The Serpentine Socks, they are done.
They are knit from Fiesta Boomerang in the “Painted Desert” colorway on 2.75mm needles. I love knitting sportweight socks — they just fly off the needles.
And I find that I really like wearing sportweight socks. They are perfect wear with “athletic-type” shoes instead of cotton crew socks.
A while back I got a review copy of the new Kaffe Fassett book: Kaffe Knits Again: 24 Original Designs Updated for Today’s Knitters. I just recently sat down with it to have a look.
The book contains 24 patterns that have been “re-invented” by the author. If you are a long-time fan of Fassett’s work you’ll recognize these designs. A lot of them have been reworked into other items that newer knitters might find easier to knit. They use yarns that are currently available, making it easier for people who want to re-create one of the designs exactly.
Back in the day, when I got his book Glorious Knits, I used it as a jumping off point for my own ideas. I knit the Tumbling Blocks sweater — but in my own choice of yarns and colors. I also knit one of the coats, again in my own choice of yarns and colors.
You can use his new book as a similar jumping off point. But for those who want to, it’s a nice option to be able to knit the designs exactly as written. For me, it doesn’t have quite the “oomph” of the original Glorious Knits, but it is a lovely book all the same.
“Momma turned on the heat!”
I love the soft colors of the Serpentine sock. Beautiful design.
Lucky prefers his bale of straw to a heated house.
Can you meow some sense into him, Lucy?
Pretty socks! I’ve never seen a Kaffe book in the wild for me to flip through and evaluate, but from what I’ve seen, that man has a way with color. I bet I’d like his stuff. I’m not afraid.
I like Lucy’s little catbed! Great color. If you don’t mind my asking, is that a store bought or handmade?
Serpentine! (from the movie “The In-Laws”).
Love the socks, will you be making some Holiday Themed socks, meaning green and red?
My girls love it when the heat comes on too!! Especially the 11 yr old, her favorite place to sleep is right in front of the heater where not only does she get to “suck up” all the heat she also gets to trip daddy on his way through the living room to the bathroom
I only knit sport weight! One because of those little needles, and two because I prefer a thicker sock! These socks are just beautiful!
I really love these socks – of all that you have knitted over the last few months these are my favorite. Love the color , love the design. I wish my sock knitting could go as fast as yours. one week and only half a sock done! I’m aiming to finish by Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the book report. I had been thinking I need to find this book and look through it. Now I am not so sure. But can anything really have quite the oooomph of “Glorious Knits” after all? Maybe not. Some of his other books (even though I don’t do quilts, don’t do mosaics, etc.) knock me out with his use of color, though.
Your Serpentine Socks are beautiful!! (Give Lucy a hug for me.)
i say WOW to two things–you sure can crank out the handknitted socks on an ongoing basis, and that Kitty Pi is pretty!
Love the new socks. So very pretty.
Beautiful socks! Can’t wait for the pattern.
Magpie likes it when the heat is finally turned on- me too!
One of Kaffe’s designs is in the current Rowan book; a sweater with a brocade-like design in green and grey-blue. It’s the first colour-work item that’s inspired enough love in me to want to overcome my fear of reading those charts! It’s not the easiest to start with but it’s SOOO beautiful and I’ve never been one to start at the beginner level! And after reading your ‘review’ I believe I’ll check out the book myself. Thanks!
I thought I posted about the socks in your last entry … maybe I hit the wrong button? but I don’t see it. Anyways, Love your socks! I’m knitting something similar. They’re called River Rapid socks and they are free here http://files.blog-city.com/files/aa/3830/b/river_rapids.pdf I’m using your rectangle toe start for mine and using the short row heel … one down, one more to go
Thanks for the book review. Love the socks—such a perfect match of yarn, colors and pattern!
The socks are lovely. I think I’ll have to make those when/if the pattern is available. I’m a huge fan of sport weight socks.
Very thoughtful review! Thank you. I also love the socks.
Beautiful sock, beautiful cat!
I suspect people ask you this all the time, but …
I love knitting socks but I find I don’t have the patience for the lighter weight yarns. I’m thinking sport weight is the way to go, since anything heavier would probably not fit in my shoes! Can you tell us your favorite sport weight sock yarns? Thanks.
Gorgeous socks, Wendy!
The socks are gorgeous, as I knew they would be!! If you need a home for any of your fingering weight socks I know someone who has the same size feet
Say hello to Princess Lucy!!
Fassett’s designs are amazing, but (I hope I don’t get drummed out of the knitting sorority for saying this) a lot of his color combinations give me a headache. I’m a low-contrast kind of gal. He is inspirational, though — for a long time I considered knitting boring if I wasn’t working with at least two colors, and I think it’s partly his influence. (I still love colorwork, but I can also appreciate an eye-popping lace or single-color cable design.)
I’m sure you get this comment all the time, but I am always amazed at how fast you knit socks. I know they aren’t the only thing you knit, but you are prolific and all of your socks seem different. I love seeing all of the patterns unfold.
The Serpentine socks are beautiful! How do you bind off on your toe-up socks? Mine are always all wavy, no matter what tricks I try.
Thanks for the review of Kaffe’s book. Can you tell is the sizing has been changed? With his original books, the patterns were so huge my whole neighborhood could fit into his sweaters (okay, I live in a small neighborhood but they were still big).
Will you be selling the Serpentine sock pattern – it looks terrific! I’m knitting a pair of your socks now in another pattern, but I’d love to try this one too.
Pretty socks! I knit a sport weight pair in your basic pattern for myself recently because I thought they’d fit well in athletic shoes only I found they were actually a little too thin, my foot slid about in my shoes a tiny bit. I will have to research and see if you mentioned anywhere what size your foot was. I thought the socks looked a bit stretched thin on my foot so that might be the problem. I might just want a few more stitches or something. Or possibly Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport is a thinner sport weight than some of the others? Anyway, wanted to say thanks for the pattern, and how glad I am that your surgery went well and you’ve been able to keep producing lovely socks to tempt the rest of us with.
As magpie as I am, and I’ve definitely got a magpie gene or two, I think I’m still not magpie enough to knit a Kaffe Fassett design. Well, not for me to wear anyway.
Nice serpentine socks. They look comfy. Are they wool or cotton?
Hey Wendy, I love those serpentine socks! And isn’t it cool how you got the yarn to have that little serpentine swirl of color, to mimic your stitch pattern? You’re a genius!
I have a question for you about books sent for review. I’ve just been sent my first review book, (a gardening book, which I assume they’d like me to review on my gardening blog). Since you’ve done this a few times, I figured you might have a better idea of what exactly the ethics are, for this type of thing? What are my obligations? Limitations, if any? I must admit I feel a little bit weird about it, and that’s probably just Catholic guilt or something. But I’d appreciate your thoughts, if you don’t mind sharing them….