Sockapalooooza.
Yep, it's that time again - I'm sockapaloooza-ing. I just can't resist the lure of a lovely pair of hand knit socks coming to me from a mysterious pal. And of course, I don't mind the excuse to knit a pair of socks. I have lots of sock yarn in the stash, but I just don't knit them very often.
This year's pal has me going back and forth. She likes greens, so I originally started a cable twist sock (Hello Yarn's pattern, slightly modified, inspired by Grumperina's mods.) I used some Koigu that I bought at Purl, and I was really liking the way the sock was turning out:
Yummy Koigu.
When I got to the heel, I tried THREE times to make the perfect short row heel. The first one was okay, the second one was hideous, the third was eh, and then I gave up. My other stress is that my sock pal has bigger feet than me, and I'm not used to how far a skein of Koigu will go. I became a worried schmoo.
Hmm.
Soooo.... I decided to buy some yarn. My sock pal also indicated that she loves stripes, so I decided to hunt down a big old fatty skein green stripey sock yarn. I found some I liked on etsy and ordered it up. [Edited to add: The yarn is midnight spruce, purchased from The Fiber Denn]
Oh boy! So, now I'm knitting a plain sock, toe-up (which is TOTALLY weird for me, but DUDE I'm loving the short row toe). Here's how far I am:
Stripey goodness.
I know it's not quite as glamorous as the cable twist, but I actually think my pal will like this sock better. We'll see if I change my mind by the time I get to the heel!
In other knitting news, I have been REALLY wanting to knit a skirt. I think it's because I like to wear cute casual skirts in the summer instead of shorts (because, really, who looks good in shorts? not. me.) and I have this yummy linen yarn in a deep purple that wants to be worn and loved this summer.
So I swatched for the Indigo Ripples skirt from the Spring IK. Love love this skirt, love Eunny's version, love it. I did a tiny swatch, eyeballed it, thought it looked close enough (danger) and started knitting.
Luckily, I decided to try on my skirt after a few increases to see where I was. Wanna see?
Har.
Note to self: close enough does NOT cut it when you are casting on 170 stitches. or really ever. Bad schmoo.
I ripped, but remeasured my gauge in the linen yarn, and I reworked the numbers of the pattern for my actual gauge, not my imaginary gauge. It looks a good bit smaller now - I'll try it on before getting too attached.
Thanks for all the comments on the Trellis, and the nephew. I like 'em both a great deal.
Comments (26)
Tee hee--I need that skirt after being at my parents' for two weeks!
I think good call on the sock switch--I made some Cable Twists in Koigu using only 2 skeins for my big feets, and they are really too short.
Posted by Ashley | June 12, 2007 1:41 PM
I love the Koigu you used for the first attempt. Great colors. And I may have to check out Grumperinas mods, cause I just started making those cable twist socks and think they'd look cute in a NON worsted weight yarn.
Curious to see how the knit skirt works out...
Posted by Stacey | June 12, 2007 1:20 PM
I really like the sock yarn you bought. Glad to see you can laugh about the skirt/
Posted by Asaknitter | June 12, 2007 1:45 AM
I stumbled across your blog for the first time tonight and could have sworn I was seeing double. I just finished the cable twist socks, with some really similar Koigu. Weird. At any rate, I figured out a way to reverse the cable stitch pattern, and I should be posting about that tomorrow on my blog, just in case you haven't started the second one yet. Lovely work on your socks, by the way. Also really love the Trellis - makes me want to knit one for my new nephew. :)
Posted by Kristen | June 12, 2007 12:08 AM
I like both of the socks...each has its own personality! p.s. I *love* the shortrow toe and heel! ;)
Posted by tania | June 11, 2007 4:12 PM
I started making that skirt this weekend! I had to do some math (grr) since I'm getting a different gauge in the yarn I'm using, but so far it fits! Good luck with yours!
Posted by Kelly | June 11, 2007 1:57 PM
I just love toe-up socks. I allows me to make the cuff longer if the yardage permits. I am currently working on two pairs of socks toe up and I have already completed one full pair. I think at least 90% of the socks I make in the future will be toe-up, if not all.
