cranking

Cranky Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

This is where my alternate ball of yarn rests while I work the heel on a monster sock. This little epiphany has really helped me knit the heel faster and more accurately. This is possible because the yarn guide for the mini mast has slots for the entire yarn path.

What makes a pair of monster socks a pair? Usually the only thing that matches is the cuff. Otherwise, they are made with one to two row stripes of scraps of Knit Picks Felici in whatever color I happen to grab. No two socks are alike.

Sunday mornings, after we ...

added by Becca 3 years, 8 months ago. under 2020 , circular sock machine , cranking , csm , etsy , knit , knit picks , knitting , machine knitting , maryland , md , monster socks , socks , tool , tool tip , yarn

Cranky Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

When I post my fresh-off-the-machine socks with the waste yarn still on the toe I often get asked interesting questions like "I'm so confused!

added by Becca 3 years, 8 months ago. under 2020 , circular sock machine , cranking , csm , etsy , knit , knit picks , knitting , machine knitting , maryland , md , socks , tool , tool tip , yarn

Cranky Cranker from Becca's Crazy Projects

This what my Erlbacher Gearhart looks like when you break it down to parade rest. This is where I ended up when I couldn't figure out why it was dropping stitches because it wasn't doing what it should do.

You can't see the grub screw in that hole. Because I screwed in in until it was well inside. I can tell you that if it sticks out far enough it will cause all manner of problems.

While I was in there, I wiped everything down and added some oil. Smooth operator!

I think putting those 72 needles ...

added by Becca 3 years, 9 months ago. under 2020 , circular sock machine , cranking , csm , etsy , knit , knit picks , knitting , machine knitting , maryland , md , scrappy , socks , tool , tool tip , yarn

Cranky Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

Friday I cranked out another monster sock. These are so much fun to make.

My machine and I had a bit of a disagreement while I was making that second sock. The second sock took all Saturday afternoon. I'll share more about that on a different post. Let's just say I learned a little more about my Erlbacher Gearhart circular knitting machine and I'll be ready for the next time it happens.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook ...

added by Becca 3 years, 9 months ago. under 2020 , circular sock machine , cranking , csm , etsy , knit , knit picks , knitting , machine knitting , maryland , md , scrappy , socks , tool , tool tip , yarn

Cranky Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

It took all week to finish these. I can usually only squeeze one in after work.

Made with Knit Picks Stroll for the hung hem and Knit Picks Felici for the rest.

These came out great!

Wrapped up and ready to send to their new home! Where is that? Well, I don't know. This pair was listed on Etsy. Check them out if you like the colorway. Want your own pair? Stop by my Etsy shop Becca's Crazy Projects and send me a message. I can knit you a pair in any of the current Felici colorways from ...

added by Becca 3 years, 9 months ago. under 2020 , circular sock machine , cranking , csm , etsy , knit , knit picks , knitting , machine knitting , maryland , md , scrappy , socks , tool , tool tip , yarn

Cranky Socks: Monster Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

The view from my cranking chair. It doesn't look very scrappy from here. I make these colorful, scrappy wonders (some people call them monster socks) using two or more colorways of self-striping yarn. I mostly buy Knit Picks Felici. Felici is released in limited colorways throughout the year. This means the colors I have are likely no longer available. Sometimes the yellows (or greens, or whatever) from two different colorways line up. This is completely by accident.

When I knit these, I lost count on the one of the right. It is four rows shorter than the other sock ...

added by Becca 3 years, 9 months ago. under 2020 , circular sock machine , cranking , csm , knit , knit picks , knitting , machine knitting , maryland , md , scrappy , socks , tool , tool tip , yarn

Cranky Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

I cranked up a couple pairs of socks last weekend. Fist was a pair using this fun Stroll Gradient from Knit Picks. Like many of their yarns, this might be a limited run color. If I see a color I really like I make sure to buy it. Or, like this, I buy it when it goes on sale.

I am still loving the sock knitting on my Erlbacher Gearhart circular sock knitting machine. Socks are quick and they make great gifts!

When I had finished that pair, I switched gear to crank out some monster socks using leftover Knit ...

added by Becca 3 years, 10 months ago. under 2020 , circular sock machine , cranking , csm , knit , knit picks , knitting , machine knitting , maryland , md , socks , tool , tool tip , yarn

Cranky Striped Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

Last month I learned about an accessory for the circular sock machine. The mini-mast is a great way to add stripes to your machine knitting. The first thing you need is a split yarn carrier. I found one through Chambord CSM. The yarn carrier showed up before the mini-mast, so I had some time to get used to it before trying two yarns. It works great and I'm not sure why I didn't buy one before.

