I blame Xandermommy

First of all, she kept insisting that I try out this whole knitting thing again, which I obviously have. That's not really a complaint because I do enjoy crafty time and it's fairly affordable (depending on your stash resistance) and I don't have too hard a time sticking to buying mostly just what I need for certain projects that I have in mind. I've made some fun things and even worked on using up remnants of yarn for smaller projects.

But then, she also introduced the concept of sock clubs. And Woolgirl. And I found Woolgirl's Oz Sock Club. And I debated and wondered and considered and noticed that the spaces for it were limited and were probably already filled, but I sent in a form to sign up for it anyway. It's expensive, but like one of Xandermommy's clubs it doesn't ship every month. And it's not that I'm a closet Wizard of Oz fan - I mean, I remember watching it when it was on TV when I was a kid but haven't ever really seen it since - but it sounds like a fun basis for choosing yarn colors and patterns. And so today they sent out the acceptance emails and I was chosen! Now I can start justifying the expense by noting that the kits are likely to contain project bags and stitch markers and other knitting accessories that I haven't really bought for myself yet, so surely they'll be worth the expense. ;) The kits won't start until May, but I'm looking forward to seeing them.

So yes, Xandermommy (and Sariebeth, who obviously helped by pushing the Ravelry addiction), you have corrupted me thoroughly. I just signed my name on a dotted line that guarantees I'll be knitting socks periodically for the foreseeable future! And I have now sunk a pretty penny into this crafty hobby, too. I'm looking forward to being able to point out that it was worth it. After all, I'm already wearing a few pairs of hand-knit socks that I made for myself, so what's a dozen or so more for me and my friends and family?

A Word From the Silent Partner

Hi! It feels like we never see each other any more! Tis I, Xandermommy, the least talkative of the famed Ludistitch bloggers! Way back, I mentioned that I had joined a few sock clubs. Well, I've received my first installment of the Socks that Rock 2009 Club, and completed those socks. I fell in love with them immediately. The blues and greens are just beautiful, and to top it off, these are beaded socks. I've never done any beaded knitting before, but this is a wonderful introductory pattern! Unfortunately, there were a few knots in the yarn. Not a big deal unless you have 100+ beads being stopped by said yarn. So...BEHOLD! Here is the Queen of the Beads pattern knit with Socks That Rock. Please ignore the pasty whiteness of my sad winter legs. Until next time, ta!

Fun with Flashing and Pooling

I finally have a project with some major flashing and pooling of colors. I understand that some people really hate it when yarn does this, but so far I've found it fun. I suppose maybe I wouldn't like it if it made big pools of colors I didn't like, but then I've avoided knitting with colors I don't really like.

So the first sock started with a jagged spiral that turned into a jagged pool of green on one side of the leg and orange on the other side. I thought working the heel might lead to something crazy on the foot, but it just switched to jagged spirals around the foot. I really like the way it came out.


Its fraternal twin (the other sock) is, of course, not doing exactly the same thing. So far, having not yet reached the heel, it has not spiraled at all. The leg is mostly just a jagged blob of green on one side and orange on the other, but more so than the first sock.

I am using smaller needles for these socks and leaving them a little shorter and tighter than previous pairs in an attempt to work out the perfect fit. All of my socks have fit me so far, but what start out as snug pairs seem to loosen quickly when I actually wear them. Time will tell.

They just went on and on, my friend.

This was the sock that would not end. It just went on and on my friend. This lady started knitting it not knowing what it was...








Ah yes, the flat feet socks. The eight row repeat of the pattern makes a lovely, lacy sock in the pictures and that's how they got me in the first place. I encourage those of you who are smarter than me (all of you) to try it. What got me was row five (damn you, row five) where I would get into the rhythm and forget to switch. Now I'm frogging out yo's which never ends well. You flat feet socks made me mad (in the crazy way). You have been a formidable foe, and there were times that we did not know how our collective story would end. But now we do - I kicked your ass!


















Boo-yah! Now keep my feet warm, bee-yatchs...I mean, you darlings (we're making up now). I find them adorable. And also nice and toasty. Almost easy to forget that these were the socks that would not end. They just went on and on, my friend. Some lady started knitting them, not knowing...

Now for my trip to Las Vegas tomorrow, I think I'll take the Michelle Obama socks with me. She was on the cover of the Vogue I received today, and I think it's a sign.

...and she'll continue knitting it forever just because...

Sock Heel Showdown

The French Heel
- versus -
The Short Row Heel

I know I already mentioned that the heel flap and gusset method felt like it took much, much longer to complete. While I still think that's true (it only makes sense - the gusset continues farther down the foot beyond the heel), I will admit that it wasn't as noticeable on the second sock. I guess by then I knew what to expect.

Now, I haven't had the chance to wear the socks with the French Heels much yet and I haven't yet tried them in shoes. Still, my initial impression is that they fit a bit looser in the heel and the back of the foot, which isn't surprising because they have a lot more stitches there until the gusset is reduced out. You might think this means that I jumped right back to the short row heels for the next socks in progress, but you'd be wrong!

I decided to try another heel flap and gusset style heel, but this time one that was indicated as a better fit for narrow heels (which I have), so I'm trying out The V-Heel. I haven't worked them far enough to be able to really wear them yet, but they seem to be a better fit so far. I'm also taking advantage of a pattern that reduces out a couple of stitches after the heel so that the foot is worked on two fewer stitches than the leg. I suspect that might help the fit for me, too.

I certainly haven't given up on the Short Row heel and I'm planning to use it again after trying the V-Heel. Although I can see why people like the heel flap and gusset construction, I still find it a lot less magical and more prone to errors in measurement. Of course, that also means it's much more customizable and might allow you to really tailor the heel to fit different feet with high arches, etc. For me, the Short Row heel just instantly fit like a glove, but I can imagine that it might fit too tightly across the top of the foot or not be flexible enough for certain types of feet without additional modifications. I'll be happy to have both types of heels in my knitting arsenal, but we'll see which type wins out as the most-used over time. At least now I've tried them both enough to understand what people are talking about with all of the different heel terminology.