I'm back from a whirlwind holiday trip to see the family. As usual, I've come back with some sort of cold, but really, what with 3 airplanes, 4 small children (nieces and nephew) and general lack of sleep, it's to be expected.
But that's not what you come here for (as far as I know)! You come here for things like this:
I finished a pair of monkey socks on my trip! These are knit in Lorna's Laces Mixed Berries. I knit them mostly on size 1 needles (the ribbing and first two pattern repeats are on size 2s), and they are a wee bit snug. That works out well, since they're not for me. They should be winging their way off to the recipient sometime this week.
I don't know if you all do this, but I tend to sort of read what the pattern stitch is and make up the rest of a sock as I go along. I really dig the Eye of Partridge heel flap, which I first found in the Ripple and Weave socks (Vogue Knitting, Fall '06, note that there is a slight error in the chart for the pattern stitch). Ok, so sometimes I read the pattern and do what it says. Anyway, I used the Eye of Partridge heel again. I have no idea what Cookie's pattern called for, honestly. Here are the heel flaps:
One thing I might need to rethink about this heel is that it has that nice little garter stitch at the edge. This is great in one way: it makes picking up the stitches on the edges of the heel flaps for the gusset a total dream. However, I can feel the ridge of stitches I picked up on the inside of the socks. Anyone else have this problem or am I picking up the wrong thing?
Gratuitous sock shots:
I'll give you a tiny hint as to what I started knitting next:
Pics of the new sock in progress to follow ... as well as maybe some pics of what I got when I went to visit The Fold while I was in Illinois ...
Also, there are still a few things left on the destashing page, and look at that total! Thanks again to everyone who has increased their own stash in the name of Knitters Without Borders.
eye of the partridge is my favorite heel. your monkey socks look great!
Posted by: marti at January 1, 2007 10:49 PMhave you tried picking up sts the "pretty way" ? http://www.grumperina.com/knitblog/archives/2005/10/theres_the_easy.htm
Posted by: heatherly at January 1, 2007 11:44 PMWow, great pair of socks! I love the pattern and the colorway is just gorgeous!
Posted by: Randi at January 2, 2007 12:52 AMI've found that I actually never follow the sock pattern as written. I always use a short-row heel, and it seems like all the patterns I find are for heel-flaps, so I take the stitch pattern and general idea and then put what I like in for the construction.
I hear that Danish sock patterns recognize the need for knitters to do this, and basically just say, "Add heel here" rather than telling you what kind of heel to use. I love it.
Posted by: G. Knerd at January 2, 2007 1:15 AMI have the same issue with that garter ridge, so maybe we're both doing the same wrong thing. But, it doesn't bother me too much in the wearing, so I'm sticking with the eye of partridge heel - it looks great.
Posted by: JulieB at January 2, 2007 2:51 AMWhat a scrumptious color! I'm halfway through a pair of Monkey socks in a patterned yarn as well. They were/are a gift for my sister. (*ahem* I did a lot of Knit and a Promise this year.) The eye of the partridge heel is very intriguing—I must look into that. Very interested to see what becomes of the yarn in the last photo!
Posted by: Jeanne B. at January 2, 2007 2:59 AMI love the way that heel looks. Nice job on the socks.
Posted by: Devorah at January 2, 2007 3:43 AMPretty socks. Dunno about picking up stitches from the garter edging. I do eye of partridge heel flaps without it like this:
row 1: slip 1, knit 1, repeat across
row 2: slip 1, purl across
row 3: slip 1, repeat (slip 1, knit 1) across, knit 1
row 4: slip 1, purl across.
So you end with a column of slipped stitches at each end like an ordinary slipstich heel.
Awwww, hope your cold goes away fast! The socks look great, and it seems there are some good suggestions on the heel for you already. I'm excited about the next pair of socks...
Posted by: Schrodinger at January 2, 2007 5:24 AMThe socks look wonderful! What vibrant colors ;) and that new yarn looks splendid. Great photo too!
Posted by: Lolly at January 2, 2007 7:37 AMSome Yummy Socks. Eye of partridge really compliments the design. Great stuff!
So...now you're back...Cookie Colored handspun anyone?
Posted by: Elle at January 2, 2007 7:54 AMThose came out great - truly berry-licious! I love the EOP heel - so pretty with the slipped stitches. I'll have to look up that pattern for the garter stitch border. I love the looks of it. Not sure why you are feeling the bumps....strange.
Posted by: stacey at January 2, 2007 8:21 AMYour Monkey Socks are great!!!! I strickly follow the patterns right now, I'm still new. Rebellious, but new;) Happy New Year to you both!!!
Posted by: Carol at January 2, 2007 8:37 AMThe socks look great! I'm the same way with just taking the pattern and putting it onto my favorite method of construction. I just finished the heel of a sock using an eye of partridge heel with a garter ridge. It's one of my favorites, and I've never noticed the garter bumps, so maybe it's just cause they're tight on you. At any rate, they look great!
Posted by: Adam at January 2, 2007 10:01 AMI love that heel! I'm doing that one next. thanks for the great picture.
Posted by: beth at January 2, 2007 12:36 PMPretty socks! I like the look of your heel. I wonder if I could do it toe-up. I'll have to try. :)
Posted by: Abigail at January 2, 2007 4:03 PMNew to the blog - and while I am usually a lurker and not a commenter, I am trying to change my silent ways. And boy is that one fine looking heel flap. It works beautifully with the yarn's variegation. I will need to look up that issue!
Posted by: Sonya at January 2, 2007 5:58 PMWow! I wish I could show a pair of socks from my holiday! I love the colors, great for the pattern.
Posted by: Jo at January 3, 2007 12:09 AMPretty sock! Hope you feel better soon. Happy new year!
Posted by: vanessa at January 3, 2007 12:23 PMgirl, you are so fast! I love that Rooster rock colorway too, so gorgeous.
Posted by: Juls at January 3, 2007 8:35 PMI utterly love the eye of partridge heel. I substitute it all the time because it is so pretty! Those socks are lovely!
Posted by: Elinor at January 4, 2007 7:26 PMI had the same problem with the heel on the embossed leaves socks I just did. I thought it was the garter ridge that was bothering my foot though. Now I wonder if it's the picked up stitches. It tickles more than anything though. I love the detail and hope I get used to it.
And the next entry (I'm surfing the YPF ring) though it's not a friday post - THAT is what I'm talking about with WIP photos. Wow!
Posted by: turtlegirl76 at January 5, 2007 1:02 PM