All Socks, All the Time

Now, that was a nice long blog break, wasn't it?!  Not intentional, I assure you.  It's funny how summers for parents are busier than the school months.  We've had day camp -- long, hot, exhausting, but lots of fun -- swimming lessons, birthday parties, a bout of 'flu for Laura -- whew!  Not a lot of time for knitting, let alone blogging about it.

But if you're wondering if a skein of Jitterbug is enough to make a pair Jaywalkers for a size Australian 8/US 10 foot, the answer --

is no.  My feet are smaller than the recipient's, so it's not just a matter of an inch and a half, either.  Gaah.

I did think about ripping them out altogether and making them shorter in the leg, but frankly I like them a bit long, and so suspect that it would be better to have them "too long" rather than shorter, so that was out.  I ran to the yarn shop and bought another skein, which was quite obviously not the same dyelot, and then had to decide whether I should just carry on or pull out half of the foot and alternate skeins -- I decided that it would be apparent either way, and that it would be much less likely to show if the new part was further down the foot.  Much less work for me, too! so it was an easy decision.

The colors, curiously, are not as variegated in real life as they are in the photos -- the reds and yellows don't pop out as much as they seem to here.  I tried all sorts of various settings on my camera, but none seems to capture the essence of the stuff.  You'll have to take my word for it.  The second skein is definitely more subtle, as well as -- rather alarmingly -- of a finer gauge.

And here is a pair of socks for Julia, which I finished last night.  The pattern is from Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns, with a picot edging and 3x1 rib, lined up with the picots because that's the kind of knitter I am.

Posed by Julia on the edge of the bed.  She doesn't like having her picture taken unless she's in the right mood, so I may have to wait for a modelling shoot!

I found the picot edging to be extremely fiddly at this gauge, and will most likely not attempt it again with the Wildfoote, which was not only very splitty, but I had chosen a color (Columbine) which made it difficult to see what I was doing, with its "tri-color twists."

Nevermind -- Julia is happy!

Comments

[--Deb]

Don't you hate it when that happens? Right there, that's the main reason I like toe-up socks . . . if you run out, your socks may be a little shorter than you'd hoped, but at least they're socks!

[erin]

That's my fear when it comes to knitting from one skein. I might have to buy a weighing scale for this purpose. Glad you managed to finsh the socks. I like the purple ones.

[Rose Red]

Thanks for the heads up on the Jitterbug - I bought two (different) skeins recently, so will have to watch them as I'm knitting - or maybe it will provide the perfect opportunity to try toe-up!
Both pairs look great too!

[Marie]

Good save on the Jaywalkers! How annoying though that the yarn ran out and the new lot was different in gauge! What did you think of the Jitterbug otherwise?
Julia's socks are adorable! I love the picot edging.

[annmarie]

Years ago I almost threw out a sock I was knitting with Wildfoote because the splitty nature of the yarn was driving *me* wild. In frustration, I picked up the Pony Pearls double points I never used because of their extremely dull points and finished those socks in record time. Talk about the perfect marriage...:/

[Mel]

Oh, but those Wildfoote socks will wash up well. My hub's don't even pill and they're super soft. But hey, you prob know that already.

[Felicia]

Those jaywalkers are delicious looking.

[Claudia]

Good decision to just move forward with the new skein - you are obviously a well adjusted person!

[Rachel]

I just had the exact same problem with my socks. I just hate it when you run out so close to the end! You seem to have come up with the perfect solution, however!

[Katy]

So glad you're back! You were missed!

I have Jaywalkers in my projects que, but my recent experience knitting a baby sock using fingering weight yarn and size two needles makes me think I may never get to them. Yours are lovely!

[Lazuli]

Annmarie is right about the duller points and splitty sock yarn. I've been working with Wildfoote using needles that, while not dull, aren't as sharp as could be, and it's been ok.

I think that both pairs look great, even the Jays! The dyelot change didn't strike me as too obvious in your pictures, and I kind of like a mismatched toe look.

[Linda Rogers]

I stumbled onto our blog while looking for flooring ideas - don't know why - but I have recently learned to knit and think it is funny that I ran into a knitting website! I love all the pictures of your dollhouse! Thanks for sharing your talents!