11/03/08: This is my November Sockdown entry for Sock Knitters Anonymous. I chose this pattern because I needed one with slipped stitches and I think this will look nice with the handpainted yarn I’m using. I’m hoping it will keep the colors from pooling too much.

These will be for my sister’s birthday… which is coming up really soon! They won’t be done on time, but it’s the thought that counts… right? I think I’ll show the sock-in-progress to my sister on her birthday. If she doesn’t love this yarn as much as I do, these will be for me and I’ll let her pick out something else.

Anyway, according to the chart in the book, I should be using a 78 stitch cast-on for my sister’s size… but that seems so huge that I can’t bring myself to do that. So, I’m doing the 66 stitch cast-on and I’m hoping for the best. I like to get at least 9 stitches per inch when I’m using yarn without nylon, so I’m using 0s for the cuff and 1s for the pattern on the leg and foot (since slip stitch is usually tighter).

I also only did 1 inch on the cuff (instead of 1.5 inches) because I need be sure to have enough of the solid pink yarn for both socks. I should have plenty for the cuffs and heels, but I was hoping to also do the toes in the pink… and I think it will be close.

11/06/08: Well, today’s my sister’s birthday… and they’re not anywhere near done. But, I knew that would happen. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see her so I couldn’t have her try it on. I’m feeling paranoid that it’s going to be too tight, but it fits me ok so far. I’m fluffier than she is, so it might be fine.

Aside from that, I’m really liking this pattern. It’s super easy to memorize and the colors in the yarn break up nicely. However, I’m not loving the way the 1x1 rib on the cuff looks. I don’t know if I just suck at 1x1 rib or what, but I’m thinking of frogging back and redoing that in either twisted rib or 3x3 rib.

11/07/08: Well, I frogged and redid the cuff in 3x3 rib. I think it looks better now.

Since I was worried about the sock being tight, I also did a test to see whether I should move up to the 78 cast-on size. Well, it was HUGE. I could seriously get the thing around my foot and onto my leg without actually touching my leg… like it a little hula hoop. Crazy!

So, I stuck with the 66 stitch cast-on and moved to slightly larger needles. Now I’m using size 1 for the cuff and 1.5 for the slip stitch pattern. I’m getting about 8.5 stitches per inch, which should still be ok as far as durability goes.

11/09/08: Finished the heel flap and turn. I did the heel in the contrasting solid pink on the smaller needles. Now I’ll switch back to the variegated with the larger needles for the foot.

11/10/08: Well, what started out as a cute sock turned funky real fast. Once I finished the gusset, I realized the yarn and pattern weren’t going to play nice anymore. I kept going, hoping things would be ok, but it didn’t happen. If these were for me, I might have lived with it. But, I don’t want to give my sister something that I’m not happy with.

So, the sock went to the frog pond. I like the pattern, but the yarn is much too pretty to end up in an ugly sock. I’m going to swatch a bit and try again with another pattern…