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February 18, 2008
Happy Birthday, Heather! Socks
First FO of 2008! Woo!
Pattern: Basic stockinette socks with unintentional calf shaping (more on that a little further down)
Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn in colorway #184 that I picked up from Knitch during Christmas
Needles: US 2 32" circular needles (knitpicks)
For: Heather
Well, this new Noro Kureyon sock yarn is pretty much the same as its thicker counterpart. It's rough, has inconsistent gauge, has the requisite knot that will screw up the color sequence, and really, really loves getting tangled.
I utterly adore this yarn. The colors are just that pretty.
So I actually cast on for Heather's socks at the start of the new year. I figured I had p-l-e-n-t-y of time to get her socks done by her b-day (Valentine's Day, actually). I first cast on for a pair of Charades in Koigu that just went to hell. The gauge for the first sock was 87983749837x looser than the second one even tho I used the same exactly needles and yarn. After some hemming and hawing, I knew I couldn't in my right mind gift someone those socks.
Only I can get totally duped by my own pattern.
So then I cast on for a pair of Roza's Socks in some Trekking and right when I was about to turn the heel on the second sock, I *lost* it's already knit-up mate. It must have fell out of my bag while I was out and about. Why, Lord? WHY?!?!
By then with a little more than a week to go, I knew that stockinette was basically my only option. So I needed the yarn to be extra special to make up for its otherwise oatmeal-blandness.
I cast on 58 stitches on US 2's knit and knit and knit some more. But after a good four inches I could tell the sock were going to be too big. I decided to just decrease a stitch at the start and at the end of the next round so I would be left with 56 stitches cuz honestly, there was no way I was going to be able to start *another* pair of socks and retain my sanity. After a couple of inches in at 56 stitches, I could still see they were the teeniest bit too big and so then proceeded to decrease two more stitches. So hence, my unintentional calf shaping. Ta da.
Once I got into a knitting groove, I had a lot of fun knitting these socks. And it went by very quickly. I enjoyed seeing the different colors start to emerge. It just never gets old with Noro for some reason. I managed to finish these socks the Sunday before Valentine's Day and send them on its way. And as luck would have it, the recipient got her socks right smack on her b-day. Woohoo! All in all, a complete success!
The End.
ETA: As for the results of my recent poll, a good 60% of you guys aren't Type-A personalities and prefer fraternally striped socks over identical. Me too. :) Although I do have an immense appreciation for perfection, I have neither the time, energy, nor mental stability for such an effort regularly.
In the next episode of Knitting Under Pressure!, see how this blog's heroine manages to finish this sock in precisely six days and NOT kill anyone in the process.
Posted by Sandra at February 18, 2008 02:27 PM
Comments
Noro colours are pretty amazing, but something I will probably always admire from afar, the yarn would drive me crazy. I love those socks though... so purdy!
Posted by: schrodinger at February 18, 2008 05:15 PM
Did you have to keep telling yourself, "I am smarter than yarn. Yarn is not smarter than me." ?
Posted by: elizabeth at February 18, 2008 06:18 PM
If heather gets the socks can I have the shoes.....
Posted by: E to the M at February 18, 2008 06:59 PM
I don't know why but when I saw these all I could thin of was that movie Xanadu with Oliva Newton-John......I love them.
Posted by: KeanaLee at February 18, 2008 10:00 PM
I am so happy you stuck with it. I love my socks. I wondered about the calf shaping. I thought damn, she actually noticed my cankles this Christmas! ;)
Posted by: pneuma at February 19, 2008 01:22 AM
Heather is one lucky lady.
I heart Noro and I esp. heart these socks.
Posted by: Emily at February 19, 2008 03:52 AM
those are so cute!!! love the striping! Glad it all worked out!
Posted by: stacey at February 19, 2008 08:29 AM
Those make me want to knit Noro socks! They're great! Supremely lovely! And the shoes are too...
Posted by: Francesca (Stuntmother) at February 19, 2008 09:47 AM
Those socks are fabulous. I have some of that Noro basting in the stash - I am so tempted to pull it out right now and get to knitting.
Posted by: Katie at February 19, 2008 10:17 AM
I love that twisted flower sock. Are the Noro socks comfortable? Any knots in tender places?
Posted by: Stacey at February 19, 2008 01:20 PM
Love those socks!
And hey, some people just break out into a rash when things are organized, ya know? (Somehow though, those same people cannot be bothered to vacuum the rug). You gotta pick your battles.
Posted by: Veronique at February 19, 2008 04:16 PM
Cute socks!!!!
I love the yellow shoes... I *need* some yellow shoes!
Posted by: Leah at February 21, 2008 12:13 AM
so much drama! thank god it ended with some FABULOUS socks. i really need to get my hands on some of that yarn right.now.
Posted by: kris at February 21, 2008 07:00 AM
You are indeed a good friend. But I do think the yellow pumps are a ust with those socks! :)
Posted by: Tammy at February 21, 2008 11:11 AM
lovlovelove.
Posted by: knitxcore at February 21, 2008 10:09 PM
I HAD to award you a "You make my Day Award" - fellow sock freak.
Posted by: Donyale Grant at February 23, 2008 04:01 AM
noticed that you bought some yarn(Noro sock yarn) at Knitch at the end of last year, isn't it beautiful in there, I feel lucky that its my LYS. Next time your in Atlanta send a shout out (we're myspace friends,too) we could meet up for a little knitting session at Knitch!
Posted by: christan vick at March 21, 2008 02:01 PM