Boot Socks!

If you're like me, you've wondered why people would bother to make their own socks.  I mean, comfy socks are actually inexpensive, so what's the appeal?  At the same time, I've been curious about them, intrigued actually.  So I was on pinterest and saw some really cute boot socks, that you would wear with your really cute boots.  I followed the pin and saw that they were $32!  I'm not going to pay that much for a pair of socks, but I had some sock yarn in my stash and I did a ravelry search to find a pattern.  Here's what I found: Knee Socks in Crochet. 

It's actually pretty easy to follow, though I did modify it a bit.  The pattern calls for a J hook, but I wanted to use my sock yarn and on the package it said to use a D hook so I used an E hook.  Also, because I was using thinner yarn, I had to do more rows to make them fit my feet (I have size 10 feet).  Anyway, I had to add 2 extra rows to the bottom of the sock, so round 21 is really round 23. 

Also, I did not cut the yarn after chaining 12 and attaching it for the heel.  I simply continued on with the barrel of the sock.  When I had a complete round of gray at the top of each sock, I cut the yarn, wove in ends, and went to work on the heel.  For the heel, I basically followed the instructions, but honestly, from making so many stuffed animals, I know almost instinctively how to close up a hole to my satisfaction, which is really all the heel is. 

So now I have a pair of socks to wear with my boots, and it only cost me two skeins from my stash.  I do not recommend these for selling, because they take way too long to make.  To make the pair I spent at least 6 hours.  However, they would make fairly inexpensive gifts and with good color selection, could be for both guys and gals.  It would be difficult for the recipient of a pair of lovingly crocheted socks to properly appreciate the work that goes in (and it's a lot), so be careful who you bestow your masterpiece on.

I made these with Patons Kroy Socks Stripes yarn in Mulberry Stripes with an E hook.

Shell Stitch 01110

 This was actually one of the first stitches I tried out back in July.  I finished the baby blanket, then put it aside because it would be a while til it came up.  Unfortunately, I lost track of it and had failed to photograph it.  I was getting ready to just make a swatch so I could post again when I found it!  So, here it is, in all its glory. 

Here's the stitch pattern:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 1, sk 2, 3 dc in next ch, ch 1, sk 2, sc) across, [ch 1,  2 dc] in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (ch 1, 3 dc in sc, ch 1, sc in ch 1 space) across, [ch 1, 2 dc] in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern 

And here's the baby blanket pattern:
Chain 95, then work the above stitch until it is square. 
Last row: ch 1, turn, sc in first 2 dc, (hdc in ch 1 sp, hdc in sc, hdc in ch 1, sp, sc in next 3 dc) across, hdc in last ch 1 sp, hdc in last sc

Border:
Round 1: sc around, 3 sc in each corner
Round 2: dc around, 5 dc in each corner
Round 3: sc around, 3 sc in each corner
Round 4: (sc, ch 3, sk 1) around, (sc, ch 3, sc in same stitch) at corner

I made this with Baby Bee Sweet Delight Pomp Iris Dream yarn and a J hook.

Shell Stitches 01011 and 11010

Well, here we go with the next modified shell stitches: 01011 (blue) and 11010 (green).  There's nothing wrong with these stitches, but there's really nothing special about them either.  I doubt that I will use these again because there are so many other stitches out there that are great.  In this case, I actually prefer the less solid edge version (green) because the gaps are what makes this at all interesting. 

In any case, here are the patterns:
Stitch 01011:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (sk 2, [2 dc, ch 1, dc] in next ch, ch 1, sk 2, sc) across, 3 dc in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, ([2 dc, ch 1, dc] in sc, ch 1, sc in ch 1 space) across, 3 dc in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern

Stitch 11010:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 1, sk 2, [dc, ch 1, 2 dc] in next ch, sk 2, sc) across, [ch 1, 2 dc] in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (ch 1, [dc, ch 1, 2 dc] in sc, sc in ch 1 space) across, [ch 1, 2 dc] in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern

Shell Stitch 01010

So, this stitch is fairly open because there is a chain between every stitch.  This is a particularly mindless stitch because of the regularity of the chains.  It's a good balance between solid and lacy.  Scarves or baby blankets out of this stitch would be pretty. 

Anyway, here's the pattern:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 1, sk 2, [dc, ch 1, dc] in next ch, ch 1, sk 2, sc) across, [ch 1,  2 dc] in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (ch 1, [dc, ch 1, dc] in sc, ch 1, sc in ch 1 space) across, [ch 1, 2 dc] in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern 

Shell Stitches 01001 and 10010

Moving on to the next pair of stitches in the series: we have stitches 01001 (blue) and 10010 (green).  Both stitches are easy to work, and give a lacy look.  I prefer the blue version (01001) because the edges are more in line with the rest of the work.  I was actually surprised by how much I like this stitch.  It's lacy, but still mostly filled in.  It looks much more complicated than it actually is, but it still manages to look neat and tidy.  The green version is also pretty, but I really like the blue one.  I will probably use this stitch in the future to make scarves. 

Here are the stitch patterns:
Stitch 01001:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (sk 2, [dc, ch 2, dc] in next ch, ch 1, sk 2, sc) across, [dc, ch 1, dc] in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, ([dc, ch 2, dc] in sc, ch 1, sc in ch 2 space) across, [dc, ch 1, dc] in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern

Stitch 10010:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 1, sk 2, [dc, ch 2, dc] in next ch, sk 2, sc) across, [ch 1,  2 dc] in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (ch 1, [dc, ch 2, dc] in sc, sc in ch 2 space) across, [ch 1, 2 dc] in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern 

Shell Stitches 00111 and 11100

These next stitches are very reminiscent of Stitch 2 from Darla Sim's book.  There are solid vertical columns separated by diagonal chains.  Stitches 00111 (pink) and 11100 (gray) are simple to do, and look interesting.  Honestly though, I don't intend to use these stitches again because I prefer Stitch 2.  It's like an optimized version of these modified shell stitches.  If you don't have the book, then this is an option.  Of these two stitches I predictably like the 00111 (pink) version because of the solid edges.

Well, here they are:
Stitch 00111:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (sk 2, 3 dc in next ch, ch 2, sk 2, sc) across, 3 dc in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (3 dc in sc, ch 2, sc in first dc) across, 3 dc in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern

Stitch 11100:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 2, sk 2, 3 dc in next ch, sk 2, sc) across, (ch 2, dc) in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (ch 2, 3 dc in sc, sc in third dc) across, (ch 2, dc) in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern

Support Hobby Lobby!

As you probably know, Hobby Lobby stores around the country are closed on Sundays because of the religious beliefs of the owner.  One aspect of those religious beliefs is that life begins at conception, therefore abortion is wrong.  Whether you agree with him or not, those are his beliefs, and he has a First Amendment right to them. 

Now Obamacare is requiring Hobby Lobby, along with every company in the country to provide abortion inducing drugs as part of their health insurance coverage or face penalties upwards of a million dollars a day.  Hobby Lobby has decided to challenge this in court, and they are facing retaliation in the form of a boycott.  Hopefully this boycott is as successful as the one against Chick-fil-a.  Hobby Lobby makes great yarn, and they stock many other brands of great yarn.  Support Hobby Lobby and buy from them!

Here's the news story I saw about this today.