I know, I was supposed to post a picture almost a week ago of the 'new' sock progress, but I got so caught up in knitting it I never wanted to stop long enough to take, edit, and post a picture.
But now it's done.
But now it's done.
I'm really glad I ripped back the first attempt, because this one turned out so much better. I really enjoyed this pattern. It is, by the way, the first full sock pattern in Cat Bordhi's new book "New Pathways for Sock Knitters." It was different. It was challenging just to the degree that it was really fun to work, but not so challenging that it was just an exercise in frustration. This was all new to me from the top down - literally. For starters, I never make socks top-down, but this one was made that way.
There was a new stitch pattern in the sock, the 'linen stitch,' which was quite interesting. I think it would have shown itself off better in a yarn with a different striping pattern or colorway, or even a plain yarn, but I didn't realize that when I decided to use this yarn, and that's okay - I still like it.
There was of course the interest of using Cat's new design, placing the increasing for the gusset on top of the foot instead of around the heel. There was then a new way to knit the heel itself, since the traditional flap heel wasn't getting made.
Then there was the star toe. I've heard of them, but never made one before. Wow - how easy! And I love the way it turned out. My concern about these toes used to be that they might not be very comfortable, but this one is perfectly comfortable. (I haven't pulled it taut and woven in the end inside yet, so there's still a little tiny hole there).
That opens up a whole new world. I never did learn to graft toes, which is why I started making all my socks toe-up with a short row toe - the toe is very comfortable, and I don't have to graft. But I gotta tell you, short row toes are way more complicated than this simple star toe. Quite a neat new trick to add to my sock-knitting repertoire. I'm not 'stuck' knitting socks from the toe up anymore just because I only know one way to make a toe.
I'll be learning more, too, there are instructions for several different toes in Cat's book, and as I work through the book, I'll be trying out all of them. Such a nice touch - you're not just learning a new way to handle the gusset-increase portion of socks, but new cuffs and toes as well.
There was only one odd thing about this sock, that at first I was a little concerned about, but which turned out fine. The length of the leg - my finished sock is much 'taller' than the sample picture in the book. There are obviously far more rows between the end of my cuff patterning and the beginning of the heel stitch in my sock than in the one in the book. And my sock, consequently, comes up clear to mid-calf.
I would have sworn I followed the pattern exactly - in fact, twice, because the first attempt, which I ripped out, had just as long a leg as this one. I kind of doubt I'd mis-read the instructions twice in the same way. So it makes me wonder if it's just that the sample picture was knit purposely shorter, just to show a variation.
I'll find out when I knit the second sock, because I'll be paying special attention to that section, to see if I misread something, or what.
Initially I was kind of concerned about that height, but now I'm not. They're quite comfortable, and since I wear high-top boots all the time, having a sock that's a little taller is actually a good thing. Both of the other pairs of socks I've knitted that I can wear with my boots are actually a little too short for the boots, and the tops slip down inside - not comfortable. With this pair being this long in the leg, that will never be a problem. So regardless of how it happened, it was a good thing to happen. These will be great boot socks, because of that height, and because of their cushiony comfort. (The heel is really nice and padded).
All in all, a great experience - and now I just have to make the second one! One other interesting thing about this sock - usually, anymore for me, simple socks seem to go so fast. This sock didn't seem to (although I did knit it easily in one week; but I spent a lot of time knitting this week, too). It seemed to be taking a very long time. I think part of that was everything being so new. And part of it was that length in the leg, making it a considerably bigger sock than I usually knit. But because it seemed to take so long, I admit I've got just a minor twinge of 'second sock' syndrome. It's like, 'Wow, that was fun, but I have to do it all again?' But it's not horrible, and I will do it - probably starting it today, in fact. No languishing sinle sock for me! Because I really do want this to be a finished pair, so I can get down to enjoying wearing them. And, I think a larger part of my reluctance to have to knit a second one of these is just that I'm so excited to move on to the next sock in the book!
I plan to work my way right through every sock in this book, partly because these new structures are so fun to learn and knit. And partly because I'm fed up with knowing how to knit socks, but having only a couple pairs of my own. Hand-knit socks are the most comfortable thing I know, and I've decided I deserve lots more of them!
Oh, one last thing - I admit that I did not knit the learning socks. There are two child-size 'learning socks' at the beginning of the book which Cat recommends you make, to familiarize yourself with the new concepts and ideas. I started to, then thought, you know ... I can just familiarize myself in the first actual sock, and then I'll be that much further ahead.
