Crocheted Sock Blank

slisen.blogspot.com

(Click on photos to enlarge)

As ya all might have guessed by now that I'm a machine knitter but I learned to crochet long before I learned to knit and I do enjoy a bit of crocheting now and then.  And I love dyeing too so put the two together and came up with a plan for dyeing sock blanks.  The blank didn't take long at all to crochet with double strands of yarn and I really like the results.  I did a bit of calculations for number of stitches per row on my blank to come up with the length needed for a full round of knitting in my socks but was worth that effort.  I got a lot of inspiration from the Sock Blank Artists group on Ravelry and finally took the step.  Here's what I did. 

Sz N Crochet Hook (I crochet tightly)

Crocheted blank

1 skein sock yarn, divided in halves

1.  With a worsted weight acrylic or cotton yarn,

      Ch 200 sts to make the foundation chain. 

2.   Change to 2 strands of sock yarn and work

     shells into loops of chain.

3.   Attach sock yarns and ch 3, work shell into

      next ch, Ch1, skip the next foundation

      chain and work shell into the next chain.

      Repeat til end of chain or end of pattern

Soaked and laid out ready to dye

      repeat.  Turn.

      SHELL:  YO 1x, pull up thru 2 loops,

      YO 1x, pull up thru 2 loops 3 times,

      Ch 1.

4.  Chain 3 to turn and repeat shell pattern across 

      row, inserting the shells into the front loops

      only of the previous shell. 

Determine number of shells:

Approx 2.5 shells (30”) makes 1 round in a 70 or 72 st circular sock.

So for 2 rounds of color in the sock, you’ll need 6 shells in the blank. 

Keep in mind that the end color sections will be doubled when knitting the sock.  

Color Scheme and number of shells

Intended Pattern

Dyeing:

ProChem One Shot Very Hot Pink & Deep Purple

               1 tsp per pint of water & 2 tsp vinegar

Dharma Carribean Blue

               ½ tsp per pint of water & 2 tsp vinegar

Very intense colors at this ratio, maybe use ½ tsp dye per pint, except for purple  which needs the intensity. 

Use a towel/rug as base and foam paint brushes to apply dyes.  Flip blank over onto clean towel and reapply dye to cover any white spots, wrap in plastic wrap, steam for 30 min.  Let cool naturally.

Wash & rinse til clear.



Steaming

Resulting sock in progress