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