Free Pattern with Schaefer Anne

SSYC is offering a free Tilting at Windmills sock pattern with a Schaefer Anne purchase until March 12!  This pattern won the 2006 Schaefer Yarn Design Contest, and though I haven't yet tried it myself yet, looks fairly simple and would be a good pattern choice especially for sock knitters who haven't gone beyond stockinette or ribs on the legs.  The simple chart combines just the knit and purl stitch into a 16 row repeat.  Easy Peasy.  Check out the Anne yarn we have in stock now- over 20 colorways.

The pattern calls for US 2 needles, but does anyone actually use US 2 when knitting with Anne?  I use size US 0.  Even US 1 would be too big for me, and create to loose of a fabric that would likely separate on the soles of my feet (making them uncomfy and last less).  I do have to say that my one pair of Schaefer Anne socks I knit awhile back (when testing it for the store) have held up the best of any sock yarn I have used.  I wear the socks often, machine wash them in a mesh bag, and lay them out to dry, and they look just as good today as they did when I knit them.  I remember being worried about the yarn the first time I knit it b/c it's slightly thinner than other fingering weight sock yarns, and it's also fuzzy from the mohair.  I thought that made it look delicate.  But, wow, have those socks really stood up to wearing.

The pattern at right is an unknown sample color- similar to Indira Gandhi, but the colors in mine are more muted.  The pattern used was the Yarn Over Cable, I believe from the book Sensational Knitted Socks.

Comments

[Vickie]

This is good info to know. I too have tried different patterns with the Anne I purchased a while back, but have been fearful that the fabric is too delicate. Now I feel better about trying again. One question - did you alter the number of stitches you cast on because of the yarn's thinner weight?

[Allison]

I did cast on more stitches. I usually cast on 64 but I cast on 75 stitches when I knit the Yarn Over Cable pattern with Anne and US 0 needles. I had to cast on in multiples of 5 b/c of the pattern repeat, and while 75 seemed like a lot, I have wide feet and it worked perfectly. For someone with more *delicate* feet, I would likely cast on 70.

[stacey]

I always find I knit most sock yarns with what they call for on the ball band. Even Trekking calls for a #2 needle which for me creates way too loose of a fabric....from what I hear, most people knit Anne on #0's too....

[monica]

Same here, I knit on 0's with Anne. I usually knit my socks on 1's but the Anne definitely needs a 0 for me.

[Kelly]

I knit Anne on two's and do fine. The fabric is the same as with other yarns. I think I have an automatic tension adapter some where in my brain. I LOVE Ann yarns.

[Liz]

I too, have made socks with Schaefer Anne and have been pleasantly surprised to find that they are my hardest wearing socks of all. As someone who almost always gets gauge on the recommended needle size, I did have to drop to a size 0 to get a firm fabric and increase the number of stitches, but the yarn is a dream to work with and went quickly in spite of the 9 st to the inch guage I worked them at. There are more Anne socks in my future!