Child's first sock in Shell pattern-- finished

Shell socks, finished!

Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern, from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush
Started: March 17, 2006
Finished: April 1, 2006
Lisa Souza Sock! yarn in Mahogany
US 2 (2.75mm) dpns







I love these socks :) They are quite a bit longer than I am used to knitting (in the cuff), but I followed the pattern exactly (7 repeats) and they stay up on their own and aren't stuffy like other (machine made) long socks I have. I shy away from knitting longer cuffs on socks, always afraid of the yarn running out, but with the Lisa Souza Sock!, I had no such worries. I have 36 gm left over as well! More than enough for a generous pair of toddler socks. I love when vendors are generous with their skein size; I love so many patterns in Knitting Vintage Socks and Knitting on the Road, but they often call for 1.5x the amount of yarn I usually earmark for socks (3 50gm skeins instead of 2; 2 100gm skeins instead of 1, etc.), so as I like the longer cuffs, I think I may start turning my attention to the vendors that are more generous with their skein sizes... so Cherry Tree Hill instead of Koigu, more Lisa Souza, Schaefer Anne (ooh, the new Toni Morrisson colorway at Little Knits!!) and Socks That Rock (like I need an excuse!) etc.

As I said, I followed the pattern exactly and had a great time with it. I put down my chart after knitting a few repeats (I charted the pattern for my own use, I prefer them so much now!) and I am feeling more and more confident in "understanding" lace progression, even if it is just simple lace on socks. I did also use US 2's instead of US 1's as the pattern called for; I got gauge (8 sts=1") on the 2's though I think I preferred the fabric I got on the US 1's (9 sts=1") with this sock yarn. I'm glad I went with the 2's in the end though, both b/c the socks fit quite well and b/c the fabric bloomed in the wash, though still isn't as "tight" as US 1 fabric would be.

These pics were actually taken after the socks had been thru the washer/dryer-- I wore them this weekend and didn't take pics. I'm glad I went ahead and washed them before writing about them, as I am quite pleased how the yarn softened and bloomed in the wash. I didn't split the yarn when knitting, but at times could see the 3 plies on my needle as separate (not tightly wound together). I notice this more in the wool/nylon yarns I've tried, and its not a complaint-- but it is like the other wool/nylons in the easy separation of the plies and noticable softening after a wash. The colorway is perfect for me too... I purposefully picked out a skein at Stitches that was more touched with orange; other skeins in the same colorway may have been darker with more black or blue, but you know my fascination with orange.

I was planning on having these done for March, but left my knitting in the car that night as I tried to knit in the dark. I dropped too many sts as I drove past the Coliseum and decided to put it away, hidden well enough to forget to knit thru the last day of March.

Starsky and Shell Socks Started (three times fast!)

A few projects started...

Starsky from Knitty Winter 2005
Started: March 16, 2006
Knit Picks Sierra in Cranberry
Addi 6mm needle (US #10) ... 150cm length(!!)



Started going MUCH more quickly when I picked up a hint from the Starsky KAL to color code the chart... Lights went off, the bells flashed and she was in heaven! :) It feels almost dirty to knit something on these huge needles... esp as I've been alternating btw this and...

Childs First Sock in Shell Pattern
from Knitting Vintage Socks
Started: March 17, 2006
US 2 dpns (2.75mm) -- set of 4
Lisa Souza Sock! yarn, Mahogany colorway





The first pic isn't great but I wanted to show how freakishly long the leg is-- I'm following the pattern exactly and its 7 repeats, about 8" long. I always thought I knit long sock cuffs, but going over my knit socks I realize they hover around 5-6" long before the heel, not too long.

Oh, another superweird thing about this pattern, the heel is 2" long. So a super long leg and a little nothing heel... I dunno. I usually wear my hightop cons with my handknit socks so I don't worry about the shorter shoe wearing the back of the heel (where a "normal" heel would be wearing lowtops), but its just... weird! :)

I try and knit exactly from patterns, so as to learn something new and use it later... but its odd! :) I also think I'm going to shelve my "I've got to knit on 2 circs if I can" thing... I have been flying thru these on dpns and enjoying them. There is also a *lot* of yarn in the hank from Lisa Souza, so I'm not really worried about running out of yarn (here's hoping I didn't just jinx myself...) I've got to check out her new Sock! Merino at the Knit and Crochet Show in Oakland-- it sounds soo fine though! (560 yds-- the Sock! I'm using is 480yds) I have been leaning to solid colors lately, since I have so much in the way of variegated yarn, hopefully she'll have lots of solids on hand for me to check out.

I've also been knitting on the toddler socks (toe up in Interlacements Toasty Toes), but have hit a major snag... lollipop soldier ahs squirreled away my 1st completed sock. So I don't know how long to knit the cuff, and I'm dismayed thinking I've got to knit *3* socks now... I haven't stalled on them, but have kept them aside for knitting in the car and at appointments-- I've never knit in the car but its nice to have a non-taxing project as the miles wear by. Stst toddler socks fit that bill perfectly :)

So, I've altered my knitting habits a bit I suppose. I've always been a one-project kinda girl, socks mainly. But adding a larger project (Starsky) and also a smaller one (toddler socks) seems to my regular one sock project make my knitting even more prolific-- I race thru one, promising I can start the other when I hit a certain amount of completion... and the varying weight and differences in the pattern mean I can help break up the monotony that any one project can have for me.

Anyhow, aside from knitting I went to a semi-local yarn store (Skein Lane in El Cerrito) as they were having a "hot sale for cool nights" sale and I've been trying to get out locally and support the yarn stores in my immediate area. I'm going to shelve my no stash enhancement goal... I don't think I feel strongly enough about it to commit, though I've been looking a lot less lately.

Added these:


Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Seaside


Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Argyle


Austermann Step in whisky (color 09)

I've admired the Argyle colorway since seeing Sockbug's lightning bolt argyle socks, so I think I'll try and recreate the effect with the same pattern (Gentleman's Fancy Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks), eventually...

I also picked up the new Austermann Step yarn, the one with jojoba oil & aloe. Squeezing the ball, it doesn't really feel any different... Who knows. I've never knit a pair of socks from printed/self-striping yarn before, not sure what sort of pattern I'll choose (Jaywalkers? I don't think I could stand stst, but maybe I should give it a chance.) I will be trying to match the striping on them, since that's what "this kind" of yarn is for (striping!)

The color's not something I'd pick out for me, but they'll be a gift when knit up and the recipient picked it out and is letting me hold it in the stash til then :)

Also picked up a set of Brittany Birch dpns, 5" in US 0 for more baby socks.



I've read awful things about the sturdiness of these needles, esp. at the superlow sock size, but I've been enjoying the 4" Susanne ebony dpns for toddler socks and the 5 year guarantee sealed the deal (along with the fact I have mini skeins of koigu that will make for adorable toddler socks, and the brittanys would be great for that.)

Perhaps I'll have one weirdo sock done soon :) Starsky will take longer, but I'm pleased with my progress so far-- can't wait to block it and help the pattern really pop (and to help ease some of my wonky stitchery.)