done:-)

I've been a member of Sockamania ever since Anni started it, and have knitted every pattern, I think, maybe missed one or two. I've missed the deadlines a few times...but I also won yarn once, and it's been a great time. I was sad to hear that Anni decided to quit,and exited that Tama will take over.
So- over to the last Anni-socks! Maybe you can come back as a guest designer...? Black ones- #2 socks, knitted in Silja/Senja from Gjestal, 2.5mm circular, magic loop, 2-at-a-time. These are for hubby. Nice pattern, they look good.

The grey ones: can't remeber which yarn, probably something from Viking, it's softer than the black ones, but still has some nylon/polyamid in them. Same needles and method. Fun pattern, and I finally figured out shortrow heels!!!

These go into the giftbasket- someone said Christmas is around the corner...;-)

Thank you Anni for all the time and effort you've spent on the club these years. Good luck wit your new adventures. And welcome to Tama!

Have a great day.

Marit

Collosseum Socks

My ds has been asking for another pair of socks, and these seemed to be perfect. The yarn is very busy, but he loves them.

Thanks Anni, we'll miss you. Looking forward to next month's pattern with our new designer!

I enjoyed this pattern very much. I agree with the knitter who said she would do the sock pattern again but do it all with chart 2. I liked how the stripes in the yarn were altered by the chart design! The yarn is by Premier Yarns, the Deborah Norville collection. It was Serenity sock weight and the colorway was aquamarine.
Thanks again, Anni, for all your beautiful patterns and the work entailed in completing them and providing them to us. Best wishes!

#2 socks

Mine are done! They were very fun to make. I took two pictures, one with a flash one without hoping to get close to the color I used, this is closest to what the yarn the color is. One of Anni's sock yarns from a sock I wasn't able to knit up yet. lol Now I can go on our mini vacation with my socks done. I need to work on my brother-in-laws sweater, I much perfer socks, they are faster. ha ha

My "September no 2"

Here are my "No name socks" made in Regia Surprise Color 1264 and size 2½ neadles. To fit myself I made 4 pattern repeats on the leg and 6 repeats on the footpart. Great pattern and I will do this again.

Hot Air Balloon Socks

Deborah Norville Serenity sock yarn. US1. I was apprehensive about using this varigated yarn for this pattern so I knitted the foot plain. I was pleasantly surprised that the pattern looked really nice on this busy yarn. So nice that I'm starting a second pair but I'm planning to use chart 2 only for the whole sock.

Thank you Anni for letting me participate these past 3 years. I enjoy knitting your patterns with the added benefit of using up my stash.

Hi

My name is Tama and, as you have heard, I will be taking over for Anni. It's a very talented pair of shoes that I will have to fill, but I hope that you will find my designs to be fun, challenging, and exciting.

My grandmother taught me how to knit and crochet when I was 5 or 6 years old. I wanted her to teach me how to make socks soon after that but she kept telling me, "Oh you don't want to knit SOCKS! They are really hard and I was never able to make two that matched." Finally, one day as I was shopping in a yarn store I came across a sock booklet that had some really exciting socks in it. Hearing my grandmother's voice echoing in my head, I purchased the book, yarn, and some needles to go home and see just how "hard" these really were.

Well, 20 years, and several hundred pairs of socks later, everything I know about "how to knit" I learned making socks. Sure, grandma taught me the very basics, but everything else...came from socks. And what a journey it has been! I now find that there isn't anything, any pattern, I can't knit. I LOVE KNITTING SOCKS!

I am so excited to get started in October! In fact, as I laid in bed the other night I was so excited I couldn't go to sleep. So, I designed the next years worth of patterns in my head. It's going to be so much fun!

I won't be changing anything about Sockamania. All of the information will stay the same. However, I am going to offer the yarn that I used for my sock design for sale each month in case you would like to use the exact same yarn. I will have it available at least two weeks before the pattern is posted on Google so that you will have time to get the yarn to use for the pattern. (this also gives you a little hint at what is coming up for the pattern!)

October's yarn is now available in my etsy store. I created two different colors so that if you aren't into one you can use the other. The first one is called "Autumn Maple Leaves"

And the alternate color is "Autumn Evergreen".

I can't wait to get going.

Happy Knitting everyone!!

Pink Hot Air Balloons

I may call these my "good luck" socks because the day I finished them it finally rained here! These are the first socks I've knit with Anni's cotton yarn (color "Sweets") and it is so wonderfully soft.

Thanks for all of the great patterns and lovely socks Anni. I'm looking forward to next month and our new designer!

**Great Sockamania news**

Hi everone,

Great news! sockamania will continue. Tama has offered to take over the designing. The designs she's done so far are great. We've not worked out all hte other details yet but for the time being Sockamania will continue as normal. If there are any changes we'll keep you informed.

