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Guild Members can access More Tips & Tricks on our Members Only page (along with our Guild Patterns).

NOT JUST SOCKS - IDEAS TO USE SOCKWEIGHT, FINGERING WEIGHT OR DK YARN

Presented by Candy Grastorf  March 2008

Part of my idea coming up with this program was what to do if you have leftover sock yarn.

•  How about whipping up a phone or ipod cover?

•  Wine bottle sock, mug warmer, coasters

•  Handpuppet or finger puppets, teddy bear wear (see our Toni Bear Wear patterns on the website as well) Mini-sock earrings

•  Mini-sweater, mitten or sock ornaments

•  keychain sock blocker sock

Or maybe you have sock yarn that you don't like how it knits up as socks (maybe it pools) there are other options besides socks. The pattern for the beret mentions it is great for yarn that pools

Fingerless gloves, headband, scarves, gloves or mittens

Possibly you have second sock syndrome and would rather knit one item like a shawl or scarf than trying to know two identical socks.

Baby sweater such as the Baby surprise jacket (Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern)

Mexicali baby sweater & hat – Knitters 71 Summer 2003 (be sure to get errata) knit from wrist to wrist in self-patterning yarn

Baby leg warmers (to wear under dresses), baby booties

pillow, blanket, stuffed toys/animals

What if you have accumulated a collection of sock yarn because sock knitting is in but you've decided you're not crazy about knitting on tiny needles and will never get all this yarn knit-up. You could make a lace shawl, poncho or scarf on larger needles.

Try using two strands together or use one strand sock yarn with another kind of yarn.

SOME POSSIBILITIES:

Fingerless gloves, headband, scarves, gloves or mittens

Ipod sock – or ipod “wallet” envelope style with button

Wine bottle sock, mug warmer, coasters

Handpuppet or finger puppets, teddy bear wear (see our Toni bear patterns on the website as well)

Baby sweater such as the Baby surprise jacket (Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern)

Mexicali baby sweater & hat – Knitters 71 Summer 2003 (be sure to get errata) knit from wrist to

wrist in self-patterning yarn

Baby leg warmers (to wear under dresses), baby booties

Mini-sock earrings

Mini-sweater, mitten or sock ornaments

keychain sock blocker sock

pillow, blanket, stuffed toys/animals

Combine with another yarn to make a felted hat

LOOK AT YOUR KNITTING BOOKS FOR SOCK YARN POSSIBILITIES:

• Not Just Socks by Sandi Rosner (out of print) and
• Not Just More Socks by Sandi Rosner
• 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders: A world of possibilities inspired by just one skein edited by Judith Durant
• Viva Poncho: Twenty Ponchos and Capelets to Knit by Christina Stork & Leslie Barbazette
• Stahman's Shawls & Scarves by Myrna A.I. Stahman
• Folk Knitting in Estonia by Nancy Bush
• Folk Mittens: Techniques and Patterns for Handknitted Mittens by Marcia Lewandowski
• Stow away shopping bag by Oat Couture (use two strands)

INSPIRATION

To see some great items knit with sock yarn visit our member shop's website - The Loopy Ewe http://www.theloopyewe.com/photos/sock-yarns-but-not-socks/

I searched ravelry.com by clicking on the “sock” tag (which would give me projects made with sock yarn in addition to socks). Just clicking on sock gave me 408 pages of items to look at! Below are lots of links for free patterns to use with sockweight to fingering/sport yarn. For links that start with “ravelry.com” you have to be a member (it is free!) of ravelry as they're only on ravelry.

BABY ITEMS

• http://bazarpimpampum.blogspot.com/2007/06/little-feet-pattern-receita.html These are adorable crochet baby booties in sock yarn!
• http://members.home.nl/tdpj/Patronen/Bootees/Saartjes%20bootees.pdf the cutest baby booties with criss-cross straps.
• http://grosblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/16/sweet-baby-cap/ truly named – sweet baby cap! Use slip 2, K1 pass 2 slip sts over for your decrease, much nicer!
• http://uniform-studio.com/journal/simple%20shoes%20pattern.pdf a raveler proclaimed these the best baby booties ever
• http://www.knitpicks.com/Fancy%20Pants%20Pattern_PD50507220.html cute baby pants in self-striping yarn.
• http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/johnny/johnny.html crew neck baby sweater in Berocco Sox yarn.

DECORATIVE

• http://www.pinkargyle.com/mini-mitten-ornaments.html mini-mitten ornaments
• http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/celestine_crochet/celestine_crochet.html crocheted dodechahedron in Berocco Sox yarn. (toy or tree topper)

APPAREL

• http://thriftyknitter.com/?p=219 Thrifty knitter's woodland shawl from 1 ball of sock yarn! 
• http://wendyknits.net/knit/koigupatterns.htm links to patterns to make with 2 skeins of Koigu Merino.
• http://javajem.blogspot.com/search/label/Chevron%20Scarf Jaywalker scarf (a variation of the Jaywalker socks pattern)
• http://douma.net/Karen/knitting/Accessory-Scarves/Multidirectional_Diagonal_Scarf.htm multi-directional diagonal scarf
• http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html “clapotis” scarf - diagonal knit with variegated yarn with dropped stitch pattern.
• http://knitternity.blogspot.com/ Bella scarf pattern (mitred square)
• http://www.purlbee.com/beret-purl/ Purl beret (great way to use variegated sock yarn also suggested as great for sock yarns that “pool” too much)
• http://wovenflame.blogspot.com/2005/08/knitty-gritty-sockette-pattern.html Mary Jane style “sockettes”
• http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/KSPATTspirogyra.html fingerless gloves (long or short)
• http://www.helloyarn.com/patterns/topdownbonnet.pdf (can make with or without ears/cartoon face) can be adult or child sized.
• http://www.ravelry.com/projects/hpnyknits/rainbow-noro-sock-yarn-reversible-hat
• http://www.magknits.com/Nov05/amulet.htm amulet pouch you can wear around your neck or keep in your pocket to keep tiny things in (would be great for a youngster)
• http://issueswithknitting.blogspot.com/2006/07/more-fish-pictures.html Fiber-fish entrelac mittens
• Knitpicks Felted Rolled Brim Hat

UTILITARIAN

• http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sock-yarn-blanket Shelly Kang's sock yarn blanket
• http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Annika72/jaspers-blanket this is a cool mitred square blanket (with some solid squares like patchwork) blanket (no pattern but you can figure it out)
• http://notanartist.blogspot.com/2007/02/canon-camera-sock.html camera sock (how about ipods, phones as well?)
• http://www.ravelry.com/projects/blueadt/mobile-phone-cover mobile phone sock
• http://www.ravelry.com/projects/hellokitty73/soap-sacks general directions for a double-knit soap sack
• http://www.girlontherocks.com/knit/blog/2006/10/10/drip/ Coaster
• http://www.ptyarn.com/bookmarks.html mini-sock bookmarks, good way to use up leftovers
• http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=0&d_id=502&lang=en knit Easter Eggs.

To find out more about the Guild and its activities, please browse our site by clicking on the menu button on the left. This expands the options. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@stlouisknittersguild.com.