Sunday 14 October 2018

Mick's Bullfinch Socks

Mick's a fairly new convert to hand knitted socks, it's only last year that he really started wearing them on a regular basis. He doesn't have many pairs in his sock drawer so I thought I'd better get him another pair knitted up ready for this winter.


I used West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply in the Bullfinch colourway and the Vanilla Latte Socks pattern by Virginia Rose-Jeanes.


I never hand wash socks which have been knit in West Yorkshire Spinners yarn, they wash perfectly well in the washing machine without any felting or shrinkage so it's a good yarn to use if you're knitting for other people and aren't sure they'll want to hand wash their socks. Not that Mick does his own washing, he's very good around the house but the washing and ironing is something that's always left to me. The Vanilla Latte pattern is really good if you're knitting for other people too as the rib pattern tends to hug the feet so the socks don't have to be such a precise fit, very handy if you're not trying the socks on someone as you knit them.


That's all my old sock projects off the needles now but I have cast on more, I'll tell you about them very soon.

42 comments:

  1. I've never knitted a pair of socks as I always think they will soon become worn under the heel. I seem to wear my heels out on my socks very quickly and I buy M&S socks, so they're good quality. Maybe I'm just heavy footed. Do you reinforce your heels? I get chilblains and I wonder if knitted woollen socks would be better :)

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    1. I don't reinforce my heels and I haven't yet had any that have worn through, I've been wearing some socks for a good few years now. I always buy sock wool which has nylon included for extra strength so this definitely helps. I find hand knitted woollen socks much warmer than the bought socks I used to wear.

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  2. Perfect timing for use on hubby's socks, I like the idea to use the pattern to create a comfy fit. I have this morning been looking at shawl patterns to use one of my hand dyed sock skeins.

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    1. I don't think it will be long before Mick's back in his hand knitted socks now that the weather's turned much cooler. There's some gorgeous shawl patterns to choose from, I quite fancy knitting a really large one but there's other things in my queue first.

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  3. oh what great socks, love the colour way too. Might have to knit hubby a pair!

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    1. West Yorkshire Spinners do some great colours, I've just seen their new Christmas colourway which is lovely so I think I might have to pick up a ball of that.

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  4. Lovely colour combination, I´m sure they will be welcomed into the sock drawer. It´s good to know that you can safely pop them in the machine saves alot of fuss xcx

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    1. I hand wash all my socks which are knit with hand dyed yarn but West Yorkshire Spinners washes so well that I make many of the socks I give as gifts out of it.

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  5. Replies
    1. Vanilla Latte Socks is a well used pattern, I've knit it many times now.

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  6. I love those self patterning yarns. It makes you look like a very clever knitter and only YOU (well, and me) know how easy it really was. Vanilla Latte is one of my favorites too.

    Mick will have nice cozy feet this winter.

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    1. I love these type of yarns too, it makes knitting patterns so easy. I think Mick will be pleased to have another pair of hand knitted socks in his drawer, well, on his feet really.

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  7. Lucky, to have hand made socks!!!!!

    ✨🍁✨🎃✨🍁✨

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    1. Hand knitted socks are so cosy, I don't wear anything else on my feet these days.

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  8. These are wonderful socks, such a great color. Love your blog friends gifts for your birthday, so very thoughtful. HAve a good week.

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    1. I really liked the colour when I saw it. I don't think Mick was so keen at first but he likes it knitted up, phew! I was very spoilt for my birthday, such thoughtful gifts from all my blog friends.

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  9. WYS spinners is my preferred wool for DH's socks, its bonus that they can go in the machine isn't it.
    He too likes the rib patterns, although his sock drawers is quite full and overflowing!!

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    1. One thing that commercial yarn has over hand dyed yarn is that it can be washed in the machine. Your husband will have cosy feet all winter with all those socks, Mick has the luxury only on a weekend at the moment.

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  10. I love how that yarn knits up with the gray/cream speckles and red - just lovely! Even for myself I prefer socks that can be thrown in the washing machine - I'm not a hand washing person, so usually end up waiting until there's a few things to do before I fill the basin, which means that socks tend to take a while to get back into the drawer.

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    1. I've got quite a few pairs of hand knitted socks now, some knitted from commercial yarn and some from hand dyed, so I wait to hand wash the socks knitted from hand dyed yarn until there's quite a few pairs whilst the socks knitted from commercial yarn get washed up straight away in the machine.

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  11. You’ve made some really lovely socks and you seem to be able to make them so quickly. Micks feet will be nice and toasty xx

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    1. I think the more you do something, the faster you become. Mick's pleased with these socks, they're a perfect fit and a lovely colour.

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  12. Replies
    1. I really liked this colour when I saw it, Mick wasn't so keen but I bought it anyway and he really likes it now that it's knitted up.

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  13. I hadn't thought about needing to knit socks to fit, that conjures up some amusing mental images of tailors with measuring tapes measuring peoples toes!
    x

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    1. Many sock patterns require you to measure the foot to get the correct fit, I usually just wing it and knit to what I believe to be the persons shoe size and it seems to work.

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  14. I had a great time knitting a pair of socks a month with two additional pairs for Yarndale. I've been so busy this year with other projects that I only just got my Yarndale socks off to Christine in time. Next year I will definitely try and be more organised. I'm glad you have managed to convert Mick not sure I would achieve this with D.

    Mitzi

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    1. I knit sixteen pairs of socks last year as I knit a pair for everyone for Christmas, out of those sixteen pairs only two were for me so I've been concentrating on restocking my own sock drawer this year. Mick only wears his hand knitted socks on the weekend so I don't suppose he needs many pairs.

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  15. Once again I am in awe of your ability to knit such beautiful socks. I would imagine your husband is one happy man, they are stunning.

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    1. I think Mick's happy to have a new pair of socks to add to those already in his drawer, hand knits certainly do keep his feet cosy.

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  16. They are mighty fine looking socks! Lucky Mick!xxx

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    1. I think they're great man colours. West Yorkshire Spinners do such a good range.

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  17. west yorkshire looks like a winning yarn

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    1. I'm a big fan of West Yorkshire Spinners yarn, there's so many different colours and it wears well, as well as being machine washable.

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  18. Those socks look toasty enough even for a Pennsylvanian winter. And they are very classy looking. You are so talented, Jo. Mick is a lucky fellow. Our weather has changed from record heat to a frost warning this week. I think it's time to do the seasonal wardrobe change and get out the warm socks. P.x

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    1. I must admit that I've only been back in socks myself for the past week, it just hasn't been cold enough but the weather has finally changed. Mick will be glad of his new socks when it gets a little cooler.

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  19. Gorgeous colourway, and definitely bullfinch-like. I can't knit socks on circular or four needles, for some reason my brain doesn't send the right messages to my hands - about this and too many other things at times! - so I do them on two needles. Not as satisfying somehow I don't think.

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    1. I started knitting socks on two needles, I found it good to know the make up of the sock before beginning knitting on four needles but I must admit that I much prefer not having to seam at the end .

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  20. These look great Jo, I love the pattern and the colours.

    All the best Jan

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  21. Lovely rich and warm colours, I bet he has a pair of hand knitted socks on today, it's flipping cold!
    Lisa x

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    1. He doesn't wear his hand knitted socks when he's working as he wears heavy shoes which wear socks out really quickly. He has the pleasure of them on a weekend.

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