Friday 9 March 2018

Kali Kardia Socks

These are the Kali Kardia Socks by Helen Kurtz, a free pattern available on Ravelry. Helen named the socks after a favourite taverna in Greece where she was when she came up with the idea for this pattern.


I'm really pleased with how they turned out. The textured pattern is offered in a chequerboard or ribbed version but I went for the latter, I find that a ribbed pattern helps the socks fit snug to the feet and legs.

I used some yarn which has been in my stash since 2011, it was actually a Christmas present from Mick. It's by Laughing Yaffle in their Fantasia colourway. The colour has pooled a little at the heel, but I suppose that's the nature of how this yarn has been dyed.


After knitting so many pairs of socks for other people last year, I'm determined to restock my own sock drawer now. These are the first pair of socks off my needles this year and the second ones aren't far behind.

38 comments:

  1. Love the colours on them, you inspire me, I will get my sock wool and get going.

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    1. I'm sure you'll be addicted to sock knitting, as I am, once you get going.

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  2. They look lovely Jo - comfy and colourful! :o)

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    1. They're really comfy, the ribbed pattern fits snug to the foot.

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  3. These socks are so nice! I really love the colors in the yarn, exactly my speed.

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    1. I think the colours work well together. I must say that I wouldn't have put green with blue and purple but I like it.

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  4. Perfect colour way for wearing on International Women's day too.
    Lisa x

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    1. It is. I must remember when it comes around again.

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  5. I love the colours Jo, you are so talented.

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    1. People seem to think that socks are harder than they actually are, they're really quite easy once you get going with them.

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  6. I need to knit some socks for Malcolm - two of the pairs I knitted for him as part of my 16 pairs in 2016 challenge shrunk in the wash (same yarn in different colourways). However they fit me now (I have small feet!!) so at least they will still be worn. One of my sisters-in-law has just finished a pair with 570 tiny cables - I fear she may need therapy to recover!!
    Have a good weekend, Anne xx

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    1. I'm always worried about socks shrinking, I find it's the indie dyed yarn which is most at risk of this, I haven't had any socks made from commercial yarn shrink so I tend to use this if I'm making socks for someone else and know they'll be put in the washing machine. Wow, 570 cables, I think that would be a few cables too far for me.

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  7. These socks love really good Jo, the colour choice works well with the pattern. I need to get back to my socks again. Cathy x

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    1. I think a variegated yarn such as this works best with a plainer pattern but I think I've got away with this one.

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  8. Those look lovely - I'll have to check out the pattern. I'm just about finished with my first pair too - I'm hoping to stock my drawer for the first time. If I'm lucky, I may get half way there by the end of the year :)

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    1. I enjoyed this pattern, really simple but it gives a nice effect. I really need to replace lots of my hand knit socks, I haven't looked after them as well as I should. I really need to hand wash the indie dyed ones so that's what I'll be doing with all the new ones I make from now on.

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  9. You never really know how stripy yarn will come out but that's the fun of it really! You've made so many socks and all of them different.

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    1. I'm useless at predicting how a yarn will knit up but as you say, that's the fun of these types of colours. It's always fun watching how the colours work out.

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  10. Really like the look of these Jo ...
    Fabulous colours.

    All the best Jan

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    1. They're lovely colours and the socks fit so well.

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  11. Replies
    1. One of the things I love about knitting socks is the fabulous sock yarn you can buy, I get so tempted when I see all the lovely colours.

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  12. The colours of the yarn are stunning, a beautiful pair of socks. I have a little sock envy.

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    1. I'm really pleased with them, it's such a simple pattern but gives a pleasing effect.

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  13. Lovely Jo & this winter I'm putting my determined hat on & am going to do some. Taught our 22yr old granddaughter (from UK) to crochet last night & she says she thinks it will be something she wants to keep doing, & whilst here also wants to pick up on knitting which she learnt as a young child. Take care.

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    1. You should definitely give sock knitting another go, you might find a circular needle easier, though I much prefer dpns. How lovely that you're teaching your granddaughter to crochet and knit, they're skills which will last a lifetime.

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  14. Lovely socks Jo. I often look at socks you have made previously for inspiration, as I am a fairly new sock knitter. I made one pair last year and love wearing them when it is really cold. I started another pair on Christmas Eve, but really thought I had got second sock syndrome - until I got fed up with a fiddly project I have recently been working on and now I cannot wait to finish my second (or forth really) sock!

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    1. That's brilliant that you've got into sock knitting. As you've found, it can be rather addictive and there's so many different patterns and yarns out there that each pair you knit will be totally different and therefore, you're unlikely to get bored. Socks are my favourite things to knit.

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  15. lovely socks! I haven't knitted much for weeks and I miss it. Zero time with my university workload! Zero time for anything else actually!

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    1. I miss knitting too if I have a day or two without it. Studying is extremely time consuming but your projects will still be waiting for you when you've got a little more time.

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  16. Lovely colours, just right for spring and it's so true we are always knitting socks for other people, cobblers kids.

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    1. I'm determined that I'm going to knit plenty of socks for myself this year, I only ended up with two pairs out of the sixteen pairs I knit last year.

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  17. Replies
    1. I'm always spoilt for choice when it comes to buying yarn, there's so many gorgeous colours to choose from.

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  18. These are wonderful. It's the chart I used for DH'socks and another are on the needles now as well for him.

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    1. It's a great pattern, nice and easy but the ribbing makes for a perfect fit.

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  19. Love the colour. I think you do deserve a drawer full of hand knitted socks for yourself after all the one you have done for everyone else, lol.

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    1. I intend to fill my sock drawer this year, some of my older socks have now seen better days.

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