Look out for Tama's design for October.

And don't forget our big prize draw this month so hurry up and get knitting.


Happy knitting,

Anni

Chokolate Balloon Socks

This is my balloon socks...
I called them my chokolate socks for all the timeI knitt on them I felt a sweet tooth...:o)
It´s another lovely pattern so thanks Annie...
I´m a little sad that theres not gonna be any more patterns but I understand the reason and I wish you good luck with your future project Annie...
Have a nice day//Birgitta

Sock name winner

As I couldn't decide I let Simon choose the name of the 2nd September sock. After all I'm knitting them for him. Although I'm spinning some sock yarn for myself (or at least I hope it'll turn into sock yarn (see my blog) and I may knit these socks again.

Anyway, after careful consideration Simon has decide he would like the socks to be named Colosseum (did I spell that right? better check that before I add them to Ravelry). Which means the winner is Orghlaith. E-mail me with your details and I'll send you the October parcel of the Sock Variety Club next week (latest posting date is 17 September).

Thank you to everyone who entered.

Happy knitting,

Anni

BIG SALE

Just wanted to let you all know about the big sale that has just started on my website. I've reduced most yarns to clear some much needed space. Free shipping details are here. Sock yarn starts from £6 and lace yarn starts from £8. Sale ends on 16 September.

Happy shopping.

Anni

September pattern number 2 - a name competition

I've nearly finished the pattern for the 2nd pair of September socks. These are designed with men in mind but make great unisex socks. However, I can't think of a name so I've decided to have a 'name the sock' competition. The winner will win a sock kit containing the October Sock Variety club yarn and pattern and a project bag. Only members of Sockamania can enter this competition. Post your entries in the comments on this post only.

The competition will close at 6pm UK time on Saturday 5 September. I will post the winner Saturday night or sometime Sunday.

This is one of two patterns available for the September knitalong. Scroll down a couple of posts for details of the other pattern and details of this month's prizes.

Close up of the alternating rib pattern on the leg:

Close up of the alternating rib pattern on the foot:
I'll be posting this pattern without a name on the Google group very soon. Unfortunately as this is the last month for Sockamania sign ups for new members is now closed.

Happy knitting,

Anni

Winners of August Draw

Congratulations to the winners of the August Sock Draw:

Mieke

and

Barb W.

Please e-mail me at:
yarnaddictAThotmailDOTcoDOTuk
with your choice of yarn from my website.

September pattern

I promised 2 patterns for this month and there will be two patterns. I've uploaded one pattern just now but got a slight problem with the 2nd pattern. The pattern is all ready to go but yesterday I realised I'd forgotten to take photos and as it's man socks (well, actually it's unisex socks) I was going to get my husband to model for me but forgot. A my daughter has quite big feet too I may get her to model this afternoon or my husband this evening. So, I'm hoping to post hte pattern either later tonight or tomorrow. Sorry for the delay. But the other pattern, Hot Air Balloon socks has been posted. They are toe up with a pretty lace pattern. The main lace pattern running up the front reminded me of the balloon of hot air balloons, hence the name.

This is the last month of Sockamania and there will be a mega prize draw with the first prize being a 3 month membership to my Sock Variety Club and 2 runner up prizes. If you knit both pairs of socks this month you will be entered in teh draw twice, so get knitting.

Happy knitting,

Anni

Good News & Bad News

I've got some good news and some bad news. I'll go with the good news first. September we'll have the choice of 2 Sockamania patterns and one is especially designed for men. And there will be a grand price of a 3 month membership of the Sock Variety Club for the winner of the prize draw plus 2 runner up prizes of a skein of yarn of winner's choice. So make sure you join in the knit along next month.

Now, for the bad news and the reason we're having a big prize draw next month. After months of consideration I've decided to finish Sockamania. During this year my design workload for magazines has increased dramatically and I'm finding it difficult to find the time to design a new sock pattern every month so I've made this very difficult decision. I've enjoyed Sockamania and i hope you have too. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my helpers, Pixie, Barb and Pam for all their help in running the club. I coudn't have managed without them. And I'd like to thank all you guys for being members and knitting my patterns.

There may be the odd suprise or two during September so check the blog often and do take part in the knitalong and prize draw for your chance to win our grand prize of a 3 month Sock VAriety Club membership.

the September patterns will be posted on 1 September.

Happy knitting,

Anni

Here are my finished Footloose socks. My granddaughter is looking forward to wearing them, bless her heart. The yarn looked nice when I bought it but when I began knitting I realized that I probably wouldn't wear them!

I couldn't find the wrapper with the yarn specifics.

