Tuesday, January 29, 2008

A Year in Socks


Rani is hosting a Year in Socks group and I decided to join. I suspect I'm going to be a bit challenged by the goal of finishing a pair of socks a month but since I've gotten a hankerin' to do some sock knitting already, I figured I'd give it a go.

I've already picked my February project, the Sweetheart Socks by Chrissy Gardiner, published in the Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2007 magazine. Yes, I snagged a copy of that magazine as soon as it came out on the newsstands! I just love IK and this time it was a good thing I got my copy early.

HOWEVER . . . Because I'm such a die-hard toe-up fanatic, I absolutely had to re-draft the pattern for a toe-up construction. I also ran into a problem with the swatch being too large. It's a common problem I have with recommended needle sizes. I invariably have to size down 2 sizes to make gauge. In this case, since it calls for 0 needles, there was no way I was going to be able to size down this time. So I redrafted the pattern to eliminate some of the additional wales of ribbing between cable patterns. By eliminating 16 stitches all the way around, I've finally got a pattern and gauge that will actually work. It took several hours of playing in Excel to make a chart pattern that satisfied me but time spent up front will hopefully eliminate hours of frustration and frogging/tinking later.


I've been swatching with the leftover yarn from Hubby's Chocolate Twist socks. But I have some more Dream in Color Smooshy in Gothic Rose to use for this pattern. Isn't it lovely.

Now, I just have to wait until Friday to cast on, since the rules are specific about starting on February 1st.

Hmmmm, what should I do until Friday?

6 comments:

sheep#100 said...

Susan Bates makes 00 and 000 aluminum sock dpns. Just sayin'

livnletlrn said...

Yowza that's some purty yarn. Stay warm!

Sheepish Annie said...

There is no doubt in my mind that you can finish a pair of socks per month. None whatsoever! And they'll be wicked pretty, too!

Guinifer said...

Me too! I am twisting the Feb sock theme - wait til you see!

I just love the name Gothic Rose!

PJS said...

hi... sorry my hopeless spelling, its penllyn socks... you should find them now :)

have a great day, see you in the sock blog

Rani said...

oooooooh. I like the red yarn. It looks like such a warm color. A great contrast against our blue-white snow. Take that, Winter!

You'll kick butt on the sock knitting.

ps. I know what I'd do with a few days until the starting line. Laundry, dishes, ironing, vaccuming, showering . . .