
Great job on those socks!
Congrats on your socks, they look very nice! You new sock yarn is lovely. I love the colors! Good luck with the finals!
Great socks – well done!
And more georgeous sock yarn to tempt you!
Enjoy!!
Wow, that sock got a match pretty quick. they look great
Wow! Those socks are amazing! I adore fair-isle, but it is so involved and time consuming.
The colors on the sock yarn is lovely. The variagation is perfect.
Your socks are beautiful! I love the colors!
wow! i’m a bit confused about things … so, did you run out of the green yarn? do you think the yarn requirements would had been okay had you not done any modifications as far as making the colors pattern as you pleased? what method of stranding did you use? i’m asking, because these are totally inspirational, and makes me want some fair isle socks for myself!
as for the goodies, i don’t think it gets much better than yummy passion tea and claudia greens!
Just passing by and wanted to say those are beautiful!!
Lovely! Beauteous! Hooray! Your socks look great, and I’m inspired to use up some extra Simple Stripes I have lurking in my sock stash basket.
Great job, Nicole. And way to score on the new sock yarn — high five to your SP as well!
Holy crap! Great socks! They look like they would be very happy frolicking through the woods. 🙂 Most impressive.
I want to make thos socks so badly. I actually gave my mom a “wishlist” of all the things I want from KnitPicks. The material to make these socks was part of the list.
Great Job!
MarlyKnits
http://www.knitthing.blogspot.com
Wow! Those socks are beautiful. I’m trying out Fair Isle for the second time, and it’s proving to be more challenging than it looks–even though I know how to catch and carry and all that, there is certainly a trick to making it look even. Good job!
Nicole,
I have finished one sock using the same pattern you used from Knit Picks. Unfortunately, I accidentally picked up the pattern with some other paperw, and it went out with the trash. Knit Picks no longer carries the pattern (I just called). Is there anyway I could get a copy from you. I don’t need the fair isle pattern – that I can get from the completed sock. I’ve started the new sock, completed the ribbing and I will work on the ankle. The part I am concerned about is (of course) the heel. I have other sock patterns, but this is the first time I’ve done this type of heel, and there was something different about it, in the way the stitches were picked up. By the way, your socks are beautiful.
Alice
The pattern:
http://kathleen-dakotadreams.blogspot.com/2008/05/freebie-wednesday-simple-stripes-fair.html
I would like to make the Simple Stripes Fair Isle Socks for my grandsons (they love color!), but KnitPicks is no longer carrying this pattern (I even called). Is it possible to share the pattern, or do you know where else I can find it?
Thanx!
Hi, not sure if you’ve had your question answered (it has been a year and a half) but you can get the pattern for Simple Stripes Fair Isle Socks at the following link:
http://kathleen-dakotadreams.blogspot.com/2008/05/freebie-wednesday-simple-stripes-fair.html
It’s the blog of the woman who designed the socks. She has the rights now that KP isn’t publishing the pattern again. And she is giving it away free!!