Hypotheses 2-3-4 Socks

With this pair I’m testing hypotheses 2, 3, and 4 to determine if they can be included in the Unified Sock Theory, hence the name. I will also be adding eye of partridge stitch to the heel flap, just to see how it turns out.

Hardware: 2 – U.S. 1 ½ (2mm) Knit Picks Options 24” Nickel Plated Fixed Circular Needles

Software: 1 – 50gm ball Knit Picks Essential in Lily Pad Multi

Code Snippets:

Judy Becker’s Magic Cast-on

Wendy Johnson’s Fingering Weight Toe-up Socks with Gusset Heel

Eye of Partridge stitch (instructions and chart by Persnickety Knitter)

Invisible Cast-off for Single Rib (excellent tutorial by crankygrrrrrl)

After I finished IGS2 on Wednesday, I started fooling around with a rounder toe for the socks. I came up with one that looks rather nice lying on the kitchen island, but leaves something to be desired on the foot. I decided to try the “elf toe” with sixteen stitches instead of twelve and see what happens.

Thursday evening I cast on two socks at once, from the same skein no less. Not a big deal, one just needs to remember to uncross the yarn every other turn.

Friday night I moonlighted again: no knitting. :( I’m also moonlighting this afternoon and evening. :(:(

I’m using another Knit Picks Essential sock yarn and again the colors are lovely. The texture is very soft. I’m looking forward to seeing the pattern develop.

Instant Gratification Socks II

Based on what I learned from my first pair of socks, I've decided to try a toe-up sock with a gusset heel. I'm using Judy Becker's Magic Cast-on with 24 sts (12 x 12) and then following Wendy's instructions for toe-up socks with a gusset heel that promises no stitches to pick-up. I have to admit, reading the pattern, I'm totally confused as to how this is going to work.

As I'm sure you've begun to suspect, I'm afraid of turned heels. Now, I did sucessfully execute a Sherman Short Row Heel, but I still get the willies when I think about it. I'm not sure why I even attempted the SSRH. It's not like "knit encroachment" and "purl encroachment" are less offensive than "wrap and turn" and all of the other turned-heel vulgarities.

I have high hopes for this pattern.

Sober Argyle Vest II

The needles arrived on Friday and I settled in last night to cast on for round two of Sober Argyle. Not much of a start, but it is a start.

Instant Gratification Socks

I worked ten or twelve more rows on the vest yesterday. Even though I'm so close to having the back finished, it's beginning to feel like the never-ending project; a garment of epic proportions. I needed an instant gratification project.

I turned to Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch for inspiration. This book, by the way, is the best sock design book I've ever seen. If you need step by step, hold-my-hand instructions, you might be disappointed. If you want a book that helps you think like a sock designer, this is the book for you. As a nice bonus I was able to teach myself how to knit a sock on two circular needles in about an hour with the instructions from this book and the excellent tutorial at Knitpicks.

In my opinion, knitting in the round with two circular needles is far superior to working with DPNs. I always felt like I was wrestling with an urchin or trying to knit with a sack full of angry cats when I used DPNs. Knitting with 2 circulars is, by contrast, a very relaxing process.

I am making a simple top down sock with a garter rib pattern.

Software: Knitpicks Essential in Meadow Multi - 24043 (the purple is actually more pinkish and the dark chocolate brown is more milk chocolate brown than shown on the site, a minor disappointment)

Hardware: Knitpicks Nickel-Plated Fixed Circular Knitting Needles in US Sizes 3/Metric 3.25mm

Here is my progress so far:

Arrrgyle Socks

I've decided to make some argyle socks for the GC. Since she is crazy about anything pirate, I incorporated a jolly roger into the pattern.

Software: Knitpicks Palette fingering weight in red, black, fog, and white.

Hardware: #2 straight sticks for the leg, 2 #2 circular needles for the foot.

Here is my test run in worsted weight yarn:



Software:



Here's my progress so far. Looks like fun, eh?

Sober Argyle Vest

I am making a modified version of the Drunken Argyle vest by Holli Yeoh published in the summer ’05 edition of Knitty, a very cool online knitting publication.

I am using the Swish DK I purchased from KnitPicks as the software for this project. I’m using my new Options circular needles in the smallest size, 4, for the hardware. Both the needles and the yarn are larger than the pattern calls for, but after the test swatch I feel like following the pattern for the smallest size will work. I am a medium sized person and I knit tightly.

The only modification I’m making in the pattern itself is on the front: I am trading Holli’s curvaceous diamonds for traditional linear ones. Although her whimsical diamonds are cute and I’ll probably make a vest following the pattern at a later date, I am struck at how classy and elegant the back pattern is and I want something to complement rather than contrast for the front.

I cast on and knit the 2.25” of 1 x 1 rib on #3 straight sticks then switched to the circular needles for the pattern. I would recommend doing the first three rows in solitary confinement. I did mine with Terminator 2 on the flat screen and the GC chattering non-stop. Needless to say I misplaced a few stitches and had to go back with the ever-handy crochet hook and make things right.

The yarn still has that odd feel, but it is a pleasure to work with and knits up nicely.

I’m enjoying the circular needles. The cord is wonderful and the silky finish of the needles is fine. I have had to stop a few times and tighten the connections, a minor annoyance. I am having some trouble with the cable connections. My yarn continues to get hung on the small gap. I’ve followed up with KnitPicks and they are sending me a replacement cable.

As an aside, knitting with circular needles does not exacerbate my carpal tunnel syndrome the way knitting with straight sticks does.

Here’s what I’ve gotten done so far:

Notice the classy, subtle diamond pattern emerging. The copious amount of cat hair was generously contributed by:

Cat No. 1

and Cat No. 2