I used the Stepping Stones pattern from Clara Parkes’ forthcoming The Knitter’s Book of Socks. The pattern is written for worsted weight yarn, so I converted it. Believe it or not, this is the first sock I’ve ever knit for a man. I may have gone a bit overboard. The leg is 8.5” long from the top of the heel flap to the cuff edge. I knit the top of the leg on a 2.25 mm needle so it would be stretchier, then moved down to my usual 2.0 mm needle.
Notice how the stitch pattern changes slightly on the top of the foot. I guess this is to make it comfier inside a shoe.
The yarn is Plucky Knitter’s Primo Fingering, a luscious 4-ply blend of 75/20/5% merino/cashmere/nylon with a very tight twist. The color is called M.A.S.H. Tent, and it is a wonderful brownish grey. The subtle handpainted variations in color kept me entertained, but overall, this is a brown sock. The true color is like the picture against the white background (my front door).
I did a test fitting on Dan last weekend (that’s what you get when you come to brunch with a knitter). Dan’s foot is 1/8” shorter than Ed’s, so I could do my toe decrease calculations perfectly on him. But I digress. The moment the sock came out of the bag, Dan said “oooooo, that is a nice sock!” I consider that man-approval. (And you know, complimenting my socks will end up getting some knit for you sooner or later, so it was a good move on Dan’s part.)
I have 41 grams of yarn remaining from the 101 gram skein, so I used about 60 grams. Kris was right to insist we buy two. But I have a good bit left for some other project down the road.
Now, the only problem/challenge is getting the second sock – knit by Kris – to match the first one. At least a little. Ah, gauge.
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Beautiful. And that Dan is a smart man. I think these will be perfect for Ed. And I guess if I can whine about how dry it is here, you're allowed to whine about the dampness. Both of us are stretching the bounds of sympathy!
ReplyDeleteFor your readers' sake I attempted my version of the Ed sock (the left foot?) and discovered that, at least in contrast to Janelle, I am quite a tight knitter and the sock didn't even come close to matching up. (On a side note, all the knitters I've mentioned this to have been *shocked* that I am a "tight knitter" -- apparently I do not possess any of the other personality characteristics that correlate with tight knitting...but I digress.)
ReplyDeleteI've ripped the knitting, soaked the yarn, and located some larger needles (2.50 this time 'round). I hope this one works...