More socks!

I don't have a proper post for today, so i'll just show you what I made this weekend... more socks! They are...

cashmere (So soft & warm!)...


More cashmere, though I tried a color combo that wasn't so hot, that screams 80's clown, so i'll wear these with long pants, lol...


Some soft lambswool (thicker, but great for wearing in snow boots)...


and merino. These work best for everyday socks.


I was also working on something else this weekend, but i'm not going to tell! You'll have to wait for tomorrow, Tutorial Tuesday :)

Recycled wool socks!!!

I'm so excited about this! I have been wanting to find a great sewn sock pattern for a while now, even posted here hoping someone would know of one. I mentioned it on a Yahoo group I belong to, Art Felt, and Raven came through for me with a few different options. Thanks, Raven! Here are the 3 links:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Socks/

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36786850.tip.html

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=12356

I chose the first link & they turned out great! The tutorial is for fleece, but you can translate just about any fleece pattern into felted wool, because neither of them require seams... they won't unravel. I personally wanted to make socks, not slipper socks, so I can wear them in shoes, like normal socks, so I chose a merino sweater. Merino is normally very thin & stretchy. If you lightly felt it, it will be perfect for socks. If you are just making them to wear around the house like slippers, any felted wool sweaters will work. I used the ribbing on the sweater waist as the tops of my socks, which turned out perfect for holding them up without being the least bit uncomfortable. Sorry for the linty pictures... I should have remembered to clean the lint off my sewing table before using black material, but at least I remembered to shave my legs before taking the pictures ; ) ! Just an fyi... I am a size 11 wide (big feet!), and used a men's medium sweater to make these, and have enough material left to make another pair. If you were making them for children, or have small feet, you should be able to get many pair out of one sweater. I think i'll mess around later & try making some with ribbing added on from contrasting colored sweaters to make funky socks!

Oh, and by the way, if you are looking for merino (or any sweaters), my shop is a great place to look :) I even currently have a really great price on a dark colored merino lot right now.

ETA: I just got back from dropping off my son at school. It is only 5 degrees out & my feet were warm & toasty in my new socks! I will be making more!