I did finally finish the first of my Rooster Rock knee-highs, and in a move that made my fellow BobaKnitters proud, I cast on the second one immediately.
Allow me a moment to just take a look at the first one and give some notes on what I did. For a nice knee-high sock tutorial thingy that is sure to give more information than I do, check out Theresa's latest blog post, and watch for the next in the series.
For my sock, I used Judy's magic cast on to cast on 16 stitches total (8 on each side). When I decided I wanted to do 3x3 ribbing, I realized that was kind of a mistake as an odd number would have been better. With an odd number increasing 2 at each end would leave with the odd number I wanted of 33 stitches on each side (of my magic loop) in the end. So I fudged that.
Moving right along, I did the top of the foot (33 stitches) in p3 k3 across ending with p3. I did a heel kind of like Cookie's heel on the Baudelaire sock, but I made it up as I went along, so I did the short row wrapping a bit differently.
Ok, so the calf increases. Because I was using magic loop, it was very easy to just try on the sock and decide when to start increasing. The back of the leg was k3 p3 across ending with k3, so the middle stitch in the back of the leg was a purl, the center of 3 purls. So what I did on the increases was to make one purl stitch on either side of that center purl. Then I had 5 purls in a row. The next time I increased, I did the same -- make one purl stitch on either side of the center purl, but in this case I knit that center purl, so that now I had 3 purls, 1 knit and then 3 purls. I was increasing 2 stitches every 4 rows by the way, but I think different people's calves get wider at different rates so it's nice to be able to try on the sock. The 3rd increase round was to make 2 knit stitches on either side of the center knit stitch. So now I was back to having k3 p3 ribbing all around. The rest of the increasing went similarly. Here's a nice shot of the increases (the poor dh was forced to take this picture; a girl could seriously mess up her back trying to take this shot on her own, trust me):
Sorry, I got long-winded there, I'm almost done.
ETA: Forgot to mention the top of the sock pre-cast-off! I switched from 3x3 ribbing to 1x1 ribbing (twisting each knit stitch) when I had an inch and a half left, thanks to a rather timely suggestion from Jeni.
Then, for all my talk of knowing what the heck I was doing, I realized that I really wanted a nice, professional-looking finish to the sock so I was going to need a tubular cast off, which I had never done before. Now I trust Janice to have good information, so I checked out her tips and techniques page and was off learning something new! Here's the finished product:
My goal is to have these socks done by Stitches West so I can wear them one of the days I'm there. I think that should be easily attainable even though knitting time is sparse of late.
Holy crap, those look awesome. I will be making myself a pair of those!
Posted by: SarahJanet at January 24, 2007 11:28 PMYou legs are so much more attractive than mine. Beautiful sock (+ yarn)!
Posted by: freecia at January 24, 2007 11:56 PMI am hoping that you've got an above the knee skirt so as to properly show off those socks. ;-)
Yes! Everything is just right! Great job.
I totally agree about the tubular cast off and you'll be happy to have learned a new technique. I use it for all my sock tops and I also like it for the neckbands of sweaters if you are going to fold it in half.
BTW - You can also do a sewn tubular cast off on 2X2 ribbing. I got my instructions from Vogue Knitting.
Posted by: LaurieM at January 25, 2007 3:33 AMYoink!
"...the neckbands of sweaters if you are" NOT "going to fold it in half."
Heheh. It's still early where I am.
Posted by: LaurieM at January 25, 2007 3:36 AMthe first sock looks great! and, now that you have the pattern all worked out, the second should go even faster! :)
Posted by: stacey at January 25, 2007 6:09 AMYay for really tall socks! You know I'm a fan. I will use your shaping info when I make a pair for myself! And let me guess, you want to get these done for SW so they can be a clue, right? hee hee.
Posted by: Laura at January 25, 2007 6:23 AMYour increases look so sharp! Amazing! The colors are fantastic as well - will you be trying to align the colors on the second sock to match, or is that impossible with hand-spun?
Keep up the great work!
Very nice job! I love the way the calf increases are symmetrical. I'm strange that way. ;)
Posted by: Adam at January 25, 2007 9:08 AMSo cute! That red is gorgeous. I admire your strength of character in casting on the second sock immediately -- that takes some serious moral fiber. (No pun intended.)
Posted by: Sarah at January 25, 2007 10:28 AMThose increases in the ribbing in the back are really lovely. What a gorgeous pair of socks. Shows off the Rooster Rock to it's best advantage, too!
Posted by: Theresa at January 25, 2007 10:29 AMI absolutely love your calf increases, what a perfect way to increase and keep in pattern. That sock is rockin, can't wait to see the completed pair!
Posted by: kelp! at January 25, 2007 10:40 AMI absolutely love your calf increases, what a perfect way to increase and keep in pattern. That sock is rockin, can't wait to see the completed pair!
Posted by: kelp! at January 25, 2007 10:41 AMThanks for the sock tutorial outline! Everyone around blogland seems to be making knee socks; it's just a matter of time for me....
Posted by: Kim at January 25, 2007 2:02 PMLOVE IT!!! I'm going to have to try my hand at the tubular cast off methinks....
Posted by: Schrodinger at January 25, 2007 9:02 PMGorgeous socks, Ms K. And lest we forget - gorgeous handspun that made them. Way to assemble a dreamy sock out of information floating around you!
Posted by: spinnity at January 26, 2007 6:20 AMThanks for putting this tutorial online. I especially like the heel and the tubular cast off. The yarn is really gorgeous too.
Posted by: Pauline at January 26, 2007 8:24 AMDarn you! ;) Just when I think I've convinced myself that I don't want/need STR in Rooster Rock, I read this post. Awesome knee highs!
Posted by: C. at January 26, 2007 11:22 AM
Gorgeous sock! I love the way you did your increases. Isn't this your Sheep 2 Shoe yarn too?
Posted by: Opal at January 28, 2007 1:16 PM