Hulst KAL Wrap-up

Some of us finished our socks in the Hulst KAL, and some didn't—but either way, we had a good time knitting and sharing summer recipes. The range of colors and yarns was inspiring! Everything from bright greens to deep browns to buttery yellows.

Remember Brenda of End of the Row yarns, who I interviewed back in May? She's so speedy she made not one but two pairs of Hulst. The first was in her 80/20 sock yarn, in the My Favorite Martian colorway:

The second was in her Platinum BFL base, in a colorway she calls On the Edge:

End of the Row Yarns proved to be popular for this KAL. Susan (suzygirl) knit hers in Brenda's Winter Sage colorway:

Brenda wasn't the only one to knit two pair—so did Nadia (tricoteuse007)! First she knit a lovely women's pair in Woolen Rabbit Pearl:

Then she created a men's version by working the back-of-leg faux-cable stitch on the front and eliminating the lace. She used the Raven colorway of Woolen Rabbit Harmony—a great color for a man's sock. I loved how it worked out and hope other knitters will give Nadia's modification a try.

Ruth's Hulsts were definitely the sunniest socks in the KAL. She knit hers in the Butterscotch colorway of West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4-ply:

Another beautiful color in the KAL was a soft lavender-grey called Haze. This pair was knit by Lu Ann (wanny) in Hazel Knits Artisan Sock: 

Heather (afeistyknitter) didn't finish her socks, but for a very good reason—she's got lots of other projects to finish for her October wedding. She chose an acid green colorway of Periwinkle Sheep yarn called Antidote for her Hulsts (it matches her engagement ring). She also contributed some excellent recipes, including a cooler called Summer in a Glass. 

Due to a couple of secret projects. I didn't finish my own Hulsts—knit in Into the Whirled Gloucester Sock. But now that I've put one big project in the mail, I definitely plan to spend more time on them:

Thank you very much for reading—hope to see you in the next Blue Peninsula KAL!

Gearing Up for the Hulst Socks KAL

Only a few days until the Hulst Socks KAL starts! Have you got your yarn and pattern? 

The discount on the pattern in my Ravelry store continues through Saturday, June 20. Use the coupon code HULSTKAL to receive $1.00 off.

This KAL is a celebration of both summer sock knitting and summer produce, farmers markets, and CSAs. Already some great recipes have been shared—like a watermelon-cucumber cooler called Summer in a Glass. Find it right here. (Gin is entirely optional, and I can't vouch for how it might affect your sock knitting.)

We have some great prizes, too—free patterns, a lovely project bag, buttons—and a skein of the yarn I knit the sample in, Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors in the Atlantic colorway.

I've cast on a second pair, this time using Into the Whirled Gloucester Sock in a chocolately color called Blackthorn. The dark color is a little hard to photograph, but so far the yarn is working really well with this pattern.

Hope to see in you in the KAL! It starts Sunday, but you can join whenever you like.

P.S. A few people have asked about the project bag I'm using for these socks. I sewed it using a Dropcloth Sampler by Rebecca Ringquist. She's got lots of cheerful embroidery samplers in her Etsy shop.

New Pattern: Hulst Socks

My blue socks are finally finished, and the pattern is now in my Ravelry, Etsy, and Craftsy pattern stores.

Pattern: Hulst, by Bonnie Sennott

Yarn: Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors in the Atlantic colorway

Named after a road in Amherst, Massachusetts, Hulst is a women's sock with a bit of lace (to keep the knitting interesting) and a bit of stockinette (to make it go quickly). Through midnight EST June 20, you can get $1.00 off the pattern on Ravelry, using the coupon code HULSTKAL.

Hulst is the third pattern in my All You Need Is One collection of designs that use just one skein of yarn (On the Other Hand and Conklaree were the first two). Two more patterns will be added to the collection between now and fall; when you purchase the ebook, it's automatically updated in your Ravelry library each time a new pattern is added. At $16 for five patterns, it's a great deal!

Starting June 21 (first day of summer), we're having a Hulst Socks KAL in the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group. It's going to be a celebration of sock knitting and the summer growing season. Along with knitting the socks, we'll be sharing photos and stories about our local farms, farmers markets, summer produce and flowers, our gardens, and even recipes.

My sister Jackie and I have split a share at the Brookfield Farm, located on Hulst Road in Amherst, for many years—in fact, we've just started our 19th season as shareholders. It is my favorite place in my hometown, very near and dear to my heart. We had a great time taking the photos there early in the morning last Sunday—no one was about except us and the birds.

The pattern is written for fingering weight yarn. I used the stunning Atlantic colorway of Watercolors sock yarn from the Periwinkle Sheep. Karin has really hit a home run with this color, don't you think? She's also got some other colors perfect for Hulst in her Etsy shop right now, including a rich Cayenne and a summery green called Antidote. 

This sock is worked top down, from the cuff, and features a heel flap with a garter stitch edge. I have to admit, I really fell in love with the heel—it might become my default method from now on. Instructions are given for two sizes, and stitch patterns are provided in both line-by-line written form as well as charts. 

No pattern ever comes about only through my own efforts. My heartfelt thanks go to Karin of the Periwinkle Sheep, for dyeing such gorgeous yarn; my sister Jenny, for her expert tech editing; and my sister Jackie, for her patient modeling (and especially for getting up bright and early, so we could take advantage of the lovely morning light). I'd also like to thank the test knitters who provided helpful feedback about the pattern—Heather and Brenda (take a look at her bright green socks in a colorway she calls My Favorite Martian).

Thank you very much for reading. I hope you'll join us in the KAL!