The photo shoot with Maizy is a wrap, so now I can share my review of this pattern (as modified from women’s size to child’s) and the final product.
Original pattern: More Fun Than Cables Socks by Marguerite Byrne, available for free at Stitches of Violet (Ravelry link)
My modified pattern: More Fun Than Cables Socks (children’s knee-highs); mini-me version to fit 3- to 4-year old feet (Ravelry link to project notes)
Yarn: Valley Yarns Huntington (machine washable wool) in colorway 4150
Needle: US 3 circular (I routinely use the 2-at-a-Time method for socks on one circular, but pattern is written for use on two circulars; could be used with traditional dpn method)
Finished dimensions: calf circumference = 4.25 inches (unstretched), knee to heel top = 11 inches, back of heel to end of toe = nearly 7 inches
In reducing the overall number of stitches to fit the foot size of a 3- to 4-year old, I needed to make some adjustments to the pseudo-cable pattern that repeats, and to accommodate a knee-high fit, I also modified the length. You can review my adjustments via this modified pattern link in PDF format (also above) or through my Patterns link on the sidebar to the right.
I’m really happy with how these turned out: I mean, come on, is Maizy not adorable in the bright-red knee-highs? And tell me the fingernails in the picture above aren’t the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. I love my niece, I really do. She is so stylin’.
They come up right to her knees - bingo, right on target - and appear to fit her very well; tight enough around the calf to stay up. I made sure to shoot on the long side for foot length so that she can wear these puppies for close to a year (assuming they hold up!).
Sissy B tells me that she’s enjoyed wearing them several times already, tying them in with outfits of all colors, including some (like hot pink) that grown women might not normally pair with red. That’s my girl: fashion-forward.
Sizing-wise, if you would like to make any further tweaks to size slightly up or down in age, I used a couple of resources in determining foot length for children of various ages, among other dimensions (length from knee to ankle, calf circumference…this second link is a lot of data, but I’m a nerd, as you’ve already heard on this subject). If your wee recipient isn’t within reach to do the measurements in person, this info might come in handy.
I like the Huntington yarn (by Valley Yarns, procured from WEBS). Soft yet sturdy, smoothly sliding down my non-Addi Turbo cheapo needles. Not splitty at all - very easy to work with. I’ve already drooled all over the perfect shade of red.
My research prior to ordering the yarn indicated that the yarn could be both machine-washed and tumble-dried (although the latter isn’t on the label).
I’ll ask Sissy B how the fabric stands up over time. Although machine-washing will probably be her choice moving forward, she said she hand-washed after Maizy road-tested them for the first time (getting them nice and dirty, like a good girl should). Maizy modeled the socks for the photos here after that wash. I noticed a bit of white fuzz clinging at this point, but not pilling.
These nearly made it entirely out of one skein. You can see here how close to the toe ends my last bit of first skein stopped (in the 2-at-a-Time method, I pull from both the middle yarn and the outside strand to knit each sock on a different portion of the circular needle at the same time).
I used only 10-15 yards of my second skein in order to finish up with the foot length I wanted. In fact, so eager was I to manage to crank these out from just the one skein (even though the second one was sitting right there) that I finished these socks once with a shorter length (around 6.25 inches instead of closer to 7). And these would have fit Maizy now, on the tighter side…but given that the foot length is the dimension that will change the most for her in the next year, I wanted room to grow. Plus there might be some shrinkage in the laundry. You know.
So I ripped back re-did them to add that extra 3/4 inch. Worth it. Happy I did.
Overall, two thumbs up for both pattern and yarn. Comment away with any questions.
More soon on other progress, which I’m happy to report has actually occurred. Sheer Poncho was off the needles, as in off off, but a stretchier bind-off is needed…so it’s back on the needles. Heavens to Betsy, if I don’t have it ready for mailing to Kymber by the end of the weekend I’m gonna be in my own dog house.
