I've been knitting away on my Rooster Rock Knee-Highs from my handspun, and it got me to thinking about something. Back when I first started knitting socks, I spent a lot of time looking at instructions on different websites and figuring out where to start, how to turn a heel, etc.
Now that I've been knitting socks for a while, I have to look at the instructions for all of these things less and less. Even better, I can solve all the little problems -- for example, how should I do the increases now that I decided to do 3x3 ribbing?
I guess what I'm saying is that I feel a lot more self-sufficient with this whole (sock) knitting thing these days. The project is completely portable because I don't have to worry about not knowing how to do some part of the sock. It's kind of cool to look back and think about how far I've come.
I'm really happy with how these socks are coming out. Knitting with my handspun is such a fun experience, and watching the color shifts keeps me motivated. Now, to finish the last two inches of this sock and start the next one!
Oooo, lovely! Now, if you're feeling more comfortable with all this sock business, how about posting some tips for those of us still trying to figure it out? :3
Posted by: FaireGoddess at January 18, 2007 12:59 AMOh, these socks are going to look so yummy! Your handspun is absolutely beautiful, and the increases are just stunning!
I agree, the more socks (or anything else actually) one knits, the more comfortable they'll get knitting it - things seem to go so easy after a while and it's even possible then to come up with personal ideas and modifications that we wouldn't have dared trying (or never thought about in the first place) a while ago. A great thing indeed!
Your handspun is gorgeous! The colors are really beautiful and your sock is als looking great. Congratulations!
Posted by: Nynke at January 18, 2007 4:11 AMThe sock is looking great. You must feel super-proud!
Posted by: schrodinger at January 18, 2007 4:45 AMThose are really gorgeous. Doesn't it feel good to "take off" with your skills? I'm just figuring out some new stuff (colorwork is kicking my arse) but I know that feeling is around the bend!
Posted by: [no author] at January 18, 2007 6:59 AMIsn't it fun to feel like that? I feel the same way now with my toe ups. I can start with any yarn, figure it out as I go along, mess with the leg patterns if I want to when I get there. And my heels are totally memorized. No paper here unless I want to try lace (not yet!). Anyway, I'm with you! Except I desperately want a Rooster Rock Sheep to Shoe Kit and don't seem to have any way to get one!
Posted by: Wendy at January 18, 2007 7:16 AMoooh, those are turning out so cool! i love the color shifts and your increases. i wish i knew how to do those increases off the top of my head. i could use a lesson :)
Posted by: gleek at January 18, 2007 7:23 AMNext time the LYS has some Blue Moon fiber, I am so there...My fiber stash is small, so I can add to it without any guilt (unlike the yarn stash)!
Posted by: Sarah at January 18, 2007 8:10 AMFantastic socks!! Please share your wisdom on increasing ribbing, inquiring minds (and fat legged girls like me) want to know!! :)
I find that on plain stockinette socks I only need help when turning the heel. Quite a change from my first ever socks that practically re-read the pattern after every round.
Posted by: The Fluffy Ewe at January 18, 2007 8:12 AMthose are just too cool, can't wait to see the finished results!
Posted by: amy at January 18, 2007 8:15 AMwow. those are coming out amazing. truly amazing. I know what you mean - I used to be paranoid about not having my pattern near me for socks - especially the heel - now, unless the leg/foot is patterned in some way, no instructions needed! Freedom!!!!
Posted by: stacey at January 18, 2007 8:58 AMYour socks are beautiful!!! And your spinning is really outstanding!! I concur with the above comments...please, do share your tips on increasing in a rib pattern! Happy knitting!
Posted by: Gail at January 18, 2007 9:03 AMThose socks are amazing! Sock knitting is one of my favorite things to do, and a simple toe-up ankle sock is the perfect portable project for me. It fits in my purse and I don't even have to think about what I'm doing. They practically knit themselves.
Posted by: shadkitty at January 18, 2007 9:10 AMI agree. Now I want to learn that level of comfort with sweaters. I figure it will take a lot longer.
And also, your sock is da-bomb baby! Love it.
