Just pink

Bad sock is still in timeout but I cast on a second evil pink sock. This is more like it. Still don't like top-down but I had the ribbing done in no time. I changed the cast on and connecting just a touch and it went much smoother. That was the whole point....become proficient in other styles, even if I don't like them after the fact. So these socks will be called a success.

Boo-hoo

cry cry cry....I unraveled a weeks worth of knitting on one of my socks. This pattern was a poor choice....it read ok but reality is, it requires too much counting and concentration, at 4am. I've been amazed I made it as far as I have with no unfixable errors or counting errors. Dummy forgot to keep putting in lifelines every inch. I knew better with such a stressful pattern but got cocky. Then I messed up my row count by marking at least one row done when I still had the sole stitches to go. There were big gaping holes due to loops not getting closed on the missing rows. I tried to fudge but it was just ugly.

 

Since there aren't any plain rows, to save my life(or the sock), I couldn't pick up the stitches to just below the problem area, though I tried. I had to rip back several inches to the last lifeline.

 

Sock was bad so it is in timeout now and I am giving it the silent treatment. BAD BAD SOCK!

 

I'm seriously thinking about cheating on it and casting on another sock because I'm not happy with the other pair I am working on either (who knew pink yarn could be evil????). The evil pink ones aren't hard(I've already finished one) but it was to learn new techniques, the yarn has a mind of it's own and I am knitting with baseball bats(3.75mm). I've already decided I don't like those new techniques. It was easier than expected, looks fine, but oh so awkward...I would have never knit socks if I had done this first...oh wait I did! then didn't try to knit socks again for 18 months. lol I have much more experience now so decided it was time to become proficient in other methods(I have a list!). I disliked it so much though I don't want to make the second one.

Do you have it yet?

The re-released The Principles of Knitting of course. I received mine last week. Oh it is wonderful. It is absolutely huge, about 8.5" x 11" and over 700 pages. It is a major bargain too. Easily found for under $23 (half price) right now due to it's popularity. At full price I would still consider it a bargain.

I've only had time to skim it but I have already learned a number of things. I am delighted to have this book as a reference on the shelf.

I am a technical learner, I like to know the why things are done in a certain way, why an author believes 'this' is the best or most correct way and I like lots of options. This book covers that. This book won't be my only reference book but it covers so much information that it will be a joy to have around.

The only con, I have noticed so far, is I wish they had put a bit more into the quality of the physical book. I would have happily paid more(a lot more) for heavier paper and a better binding. What they used, is well within line of the retail price of the book, though.

Another pair done

Pair 2 of 2012 done.

Typical on the desk photo but I guess better than nothing. This Leyburn sock pattern really ate up the yarn. Pair weighed in at 82-83g yet the leg is only a bit over 2". I had 85g to work with, so that was as long as I could get. Pretty socks.

I cast off and immediately cast on for the next sock. Plan is to cast on 2 socks....one in worsted weight(on the needles now) and one in fingering weight.

The worsted weight will be knit top down, out of my comfort food zone. I dislike a lot of things about top down socks. Some people love them, some people don't. I'm one of the don't group. I have top down socks, that won't convert to toe up well, on my wish list so it's time to start pushing the skill again. It will be my first time with a heel flap and gusset. In the past, the top down socks were made with afterthought heels or short row heels.

Not very surprising, I still don't like top down socks. The cast on is a hassle, connecting so it isn't twisted is a hassle (I even know all the tricks), hoping the cast on was loose enough, fighting the first few rows still irritating, and I haven't even finished the ribbing! Frustrations to follow....not knowing how long I can make the leg and still have enough to complete two socks, having purl stitches under my heel*, potentially discovering my cast on was too tight and having to rip back the entire heel and leg, ladder on the starting side **, having to kitchener the toe***.

All of which is why I am making them out of worsted weight so it will be over quickly. I want to make sure they don't infuriate me before casting on a top down, fingering weight, pair.

The second cast-on of fingering weight will be my comfort socks. Toe-up!

*I have somewhat princess soles. I don't mind the purl bumps that result in knitting all stitches of the sole but I can feel every bump and row if there is any change in gauge. Which means I can feel the row changes from knit to purl.

**For what every reason, I have no ladder problems when making toe-up socks. With toe down though, I fight a ladder, the first few inches, on the starting side no matter how much I tug and tighten. I have high hopes that it will one day clear up due to more practice.

***Kitchener. I can do it successfully every time. It usually looks perfect. I don't like doing it (go figure, I do a sewn cast off for toe-up socks and love that). I can feel the difference when I wear them.

Almost socks....

As usual I am terrible about getting around to taking photos. I did get this though. The yarn is the lovely sneeze-worthy* Wollmeise from Germany.

Leyburn Socks Very easy to knit. 8 row repeat and every other row is a rest row.

Second sock is on the needles and I expect it will be finished in just a few days.

*The wool wash Wollmeise uses makes me sneeze, a lot. Even though I washed the skein twice and it has been almost a year since purchase....I still sneeze when trying to knit with it.

Tough decisions

It is too tough to decide on the next knitting design! Unlike machine sewing, I have to choose carefully, since it takes weeks to complete anything. So many patterns.....so little time!

I've picked my current sock, well sort-of. We'll see. The reviews talk about some major fit issues. I have a back-up pattern picked out that I can use the same toe, if it doesn't work out.

Anyhow, I'm looking ahead, trying to match what sock yarn, I have on hand, with patterns. It is tough narrowing down the choices. So many pretty designs. I have found hundreds of patterns online I would like to try and that doesn't even include the books and stitch dictionaries that I have loaded with bookmarks.

I thought I was getting close to ordering yarn but durn....I calculate I have enough yarn in fingering weight for at least another 10-12 pairs. I'll need to get creative with some of the yarn, do stripes and such, but there is plenty for most of the year. I so wanted to do a bit of yarn ordering but I'll be good a while longer.......maybe.