11 February 2010 · 2 Comments
So I’m down past the heel/gusset/flap/bendy bit of the sock, and it totally worked. It fits. I’m not quite sure if I’m in love with it. I need to work a few more rounds and try it on before I can be sure.
I like that it let me avoid the dramatic flashing this yarn seemed likely to do. I love that it let me work back and forth all the way from the heel turn to the end of the gusset (wooly nylon held along, worked perfectly). The only thing I’m not crazy about is the expanse of purls. I used purls because I thought they would give that sort of horizontal visual line you usually get in the gusset. I may try it again in the future with a different stitch pattern.
The current verdict is promising, but with potential for further improvement in the future.
10 February 2010 · 7 Comments
As promised – Graupel. Just in time for your Olympic knitting pleasure!
I’m sure it’s terribly conceited of me to say it, but I’m awfully pleased with these. I know, I like them all (I’m hardly going to put out a pattern I don’t like, now am I?), but these are really rather special.
They start out with a lovely crisp ribbing. It’s a ridiculously simple 4 row repeat that you’ll have memorized in no time at all. Once you’re done with that, you make a nice neat heel flap with a tiny little decoration down each side to keep things interesting. A basic gusset is next. Then comes my favorite part – the nifty arch shaping. I promise it’s easier than it looks, and it produces a really marvelous effect. After all that excitement you’re due for a quiet spell, so after the shaping you just knit straight until you’re ready for the toes.
These work for men or women (really, if you do them in a dark color, they look textured not lacy and will pass muster with most guys). They’re written for 2 sizes, and by using either thick or thin sock yarn, you can create them in most any size from a women’s small through a men’s large. The pattern also includes instructions for continuing the ribbing straight down the foot without the arch shaping, just in case you want some more conservative socks.
If you need to make some yourself, just click here!
10 February 2010 · 3 Comments
I didn’t want to throw the lovely stripes completely to the wind, so I thought I’d do something different for the heel. Now I hate short row heels, they just don’t fit my feet. I needed to keep the heel flap/gusset structure. The gist of the plan was ‘keep working in the round in pattern. On every other round, toss an extra purl stitch in at the beginning and end of the needles that hold the heel stitches.’ Turns out it works, though I haven’t quite decided how many rows of the flap/increases I’ll need. It seems like it will fit, but there will have to be a lot of trying on before I’m sure. I’ll turn the heel like usual, then work back and forth taking up one of the extra stitches on each row.
In theory, this approach will do three nifty things. First, it will let me hold a reinforcing thread as I do the back and forth bit and have it come all the way down my heel (as opposed to just the 12 rows or so that you normally work back and forth for the heel turn). Second, it lets me avoid that lighting bolt look that some striping yarns get during the gusset (at least so far). Finally, it lets me carry the pattern all the way down the heel without having to figure out how to do teeny tiny twisted cables while working back and forth.
I’m pleased. I’m also sure I’m not the first to think of this. Does anyone know what it’s called? Failing that, does anyone have a clever idea for what it should be called?
On a side note, I’m loving this yarn. It’s Sheep Shop Sheep Feet in Lime. So much for my plan to only use yarn with nylon. It’s discontinued (alas), but I’ve bought it in several different colors (and may well be getting a bit more). It’s super thick and the stitch definition is perfect.
On a further, and completely unrelated note, Popped (in both its free and paid formats) is going on sabbatical. It will eventually be back in a different incarnation, but if you’re just itching to make it and haven’t grabbed the pattern, this would be the time. I’m probably taking it down some time next week.
9 February 2010 · 5 Comments
I know that some people hate pooling…loathe it…devote great amounts of time and energy to stomping it out in all its forms. I get it. Really I do. Under the best of circumstances, pooling is chancy and unpredictable. Any hint of pooling seriously increases the risk of knitting failure and dramatically lessens the likelihood you’ll get two matching socks. And, if we’re being honest there are some really staggeringly ugly examples of pooling gone bad.