I am so sad that Sockamania is stopping. I have so enjoyed knitting the patterns and I feel I have progressed a great deal in my knitting skills.

Thanks Anni for all your hard work and wonderful talent!

footloose

mine are done, they are once again a wonderful pattern that is a pleasure to knit. thanks with also a sadness knowing there wont be many more!

Light blue footloose

I finished these during my holiday in Sweden. It was really nice to knit and I am very happy with the result. I will fore sure knit these again.
The yarn is from Scheepjes, I knitted them on needles 2,5 mm.

footloose...

As usual a mismatch between pattern and yarn-LOL! I should have learned by now that selfstriping yarn matches the "plain" patterns, while lace shows up better in solid colours...Oh well, they're done, and go straight in the giftbasket;-) yarn: Frost from Gjestal, 50gr/200m, 75%wool/25%polyamid, colour #230
needles: circular 2.5mm
magic loop, 2-at-a-time

Thank you for a great pattern again, Anni!

FootLoose

Socka Yarn US2. Cuff and heel modified. I thought I've used up all of my variegated yarn but unfortunately, I found another 3 skeins. Variegated is so beautiful as a skein but knitted its hit or miss.

Thank you for another great pattern.

August Footloose Completed

I have so many projects in process at first I hesitated making the August socks. Then I came across a skein of yarn, one that I had tried to use many times before for a pair of socks, but kept pulling it out. This time I found the right match. The yarn is Berroco Comfort sock in shades of greens, browns and blues. Perfect for fall and winter.

Better late than never

Finally I have finished my March socks. I had to use size 1½ needles.

I like the pattern and will do it again.

August socks done...

I´m ready with august socks...
As usual a lovely pattern...

This time I used a double acrylic,very soft yarn in pretty pink...
They went really cosy...
I am also knitting a pair of mittens i the same yarn so I can be a like on both hand and feet...:o)

Have a nice day//Birgitta

Footloose Socks

What a fun pattern. As usual, I did it toe up.

It's been so hot here that when I found this yarn while on vacation I just knew I had to make the August pattern using these fall colors. Unfortunately it's still hot, and this is the only bit of green in my yard.

Looking forward to next month's pattern and cooler weather.

FootLoose

Done! As always these where fun and very easy to do. I am using up an old stash of yarn I bought about 4 years ago from KnitPicks. This is an other Parade colour way. I have discovered that 2 50 gram balls doesn't have as much yarn as one of Anni's 100 gram balls. I had to take a different colour green Parade to complete the toes. This is for a friend of mine who is on a trip right now to Vietnam helping out an Orphanage and a Leper Colleney, she will be coming back at the end of the week and I can give her her new pair of socks. Thanks Anni

Celtic cable

Yes I know, even for a cathing up I'm too late.

But I love the way they turned out.
Ofcourse as usual, I didn't read the whole pattern ;-/. So when I finished one sock I saw that it was totally different than Anni's design. I made them with Regia Silk, it's really soft. Next time i'll take more stitches on the leg-part, it's a bit tight .

Winners & new pattern

First, sorry I'm a little late in posting the new pattern. Our annual church camp finished on Friday and I've been busy unpacking everything and getting sorted out at home. Simon and the girls camped although they had to abandon that on Wednesday when Simon fell and severely sprained his ankle. A trip to the local hospital and xrays confirmed it wasn't broken. On Tuesday we go to London for a few days so its kind of hectic here with Simon unable to do much and tons of washing, ironing and tomorrow, packing to do.

Anyway, here are July's winners who were drawn by Emily:

Tama
Mamere Knits Too Much

Congratulations ladies. E-mail me on yarnaddictAThotmailDOTcoDOTuk with your choice of yarn from my website.

I'm just about to post the August pattern and here is a photo:
Happy knitting everyone

Anni

Not finished

I'm knitting on 3 pairs. To the right Rollercoaster. Great pattern, but I had to use very small needles (1,5).

Rollercosters still in progress

I was at this point:


and now I am at this point:

Yes, I know I haven't made much progress, although I have worked on them, and hoped to finish by the end of July.

After the first picture was taken, I knit more, but kept having trouble, in that I would forget the make1s, and end up either ripping, or fudging, just to move forward. Finally, while I was on a trip last month, I realized that the original error was in one of the first few rows, and decided to rip it all out! Once I started over, it has gone more smoothly, and I'm making progress, although having much less time to knit, however, I only have a couple rows to finish up the heel flap, and then I think it will move faster, with only pattern on the instep.

Thank you Annie for such a beautiful sock pattern! Eventually, it will be finished, although it may take a while, as we are now expecting company to arrive on Friday, and they will be staying for about a month, so I can't expect to get much knitting done.