January 14, 2008 at 1:32 pm · Filed under gauge, socks
I’ve just proved to myself that it pays to walk on the dark side, sock-knitting-wise. I knit myself a lovely beige sock (Invicta) in the Hartshorn pattern from the 2nd Barbara Walker treasury. I finished the first and turned to other knitting - a hat in bulky yarn, a slipper in super bulky, another slipper in worsted, and then a pair of wristers (fingerless gloves) also in worsted.
Then I went to make the second sock. I steamed along merrily until I finished the heel (starting at the toe). Then I compared it to the first one. Hmmmm…..looks smaller.
Tried it on - egad! no way can I get my foot in that. Look at the socks again, more closely this time. Holy cow - how did I manage to tighten up my gauge so much? It’s hard to believe the same person knit both socks.
I should have stuck to my “chain smoking” method of knitting the second sock right after the first.
Right now, my plan is to make two pairs. It’s a good excuse to go to Mary Maxim’s when I’m back in Michigan at the end of the month. Hope they’ve got more of that yarn.
January 12, 2008 at 12:16 pm · Filed under socks
Upon reading about my sock knitting, joVE commented that her knitting friends refer to sock knitting as - the DARK SIDE. Hmmmm, I wondered, never thought of it that way.
Then, I remembered that I had just told a friend that my sock knitting method is similar to chain smoking - those needles are never empty. Finish one sock, start the next, finish the second sock, and bingo - the first sock of the next pair is cast on quicker that I can say Jack Robinson. I have my next four pairs all planned out and ready to go.
I really must take some time to work on some other projects. I have a stole (rectangular shawl) in the works, and a lacy cardigan all ready to be put underway. Not to mention my felting. I also have a fabulous blue pullover that is 95% completed - just needs the bottom ribbing re-done and a bit of finishing.
Several months elapse………Well, I wrote this back in August, but never published due to my ineptitude in adding pictures. My Very Smart Friend, Kim, said I should just write and never mind about the pictures. So, here I am, just writing.
I’ve done several more pairs of socks - but also finished the blue pullover (I’ve been living in that all winter) plus slippers and a hat. I think I’m finally becoming more balanced in my knitting. Hurrah!
