socks • The Knitting Vortex

Magickal Quidditch Socks

Accessories, New Release, Patterns 1 Response »

Jan 202012

A tribute to the Quidditch players of Harry Potter’s Wizarding World, or to any sock-loving Muggle, these colorwork socks are knit from the cuff down with a heel flap and gusset. The simple slipstitch technique requires working only one color at a time per row. Show your House colors with pride! Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, slipstitch colorwork, knitting in the round, grafting; this pattern includes both charts for the colorwork and full written instructions. Size: S (M, L); 60 (68, 76) st; to fit 10 (11, 12)” calf, or Women’s US 6/7 (8/9, 10/11) shoe size; shown in size M. Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Sock (100% superwash merino wool; 395 yards/114g); 1 skein each, or approximately 215 (240, 265) yards MC and 70 (80, 90) yards CC. Sample shown in Baltic (MC) and Ginger (CC). Other Materials: US 1 (2.25mm) dpns, or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (3); Yarn needle. Gauge: 34 st and 48 rows/4” in stockinette stitch; 36 st and 48 rows/4” in Checkerboard slipstitch pattern; . . .

Ravenclaw Socks

WIPs Comments Off

Oct 192011

Knitting has been slightly stalled during The Visit From The InLaws, but fortunately I’m back on track for WIP Wednesday. As Harry Potter fans know, the game of Quidditch is essential wizard sport, as well as a chance to don House spirit regalia. And as knitting Harry Potter fans may know, the Ravelry Harry Potter Knitting & Crochet House Cup is a group of knitting, wizardly fans of all things HP. The House Cup, as we call it, is constantly evolving to provide more ways to knit stuff and be fanlike. This semester our lovely HeadMistress and tireless staff have introduced BROOMs as a new way to earn additional points for one’s house in the Cup; there are acronyms, secrecy and general role-play fun. And in my case, there are Ravenclaw Socks: Maybe I can get the second one started at Stitches East this weekend.

Sailing To Byzantium

Accessories, Patterns, Wraps 5 Responses »

Sep 262011

For over 1000 years, the Byzantine Empire stood as a symbol of Christian power in the eastern half of what had once been the Roman Empire, symbolizing a final link to the ancient world of the Greeks and Romans. Renamed Constantinople in 330 AD by Constantine I, the ancient city of Byzantium remained a center of wealth and power despite its fall to the western knights of the Fourth Crusade in 1203. The future of the city changed forever in 1453, when it was besieged by Sultan Mehmet II and the Ottoman Turks, overrun, and reborn as Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. A city of ancient Roman stonework, early Christian domes, towering Islamic minarets and intricate Ottoman tile and mosaics, Byzantium now stands for a dream of splendor and beauty straddling Europe and Asia Minor. Byzantine architecture is notable for its stacked shapes; minarets towering over domes, above arches and blocks. The repeating geometric motifs create a strong visual effect, in warm tones of sandstone, clay, stone and lead. The geometry is enhanced . . .

Mosaic Socks

Accessories, New Release, Patterns Comments Off

Sep 262011

Mosaic Socks are part of the Sailing To Byzantium Collection. These slipstitch colorwork socks are knit from the cuff down with heel flap and gusset, using mosaic patterns reminiscent of Byzantine tile work. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, decreasing, corrugated ribbing, picking up stitches, slipstich mosaic colorwork, short row heel, grafting; this pattern contains full written instructions, as well as charts for the slipstitch colorwork. Size: S (M, L): 72 (80, 88) st, to fit Women’s US 6/7 (8/9, 10/11) shoe size. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock (100% superwash merino wool; 440 yards/ 402m/100g); 1 skein each MC and CC, shown in Azules (MC) and Botticelli Red (CC). Other Materials: US 1 (2.25mm) dpns or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (3); Yarn needle. Gauge: 38 st and 48 rows/4” in stockinette stitch, 48 st and 88 rows/4” in Twisted Stripe slipstitch pattern, 42 st and 72 rows/4” in Mosaic Weave slipstitch pattern, after blocking. Slipstitch colorwork is very dense; the slipstitch rows are also somewhat . . .