July 21, 2012 - Started these while on vacation. Was able to work a toe of one sock before flying home. Started the colorwork on the plane, nearly losing a DPN under my seat! XD Got about 10 rows into the color work, then decided to try working them 2-at-a-time on a magic loop. So I had to go back and start the second sock (MUCH easier since I was getting the hang of doing the colorwork!) and catch it up to the same point.

I haven’t put them on the magic loop together yet. I got the hankering to do some lace, so I started another pair of socks and was planning to switch between the two. …then I started my Snow Orange sweater again… ~guilty~

July 29, 2012 - Frogged one of the socks. Sadly, it’s the one that has more of a story behind it. However, I just couldn’t stop looking at the mess of my toe increases and thinking, “What the heck was I smoking when I knit that?!” Seriously, it looked like a crackmonkey took over for every increase. So it had to go! Gonna do these 1 at a time and hope I don’t get second sock syndrome.

August 18, 2012 - Since I finished my Snow…Orange? sweater, I had to decide on a pair of socks to finish before I can start on any new projects. It was between these and my lace “My Sexy Valentine” socks. I decided to work on these because I also have my other sweater (Le Mouton Rose) on hold, and I figured I should get one colorwork project out of the way, and MAYBE learn some new techniques.

SO!

Yesterday was spent learning and practicing how to knit Continental. My tension still feels all over the place, and I have issues with the yarn slipping on my finger or out of my “ideal” grip, but I’m getting better. I have the picking technique down pretty well. Pink yarn in my left hand, black yarn in my right, and off I went!

Today I turned the heel of the first sock. They feel a little tight, but that’s partially due to my tension and partially due to the fact that I think I could have gone a few more rows before the heel. The pattern says to turn the heel after Row 1 of the pattern, but I think doing another full repeat would have made them WAY too long. But looking at the pattern, I don’t see why you couldn’t really do the heel at any point as long as you’re still working the first chart. ~shrug~

Originally I was thinking I would get the heel done and one repeat of the pattern (finish the repeat I was on when I turned the heel), and then start the second sock. I would get Sock #2 to the same point, then leap-frog the progress back and forth.

However, I realized my other circular needle of the right size is holding my black lace socks. =/ I could transfer them to DPNs and then keep going, but frankly that’s too much work right now. =P Yes, I’m feeling lazy. I want to keep working on this one sock, take notes, and then do the second sock!

Let’s just hope I don’t get Second Sock Syndrome!

August 23, 2012 - FINISHED A SOCK!

I originally thought I’d have enough yarn to make them above-the-knee/thigh-high, but once I calculated ribbing, they would get over the knee but end in a “stupid place.” I’d need to be able to do 2-3 more pattern repeats in order to get it to a good-looking above-the-knee length. So I just made them knee-highs anyway. It’s okay because it’s still super cute!

Some things I learned for sock #2:

Following the pattern as written through the foot was the right length for me. I have fairly small feet and wear between a 6-7 shoe.

I did the extra two heel rows (5 and 6?) because I didn’t mark the errata on my printouts. They still fit fine.

Next sock: At the point where I finish the heel and go back to knitting in the round, I need to do the extra stitch in the corner so there won’t be a hole.

When I got to Chart 2 I did a full chart + 7 more rows to end up on row 7 with 106 stitches after the increases.

I did a few more pattern repeats following Chart 3, and ended at the end of the chart (row 32).

If I was going to continue above the knee, I would have gotten to the point where I ended up, 7 more rows on Chart 3, and then gone back to Chart 2 for the increases. I would have finished Chart 2 (with Row 1 being the final increase) and continued from there on Chart 3.

My ribbing involved 1 row of knitting in black, 8 rows of 1x1 ribbing, and then Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off. I did not switch to smaller needles as I didn’t think I had any circs small enough. So the ribbing feels a little loose, but because the sock is shaped PERFECTLY it feels like it will stay up just fine.

I just re-balled the yarn from my frogged sock and I can’t wait to get that one done too!

September 2, 2012 - FINISHED!

THEY FIT!

I NEED NEW SHOES TO WEAR WITH THEM!

AND POSSIBLY A NEW OUTFIT!

I CAN’T PURL CONTINENTAL TO SAVE MY LIFE!

WHY AM I YELLING?!

PROBABLY BECAUSE IT’S ALMOST 6 AM AND I JUST FINISHED THESE!

…pics tomorrow. I really need some sleep. >.>