But…every now and then…just by chance…it works. And by works I mean works for me. You may think this is the ugliest thing ever to fall off my needles. That’s fine. You’re entitled. I’d take it as a kindness if you didn’t tell me if you think it’s horrifying, but even if you do I’m still going to love it. It’s just so regular and orderly and somehow tidy.
Of course I’m about to send all appearance of order straight to hell by blithely inserting a heel and gusset, but I think the love will continue.
8 February 2010 · No Comments
It seems you all did an excellent job of sending the sun my way this weekend. While the coast was getting their exciting wee blizzard, we got 2 inches on Saturday and lovely bright sunshine on Sunday. See? I’m overly amused by how well the socks and the fence match. I’m sure this speaks poorly of my character, but that’s just the way it is.
8 February 2010 · No Comments
After my shameless whinging about sock blow outs, someone asked how I wash my socks. It’s a totally valid question. There is a special washing regimen for fancy socks at Chez Violence. (Fancy socks are both the hand knit ones and the cashmere/alpaca/angora/generally spiffy ones from the store that I buy The Boy to make up for my inability or unwillingness to knit him work socks in the quantity he needs. The first hand-knit socks got him addicted to awesome socks, and this is a quicker way to feed the addiction than actually knitting a whole sock wardrobe. Yes they’re a bit expensive and require special washing. On the other hand, they don’t cost any more than the knit ones, and I’m doing special sock washing anyways. It’s a good compromise for us at the moment.) They all go in the washer together, and nothing else goes in with them. The washer is set to use cold water and run the gentle cycle. Then, and this is the bit that makes me think this is basically the same as washing by hand, I leave the washer’s lid open. On my washer, this prevents it from agitating. So basically the washer fills and sits there for a while. Then I drain it, it fills again, and I drain it again. If something was extra filthy I may do it once more. Then the socks get strewn all over the basement to dry. I’m fairly convinced that this is just a larger and more convenient version of washing them totally by hand in the bathroom sink.
I know that nylon is the secret to longevity, and I’m trying to buy only nylon-fortified sock yarn. Alas, sometimes I’m overcome by the pretty and succumb to temptation. I also have a fair amount of nylon-free yarn that I purchased before the realization of nylon’s importance had properly sunk in. I can’t quite bring myself to toss it. I have procured great quantities of wooly nylon (I am still overly entertained by the name and take unreasonable joy in saying it aloud at every opportunity), and am using it for socks knit from nylon-free yarn. It’s easy to work with and doesn’t really show, so I’m pleased so far. I’ll report back on its success once I’ve worn the socks using it enough to know how it holds up.
4 February 2010 · No Comments
You want Graupel, Graupel you shall have. I will release it later this month and then release Caprice in March. A few people have mentioned that they’d like to have the pattern for some of the various Olympic themed knitting events they’re participating in. The pattern is done, so I can totally do that. I’ll plan to put it up Thursday the eleventh. Of course this does mean I absolutely positively must get pictures taken this weekend. If you see the sun, send it this way.
For any of you dedicated athletes out there who want to start training (ie swatching) now, I should offer a note about size and gauge. This sock is stretchy – astonishingly stretchy. It’s also written in 2 sizes. There are also a whole lot of sock yarn thicknesses floating around out there. Stretchy design + 2 sizes + variety of sock yarns means you can likely get these to fit just about anyone. In general, I suggest that you aim for a gauge of about 8.5 stitches per inch in thin sock yarn and about 7.5 stitches per inch in thick sock yarn. At those gauges, the small size in a thin sock yarn will fit a small woman’s foot, the small size in a thick sock yarn will fit a medium/large woman’s foot, the large size in a thin sock yarn will fit a large/extra large woman’s or medium man’s foot, and the large size in a thick sock yarn will fit a large/extra large man’s foot. I’m pretty darn confident you can make this fit.
Now go find a fetching track suit and don’t forget to stretch.
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