A Tale of Two Kittens and One Puppy

Gizmo & the ankle socks Here is Gizmo posing with my next finished sock. I didn’t even realize I got him with his tongue out when I took the picture. Before I get into the details of the sock, let me just say I’m constantly amazed by some of the other knitters involved in Summer of Socks 2007. They have a contest for most socks knitted, for instance. I didn’t even bother entering, because unless no one entered, I knew there was no way I was even close to winning that category. I am not the fastest knitter. I keep thinking I need to teach myself continental knitting, but I always want to start the next project, rather than sit down with something that’s going to take some practicing to learn. Supposedly continental knitting is faster.

At least one person has finished five pairs of socks already. Five pairs! I haven’t even finished my second pair. It takes me a week to knit one sock (whether it’s an anklet or a regular sock, I’ve discovered). One person talked about finishing three pairs in one week, I think — on vacation, granted, but last time I was on vacation for 10 days, I still only managed to finish one pair. And some people are even knitting other things along with the socks . . .

These socks were inspired by the golf socks pattern in Knitter’s Magazine Contest book. I actually bought this book quite some time ago. I’m not quite sure what I was thinking, frankly. I guess that I wanted to knit socks. But it sat there in my library for years. And then this past year, finally, I discovered the two circular needle method, actually figured the darn thing out on my own, and the rest, as they say, is history.

So I have all these books on socks. I think I’ve got at least six or seven books just on socks in my library now. It’s funny how the subconscious works, sometimes. Several of these books were purchased before I really got bit by the sock knitting bug.

I do that. Things will languish in my stash or my library for years . . . and then, voila! They are used. So on to the sock.

Yarn used: Crystal Palace Panda Cotton
Needles used: Two #1 circulars
Pattern: Inspired by the golf socks in Socks Socks Socks

I liked this yarn, even though it was a bit fussy to work with and somewhat prone to splitting. It has a nice, soft feel, and was thick enough so that I could actually go up to #1s, instead of my normal #0s. Why don’t more needle makes make #0 circulars? I want to try Addi Naturas, but they start at #2s!

Here’s an up-close look at the heel. I wanted to try and branch out and try some new things with this sock. I was tired of sl1, k1. I used the honeycomb heel from Nancy Bush’s Meida’s Socks. I like the way it turned out.

I also added a little ribbing underneath the gusset on the soles, but I don’t particularly like the way that turned out. I didn’t realize they’d end up on the sole side, frankly. I wanted to give the socks a bit more elasticity. I want to try another pair with ribbing across the top of the foot, but I’ll have to order another skein first.

I decided to try a star toe on this sock. I think I kind of like it. No kitchener stitch needed to graft the last stitches: just put the tail on a needle, and pull it through all the stitches, and weave in. Plus I like the fact that it looks rounder. Of course, I don’t know how it wears yet.

So many socks, so little time!

Technorati Tags: continental knitting, star toe, kitchener stitch