Since I'm trying to improve my skills in knitting, I usually do try to take the time to do things "right" - gauge swatches and things like that. But this time I really thought I could get away with this step, and I did succeed. (The problems with the sock I ripped out weren't because I didn't do the practice sock, they were me not paying attention and not following the pattern as given). I think the practice socks would have been almost a necessity for anyone who was not very familiar with sock-knitting in the first place, because they go into much more detail about what each instruction actually means. But for someone with sock-knitting experience, I think it's safe to skip them, and dive right into your first 'real' sock to wear.
I know I've said this before, and will probably say it again, but I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is, hands down, the best knitting book I own. Not only is it an instruction book, with techniques to learn, but of course a pattern book as well.
I think one of the best things about this book is the number and variation of patterns. Each sock architecture has it's own pre-written pattern to follow, to learn exactly how it all goes together. (I'm not talking about 'practice socks' - I'm talking about full-on, completely written out patterns to make a pair of socks for yourself, that you can wear). Those patterns have instructions for multiple sizes, based on the width of your foot at the widest point - so I was able to make this sock almost as custom-fit as if I were doing the math myself. I like this far better than when patterns are just given as "women's medium" - those never fit me, they are too big. And I'm not patient enough to deconstruct the pattern and figure out how to downsize it to fit. And these patterns are gorgeous - not just generic, no frills, bare basics patterns. These patterns have stitch designs in them, and different cuffs and toes - these alone would have made the book well worth owning.
But as if that wasn't grand enough, there is also a 'master pattern' section where, once you've learned the basic architecture from the fully-written pattern, you can plug in your own foot measurements, add any design details or special pattern stitches you'd like, and truly custom-make any sock architecture in the book. Which means that from this one book you could have a lifetime of endless variations of socks, with two pairs never being the same. It's like the Lifetime Sock Knitting Treasury! I can honestly say I would never need another sock knitting book.
Oh, but wait - I lie. Because delightfully unbelievable as this is, this is only the first book in a 3-book series Cat has planned, and I can guarantee you that I will be grabbing the next two as they're published. I don't even have to know what's in them to know that with Cat's genius for the new and magical, and her wonderful way of explaining everything, if she has a new sock book, I want it, sight unseen.
I know, I know - such giddiness over sock books. Well, hello - did you read the title of the blog? And if you still don't get it, then you've never worn hand-knit socks.
Oh, one last thing - I admit that I did not knit the learning socks. There are two child-size 'learning socks' at the beginning of the book which Cat recommends you make, to familiarize yourself with the new concepts and ideas. I started to, then thought, you know ... I can just familiarize myself in the first actual sock, and then I'll be that much further ahead.
Since I'm trying to improve my skills in knitting, I usually do try to take the time to do things "right" - gauge swatches and things like that. But this time I really thought I could get away with this step, and I did succeed. (The problems with the sock I ripped out weren't because I didn't do the practice sock, they were me not paying attention and not following the pattern as given). I think the practice socks would have been almost a necessity for anyone who was not very familiar with sock-knitting in the first place, because they go into much more detail about what each instruction actually means. But for someone with sock-knitting experience, I think it's safe to skip them, and dive right into your first 'real' sock to wear.
I know I've said this before, and will probably say it again, but I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is, hands down, the best knitting book I own. Not only is it an instruction book, with techniques to learn, but of course a pattern book as well.
I think one of the best things about this book is the number and variation of patterns. Each sock architecture has it's own pre-written pattern to follow, to learn exactly how it all goes together. (I'm not talking about 'practice socks' - I'm talking about full-on, completely written out patterns to make a pair of socks for yourself, that you can wear). Those patterns have instructions for multiple sizes, based on the width of your foot at the widest point - so I was able to make this sock almost as custom-fit as if I were doing the math myself. I like this far better than when patterns are just given as "women's medium" - those never fit me, they are too big. And I'm not patient enough to deconstruct the pattern and figure out how to downsize it to fit. And these patterns are gorgeous - not just generic, no frills, bare basics patterns. These patterns have stitch designs in them, and different cuffs and toes - these alone would have made the book well worth owning.
But as if that wasn't grand enough, there is also a 'master pattern' section where, once you've learned the basic architecture from the fully-written pattern, you can plug in your own foot measurements, add any design details or special pattern stitches you'd like, and truly custom-make any sock architecture in the book. Which means that from this one book you could have a lifetime of endless variations of socks, with two pairs never being the same. It's like the Lifetime Sock Knitting Treasury! I can honestly say I would never need another sock knitting book.
Oh, but wait - I lie. Because delightfully unbelievable as this is, this is only the first book in a 3-book series Cat has planned, and I can guarantee you that I will be grabbing the next two as they're published. I don't even have to know what's in them to know that with Cat's genius for the new and magical, and her wonderful way of explaining everything, if she has a new sock book, I want it, sight unseen.
I know, I know - such giddiness over sock books. Well, hello - did you read the title of the blog? And if you still don't get it, then you've never worn hand-knit socks.
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