Posted by Tina | June 11, 2007 10:24 AM
The toe-up sock is coming out great. I haven't tried one toe-up yet, but they look so neat and crisp.
Posted by Anna | June 11, 2007 9:50 AM
Beautiful green!
Posted by eyeleen | June 11, 2007 12:38 AM
I must say I'm a big fan of the short-row toe too. Not too fond of it on the heel, but the toe is great! As a green-lover, I must say your second sock yarn choice is much better :)
Posted by Kri | June 10, 2007 8:45 PM
Okay. This is probably going to sound weird.
My boyfriend has a client who wants to expand one of his bar/club concepts into Athens, because of the kickin' college scene. I mentioned I read a knitblogger who lived in (around?) Athens, and I was wondering if you'd be interested in helping them out from a local's point of view.
Yeah, that does sound weird. I'm not crazy, I promise.
Thanks!
Michelle (in Maryland)
Posted by Michelle in Maryland | June 10, 2007 12:10 PM
I def. like the green sock better, and I'm sure your pal will love it too!
And you are right, no one looks good in shorts.
Posted by Meg | June 10, 2007 8:57 AM
perhaps the skirt was too big because (maybe? i don't know) the pattern was written for a yarn that shrinks with the first washing? and you're substituting ....
i really want to knit a skirt too ... because shorts have never been flattering on me.
... and the socks? be my "pal"! (i've never done an exchange ... perhaps i should (someday)).
Posted by gray la gran | June 9, 2007 8:35 PM
Aw, sucks about the skirt frog. But I'm love love loving those stripes! :)
Posted by pamela wynne | June 9, 2007 12:14 PM
Ooh, I really like the new one you've started, even though I liked the other one, too.
You are a bad schmoo with the swatches.
Posted by Cathy | June 9, 2007 10:25 AM
I haven't done any sockapalooza's because I think I'd get too stressed out wondering if the person getting my socks would like them! Those Koigu ones are really nice, I have that pattern on my mind. Love those green stripes, too, though!
Regarding shorts: I haven't worn a pair of shorts in so long, I can't remember. Every year though, I truck out to the mall and try on a whole bunch, as though any year now I'll suddenly find a flattering pair. Maybe this year....
Posted by marlena | June 9, 2007 9:04 AM
Better too big than too little!!!!! Great to find out you wear the smallest size.
I love both of the socks. Sorry the heel did not work, but the stripey goodness really is good. The green with the brown is just lovely.
Posted by suzanne | June 9, 2007 8:02 AM
"Close enough," hehe! It will get you every time :)
Posted by grumperina | June 9, 2007 7:07 AM
Love the yarn, surely the socks will be fantastic. What yarn is it anyway?
Posted by Eva | June 9, 2007 1:42 AM
The sock looks good. I hope your skirt turns out okay.
Posted by Michelle | June 9, 2007 12:23 AM
HAH.
It could always be the skirt you only wear on Thanksgiving...
Posted by Emily | June 8, 2007 10:55 PM
i think your pal will love the green stripey sock. i do!
i'm feeling you on the shorts thing. i have never met a pair of shorts i liked, at least on me. i always thought that they made me look shorter. i'm only 5'2", so that's not an option.
hopefully the skirt will work out this time. i've been thinking about knitting that one too, as skirts are also my version of shorts in summer.
Posted by melissa | June 8, 2007 8:17 PM
hahaha! that was one big skirt!
Posted by gleek | June 8, 2007 7:03 PM
God, I can't tell you how often "close enough" has bitten me in the ass.
Sockapalooza makes me a worried schmoo, too. I was thisclose to froggiing last night and starting something else, I'm just so afraid to mail out something that is less than fabulous, you know? I like your green stripey sock, I hope your pal does, too!
Posted by Jenn | June 8, 2007 4:35 PM
I started using the Cable Twist pattern with modifications for my pal's sock as well, but then switched to IK's Diagonal Cross-rib socks because they are essentially the same sock, but the IK version is written for sock yarn. I don't know which pattern you are using for your toe-up sock but Widdershins is excellent.
Posted by Chelsea | June 8, 2007 4:28 PM
YAAYYYYY! All our knitting mojos are coming back!!! woopeee~!!!
Posted by Jomy | June 8, 2007 4:26 PM