Should've Known Better: Socks
Inevitably, I always take on a project or idea that ends up being far more complicated than I had intended. Thus, I should've known better and paid better attention before embarking on this sock challenge.
I've always sworn that I would never knit socks. I don't have the same attraction as other knitters to hand-knitted socks. They look beautiful and great, but I can't seem to picture me or someone wearing a time-consuming handknit item I made in a sweaty shoe. That imagery gives me wrinkles around my face that I don't need or want. Yep, I would never knit socks. I should have known better than to say "never" because I'm eating those words now. Hubby, who has never asked me to knit or sew him something, asked for knitted socks to wear at home to insulate him from the cold hardwood floors. How could I say no?
I researched some patterns and liked the look of the Boot Sock pattern from KnitPicks, so I bought the yarns recommended -- a skein of Swish superwash wool in gray and 1 skein of the
bare, which I dyed fantastic marine colors (pictured left). I realized then that the pattern called for knitting 2 socks on 2 circulars at the same time. Ok, no sweat, right? I've knitted with 2 circulars many times and didn't think it'd be too much of a departure. Plus, I know how to double knit pretty decently and with more than 2 colors. I was DEAD wrong. I started the pattern at my knitting group and I ended up with a weird tangled mess, even after reading and dissecting the pattern more than 10 times. I even consulted some of the fabulous knitters in my group, who know practically everything in knitting. They couldn't understand the weird and hard to understand written instructions either. It was unclear and confusing and there weren't any photos showing some of the more complicated set up. After fumbling for over an hour, I managed to do half a round of each sock. Then I got stuck and more tangled. Determined, I then tried to follow the pattern but while doing one sock at a time, but the instructions weren't meant for that. *sigh* I frogged for the 7th or 8th time. Argh, I should've know better!
Determined to get something done before I go to bed, I
rifled through my books and found the Cozy Sock pattern in Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick. After checking gauge, I figured that this would work. I cast on and worked the cuff to my liking. All the mental work, testing, frogging and knitting finally ended at 3 a.m., when I started to question the seamed heel in the instructions. Again, I should have known better and thought about it more carefully.
After confirming with Aubrey that most socks don't have a seamed heel, I search for some more patterns online. I decided to go with the sock pattern generator by Elizabeth Bennett. I hope that this tutorial will be of help if I get stuck. I'm more worried that after all this, hubby might end up with just one sock!
I've always sworn that I would never knit socks. I don't have the same attraction as other knitters to hand-knitted socks. They look beautiful and great, but I can't seem to picture me or someone wearing a time-consuming handknit item I made in a sweaty shoe. That imagery gives me wrinkles around my face that I don't need or want. Yep, I would never knit socks. I should have known better than to say "never" because I'm eating those words now. Hubby, who has never asked me to knit or sew him something, asked for knitted socks to wear at home to insulate him from the cold hardwood floors. How could I say no?
I researched some patterns and liked the look of the Boot Sock pattern from KnitPicks, so I bought the yarns recommended -- a skein of Swish superwash wool in gray and 1 skein of the
bare, which I dyed fantastic marine colors (pictured left). I realized then that the pattern called for knitting 2 socks on 2 circulars at the same time. Ok, no sweat, right? I've knitted with 2 circulars many times and didn't think it'd be too much of a departure. Plus, I know how to double knit pretty decently and with more than 2 colors. I was DEAD wrong. I started the pattern at my knitting group and I ended up with a weird tangled mess, even after reading and dissecting the pattern more than 10 times. I even consulted some of the fabulous knitters in my group, who know practically everything in knitting. They couldn't understand the weird and hard to understand written instructions either. It was unclear and confusing and there weren't any photos showing some of the more complicated set up. After fumbling for over an hour, I managed to do half a round of each sock. Then I got stuck and more tangled. Determined, I then tried to follow the pattern but while doing one sock at a time, but the instructions weren't meant for that. *sigh* I frogged for the 7th or 8th time. Argh, I should've know better!Determined to get something done before I go to bed, I
rifled through my books and found the Cozy Sock pattern in Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick. After checking gauge, I figured that this would work. I cast on and worked the cuff to my liking. All the mental work, testing, frogging and knitting finally ended at 3 a.m., when I started to question the seamed heel in the instructions. Again, I should have known better and thought about it more carefully.After confirming with Aubrey that most socks don't have a seamed heel, I search for some more patterns online. I decided to go with the sock pattern generator by Elizabeth Bennett. I hope that this tutorial will be of help if I get stuck. I'm more worried that after all this, hubby might end up with just one sock!
posted by Anne at
11:28 PM
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1 Comments:
As someone who witnessed the attempt at making the socks with two circulars, I have to agree that it seemed like an impossible task. I really like the look of the start of the sock you have now. I hope it works out!
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