The mini-mast is sold by TurtleMade on Etsy. I purchased the Hybrid Mount Mini Mast for Erlbacher Gearhart Circular Sock Machine and ...

added by Becca 3 years, 11 months ago. under 2020 , circular sock machine , cranking , csm , knit , knit picks , knitting , machine knitting , maryland , md , socks , tool , tool tip , yarn

Cranky Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

In advance of my circular sock machine arriving I purchased a big box of yarn from Knit Picks. If it was sock weight and on sale it was a candidate. I've been interested in their gradients since they came out. Then they offer 100 grams made up into two similarly colored cakes for socks.

I didn't pick my favorite, I picked the one with the best sale price.

It was fun to watch the colors shift with this yarn.

I think I will try to dye some gradients like this when the weather is nicer. I already have ...

added by Becca 4 years ago. under 2020 , craft , cranking , crazy , knit , knitting , machine , machine knitting , maryland , md , project , projects , shopping , socks , tool , tool tip

Cranky Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

I was in the mood to crank out some socks. This is a shot of the cast-on bonnet loaded up and starting with the waste yarn.

This is another fun hand dyed from Into the Whirled that I picked up at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival last year.

The colorway (on the right) is "Radioactive" and I couldn't leave it there because I love purple and green together.

Here is the turned toe with the waste yarn started for the cast-off.

The stripes on this yarn are just delightful! I still have to finish the Kitchener on one ...

added by Becca 4 years, 1 month ago. under 2020 , craft , cranking , crazy , knit , knitting , machine , machine knitting , maryland , md , project , projects , shopping , socks , tool , tool tip

Cranky Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

Last Saturday I wasn't in the mood for quilting. I was in the mood to crank some socks. I grabbed some Knit Picks Felici and Stroll and got cranking.

I didn't get far before I found this knot. There may have been some choice words at that point. I cut the yarn, switched back to scrap yarn, and started another hung hem. This is often what I do when I make a mistake. I just skip past it. I can wind that yarn back up later. I wanted to make socks!

There was a small miscalculation when I ...

added by Becca 4 years, 2 months ago. under 2020 , craft , cranking , crazy , knit , knitting , machine , machine knitting , maryland , md , project , projects , shopping , socks , tool , tool tip

Cranky Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

I grabbed this blue and green Felici by Knit Picks to make a pair of socks for a friend (this color has been discontinued). I realized the colors match my Frolic Mystery Quilt.

This is the first pair of socks I made on my circular sock knitting machine.

See how well they match! Well, they don't match each other but they match the quilt. I think perfectly matching socks are terribly overrated.

I even made a label for the socks. Because sometimes labels matter.

If you are interested in having sock yarn knit into a tube to knit hybrid ...

added by Becca 4 years, 3 months ago. under 2020 , craft , cranking , crazy , knit , knitting , machine , machine knitting , maryland , md , project , projects , shopping , socks , tool

Cranked Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

On Christmas Eve I decided I needed a couple pairs of socks to gift on Christmas day. I grabbed some of my Felici from Knit Picks and got cranking.

I used a ball of solid for the cuffs, heels, and toes on both pairs of socks.

Here is the sock train. One long piece of work joined by waste yarn.

After I pulled out the joining yarn, you can see the socks ready for toe grafting. I spent some time closing the toes with the kitchener stitch and had socks to gift by lunch time.

2019 sock knitting count:

Cranked ...

added by Becca 4 years, 4 months ago. under 2019 , craft , cranking , crazy , knit , knitting , machine , machine knitting , maryland , md , project , projects , shopping , socks , tool

Cranked Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

Last week I cranked up this pair using Uneek Sock by Urth Yarns. I purchased this yarn locally from Cloverhill Yarn Shop in Catonsville, MD. I loved the many colorways of Uneek Sock so I picked one with purple and that was it. The colors are amazing. I still need to kitchener the toes closed but these are going to be great!

I finally caved in and bought the 72 needle cylinder for my circular sock machine. It's been on my mind for a while. I ordered it, marked the needle positions and loaded it up. The machine was ...

added by Becca 4 years, 6 months ago. under 2019 , craft , cranking , crazy , knit , knitting , machine , machine knitting , maryland , md , project , projects , shopping , socks , tool

Cranked Socks from Becca's Crazy Projects

Time for another sock update.

I've been meaning to add to my sock machine workbench for a while now. I finally picked up the right materials and fashioned a panel to put on the workbench. This was a precut piece of lumber from the local home improvement warehouse. I had the 1x3 stock leftover from another project. I clued the small stock onto the back of the board, clamping until dry. This piece won't be moved about very often, so adding another physical fastener (such as nails or screws) wasn't necessary.

Then I adjusted my workbench (Black ...

added by Becca 4 years, 6 months ago. under 2019 , craft , cranking , crazy , knit , knitting , machine , machine knitting , maryland , md , project , projects , shopping , socks , tool

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