Posted by: LaurieM at January 18, 2007 9:15 AMThat sock is looking amazing! I can't wait to see the finished pair! =)
Posted by: CJ at January 18, 2007 9:39 AMThe sock looks great! I like the increases. I am getting to the needing-no-instructions point on socks, and that does make it a pretty relaxing and comfortable. Although, I still like to learn different ways of engineering sock parts. Which reminds me to try Beaudelaire from Cookie. I haven't yet knit a toe-up sock, and I want a gusset and heel flap.
Looking forward to seeing your sock become a pair.
Posted by: Brenda at January 18, 2007 12:28 PMThat is very cool! I am looking forward to being able to knit socks like that.
Love that colorway!
Posted by: Moni at January 18, 2007 2:00 PMI used to have that same sock mojo going on for me then I went on hiatus and I haven't quite gotten back into it. I'm on my way though.
I'm just loving the way those socks are coming out!
Posted by: Opal at January 18, 2007 2:59 PMMy feet envy your wooly sock. I think I need to go wind some yarn for an emergency pair of socks. This weather!
Posted by: freecia at January 18, 2007 4:39 PMThose are beautiful. I'm in love with the colors.
Posted by: Christy / Not Hip at January 18, 2007 4:47 PMNow THAT's a nice sock! Amazing the things we can learn over a short period of time huh? Fabulous!
Posted by: Carol at January 18, 2007 5:06 PMI love them, they have turned out great. Amazing how much we grow as we go.
Thanks
holly
Gorgeous, Kristi! I love the way the color transitions. I'm gonna have to get good enough at the spinning thing to spin up one of those kits for myself!
Posted by: Nathania at January 18, 2007 6:09 PMYour sock is wonderful! I was just writing about this! That last year I started in on sock knitting, although I'd been knitting since I was 7 or 8, and there was definitely a learning curve. The too large socks, the too small socks, the socks I had to read every instruction for!
And now? Time to turn the heel? No problem. Time to pick up the gusset stitches? Got it. Even kitchener. And when I get dressed each day? Handmade socks on my feet. Could not have pictured that a year ago!
Posted by: Kathy at January 18, 2007 8:20 PMYou know, I'm finding the opposite problem for me (at least for knitting in general). Lately, I seem to be all about the patterns...
I can't wait to see a full-frontal picture of your socks, though. They look amazing.
Posted by: G. Knerd at January 19, 2007 12:55 AMYour socks are really gorgeous....handspun, wow! Here's my calf increase solution....http://www.flickr.com/photos/specificfoodsforspecificminds/303625940/in/set-72157594171630522/
Who could have thought I'd do the toe-up&gusset-heelturn without looking at instructions....
Right now I'm working on deep black Baudelaires, I'd like to turn these into knee-highs, somehow.
Looks awesome! The colorway in the handspun is really gorgeous. Thanks for sharing the tip on the increase on ribbing, I actually have never tried it before because I had no clue how it might work. I like to look back on how far I've come too and it's nice not to be so doubting of my skills. "Oh, I could never do that, it's too advanced for me." I can recognize a little better how to choose a pattern that teaches me something new and now I'm improving. Can't wait to see the full pair of your lovely socks.
Posted by: Juls at January 19, 2007 8:02 AMYour socks are beautiful, the colors too. I'm definitely at the point where I can do a plain old sock without a pattern, though I think a knee-high would take a bit more figuring, given the calf shaping. I'd have to do a considerable amount of internet-poking to figure out how to make nice decreases/increases if I were using a pattern, for example.
Posted by: Lazuli at January 19, 2007 10:43 AMMadrona is a great event. Kaci and Tina will be at the market along with Crown Mountain and lots of other wonderful vendors. There's wall to wall knitters and spinners. How far away in WA will you be?
Posted by: Jessica at January 19, 2007 9:17 PMThose socks are beautiful! I love the way they look, in ribbing and in color. They're simply lovely.
Posted by: Elinor at January 21, 2007 8:39 AMIt looks amazing! I love the increases -- I didn't get a good look at them before. Can't wait to see the finished sock!
Posted by: Margit at January 21, 2007 9:19 AM