Variations

VARIATION: This pattern works up beautifully with any size yarn and needles. To knit an easy mini sock pin or ornament, use sport weight yarn and #3 (3mm) DP needles, or worsted weight and #8 (5mm). This is a great way to try out the pattern before you knit earrings. You can knit the pattern in about 20 minutes, using worsted or sport weight yarn, to make a great quick gift. Photo shows some of my latest LLHose experiments. #1. I like to add two split rings per earring, so they dangle. It really shows off the sock. Split rings are tiny rings like the kind you go round and round to put your key on. You can get them in craft and bead shops or from www.firemountaingems.com #2. Tips on working with self-patterning yarn: Cast on at a color change in the yarn. For instance, you have a yarn that has little bits of blue/white, blue/white blue/white fair isle; and you have next to it a purple section. Now hold your needle right at the point where the purple meets the blue/white, and cast on. Now for the sock leg, work alternate rounds off each end of the cast-on. You will get beautiful stripes that spiral with no jog. Then you do the heel in purple and the last TWO rounds of the toe in purple. It is not that hard to do, and helps to break up the colors. You can also take two strands of yarn, a variegated and a solid, and do the same thing. Sometimes with two yarns I actually cast on opposite of the "normal" direction, casting on towards the yarn-end rather than the skein. . .. and then I can knit the first round instead of purling it. #3. I have been knitting my Lobe Hose with one round less in the leg. I think for the next printing, I'm going to make that change permanent. Try it and let me know what you think! socks@cox.net