While I was on the road for work over the last 2+ months, I knit up a storm, including new socks for myself. Knitting really is a wonderfully transportable hobby, especially when it comes to small projects.
I didn't realize it at the time, but I think knitting these socks was really an exercise in wish fulfillment. Life would have been so much easier - and my sewing so much more productive! - if only I had my own TARDIS to traverse time and space.
Unfortunately, I had to settle for socks. However, these are pretty cool socks, especially if you are of a somewhat geeky persuasion.(And if you don't agree that Tom Baker was the best Doctor, well, you can just keep that comment to yourself.)
They are based on this popular sock pattern. However, I did a few things differently. First, I knit from the toe up instead of the top down. This allowed me to use the cast on, foot and heel that I like best. The only complication was that I had to flip the pattern for the colorwork parts, working it in reverse so the letters came out the right way. It was pretty easy to do. The only part that couldn't be flipped was the ankle (ie: between the heel and colorwork), which at least IMHO looks fine knit upside down (would you even know?).
While knitting these socks, I realized that I'm not actually a slow knitter, as I previously thought. I just have a talent for picking complicated patterns that take precision and care. Not so with this quick and easy pattern. The only part that was challenging was the colorwork, which was a first for me. You see, if you don't knit the colorwork loosely, it won't stretch - a big problem for socks. I had to do and re-do all of the multi-colored parts a few times to get them right. Other than that, these socks were a breeze.
Since spring has really arrived here in the Northeast, I'm not sure how much action these socks will see until Autumn. But that's ok since I'm a little on the fence about the fit. I used Cascade Heritage yarn which is a superwash fingering weight merino and nylon blend. It was great to knit and feels wonderfully soft, but it seems to have lots of bounce and stretch. So, I'm not sure if these socks might end up being a bit big. We'll see.
Next up in sock knitting is learning how to darn.
Yes, I have worn a hole in my gorgeous cashmere lace and cable socks after just four months of (pretty intense) wear. Sigh. I had been hoping that rumors that cashmere socks are less sturdy than wool/nylon ones were not true. Seems that they are. Anyone have any tips for darning socks??
I didn't realize it at the time, but I think knitting these socks was really an exercise in wish fulfillment. Life would have been so much easier - and my sewing so much more productive! - if only I had my own TARDIS to traverse time and space.
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| TARDIS: Time and Relative Dimensions in Space |
Unfortunately, I had to settle for socks. However, these are pretty cool socks, especially if you are of a somewhat geeky persuasion.(And if you don't agree that Tom Baker was the best Doctor, well, you can just keep that comment to yourself.)
 |
| Time and Relative Dimensions in Socks |
They are based on this popular sock pattern. However, I did a few things differently. First, I knit from the toe up instead of the top down. This allowed me to use the cast on, foot and heel that I like best. The only complication was that I had to flip the pattern for the colorwork parts, working it in reverse so the letters came out the right way. It was pretty easy to do. The only part that couldn't be flipped was the ankle (ie: between the heel and colorwork), which at least IMHO looks fine knit upside down (would you even know?).
While knitting these socks, I realized that I'm not actually a slow knitter, as I previously thought. I just have a talent for picking complicated patterns that take precision and care. Not so with this quick and easy pattern. The only part that was challenging was the colorwork, which was a first for me. You see, if you don't knit the colorwork loosely, it won't stretch - a big problem for socks. I had to do and re-do all of the multi-colored parts a few times to get them right. Other than that, these socks were a breeze.
Since spring has really arrived here in the Northeast, I'm not sure how much action these socks will see until Autumn. But that's ok since I'm a little on the fence about the fit. I used Cascade Heritage yarn which is a superwash fingering weight merino and nylon blend. It was great to knit and feels wonderfully soft, but it seems to have lots of bounce and stretch. So, I'm not sure if these socks might end up being a bit big. We'll see.
Next up in sock knitting is learning how to darn.
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| How sad is that? |
Yes, I have worn a hole in my gorgeous cashmere lace and cable socks after just four months of (pretty intense) wear. Sigh. I had been hoping that rumors that cashmere socks are less sturdy than wool/nylon ones were not true. Seems that they are. Anyone have any tips for darning socks??
