I have a sock update:
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Pattern: Well, I read on the Yarn Harlot's site that she took a rib pattern and every few rows off set it by one stitch. So this is a 2 x 2 rib alternating one stitch every 6th row.
Yarn: Araucania Ranco Multy in color #306. Love, love, love this yarn. The colors were so varied and random that my kids named it "yarn puke". But knitted up, the colors are beautiful together.
I usually throw all my knitted socks in a lingerie bag and then hang them to dry. These were almost ruined by doing this. They got slightly felted...hence the fuzzy look. I have learned my lesson with Araucania. ALL hand wash from now on.
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Pattern: Same as above
Yarn: Araucania Ranco Multy in color # 310.
These socks are darker than the picture shows and more black/purple/ green than blue. Again Love the yarn and love the color. I made these two pattern repeats longer than the first pair and still have quite a bit of yarn left over.
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Pattern: Padded Footlettes from Interweave's Favorite Socks
Yarn: Opal Yarns: Neon. This yarn is beyond neon. The picture doesn't do it justice, seriously, you need sunglasses while you knit this. Z loves them.
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And a little Christmas gift for me:
You can go see the stripes here:http://knittingfever.com/knitpatterns.asp?manu=Noro&yarn=Kureyon+Sock&prodid=5930&prodtype=yarn&detail=yes
I have read about it, some love Noro and some hate it. It is scratchy right now but reports are that is softens up after it's first wash. I have Lady Eleanore made from Noro and love it so I am excited to give this sock yarn a try. I am not really into big striped knee socks so I am waiting to see what others are doing with it as far as patterns go.