FO and EC Friday!
Pattern: A Derivation of the DK Balance Sock Pattern
Yarn: 2 balls Lana Grossa Meilenweit Mega Boot Stretch, with a fair bit remaining
Needles: Two US 1 Addi Turbo Circulars (16 inch and 24 inch lengths)
Recipient: Myself
Notes: I used my Balance sock pattern as the basis for these knee highs. However, I turned it upside down and knit them toe-up, starting with a Turkish cast-on (thanks Deb!) and a wedge toe. I started with 72 sts around the foot. Then I used the standard heel flap heel, but with the flap on the bottom of my heel. Once the heel was turned I began the pattern again so they have a clog heel. I knit the leg for 5.5 inches and then began increases 4 sts per row every 8 rows. I set the increases to be at the back of the side cables and on either side of the center back cables. I increased to a total of 116 sts at about 13 inches of leg (when on the leg, about 15 inches when not on the leg).
The top cable ribbing and stitch count did not provide enough grip to keep the socks up so I ran 5 strands of .5mm elastic through the wrong side knit stitches - one at each cable cross and one at the very top of the sock. I tied each string of elastic with a square knot and have left the tails as they don’t show when worn.
I did not like this yarn. It did not like to stay plied so it was very easy to split it. Ultimately I think the socks have a bit of a grungy look to them with this colorway as well. I’ll certainly wear the knee highs a bunch regardless. As you can see they go well with at least three of my skirts so I should have nice warm legs this winter.
These knee highs went quite quickly. I finished them last week, but we haven’t had much in the way good photography lighting. They took about 3.5 weeks or so. Not bad for a plus-sized knee highs!
I’ll definitely make some more. Hopefully at least one more pair this winter in perhaps a chocolate brown or black… Next time I’ll plan on a bit more negative ease so they are snugger and stay up better. I would also decrease a bit between the widest calf placement and the beginning of the top ribbing. Ultimately, I suspect the extra elastic would be helpful in most pairs though. But, this pair is a little sloppy looking.
Now, my next project - how to block knee highs! :-) That’s why there are no unmodeled shots in that mosaic above!
I hope all of you in the US had a lovely Thanksgiving. We stayed home and did our own vegetarian/non-vegetarian hybrid dinner and then settled in for a couple of old movies - The Ladykillers and Christmas in Connecticut.
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1. DK Balance Knee High Toe Detail, 2. DK Balance Knee Highs, 3. DK Balance Knee High Kick, 4. DK Balance Knee Highs in Fourth Position, 5. DK Balance Knee Highs, 6. DK Balance Knee Highs, 7. DK Balance Knee Highs, 8. DK Balance Knee High Side Detail, 9. DK Balance Knee Highs, 10. DK Balance Knee Highs, 11. DK Balance Knee High, 12. Putting On DK Balance Knee Highs, 13. DK Balance Knee High Kick
