Monday, February 12, 2007

I am slowly going crazy...

...1...2...3...4...5...6...switch. Crazy going, slowly am I, ...6...5...4...3...2...1...switch!

I've been working on a pair of green cable twist socks for my lemon with the leftovers from my own glorious pair (they're my favourite ;0) and taking the opportunity to teach myself some new techniques like the figure 8 cast-on and all manner of short row heels.

The figure 8 cast-on for the toe is brillant and stunning and Hello Yarn's tutorial couldn't be clearer -- plus how cute is her anime top down bonnet for baby showcasing the technique? Sure it's fiddly for the first couple of rows (the technique, not the bonnet) but it's so fun! Fun enough to convert me into a toe-up sock gal except for one small detail: (cue the tragic music) the short row heel!

I tried 7 different toe-up heel options for these babies including one I think I invented. And I hate them all! Turns out, I'm totally a cuff-down heel flap kinda gal ;0)

I tried Wendy's twice wrapped method, the yarnover method, the Japanese short row method, knit and purl encroachement, afterthought heel , Dawn Brocco's star variation and my own final variation of EZ's afterthought heel: the double decrease (slip two together as if to knit, k1, pass 2 slipped stitches over) on either side every other row.

Then I came back to Wendy's method for the second sock but this time following Cosmic Pluto's awesome tutorial and must admit it is the most successful of the short row methods I've tried. Though I think the afterthought heel is more polished looking though less convenient since you have to cut and rejoin the yarn to knit it.

Anywho, back to my going crazy - as if redoing a heel 7 times in one weekend isn't enough to convince you - I totally lost the yarn needed to finish the second sock! I had it in a ziploc bag with the sock in progress and the finished sock when I came back from a doctor's appointment this morning (baby's doing well and has apparently dropped! Yay!) and now I have everything but the 6 yards of yarn I need to finish the cuff of the second one despite having been sitting on the same spot in the couch since I got back!

$5 says dadda comes home from work and says "it's right there!"

In the meantime, I guess I'm off the hook and get to start a new project... I'm thinking a raglan sweater for lolo made from Elann's oh so soft baby cashmere. The stuff is cheap and divine...my favourite combo ;0)

Oh, and in case anyone wants to know how I made my baby cable twist socks: use figure 8 (or your preferred toe-up technique) to cast-on 24 stitches (12 for the top, 12 for the bottom) and increase every other row to 48 stitches. Start the cable twist pattern in K4/P2 ribs as follows on the 24 top of the foot stitches: P1, K4, P2, K4, P2, K4, P2, K4, P1. Work the 24 bottom of the foot stitches in st st until after you turn the heel then establish this pattern on these as well so that it runs all the way around the leg part of the sock. For the left twist, see the instructions in Hello Yarn (can you tell I heart her?) Cable Twist Sock pattern but over 4 stitches instead of the 6 described in the adult pattern. Mine works out to 4 pattern repeats before the heel and 4 pattern repeats up the leg. I used the sewn cast-off to keep the cuff nice and stretchy. Sized to fit a 0-3 month old.

Happy knitting!

21 comments:

  1. Those have to be the cutest socks I've ever seen! Looking forward to seeing the 2 of you in your matching socks!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aside from flap-and-gusset, I love the forethought heel described in Schurch's "Sensational Knitted Socks." It's super-easy -- just like decreasing a toe.

    I was lost on short-row heels until I started using lots and lots of markers. They make all the difference.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How adorable to have matching socks for you & the little one!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous9:14 p.m.

    soooooooooooooo cute - hope you find the yarn and get to keep the $5 (to spend on more yarn).

    keep those feet up and stay as comfy as possible, annygirl!

    p.s. love my javacuff - use it daily :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Those are totally adorable in miniature. (but then, what isn't?)

    How about the toe-up/heel flap combo instead of short rows?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Seriously, you are so insane. Actually, I think the appropriate adjective is "nesting". You tempt me with those socks. I just finished some super cute booties and I'm wondering why I didn't make baby socks and booties for Beatrix. It's not too late though.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous9:54 p.m.

    Yup, I heart Hello Yarn also. I recently made the anime bonnet in pink, loved the hat and the cast on instructions. (Also might have bought some supplies from her!) Love your socks! and the mini's are divine!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What fun to have matching socks! They are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous8:13 a.m.

    Great socks! Glad to hear that the baby is doing great and getting ready!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Really cute socks! Hope you find the yarn to finish them. BTW, a flap & turn heel can be done toe up also ... but of course uses just a little bit more yarn than short rows. I don't particularly like short row heels ... but that's on my feet that I don't like them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous1:37 p.m.

    Too adorable. Hope you find the rest of the yarn soon.

    Good luck when the time comes!

    ReplyDelete
  12. The socks are so adorable! Hope you find the needed yarn!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love matching socks. When I first looked at the picture, I thought the baby socks were the adult size socks! I'm so glad that you and the baby are doing ok.

    ReplyDelete
  14. They are just the most adorable socks ever. I hope you find the missing 6 yards of yarn too, sure it did not pop behind a cushion cover. Nice pattern too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous1:14 p.m.

    Yes, I am a cuff-to-toe gal too. It just feels awkward to go the otherway; same with hats--must start at the brim if at all possible. Nice socks, you look ready for St.Patrick's Day.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous2:26 p.m.

    I just want to let you know your photos inspired me to cast on the same socks in a medium green from Wildfoote. I made it through the first repeat last night. Yeah!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I loved your socks so much I'm making them too, in different colors, tho. I'm completely with you on disliking toe-up socks; I've never had trouble with cuff-down, and I have unusually big feet (10-11 women's), so length is always an issue.

    The baby sockies are adorable! Maybe I'll try some too, with whatever's left from my socks. :3 I love making baby sockies!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous8:30 a.m.

    Those are super cute! You will both look great!h

    ReplyDelete
  19. I recently tried two slightly different variations on toe-up socks with a flap. Both of them were great...Widdershins and Diamante, both free from Knitty. I, too, love the way a flap fits and dislike intensely the irregularities I get with any of the short-row methods. Let me tell you: a whole world may open up for you...no more running out of yarn and absolutely no holes of any kind. Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous11:24 p.m.

    sooo cute. I have me a little niece or nephew on the way...little sockies to cover little toes- ah knitting fun.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous5:44 p.m.

    Wow, those are lovely socks!

    And I know I'm late (bloglines dropped you from my feeds for some unknown reason) it does sounds like you've already made up your mind, but I thought I'd let you know just in case...there are toe-up heel flaps and this website ( http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/toesheels.html) has a list of versions.

    ReplyDelete